ABSTRACT
This chapter will look beyond the early years setting and the home to explore whether there are gender differences in children’s health outcomes; it will consider such evidence, for example, as early infant assessments, the Early Learning Goal for physical development, rates of children’s accidents, how likely girls and boys are to have an unhealthy weight and also their emotional health. It will consider what might explain any differences and what parents and practitioners need to be aware of in terms of children’s trajectories. The chapter will consider how both boys’ and girls’ mental health can suffer from the negative impact of hegemonic masculinities.
