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April 21, 2009 9:52 PM Subscribe
Why do little boys love trucks?
I know a two-year-old who sometimes forgets my name (after I've been babysitting him once a week for six months) but can identify any construction vehicle. I once babysat for an 18-month-old who loved the Pixar movie Cars to the point where he cried if I turned it off. I know not all boys love trucks. I know there are probably a great deal of little girls who love trucks (though I have yet to meet any). I know that some people continue to love trucks into adulthood. But what's the appeal of cars and trucks to so many young kids? I don't get it.
I know a two-year-old who sometimes forgets my name (after I've been babysitting him once a week for six months) but can identify any construction vehicle. I once babysat for an 18-month-old who loved the Pixar movie Cars to the point where he cried if I turned it off. I know not all boys love trucks. I know there are probably a great deal of little girls who love trucks (though I have yet to meet any). I know that some people continue to love trucks into adulthood. But what's the appeal of cars and trucks to so many young kids? I don't get it.
Best answer: Story: when I was 6 or so my grandfather took me to Toys R Us and said I could have anything in the store. He was expecting a $100 race car set or something but I chose a $6 metal Toys R US semi-trailer w/ tractor set.
Tonka-style construction toys are cool because they are amenable to making stories while you play, plus there's the attraction of "changing" the world with them. Trucks are cool because they're the kings of the road and if you do the pump arm action to a trucker he'll blow his airhorn for you, guaranteed.
posted by mrt at 9:58 PM on April 21, 2009 [4 favorites]
Tonka-style construction toys are cool because they are amenable to making stories while you play, plus there's the attraction of "changing" the world with them. Trucks are cool because they're the kings of the road and if you do the pump arm action to a trucker he'll blow his airhorn for you, guaranteed.
posted by mrt at 9:58 PM on April 21, 2009 [4 favorites]
Data point: I've never liked trucks. Not as a kid and not as an adult. Robots? Yes! Robot trucks? No. I HATED Optimus Prime.
posted by zerokey at 10:01 PM on April 21, 2009
posted by zerokey at 10:01 PM on April 21, 2009
Because you can roll them around and go VROOOM VROOOM. Because you can roll them into things. Because boys like to rough-house and like to make noise. That's part of what it means to be a boy. (Or meant, before it became the norm to medicate and indoctrinate them for it.)
Because real trucks are huge and loud and powerful and because men drive them. So it's fun to pretend.
Hell, I still like watching construction equipment, and I haven't been a boy in many decades. (At least on the outside.) Like many esthetics, I'm not sure it's really possible to explain to a person who doesn't understand it.
Why do so many girls like horses? (I've never understood that one.)
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:04 PM on April 21, 2009 [5 favorites]
Because real trucks are huge and loud and powerful and because men drive them. So it's fun to pretend.
Hell, I still like watching construction equipment, and I haven't been a boy in many decades. (At least on the outside.) Like many esthetics, I'm not sure it's really possible to explain to a person who doesn't understand it.
Why do so many girls like horses? (I've never understood that one.)
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:04 PM on April 21, 2009 [5 favorites]
Best answer: I've heard it said by people who would know about such things that little boys are fascinated by identifying every type of large truck or construction vehicle for the same reason that they're fascinated by identifying every type of dinosaur: They are asserting some measure of power over things that are much, much bigger than they are.
posted by cribcage at 10:06 PM on April 21, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by cribcage at 10:06 PM on April 21, 2009 [3 favorites]
I don't know, but I do know that I once overheard someone in my first grade class say "She's probably going to bring in ANOTHER one of her Hot Wheels for Show and Tell." I loved cars. I loved trucks. Still love them.
My parents encouraged this, though, and I'm sure that's part of it - for little boys, too.
posted by HopperFan at 10:10 PM on April 21, 2009
My parents encouraged this, though, and I'm sure that's part of it - for little boys, too.
posted by HopperFan at 10:10 PM on April 21, 2009
I have no data or research to back this up, but as a mother who did not present her boys with cars until they showed interest, I have chalked it up to evolutionary traits. I believe that men may be predisposed to identify moving objects (animals, rolling rocks, other dangers/foods) at far range, given past roles in hunter-gatherer societies. I have no idea whether research would bear this out.
posted by acoutu at 10:10 PM on April 21, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by acoutu at 10:10 PM on April 21, 2009 [4 favorites]
Best answer: In between crawling and puberty, you spend a whole lot of your time and energy just figuring out how to move around and control your physical environment. Trucks can go farther and move more stuff than you. That makes them sort of a role model in that regard.
It's the same reason that after puberty, when our attention shifts to social movement and control, we all want to be James Bond.
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:10 PM on April 21, 2009 [3 favorites]
It's the same reason that after puberty, when our attention shifts to social movement and control, we all want to be James Bond.
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:10 PM on April 21, 2009 [3 favorites]
Boys generally like complicated things with tons of little details that do things.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:11 PM on April 21, 2009
posted by KokuRyu at 10:11 PM on April 21, 2009
Best answer: Nice to meet you: I'm a girl and I have a weird fascination with trucks, especially construction equipment. I consider them a sort of modern megafauna.
I think trucks seem so popular because they exist in daily life. A kid can be totally into dinosaurs, but he's not going to spot one on his commute from preschool so they don't come up in conversation as much. Also, they're the perfect toy: quiet, masculine yet non-violent, and creative if you add some dirt, so parents might encourage trucks over other interests.
posted by jschu at 10:13 PM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
I think trucks seem so popular because they exist in daily life. A kid can be totally into dinosaurs, but he's not going to spot one on his commute from preschool so they don't come up in conversation as much. Also, they're the perfect toy: quiet, masculine yet non-violent, and creative if you add some dirt, so parents might encourage trucks over other interests.
posted by jschu at 10:13 PM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
turgid dahlia has it right: because they're fucking awesome.
Though I have to say, ever since I got my motorcycle - a certain percentage of little kids are *fascinated* by motorcycles. I'll be at a stop light, and see some little kid with their mom, fixated on my bike. Rev the engine, and their eyes turn as big as saucers. Cracks me up every time. Mostly boys, occasionally girls. Parents are always oblivious to it. All I can think about is how I just surreptitiously corrupted their children, and they're none the wiser. *evil grin*
posted by swngnmonk at 10:14 PM on April 21, 2009 [7 favorites]
Though I have to say, ever since I got my motorcycle - a certain percentage of little kids are *fascinated* by motorcycles. I'll be at a stop light, and see some little kid with their mom, fixated on my bike. Rev the engine, and their eyes turn as big as saucers. Cracks me up every time. Mostly boys, occasionally girls. Parents are always oblivious to it. All I can think about is how I just surreptitiously corrupted their children, and they're none the wiser. *evil grin*
posted by swngnmonk at 10:14 PM on April 21, 2009 [7 favorites]
VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!
That is why boys like trucks. And it doesn't change when we stop being little.
posted by secret about box at 10:17 PM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
That is why boys like trucks. And it doesn't change when we stop being little.
posted by secret about box at 10:17 PM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
There is no difference between little boys and little girls, not till puberty and hormones hit. Little boys are presented with cars by stereotype enforcing adults from day one. Look at the gazillion blue onesies with trucks on in the world.
Any child exposed to enough trucks will delight in their wonder. As does my 2.5 year old daughter.
posted by taff at 10:26 PM on April 21, 2009 [3 favorites]
Any child exposed to enough trucks will delight in their wonder. As does my 2.5 year old daughter.
posted by taff at 10:26 PM on April 21, 2009 [3 favorites]
Probably for the same reason they like dinosaurs. What that is, I don't know. I do remember I liked both of them as a lil' tot.
posted by delmoi at 10:33 PM on April 21, 2009
posted by delmoi at 10:33 PM on April 21, 2009
true story: we (canadian) went down through texas on our christmas holidays when i was a youngster. i got to sit on a texan santa's knee.
the first item on my list was a betty crocker easy-bake oven. "whoa there!" santa cried, and held me off like i'd just thrown up on his suit. then, i said i also wanted a mobil oil tanker truck and he settled down, like maybe i was a normal little boy after all and not some commie faggit.
the only part i remember is that he said, "ya'll" and the truck AND oven were a hell of a lot of fun.
posted by klanawa at 10:47 PM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
the first item on my list was a betty crocker easy-bake oven. "whoa there!" santa cried, and held me off like i'd just thrown up on his suit. then, i said i also wanted a mobil oil tanker truck and he settled down, like maybe i was a normal little boy after all and not some commie faggit.
the only part i remember is that he said, "ya'll" and the truck AND oven were a hell of a lot of fun.
posted by klanawa at 10:47 PM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
Yep - 'cause they're awesome.
My boy didn't care for trucks - still doesn't. My 2 year-old girl, however, has stolen all of the trucks and cars that I bought for him as a child ( and still remained in perfect condition) and now delights in playing with them in the dirt and the mud, all the while saying "VVRRRROOOMMMMM, CHUGA CHUGA CHUGA VROOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!"
She also likes to give her friends from Yo Gabba Gabba! rides in her trucks, wearing dresses, pretty shoes, and bows in her hair.
posted by bradth27 at 10:49 PM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
My boy didn't care for trucks - still doesn't. My 2 year-old girl, however, has stolen all of the trucks and cars that I bought for him as a child ( and still remained in perfect condition) and now delights in playing with them in the dirt and the mud, all the while saying "VVRRRROOOMMMMM, CHUGA CHUGA CHUGA VROOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!"
She also likes to give her friends from Yo Gabba Gabba! rides in her trucks, wearing dresses, pretty shoes, and bows in her hair.
posted by bradth27 at 10:49 PM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
I never understood the truck thing either. I always thought they were stupid; that boys were supposed to like them because they were big and powerful and macho; and that the boys who did like them (specifically, my dumbass neighbor) only did so because they were supposed to. I'm kind of glad to read this thread and discover otherwise, actually.
I can buy Mikey-San's explanation. I think that's more or less why I liked Hot Wheels and such--because tearing around at high speed looked like fun. Makes sense that you'd like trucks if moving an improbably large hunk of metal around seemed like fun.
posted by equalpants at 10:50 PM on April 21, 2009
I can buy Mikey-San's explanation. I think that's more or less why I liked Hot Wheels and such--because tearing around at high speed looked like fun. Makes sense that you'd like trucks if moving an improbably large hunk of metal around seemed like fun.
posted by equalpants at 10:50 PM on April 21, 2009
I've been told (but do not remember doing so) that I could identify the construction vehicles and trucks outside our apartment window by sound alone. Trucks, like dinosaurs, are just one of those things kids love.
A while back, I pried my friends about what subject their "child genius" focused upon. One friend sheepishly admitted that his iguana did in fact have a name, and it was some obscure lost nebula at H-alpha or some such astrological event, and he had since lost the knowledge. So not everyone likes trucks, or dinosaurs, but all kids will have a focus for their curiosity.
posted by stachemaster at 11:03 PM on April 21, 2009
A while back, I pried my friends about what subject their "child genius" focused upon. One friend sheepishly admitted that his iguana did in fact have a name, and it was some obscure lost nebula at H-alpha or some such astrological event, and he had since lost the knowledge. So not everyone likes trucks, or dinosaurs, but all kids will have a focus for their curiosity.
posted by stachemaster at 11:03 PM on April 21, 2009
Truck sightings are exciting. Trucks are big, loud, smelly, and frightening and make you feel small and awestruck. They are also uncommon enough that a sighting will be the major event of the day. Construction equipment like bulldozers and steamshovels are rare enough to be the highlight of the week. Hell, getting to ride in a fire truck and pull the horn could easily be the highlight of an entire childhood.
posted by PercussivePaul at 11:16 PM on April 21, 2009
posted by PercussivePaul at 11:16 PM on April 21, 2009
Maybe it's because little boys want to be big boys, and big boys can drive trucks?
FYI: I'm a girl, and I loved trucks when I was a kid. Though, to be honest, I was more in love with toy trucks because I loved all their little moving parts, and I loved cars and trucks that had a personality in movies. But real life trucks were pretty boring to me. Almost as boring as horses. (But toy horses, HOT SHIT YES. I WILL BRUSH THE SPARKLING PINK HELL OUT OF THAT PONY'S HAIR. GIVE IT.)
posted by katillathehun at 11:23 PM on April 21, 2009 [8 favorites]
FYI: I'm a girl, and I loved trucks when I was a kid. Though, to be honest, I was more in love with toy trucks because I loved all their little moving parts, and I loved cars and trucks that had a personality in movies. But real life trucks were pretty boring to me. Almost as boring as horses. (But toy horses, HOT SHIT YES. I WILL BRUSH THE SPARKLING PINK HELL OUT OF THAT PONY'S HAIR. GIVE IT.)
posted by katillathehun at 11:23 PM on April 21, 2009 [8 favorites]
It's not just a boy thing, my girls love everything on wheels.
Though I must say, little boys who come for playdates are especially excited about playing Barbies due to the fact that we have two Barbie cars, a Barbie airplane, and a sweet vintage Barbie RV.
posted by padraigin at 11:24 PM on April 21, 2009
Though I must say, little boys who come for playdates are especially excited about playing Barbies due to the fact that we have two Barbie cars, a Barbie airplane, and a sweet vintage Barbie RV.
posted by padraigin at 11:24 PM on April 21, 2009
Best answer: As a former little girl who loved playing with cars and trucks, there's a freedom to them. Cars and trucks go far, they go fast, they're exciting.
They're representing something large and powerful, they move (there's something about a powerful toy that isn't static), and you can make cool noises with them. You can give them a shove and let them go where they may and they glide on momentum.
There's also a specific foundation in reality to these toys. Bears and Barbies and other toys can sometimes be a little ideal or on the fantastical side, whereas pretty much everyone has seen a car and has some sort of perspective on them.
posted by cmgonzalez at 11:34 PM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
They're representing something large and powerful, they move (there's something about a powerful toy that isn't static), and you can make cool noises with them. You can give them a shove and let them go where they may and they glide on momentum.
There's also a specific foundation in reality to these toys. Bears and Barbies and other toys can sometimes be a little ideal or on the fantastical side, whereas pretty much everyone has seen a car and has some sort of perspective on them.
posted by cmgonzalez at 11:34 PM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
This is a very interesting question. I liked trucks well enough, but not more than anything else. It would be cool if everyone posted what toys they liked most to this thread. My top toys would have been lego, anything radio controlled (which I never had, alas), anything cool-looking and well-made, for instance, a spaceship, a fighter jet, a model of a sports car, a car model with a lot of intricate details that can be opened and turned and stuff. It's interesting that toys that would normally be considered very neat and expensive, i.e. a toy train, a large helicopter, I would find a little dumb: in case of the train because it has to go over tracks repetitively, having no option to change course, in case of a helicopter I'd think that it would just be so much better if it could fly. I would have rated a solid metal car/truck/airplane much higher than a plastic one. One of the neatest toys would be something like a truck or an off-road car that could go over dirt and holes and puddles of water. A regular diesel truck that normally only drives over roads would be much less interesting. Going over level surface is just boring. In exactly the same way, it's much more interesting to run over forested area rather than along a road - you constantly have to make small decisions as you choose your path, while a road is monotone. Beyond that, I just found the sight of a car driving over dirt/puddles/wet soil/etc strangely fascinating.
posted by rainy at 11:49 PM on April 21, 2009
posted by rainy at 11:49 PM on April 21, 2009
I'm not a developmetal expert, but I understand it's at least a very popular notion that girls and boys have different brain development phases, and little boys are more inclined to develop motor and spatial skills sooner than girls, whereas girls develop social and language skills sooner.
Also, horses? Are huge, powerful animals you can tame, ride at 30 miles per hour, and train to prefer you to other people.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:52 PM on April 21, 2009
Also, horses? Are huge, powerful animals you can tame, ride at 30 miles per hour, and train to prefer you to other people.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:52 PM on April 21, 2009
Boys are presented with gifts of toy trucks, cars, and things with cars and trucks on them from the moment they're born. Even when they're not, they eventually meet other toddlers who are likely to have things-with-trucks, thus establishing the appropriateness of a things-with-trucks craving.
Or, two words: self-fulfilling prophecy.
posted by bettafish at 11:59 PM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
Or, two words: self-fulfilling prophecy.
posted by bettafish at 11:59 PM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I'm not a developmetal expert, but I understand it's at least a very popular notion that girls and boys have different brain development phases, and little boys are more inclined to develop motor and spatial skills sooner than girls, whereas girls develop social and language skills sooner.
Since I've spent the last year working at my daughter's co-op preschool, I'd go with this. Although there are outliers, of course, it's pretty uncanny how the kids gravitate toward certain methods of play and how girls figure out ways to interact with boys and vice versa that keep them within those comfort zones. It's actually been super fun to observe: girls who just want to be kittycats all day long who synch up with the boys who want to be dinosaurs who chase kittycats, boys who want to drive fire trucks who find the girls who want to be princesses with burning castles. Your inner feminist wants to discourage it, your inner sociologist wants to just observe the SHIT out of it all.
posted by padraigin at 12:04 AM on April 22, 2009 [12 favorites]
Since I've spent the last year working at my daughter's co-op preschool, I'd go with this. Although there are outliers, of course, it's pretty uncanny how the kids gravitate toward certain methods of play and how girls figure out ways to interact with boys and vice versa that keep them within those comfort zones. It's actually been super fun to observe: girls who just want to be kittycats all day long who synch up with the boys who want to be dinosaurs who chase kittycats, boys who want to drive fire trucks who find the girls who want to be princesses with burning castles. Your inner feminist wants to discourage it, your inner sociologist wants to just observe the SHIT out of it all.
posted by padraigin at 12:04 AM on April 22, 2009 [12 favorites]
I've never been a little boy, but I was once a little girl. I didn't have the love for trucks in general, but I did have a specific obsession with U-Hauls. I'm told it started when my family moved using one, but I was pretty small so I'm not sure about the specifics, but they're big and orange and we put all of our stuff inside one and moved it across the state! I remember getting excited whenever I saw one. I had a toy U-Haul which was big enough to fit my cat inside. Poor cat. For what it's worth, I never liked dolls or other stereotypical girl toys. I did like to dress my little brother in girl clothes. Poor brother.
As an adult, the novelty of the moving van has worn off, but I've a fascination with many things transportation related. I love flying. Take off is exciting, and then you're in the freaking sky! and then you are magically somewhere far far away. I also love the metro. There's a train! In a tunnel! And you go underneath the buildings and river and everything else, and you come out somewhere else!
I wasn't so much into the construction equipment as a kid, but I've developed an appreciation for it. I've operated a backhoe. It's big, and loud, and you have a bigass shovel with which you can move lots of dirt. It is FUN.
posted by little e at 1:13 AM on April 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
As an adult, the novelty of the moving van has worn off, but I've a fascination with many things transportation related. I love flying. Take off is exciting, and then you're in the freaking sky! and then you are magically somewhere far far away. I also love the metro. There's a train! In a tunnel! And you go underneath the buildings and river and everything else, and you come out somewhere else!
I wasn't so much into the construction equipment as a kid, but I've developed an appreciation for it. I've operated a backhoe. It's big, and loud, and you have a bigass shovel with which you can move lots of dirt. It is FUN.
posted by little e at 1:13 AM on April 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
Because small boys and trucks share an affinity for dirt.
I grew up on a farm and trucks were always a second best love alongside the might of TRACTORS. Much more potential for dirt there.
As an adult my perception is that the size and power of the truck does seem to influence the demeanour of the driver: drivers of the really BIG vehicles seem to have a relaxed nothing-to-prove calm about them; those who drive small trucks always seem to have a chip on their shoulder.
Nothing psychoanalytic to see -move along now.
posted by rongorongo at 1:20 AM on April 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
I grew up on a farm and trucks were always a second best love alongside the might of TRACTORS. Much more potential for dirt there.
As an adult my perception is that the size and power of the truck does seem to influence the demeanour of the driver: drivers of the really BIG vehicles seem to have a relaxed nothing-to-prove calm about them; those who drive small trucks always seem to have a chip on their shoulder.
Nothing psychoanalytic to see -move along now.
posted by rongorongo at 1:20 AM on April 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
There's an exploration of the OP's question in that gorgeous song by Nizlopi about being a five year old boy being driven around in his Dad's JCB digger truck.
posted by freya_lamb at 2:23 AM on April 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by freya_lamb at 2:23 AM on April 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Because they are (currently) cool. Seventy years ago, when I was a kid, kids loved airplanes.
posted by RichardS at 4:24 AM on April 22, 2009
posted by RichardS at 4:24 AM on April 22, 2009
Having gone shopping for toddler stuff for my nearly 4 year old nephew and baby stuff for my soon to be born nephew, it is nearly impossible to find boys' clothes that are not covered with trucks, or girls' clothes that do not say "I'm a pretty princess!". Those who think gender socialization manifesting itself in stereotypical manners is just "uncanny" must have not shopped for children.
I remember being 4 or 5 and trying to work out what I was supposed to do because I was a girl and how that was different from what my brother was supposed to do because he was a boy. What I actually liked did not fit into that calculation, because I had been taught that was not as important as being obviously a girl who did girl things.
In summary, little boys like trucks because everyday in every way they get the message that "LITTLE BOYS LIKE TRUCKS" and they want to please everybody and do the right thing, so they like trucks. Similarly with "LITTLE GIRLS LIKE DOLLS".
posted by hydropsyche at 4:35 AM on April 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
I remember being 4 or 5 and trying to work out what I was supposed to do because I was a girl and how that was different from what my brother was supposed to do because he was a boy. What I actually liked did not fit into that calculation, because I had been taught that was not as important as being obviously a girl who did girl things.
In summary, little boys like trucks because everyday in every way they get the message that "LITTLE BOYS LIKE TRUCKS" and they want to please everybody and do the right thing, so they like trucks. Similarly with "LITTLE GIRLS LIKE DOLLS".
posted by hydropsyche at 4:35 AM on April 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
There is no difference between little boys and little girls, not till puberty and hormones hit.
This is bullshit. I'm not going to claim that I can accurately describe the differences between them, but they're there. Spend any time with children under the age of ten and tell me there aren't differences. The idea that this is purely impressed upon them by adults is just silly. Kids make up most of this themselves, together with their peers. Boys do not need to be told that girls have cooties, nor vice versa. Everyone just knows this.
Granted, things get dramatically weirder once puberty hits, but the idea that innate differences do not display themselves until then is just silly.
posted by valkyryn at 4:39 AM on April 22, 2009 [3 favorites]
This is bullshit. I'm not going to claim that I can accurately describe the differences between them, but they're there. Spend any time with children under the age of ten and tell me there aren't differences. The idea that this is purely impressed upon them by adults is just silly. Kids make up most of this themselves, together with their peers. Boys do not need to be told that girls have cooties, nor vice versa. Everyone just knows this.
Granted, things get dramatically weirder once puberty hits, but the idea that innate differences do not display themselves until then is just silly.
posted by valkyryn at 4:39 AM on April 22, 2009 [3 favorites]
My brother and I were both fascinated by things that moved. And dirt. I think that the Tonka trucks were liked because we were somewhat limited in our range - our minuscule back yard was all that we were allowed to roam, so the yard suddenly because enormous compared to the size of the toy truck. And since you have to push it around while you're on your knees, it takes a lot longer to get from one end to the other.
We also loved going for drives in my dad's stick-shift Civic, which I thought was the coolest, fastest sports car ever. The minivan didn't hold a candle to it!
And then there was my brother, who insisted that he was going to be a fire truck when he grew up. Nothing we said could dissuade him that a fire truck was what he wanted to be.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:08 AM on April 22, 2009
We also loved going for drives in my dad's stick-shift Civic, which I thought was the coolest, fastest sports car ever. The minivan didn't hold a candle to it!
And then there was my brother, who insisted that he was going to be a fire truck when he grew up. Nothing we said could dissuade him that a fire truck was what he wanted to be.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:08 AM on April 22, 2009
Best answer: Apparently, this difference manifests in monkeys as well.
posted by saladin at 5:38 AM on April 22, 2009
posted by saladin at 5:38 AM on April 22, 2009
My daughter loves trucks, and babies. Sometimes she uses babies as trucks - VROOOM! Sometimes the truck is a baby, "time to change de twuck's di-poo." We have never tried to encourage nor discourage her from playing with whatever she wants and in the way that she wants.
I, on the other hand never cared for trucks as much as I liked action figures. Hotwheels were just ways of acting out scenes in the same way that the action figures were.
posted by Pollomacho at 5:40 AM on April 22, 2009
I, on the other hand never cared for trucks as much as I liked action figures. Hotwheels were just ways of acting out scenes in the same way that the action figures were.
posted by Pollomacho at 5:40 AM on April 22, 2009
I think for whatever reason little boys are magnetized by things that make loud noises and things that crush other things, hence monster trucks and professional wrestling. This is lizard brain stuff, you could probably find the monster truck spot if you did an MRI and knew what to look for.
posted by The Straightener at 5:43 AM on April 22, 2009
posted by The Straightener at 5:43 AM on April 22, 2009
I did not love trucks. They were alright and played with and enjoyed, but there was no great love there.
Love, real love, was for the Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle and sending him flying off grandma's front porch.
Other days, when grandma was inside and I was in the back yard, The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman would make out.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:16 AM on April 22, 2009
Love, real love, was for the Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle and sending him flying off grandma's front porch.
Other days, when grandma was inside and I was in the back yard, The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman would make out.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:16 AM on April 22, 2009
My children are being raised in as gender-neutral way I can manage. They don't see commercials (no cable TV at home) or go out shopping. When I buy them clothes I stay away from pink and trucks on shirts. They don't live in a vaccuum but the impact of society's socialisation is limited (they did not go to any kind of daycare/preschool either and both parents worked part-time and shared in household chores). And yet there are clear gender preferences in their toys. My son, who did barely played with another boy until he was almost four, likes cars. Not obsessively, but he plays with the cars and trucks I bought my older daughter that sat unused. He chooses book from the library that are about cars and trucks. My one year old daughter doesn't have much interest in the cars but likes the playmobile figures and lego minifigs. And she is always in the dollhouse, but I suspect that is because the small items fit in her mouth in a most satisfactory way.
posted by saucysault at 6:19 AM on April 22, 2009
posted by saucysault at 6:19 AM on April 22, 2009
Best answer: I have an almost two year old who is deep in the truck phase, and specifically garbage trucks. He wakes up at five in the morning and stands by the door to watch the truck pick up the garbage. The garbage guys are used to it and they wave and blow their horn for him.
In addition to many of the other things people have suggested, i.e. they're awesome in both the classic and '80s senses of the word, I think that trucks play a role in developing toddlers' sense of scale. What's the largest everyday object in their world that moves? A truck or a bus or a train or a streetcar. They really are the equivalent of elephants or rhinoceroses for us now.
posted by umbú at 6:26 AM on April 22, 2009
In addition to many of the other things people have suggested, i.e. they're awesome in both the classic and '80s senses of the word, I think that trucks play a role in developing toddlers' sense of scale. What's the largest everyday object in their world that moves? A truck or a bus or a train or a streetcar. They really are the equivalent of elephants or rhinoceroses for us now.
posted by umbú at 6:26 AM on April 22, 2009
There is no difference between little boys and little girls, not till puberty and hormones hit. Little boys are presented with cars by stereotype enforcing adults from day one.
Like valkyryn said, this is bullshit. I have two small grandsons, both obsessed with trucks and other moving vehicles that go VROOM, and I assure you their parents (both good feminists) do not enforce stereotypes; if anything, they're surprised (and probably slightly annoyed) that the boys insist on conforming to so many "what are little boys made of" stereotypes. And no, it's not social pressure either; a 20-month-old doesn't have social pressure. As a feminist myself, I understand the desire to believe there is no difference between boys and girls, but it's not true, and closing our eyes to reality is never a good thing. (This is obviously not to deny that there are girls who like trucks and boys who don't.)
Incidentally, see down there where it says "Please limit comments to answers or help in finding an answer. Wisecracks don't help people find answers"? That still applies, even though this is a cool thread about kids and trucks. Thanks.
posted by languagehat at 6:27 AM on April 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
Like valkyryn said, this is bullshit. I have two small grandsons, both obsessed with trucks and other moving vehicles that go VROOM, and I assure you their parents (both good feminists) do not enforce stereotypes; if anything, they're surprised (and probably slightly annoyed) that the boys insist on conforming to so many "what are little boys made of" stereotypes. And no, it's not social pressure either; a 20-month-old doesn't have social pressure. As a feminist myself, I understand the desire to believe there is no difference between boys and girls, but it's not true, and closing our eyes to reality is never a good thing. (This is obviously not to deny that there are girls who like trucks and boys who don't.)
Incidentally, see down there where it says "Please limit comments to answers or help in finding an answer. Wisecracks don't help people find answers"? That still applies, even though this is a cool thread about kids and trucks. Thanks.
posted by languagehat at 6:27 AM on April 22, 2009 [1 favorite]
In general, boys (and men) like building things. All of the little boys that I knew (once upon a time) loved watching construction sites. Ever pass by one of those sites that is boarded up and has the little portholes so people can look in as the foundation gets built? Ever see girls/women peering in for a long time? No, but boys/men do, and love it. Upon passing a construction site, most boys will beg their parent(s) to stay there a while to watch. What are the most obvious and powerful tools on a construction site? Trucks. And cranes. And bulldozers. These are toys that boys like, because they are related to something real that they like.
In summary, little boys like trucks because everyday in every way they get the message that "LITTLE BOYS LIKE TRUCKS" and they want to please everybody and do the right thing, so they like trucks.
This hypothesis is bullshit, and is no more valid than saying that boys' clothing, etc. has trucks on them because boys like (or will like) trucks.
posted by Simon Barclay at 6:28 AM on April 22, 2009
In summary, little boys like trucks because everyday in every way they get the message that "LITTLE BOYS LIKE TRUCKS" and they want to please everybody and do the right thing, so they like trucks.
This hypothesis is bullshit, and is no more valid than saying that boys' clothing, etc. has trucks on them because boys like (or will like) trucks.
posted by Simon Barclay at 6:28 AM on April 22, 2009
Best answer: Don't forget the drivers of the trucks. My one year old son became obsessed with trucks because the garbage truck that ran up our alley (this was in east Baltimore, hon) was accompanied by an incredibly nice man who would wave at him and yell, "Hey buddy!" Then his friend would make the back of the garbage truck - the scooper squasher thing, I believe is the technical term - go up and down, much to my son's delight. He loved that man and that truck so much that his second word (after A Dog) was Buddy, which he applied to all trucks. Then that fondness got reinforced with gifts of trucks and books like Road Builders, which I think I could still recite 15 years later and voila, you have yet another little boy in love with trucks.
And besides, Tonka trucks, the big metal ones you can ride on? Are awesome at any age.
posted by mygothlaundry at 6:34 AM on April 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
And besides, Tonka trucks, the big metal ones you can ride on? Are awesome at any age.
posted by mygothlaundry at 6:34 AM on April 22, 2009 [2 favorites]
Mod note: A bunch of comments removed. Trucks are awesome but please answer the damn question and leave the riffing and jokes out of it.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:34 AM on April 22, 2009
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:34 AM on April 22, 2009
My son will be two Friday. He has an 8 year old sister so the house is covered with Barbies and horses and ponies and girl stuff. I've also bought him baby dolls and a kitchen set and have been very aware and tried to avoid gender bias. Doesn't matter. He'll go for the train or truck every time.
posted by pearlybob at 6:46 AM on April 22, 2009
posted by pearlybob at 6:46 AM on April 22, 2009
Your parents have a car, you love to ride in it. When they give YOU a little car that you can push across the room, you feel like you've suddenly got all the power.
posted by hermitosis at 6:56 AM on April 22, 2009
posted by hermitosis at 6:56 AM on April 22, 2009
My daughter had cars and trucks as a toddler and never showed interest in them. They sat on a shelf in her room, unused. The first time my son learned to crawl, he had a mission. I followed him to see what he was after. He went to his sister's room to get the truck.
First conversation he initiated was about trailer hitches, why some cars and trucks have them and some didn't.
Or as a friend of mine once said, the transportation gene is on the Y chromosone.
posted by readery at 7:16 AM on April 22, 2009
First conversation he initiated was about trailer hitches, why some cars and trucks have them and some didn't.
Or as a friend of mine once said, the transportation gene is on the Y chromosone.
posted by readery at 7:16 AM on April 22, 2009
As a little girl, I loooooooved trucks. And any other form of heavy machinery.
This movie was my favorite: Road Construction Ahead. Watched it endlessly, cried when it was turned off.
Also had Barbies, My Little Ponies, and dinosaurs but trucks were my first love.
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 7:53 AM on April 22, 2009
This movie was my favorite: Road Construction Ahead. Watched it endlessly, cried when it was turned off.
Also had Barbies, My Little Ponies, and dinosaurs but trucks were my first love.
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 7:53 AM on April 22, 2009
Sorry, Simon Barclay, I'm a girl and stand fascinated at all the heavy moving equipment at just about every construction site I pass. I work downtown and the last few years have been a flurry of construction sites -- I see every type of person, young and old, standing fascinated at those pits in the ground and the cranes in the sky.
I do wonder if boys aren't more fascinated by things other big boys do and the same for girls. I myself am surprised at how excited I get when I see a woman doing something really well that I've never seen a woman do before (or rarely) -- hold an important office, work on a construction site, make big sculpture, lead a company, throw a 3-pointer. It's sort of silly to look at any person and due to some similarity think, "I could do that." But it's there.
I also collected matchbox cars as a kid and loved playing with my older brother's Tonka dumptruck. I think we place way too much emphasis on what kids choose to do and whether they are acting in a gender appropriate way or not. Kids have it hard, man.
posted by amanda at 9:36 AM on April 22, 2009
I do wonder if boys aren't more fascinated by things other big boys do and the same for girls. I myself am surprised at how excited I get when I see a woman doing something really well that I've never seen a woman do before (or rarely) -- hold an important office, work on a construction site, make big sculpture, lead a company, throw a 3-pointer. It's sort of silly to look at any person and due to some similarity think, "I could do that." But it's there.
I also collected matchbox cars as a kid and loved playing with my older brother's Tonka dumptruck. I think we place way too much emphasis on what kids choose to do and whether they are acting in a gender appropriate way or not. Kids have it hard, man.
posted by amanda at 9:36 AM on April 22, 2009
i think (some) boys (and some girls) like trucks for a few reasons. one is because they're action-oriented. they move and they go places and you can be in them while they do it! another reason is similar to why (some) boys (and some girls) get heavy into dinosaurs: the categorization thing. some kids just have this predisposition to get into anything that has a system to it. anything with lots of little categories and subsets and varying statistics and features. dinosaurs, cars, trucks, the periodic table, language families, baseball players.
also, readery, the transportation gene is not on the y chromosome, because i don't have one, and although i wasn't into trucks as a kid, i was HUGE into trains. and now i'm a grown-up and about to head to graduate school to be a transporation planner. vroom.
posted by millipede at 10:22 AM on April 22, 2009
also, readery, the transportation gene is not on the y chromosome, because i don't have one, and although i wasn't into trucks as a kid, i was HUGE into trains. and now i'm a grown-up and about to head to graduate school to be a transporation planner. vroom.
posted by millipede at 10:22 AM on April 22, 2009
I've got a 2 ton dirt pile in my backyard. My almost 4year old son has a plethora of trucks and "diggers" and shovels and gardening stuff in/on it. Boys like dirt. Dirt and trucks are fun.
posted by ducktape at 10:54 AM on April 22, 2009
posted by ducktape at 10:54 AM on April 22, 2009
I have a 5 year old girl who is obsessed by princesses, fairies and ponies, We have not encouraged her in this, she's discovered it all by her self. I have an 15 month old boy who is showing early signs of truck obsession- it's a mystery.
posted by mattoxic at 2:26 PM on April 22, 2009
posted by mattoxic at 2:26 PM on April 22, 2009
Man, all the way down and no one mentioned that trucks don't break? I mean, I can't speak to gender differences, but one of my favorite parts of playing with trucks as a kid was that you could whip 'em around, slam the hell out of 'em, and crush them together without doing anything more than chewing up the paint (and that looked cool too).
I liked action figures, blocks, cars and animals too, but those were all things that I grew into after going clack-clack-clack-clack as hard as I could with the dumper of the dump truck for hours.
posted by klangklangston at 3:19 PM on April 22, 2009
I liked action figures, blocks, cars and animals too, but those were all things that I grew into after going clack-clack-clack-clack as hard as I could with the dumper of the dump truck for hours.
posted by klangklangston at 3:19 PM on April 22, 2009
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Seriously, what's the first toy most people get a little boy? A toy car.
posted by turgid dahlia at 9:54 PM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]