Smashing Stereotypes Together at the First Festival of the Boy

We all know that creating a future free from sexism and harmful gender stereotypes can't happen just at home, or just in schools alone. Parents, carers, schools, communities, organisations all have a role to play.

That's why we were so excited to partner with Festival of the Girl for the launch of the very first Festival of the Boy. Festival of the Girl has long championed expanding opportunities for girls. With the introduction of Festival of the Boy, they're also creating space for important conversations about the pressures boys face and how we can help them thrive.

Festival of the Boy was created to celebrate boys for who they are - not who society tells them they should be. Through creativity, play, sport and conversation, the festival encouraged boys aged 7–11 to explore their interests, emotions and identities without the pressure of outdated expectations. Those values couldn't have aligned more closely with our own.

Why this partnership matters

At MFS, we believe every child deserves the freedom to grow up without being limited by gender stereotypes.

Girls shouldn't feel they have to be quiet, caring or look a certain way. Boys shouldn't feel they have to be tough, fearless or never show emotion.

These expectations don't just limit individual children - they shape relationships, confidence, aspirations and, ultimately, the culture in our schools and society.

Smashing stereotypes - literally

At our stall, families were invited to take part in our "Smash the Stereotype" activity.

Children wrote down the stereotypes they wanted to challenge before quite literally scrunching them up and throwing them into the bin.

Some rejected ideas like:

• "Boys don't cry."

• "Girls can't play football."

• "Pink is for girls."

• "Boys shouldn't dance."

• "Girls aren't good at science."

What struck us most wasn't simply what children wrote - it was how readily they recognised these stereotypes and how enthusiastically they challenged them.

Parents told us they appreciated having a simple activity that opened up conversations,  which can sometimes feel surprisingly difficult to begin at home. It reminded us that children are often ready for these conversations long before adults think they are.

Do-it-yourself resource

The festival inspired us to create a free resource so that others can replicate the activity we did - perhaps at a school fair or event. The guide offers steps to set up and run this activity, with advice on simple language to use. 

You can also use these ideas at home. Whether you're talking to your child about books, toys, sport, emotions or future careers, every conversation helps children understand that they don't have to fit into narrow ideas about what girls and boys "should" be. We can encourage them to question, challenge and go beyond stereotypes.

Looking ahead

We're incredibly grateful to the Festival of the Girl team for inviting us to be part of such a positive and hopeful day. Partnerships like this remind us that it needs all of us - parents, educators, community groups and organisations all pulling in the same direction to help children grow up with kindness, respect and the freedom to be themselves.

Please look out for future Festival of the Girl events – maybe we will see you there!