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How much 'boy' socialization do little girls need?

I was wondering about this because I have a friend whose daughter started an all-girls elementary school from Grade 1 (and another who is thinking about doing this). I know there are lots of studies about the beneficial impact on education, confidence etc. for girls attending same-sex schools, but does it make a difference at so young an age? Are they missing out on social skills because of it? Is that a bad thing? I have no clue.

I do know that I went to an all-girls secondary school (middle through high school), but I had gone to a co-ed elementary school. Throughout my secondary school experience I continued to meet the male friends I had made in elementary school, so I didn't feel totally inept when it came to talking to boys, but I certainly didn't feel terribly confident either (and I had a brother at home!).

Lucas has a regular playdate with two sisters who live in our neighbourhood. Every Friday afternoon. Their mom asks me constantly, "Are you sure?" Yes, I'm sure, despite the attendant screaming, tears, tantrums and chaos. Because you see, on Fridays, Lucas builds forts with them, they have talent competitions, run obstacle courses, colour stained-glass window pictures and make exotic 'foods' out of sand (as opposed to exploding and burying the green army men in the sand).

They play differently and the dynamic is different. I feel instinctively that it is good for Lucas to have this interaction and I hope that the girls benefit from it too. They enjoy girly-girl things too, but they can rough it up with Lucas. The bottom line is that they know how to, and do, play with boys.

So how are girls who do not go to co-ed schools socialized in the boy arena? Are brothers and/or neighbourhood playdates enough? What do you think?

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