Basically, girls toys generally teach them to accept things as they are, and be ladylike and passive while boys toys encourage them to create and explore, never giving them the idea that there are limits to what they can do. .
In today's society, parents encourage these ideas without even realizing it. For example, girls are praised for playing with dolls but boys are often ignored for displaying nurturing behavior. Likewise, boys get attention for being good at sports while girls often don't often receive encouragement for being active. These kinds of stereotypes are destructive because they limit the potential of children. It is not difficult to notice that in general little boys are more spatially and mathematically inclined and little girls are more verbal. However, in today's times it appears as though young boys who play with dolls develop better motor skills, and girls who play with blocks develop better math and science skills. .
In addition to the toys that are bought, parents affect their children's concept of gender roles in the way they interact with them and by example. For one, parents tend to play rougher with boys than with girls, enforcing the idea that boys should be tough and girls should not act out accordingly. Also, girls usually spend more time with their mothers and boys with their fathers. Therefore, girls end up doing more "girlie" things such as playing with make-up and helping their mother make dinner. Boys do "manly" things such as playing catch or helping their father in the garage. It wouldn't take much for parents to change this. A father and son could include the daughter while practicing sports, while a son could help his mother in the kitchen or even take care of a younger sibling. Parents should attempt to avoid telling boys to "stop crying and act like a big boy" because hearing that enough over time could make them think that it's wrong for boys to show emotion.
