First Grade Gender Differences

What You Need To Know

It’s not just a matter of blue versus pink, boys and girls are different. In First Grade, they develop at different speeds. Although neuroscientists are only beginning to understand the human brain, the science supports what teachers have been saying for years. Girls and boys learn in different ways. 

Here are some of the differences parents may notice, with a little science thrown in: 

• Multi-tasking. Girls have better connective tissue between the two halves of their brains, so they can multi-task more effectively.
• Tactile learning. Boys favor hands-on examples to learn, because their neural connections are less developed. Girls are better at remembering sensory information, and hearing subtle changes in tone.
• Impulsiveness. Girls’ brain development is quicker in the frontal lobe, making them more able to make plans and carry them out. Boys, by contrast, can be more impulsive.
• Language. Again, quicker female brain development gives girls an edge in language ability.
• Memory. Boys and girls remember in different ways. Girls remember written information faster, but boys are better at memorizing lists and facts organized spatially, such as maps. 

How You Can Help

Looking at the list above, it seems like girls are getting all the breaks. Boys develop later than girls at this level. Their brains receive less blood than girls’ brains, so they need to recharge more often. Also, boys’ blood contains higher levels of dopamine, which can cause impulsive acts and may explain why they can’t sit still. The kid bouncing his eraser in class may still be taking everything in. 

Parents wanting to help their child should bear the science in mind. Aid girls struggling to remember numbers by saying them aloud. And for boys who can’t seem to remember a story, use physical objects or act out the plot. 

For more information on gender differences in First Grade, please see the full article: