Back to Live Well. If your child seems confused about their gender, it's usual for parents to also feel puzzled or worried. But there is help available to support you and your child. It's common for children to show an interest in clothes or toys that society tells us are associated with a different gender. With toy stores dedicating floors to colour-coded boys' or girls' toys, as an example, parents may expect a child to closely match expectations of how male and female genders should behave.
You may worry that your child's exploration of different gender preferences and behaviours is not "normal". However, this is not the case. A young child's exploration of different gender identities is quite common. However, for some children this may continue into later childhood and adolescence. Some people see gender as existing on a spectrum.
This includes male, female and a diversity of gender identities such as non-binary and agender no gender. If your child is strongly identifying with a different gender and this is causing significant distress to them or your family, see a GP.
Signs of distress in a child can include anxiety , withdrawal, destructive behaviour or depression. It's also possible that such behaviours will have been noticed at school. You may seek support for your child before puberty starts, which can begin as young as age 9 or The physical changes that occur at puberty, such as the development of breasts or facial hair, can increase a young person's feelings of unhappiness about their body or gender.
Other NHS professionals, teachers, local support groups and relevant charities, and counsellors can refer them too. These NHS services specialise in helping young people with gender identity issues.
