Today in class the kids were open to use their creativity and make whatever they wanted to with the materials at hand. Coming from a structured background where you always have something to do at a particular time it was different for me to see the kids use their time in any way they wanted. I noticed that there were gender stereotypes at play. The girls like to work with fabric and make houses while the boys wanted to work with wood and build tools. I’m interested to see if this will continue. I noticed some familiar faces, but the group each week is supposed to be different and varies on what the children choose.
Rose Scholars Fall 2018
Endless possibilities
As an older sister of a little brother and little sister, it is definitely interesting to see how they both develop different interests and I can’t help but wonder if societal gender roles play a part at all. I think it is important to allow children to chose and explore what they enjoy at their own pace (ie. if a little girl likes to play with dolls who are we to tell her that she can’t because it’s too stereotypical?) but I also believe it is vital to encourage the breadth of exploration for children and teach them that it is okay to step out of perceived boundaries and expectations. Then from a young age, they are empowered to achieve anything they put their minds to, regardless of whatever gender they identify with!
I had a similar impression. I don’t remember being free to do whatever I wanted in elementary school, so it’s sometimes interesting to see how they occupy themselves.
I noticed the gender thing, but I often see it expressed less as “girls want to work with fabric, boys want to work with wood,” and more girls using the makerspace and boys being disruptive and obsessed with weaponry. But not all of them of course.