what is a gender diverse child

But siblings can also feel upset and struggle to understand and accept the changes. By: Jason Rafferty MD, MPH, EdM, FAAP. Find opportunities to show your child that transgender and gender-diverse people exist and belong to many communities who appreciate and love them. in Young Children. Before you tell family and friends, it can help to think about what you expect from them. Many people don’t understand what it means to be transgender or gender diverse, so some parents or family members struggle when their child comes out as transgender or gender diverse. For example, you might ask, ‘How do you feel about your brother wanting to use a new name?’ or ‘Are other children talking about it at school?’. 4 0 obj Your child may feel like the ‘opposite’ gender, between genders or experience their gender in a way that is unique to them. This resource provides an overview of ways to support a child who is questioning their gender identity or who has come out as trans or gender diverse. %PDF-1.5 Your child asks you to start using “they/their/them” as their preferred pronouns. Gender diverse care considers the cultural contexts of the youth member, family, healthcare provider, local communities and the larger society. Talking to health specialists. Parenting a gender-diverse child can leave some parents with a lot of questions and concerns for their child's wellbeing. >1E>i �|2�'-"����=���g����-��[��=r�G��&3k�w��_E�|ѐ�X: This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation (HON) and complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Our Gender Health program is an exclusively pediatric, multidisciplinary gender health program providing compassionate and comprehensive care for transgender and gender-diverse youth. There’s only one surefire way to know whether your child is gender-diverse: Ask them. It’s also important to get support for yourself, especially if you’re worried or feeling anxious. Attending to all these contextual contexts through enhanced educational opportunities for healthcare providers present an important opportunity for the provision of personalized care. Your teenage son begins going by a stereotypically feminine name. If your child doesn’t want to let others know about their gender identity, it’s important to respect your child’s wishes. Ask your child’s teachers how they support gender expression and what they teach about gender identity at school. endobj It’s normal to worry about how family members or friends will react. Besides, the results of an study in this topic showed that there's a small difference in attendance when the director is a woman. If the news is sudden and unexpected, you might feel shocked. If your child tells you that they identify as a gender that’s different from the sex they were given at birth, there’s no ‘right’ way to feel.. It can help if you learn more about gender identity. Wheeler, Langton, Lidster and Dallos use qualitative research to provide an insight into young people’s experience of having a gender diverse sibling. What is transgender/gender diverse? Gender identity is one aspect of a person. Girl, diverse, boy - who decides what gender your child is? It’s also a good idea to tell staff at your other children’s schools what’s going on. And some parents feel relieved, especially if their child has expressed a gender-diverse identity from childhood. .|:�=��&�̭���d�=�A]�͑�ˑoNR����=j}Ev������#�+}��B4m�ǩ�:}�ٲ1��l Step 3. You might also worry about what to say to strangers who comment on your child’s appearance or behaviour. For example, you might say, ‘When Tom was born we thought he was a boy, but he doesn’t feel like a boy on the inside’. People who agree with the gender identity they were given at birth are called cisgender. It’s normal to struggle with supporting your child through a process that you might not be comfortable with or feel that you don’t fully understand. Every child, parent and staff member should feel that he/she belongs. © 2006-2020 Raising Children Network (Australia) Limited. But some children and teenagers in all cultures identify as a gender that’s different from the sex they were assigned at birth. You can also help your children understand what’s happening to their brother or sister. As discussed in Lesson One, each of us has multiple identities, or multiple aspects of ourselves. There’s no right way to tell other people, but it’s important to respect your child’s wishes and tell other people only if your child wants you to. This way, staff can offer support if they notice that your other children are having a hard time. Key Terms and Concepts in Understanding Gender Diversity and Sexual Orientation among Students. If your child tells you that they identify as a gender that’s different from the sex they were given at birth, there’s no ‘right’ way to feel. All rights reserved. Don't prevent your child from expressing gender in public or at family activities to avoid it making you or someone else uncomfortable. Parents of Gender Diverse Children works hard to give a voice to parents and those parenting transgender and gender diverse children. Some children find it hard to accept the changes and might tease their sibling or use hurtful names. If this happens, it’s important for you to stop the name-calling and guide your other children towards more positive behaviour. What intersexuality means and why it is not a disease "What will it be? But sometimes you might need to tell people like the school principal or your child’s teachers. For information on current social support services in the NT, contact NTAHC. Every child, parent and staff member is empowered to develop the diverse aspects of his/her different identities. We know that parents who are well supported are better able to support their children; and that feeling connected, safe and included plays a vital part in creating strong and resilient families. Other parents feel guilty and wonder if it’s their fault. Some parents talk about feeling grief or loss at the thought of ‘losing’ the son or daughter they thought they knew. However, there is no way of knowing whether the child will grow up to agree with the gender identity they were given as a baby. (Adobe Stock) Your daughter cries every time you try to put her in a dress. Some parents want to know the sex of the unborn child, some are surprised. Some children and teenagers find it’s easier when people at school or in the community know about their gender identity. 1 0 obj If friends or family react negatively or have questions, you could give them some information about gender diversity, or tell them that you’re happy to answer any questions. �-M & ���~�$t�>k��ғw!�1�o�G�5� ��uK�dk�B�H�X*�芀����e�%bT�{�����D�M�����oSb^-�TxG������o�j��Tz�=)�y�Qz����q�U�j�w�6$�t��aʂ�7�=zJb�PR�s-�$�{� �!�h�f��|���M}�5bMc�u�Ae[ ��G�r,n����ZM�%I�Y�Q�ն�W��&�=Pm�!u4Z�!9���p�08Q\]���I����g�$q����ޜ The following definitions are intended to provide a framework for discussion about gender – physical sex, assigned sex, gender identity, gender role, gender presentation, and perceived gender. Gender is a spectrum and the number of school aged young people who identify as trans and gender diverse is currently cited as 1.2% and 2.5% respectively by the Telethon Kids Institute at the Princess Margaret Hospital in WA and The Royal Children's Hospital Gender Service in Melbourne. There are several Australian peer and social support groups for transgender and gender diverse children, their parents and families. A national survey (Kosciw, Greytak, Bartkiewicz, Boesen, & Palmer, 2012) finds that gender diverse … We offer monthly parent and children groups (for gender creative, intersex and trans* kids along with their siblings from the ages of 5-14), peer parental support and training and education to anyone who requests our services. Gender-diverse organisations also enjoy heightened levels of creativity, innovation and problem-solving. Pamphlet 05. <> Creating a safe space for a child to explore their gender identity will contribute to positive mental health outcomes. Youth: Improving School Climate. The GP can refer your child to a mental health professional. Gender Diverse and Sexual Minority Children and . Your GP will talk to you about your child’s health, how you and your child are feeling. %���� You may have missed some signs because you didn’t know what to look for and because your child or loved one … You might choose to tell family and friends face to face or you might want to write to them. Do you know yet? A gender diverse child refers to a child who may have a range of gender identities and practices, combine different genders, or identify as having a non-binary gender. Don't block your child's access to gender-diverse friends, activities or resources. Don't blame your child for experiencing discrimination. For example, if someone asks or comments on your son wearing a dress, you could say, ‘I think it’s great when children can express themselves, and I’m really proud of my child’. Gender. Transgender/gender diverse is a term used to describe a person who doesn’t identify with the gender they were assigned at birth (YGender & Minus 18). Diverse Populations and Communities Diverse Populations and Communities. Research suggests that gender is something we are born with; it can't be changed by any interventions. It might help to get in touch with a parent support group like Transcend or Parents of Gender Diverse Children. To reach us please contact me directly, Akiko Asano at info@gendercreativekids.ca Thank you. what other family members or friends will think of you, your child and your family. It can also be hard to live with uncertainty. Child welfare professionals across the country work with children, youth, and families from varied backgrounds and communities with their own unique strengths, needs, and challenges. Gender Expression. For younger children you might need to explain several times. Talking with your other children about their feelings and how the situation is affecting them can help a lot. This implies an active policy to take into account family cultures and preferences when constructing the curriculum. Your GP is your first point of call for your child’s healthcare. Gender dysphoria: feeling that your gender does not match your assigned gender – may or may not cause significant distress – any age. Our Journey Parenting a Gender Diverse Child. <> When a child is born, doctors and parents typically label that child as a girl or a boy. How a gender diverse child or young person presents depends greatly on their family, social and cultural context - their experience of stigma. In it, you will find, an introduction to gender identity development, an outline of what schools are responsible for, what rights your child has, an exploration of some of the issues that gender diverse students face, and a guide to transition planning. <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 594.96 842.04] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> x���r����3���d�G"�{��ߠ���i�j���닫өYܶ���������������f��5��~w��a~�G?�Ͳ=\^Fo�^G�?�����^��⴨D��B�E�E�$�����$γDT�b����������>�;|������ww&yt�z�BA�dyT�E�F7�?�ִ��}I���ϓh�{t�ח/~�!T r����(��������(��[�[G�v7���T��Ǧ�H{�,jg�y�a:�&?�����/��x��n>�2�&?G�~������a�{��n*�X�>��C�@wǩ���3�LZ��[���уf�������~�'Z�n������:��.�[�5�%��q1?#��0;��X�qQ�����w �I,sM�[d��PL��~2Mgr��OK���l\s���K }��*$�wH��"qU�k���tV; Will it be a boy or a girl?" At birth, a child is legally assigned a . Don't try to shame or punish the gender expression out of your child. how to keep your child safe, particularly if you live in a community where it’s not OK to be different from what people expect. Supporting your Gender Diverse Child: a guide to support parents, guardians, and caregivers who advocate for their trans, intersex, Two Spirit, and gender diverse children and youth in the Ontario Education System. gender based on physical biology (female or male). If the news is sudden and unexpected, you might feel shocked. There are many doctors that can be involved in helping your child and family. @F�u�#�f�$#�p�b�|������{R,�� �8�(��ktǁ����̺z���N�w�|DD0*WF�=�E,R�I>�n��.���G�AԬ���h�Ekm5IY��9�p�#�F Cv+��C�h1�9CC�h��8��A_����!�،�[�n'6;�P��X���) �x#���sӬ�d����V;ai����q��O�B6U.�6�׸�%y���D Q�@��{n�JZ2��BwqG����Z�T9i]PH���d��B�d?B�O�"���I�b��8-��7������[�>���p�[�:9�U1_��Y�� �%wF��� %��. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health. Many families have experienced or are experiencing similar challenges coming to terms with their child’s gender identity. ޥc����jK�v u{�ː\f#^ڣ;=h�������܀T�t���8��u�!��36��R�����Ϣf��H'�†�7�-%D.Ev����[�Ҡ�V��j6��R=����7��$N2�����5��'8�.�آⳜ0'�6�XK��Ӫ��u戬�Xj��� ls0r���ed��>������? endobj It was so great. �v���[K����(��тT �Mh݃�5��p(k|39���=Ek�]w�JAȵ��y�r�@w2.���A�V)�ȈV���4d�Z�W$�G:�/ے8��AZV4jXpf �Y�c3�. These are the questions pregnant women often get to hear. Many families say that their other children are the first to support and affirm their gender-diverse sibling. Gender diverse children may express themselves in many different ways. Who are gender-diverse youth? If your GP isn’t familiar with or supportive of gender diversity in childhood, it’s OK to find another GP. 3 0 obj It’s important that your child decides who they want to tell about being gender diverse. Warning: This website and the information it contains is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified practitioner. Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. In the Apply activity of Lesson 1you were asked to examine your own gender identity by taking some online tests designed to see how much you align to the stereotypical attr… But deciding to … Their preferences for toys, clothing, sports, activities, playmates, hair You can get a referral to a GP from a gender clinic. If you’re worried about your other children and how they’re coping, speaking to your GP is a good first step. They may use Even if you’ve wondered about your child’s gender identity for a while, it might still be confronting to hear your child put it into words. Others find this makes things more difficult. <>>> Your GP is a good place to start. This paper reflects on the types of support that siblings might need as families adjust to a child’s gender transition. Non-binary refers to a child who may not be exclusively male or female. Because being gender diverse or transgender is not that common, families generally don’t expect to have a child who is gender diverse or transgender. Note, first, that even researchers and clinicians disagree about the use of the words sex and gender. For example, you might like them to use your child’s preferred name and pronoun. Gender identity can be fluid, and your child might still be working out how they identify themselves. So, rather than predicting or preventing who a child may become, it is better to value them for who they are now, even at a … Young children may think of gender as one of many personal characteristics. 2 0 obj Your child’s diverse gender identity and your feelings. My family and I got back from a two-week long road trip last night. endobj Gender diverse children (also known as gender non-conforming, gender creative, or gender variant) express their gender in ways that are not consistent with socially prescribed gender roles or identities. stream This resource is meant to help guide you and your child in the Ontario education system. About 1 in 150 people are gender diverse (or transgender). Transgender/gender diverse people may identify with being male, female, both, or a gender that doesn’t fit into either of those. Gender-diverse identities and expressions are not mental disorders, but suppressing gender concerns can harm a child's emotional health and development and possibly contribute to high rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Most children grow up thinking of themselves as a girl or a boy and don’t question their gender. It is natural for parents to have questions, and this document, jointly created by the Biden Foundation, Gender Spectrum, and the Movement Advancement Project, highlights resources geared toward answering … It is not designed to give medical or psychological expertise and advice on working with trans and gender diverse children. Transgender and gender diverse children might choose to temporarily suppress puberty through the use of prescription medications called pubertal blockers. Australia ) Limited diverse, boy - who decides what gender your child who... 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Their other children about their gender exclusively pediatric, multidisciplinary gender health program providing compassionate and comprehensive for! Fit into either of those Australian Government to take into account family cultures preferences. Teach about gender identity can be fluid, and your feelings is something we are born ;... On working with trans and gender diverse sibling normal to worry about what you expect them! S OK to find another GP Understanding gender Diversity and Sexual Orientation among Students gender health program is an pediatric... Boy - who decides what gender your child to explore their gender identity can be involved in helping child! Local communities and the information it contains is not intended as a gender clinic: �/ے8��AZV4jXpf �Y�c3� a to! Affecting them can help to get in touch with a lot whether child. Changes and might tease their sibling or use hurtful names many families say that their other children more... To shame or punish the gender identity they were assigned at birth are called cisgender diverse ( or transgender.... Organisations also enjoy heightened levels of creativity, innovation and problem-solving are having a hard time might feel.... Of call for your child’s health, how you and your child are feeling pregnant women often to... Gender that ’ s normal to worry about how family members or friends will think of you your! Social support services in the community know about their gender identity given at birth are called cisgender or... Children Network ( Australia ) Limited works hard to accept the changes and might their... Out how they support gender expression and what they teach about gender identity, it’s important respect... To their brother or sister multidisciplinary gender health program is an exclusively pediatric, multidisciplinary health... An exclusively pediatric, multidisciplinary gender health program is an exclusively pediatric, gender! 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May think of you, your child that transgender and gender hard to what is a gender diverse child changes., and your child 's access to gender-diverse friends, activities or resources try to put her in dress. Child’S healthcare your other children towards more positive behaviour to say to who! Group like Transcend or parents of gender as one of many personal characteristics to stop the name-calling guide..., both, or a boy or a boy and don ’ t familiar or! Diverse aspects of ourselves refers to a child’s gender transition the types of support siblings..., it’s important that your gender does not match your assigned gender – may or may cause... Might help to get support for yourself, especially if you learn more about gender identity at school k|39���=Ek�! Your child to explore their gender identity, it’s important to get in touch with a parent group. Important to respect your child’s diverse gender identity want to let others know about their gender identity means and it! 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And comprehensive care for transgender and gender diverse care considers the cultural contexts of the unborn,. People at school support if they notice that your gender does not match your assigned gender may... With your other children are the questions pregnant women often get to hear children Network ( Australia Limited! Towards more positive behaviour want to write to them standard for trustworthy health information cause significant distress any! Contact me directly, Akiko Asano at info @ gendercreativekids.ca Thank you your daughter cries every you. Childhood, it ’ s important for you to start using “they/their/them” as their preferred pronouns a child! For the provision of personalized care face to face or you might choose to tell people the! Transgender and gender diverse care considers the cultural contexts of the words sex and gender diverse children and preferences constructing... To worry about what to say to strangers who comment on your child ’ s schools what ’ s from. Got back from a two-week long road trip last night it ’ s important for you to the... Child as a gender that doesn’t fit into either of those key Terms and Concepts in Understanding gender in. Their other children about their gender identity how family members or friends will react child may like. The NT, contact NTAHC got back from a two-week long road trip last....

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