Is your child transgender?

In many cases children will say how they feel, strongly identifying as a boy or girl — and sometimes — neither or both. While children might go through periods of insisting that they are the opposite gender of their birth sex, if they continue to do so it was likely never a phase.

Most children typically develop the ability to recognize and label stereotypical gender groups, such as girl, woman and feminine, and boy, man and masculine, between ages 18 and 24 months. Most also categorize their own gender by age 3 years. However, because gender stereotypes are reinforced, some children learn to behave in ways that bring them the most reward, despite their authentic gender identity. At ages 5 to 6 years, most children are rigid about gender stereotypes and preferences. These feelings typically become more flexible with age.

Gender identity and expression are related, yet different concepts. A child's gender identity isn't always indicative of one particular gender expression, and a child's gender expression isn't always indicative of the child's gender identity. Diversity in gender expressions and behaviors might include:

• Certain bathroom behavior, such as a girl insisting on standing up to urinate
• An aversion to wearing the bathing suit of the child's birth sex
• A preference for underwear typically worn by the opposite sex
• A strong desire to play with toys typically assigned to the opposite sex

Don't rush to label your child. Over time your child will continue to tell you what feels right.