It all started with markers. No one could have told me it would end up being a huge discussion with a parent. As I handed out a coloring page of beautiful spring flowers with a rainbow, I gave instructions that this picture would be our spring display. Using lots of colors was encouraged and expected.
One of my little boys was busy coloring with such fervor that I hated to disturb him. I noticed his rainbow was only blue, black, and grey. Maybe he would use the rest of the colors when he got to his flowers, I thought to myself. Normally I don’t overly critique artwork, unless specific instructions are given ie: pink flowers, etc. Walking around the table noticing the rest of the kids using purples, pinks, yellows, all the colors. Once I made it back to him again, I noticed he was still using the same colors. Deciding it was time to question him about his choices. His answer was not what I expected, he said “I only like to use boy colors now”. I asked him if he could use all the colors, reminding him that “Colors aren’t boys or girls”. But to no avail he insisted on only “boy” colors.
Once they were all hung up his was very prominent. Half expecting his parents to say something about his picture, hoping that between all of us he would see the beauty of using all the colors. Once the end of the day rolled around, and everyone stopped to look at the display, the growing appreciation for their hard work made me very proud of their efforts. As soon as his parents showed up, he beamed and showed them his beautiful artwork, exclaiming “I used all boy colors”. Anticipating a correction from his parents, I stood quietly waiting. NOTHING WAS SAID!
Making it my mission to find creative ways to encourage the use of all colors. He would defiantly go against my wishes, insisting on only his perceived “boy” colors. It was getting so bad that even if his friends wore clothes that were different colors he was calling them names. Finally after countless attempts, numerous corrections, and several weeks, the time had come to address this issue with his parents. His Mom agreed with me, that colors don’t have genders, but his Father failed to see my point of view. Knowing that I needed to be creative in my argument, I explained that my daycare doesn’t put emphasis on gender rolls, just equality. To paraphrase Boys can wear pink, Girls can wear blue, and rainbows have no gender and sport numerous colors. He looked at me, smiled, and conceded in this debate.
Although this little boy no longer referred to colors as boy or girl, he did still love blue, black, and grey. He is allowed to have his own color preferences, that was never the problem. Now he has no issue following instructions that require different colors, understanding colors have no gender.