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Gender-linked Differences in the Toys, Television Shows, Computer Games, and Outdoor Activities of 5- to 13-year-old Children

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Abstract

This study was designed to compare how 5- to 13-year-old children's leisure activity preferences differ with age and gender. Responses from 60 boys and 60 girls about their favorite toys, television shows, computer games, and outdoor activities were compared across leisure categories. The results showed that gender was a significant factor. Overall, boys spent more time in these leisure activities than girls did. They spent the most time engaged in sports, watching television, and playing computer games, whereas girls spent the most time watching television. Results from a gender index for all activities indicated that boys' leisure preferences became slightly more masculine with age. For girls, preferences for television shows became more feminine with age, but preferences for toys, computer games, and sports became less feminine. These self-chosen preferences may provide differential opportunities for the development of visual-spatial skills, achievement, initiative, self-regulation, and social skills.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Amanda Stein and Kate Rudersdorf for their help with this study. We are also grateful to the parents and students of Brownell-Talbot school who volunteered for this study and to the staff for their willingness to let us collect data at their establishment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA

    Isabelle D. Cherney

  2. University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA

    Kamala London

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  1. Isabelle D. Cherney
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  2. Kamala London
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Correspondence to Isabelle D. Cherney.

Appendix

Appendix

Toy Category

Examples

Vehicles

Bikes, trucks, scooters,space-related transportation

Games

Board games and cards

Weapons

Toys guns, sling shot

Arts and Crafts

Listed as arts and crafts

Educational

Books

Musical/camera

Compact discs and C.D. players

Manipulative

Blocks, Legos

Stuffed animals

Teddy bears, Beanie Babies

Action figures

Toy Soldiers, Pokemon action figures

Domestic items

Tea sets, make-up

Dolls

Barbie other baby dolls

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Cherney, I.D., London, K. Gender-linked Differences in the Toys, Television Shows, Computer Games, and Outdoor Activities of 5- to 13-year-old Children. Sex Roles 54, 717–726 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-006-9037-8

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