Boy facts for kids

A boy from the Central African Republic

A boy is a young male human. This means he is either a child or a teenager. Young boys have a child's body. As they grow, usually around age 13, their bodies start to change. This time is called puberty or adolescence. After puberty, their bodies become more like an adult man.

The word "boy" has been used for a very long time. It comes from the Anglo-Saxon English language. The opposite of a boy is a girl.

Culture and Growing Up

How boys are raised can be very different around the world. This depends on their culture. In many cultures, boys are often taught to be strong. They might be expected to do physically hard work. This can include joining the army when they are older.

However, ideas about boys and girls are changing. Today, many girls enjoy doing the same things as boys. In Western countries, boys traditionally wear trousers (pants). Girls often wear dresses or skirts. But now, many girls also wear trousers, especially for casual clothes. Boys often have shorter hair than girls. But hair styles change a lot with fashion.

Games and Hobbies

Traditionally, boys often like active games. These can include sports like soccer or rugby. They might also enjoy playing with mechanical toys. Things like toy cars and trains are popular.

People often discuss why boys like these things. Is it because they are born that way? Or is it because society expects them to behave this way? It's a mix of both nature and how they are raised.

Colors and Symbols

The traditional color for a boy is blue. For girls, it is pink. When a baby is born in a hospital, they often get a blue or pink tag. This tag is usually placed on their wrist or ankle. It helps show if the baby is a boy or a girl.

Names for Boys

Some names are only for boys. Other names are only for girls. But some names can be for both boys and girls. Sometimes, these names are spelled a bit differently. For example, "Lesley" might be for a boy, and "Leslie" for a girl.

Special Meanings of "Boy"

In some countries, like Britain, "old boy" has a special meaning. It refers to a grown-up who used to go to a certain school. For example, someone might say, "He is an old boy of Cransbury High School."

The phrase "old boy" can also be used in a friendly way. It's a very informal greeting. For instance, you might hear someone say, "Nice to see you, old boy!"

Gallery

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  A group of boys in Xinjiang, China

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  A boy in Afghanistan selling carpets

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  Two American boys lying on the grass

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  A group of teenager boys in a high school in Colorado, USA.

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  A Chinese boy celebrating the Chinese New Year

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  A little boy in an old painting

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  Little scout boys in Paris, 1918.

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  A boy in art

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  A boy in cosplay dressed as a zombie

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  A boy carrying the rings in a wedding

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  A little boy from Haiti

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  A boy from Belarus

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  A boy with a bicycle

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  A boy is smiling

Related pages

• Man
• Boyfriend

Images for kids

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  Tigray boy in Ethiopia

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  Poor Neapolitan children

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  Teenager boys in Uruguay

See also

In Spanish: Infancia para niños