As part of a yearlong anti-bullying program, “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully,” I presented this lesson to the pre–K class midway through the year.
I asked two parents each to read one of two books, William’s Doll and My Princess Boy (also consider other voices such as The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch or The Rough-Face Girl by Rafe Martin). William’s Doll, written by Charlotte Zolotow in 1972, is a story about a little boy who wants a doll but cannot get one because he is expected to play with toys that are traditionally for boys. Cheryl Kilodavis wrote My Princess Boy in 2011. It tells the story of a boy who wants to dress up in pretty things and gets teased for his choices. As each book was read, there was a discussion about the choices the characters had made regarding the toys they wanted or the clothes they wore.
Following the reading and discussion, we played a game called, “What’s in the Bag?” I filled a bag with toys and clothes considered to be gender specific (e.g., doll, truck, baseball glove, princess accessories and cowboy hat). Each student picked one item without looking into the bag. Once something was pulled, the child was asked whether he would wear the item or if she would want to play with the chosen toy.
We asked:
Would you play with a doll?
Why or why not?
Do you play dress up? What do you like to wear?
If you have a brother or sister, do you play with his or her toys?
Would you play with someone if they wanted to play with these toys or wear these clothes, even if you don’t wish to?
Do you like pink?
Why do you think people believe pink is just for girls?
Answers to the questions varied, but most students said they would play with most of the toys or would wear the clothes. One boy did say he would not wear the hard hat because “I hate to build things.” Another girl said, “I would play with the boy even if he is wearing a dress.”
As a wrap-up, we commented that it is fine to choose a toy or clothes you want, and if you don’t want to play with a certain toy that’s OK, too. We just want to make certain that someone is not laughed at or teased because of the choice he or she has made.
Laraine Gaunt
Tower Hill School
Red Bank, N.J.
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