This study is to investigate the gender construction in the children’s play. Data collection was completed through participant observation, journal writing, and informal conversation with children and their teacher in a kindergarten classroom of 4-year-olds for 5 months. The findings are as follows. First of all, the children constructed a typical gender, playing with gender-based play themes and toys. The children also constructed an atypical gender, escaping from gender-based play themes and toys by themselves although there was no teacher’s intervention in play. This study suggested that the teacher recognize children as active agents who are capable of constructing gender with their own free will and provide opportunities and rich environments for children to play in various contexts. The findings of this study will contribute to expanding our understanding of gender for children, building equal and safe classrooms where diverse femininity and masculinity coexist, and stopping the reproduction of stereotyped gender ideas.
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