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Don't worry, the (cross-dressing) kids are all right

The experts have spoken, and there’s nothing wrong with little boys dressing up in girly clothes."Kids very often play dress under the age of five and there’s some kind of fluidity in that, even after five," Dr. Harold Koplewicz, founding president of the Child Mind Institute, told TODAY’s Meredith Viera. Viera sat down with Dr. Koplewicz and two moms who have defended their sons for wearing
Dyson Kilodavis, 5, inspired 'My Princess Boy.'
Dyson Kilodavis, 5, inspired 'My Princess Boy.'TODAY / Today

The experts have spoken, and there’s nothing wrong with little boys dressing up in girly clothes.

"Kids very often play dress under the age of five and there’s some kind of fluidity in that, even after five," Dr. Harold Koplewicz, founding president of the Child Mind Institute, told TODAY’s Meredith Viera. Viera sat down with Dr. Koplewicz and two moms who have defended their sons for wearing dresses -- including the blogger whose son dressed up as Daphne from "Scooby Doo" for Halloween.

"The doctor said: ‘The verdict is, you have a healthy and happy little boy who just likes to dress up,’” said Cheryl Kilodavis, who sought professional advice about her son’s interest in dressing like a princess.

Basically, the message is: Don’t freak out. A little kiddie cross-dressing is normal and probably not significant.

If kids say “'I won’t wear boy clothing, I’m only wearing girl clothing because I’m only a girl, I’m not a boy,’ that’s a more significant thing than saying I’m playing princess today and I’m playing cowboy tomorrow,” Dr. Koplewicz said. “That doesn’t change the fact that we would still tell parents to be very supportive and loving, because the last thing you want is someone to not like themselves, to not like their bodies. It doesn’t make a difference what the clothes are, it’s what they feel about themselves underneath.”

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