Parents worry about numerous things concerning their child. Are they eating enough? Are they eating too much of the wrong thing? Are they getting good grades? Are other kids teasing them? Does that sneeze mean they could be coming down with a cold? Parents worry. If some parents could wrap their child in bubble wrap without being publicly shamed, they would.

Parents want to protect their children. In their angst, moms and dads forget that their children develop a personality and identity completely separate from their own. Some kids—and even adults—feel that their sex does not line up with their gender. As a parent, it may be difficult to navigate those waters, because a parent cannot draw from personal experience.

They can’t understand what their child is feeling. That can be terrifying.

If a child is exhibiting some signs that they have gender dysphoria, it may help to speak with an expert as they may be better equipped to help them. Many children who are exploring their gender identity may develop depression. Seeking professional help early may help a child navigate through these unfamiliar waters and also help them understand what is going on inside their child’s head. In the long run, this can help create a stronger parent-child bond.

15 Switching Up Their Wardrobe

When a child is small, it is completely normal for a parent to choose the child’s clothing as they are the ones getting the child dressed. As they get older and are going through the late toddler phase, they are able to verbalize what clothing they like and what clothing they dislike.

They even start expressing interest in what the parent is purchasing for them to wear. It is during this time that the child might start expressing their feelings about clothing. A girl might say that she doesn’t want to wear dresses because it is for girls, while a boy might say that he would like to wear clothing in more “feminine” colors—such as purples, pinks, and bright blues.

Although, their dislike for clothes designated for their sex may start sooner. Often times, trans boys hated wearing dresses from the time they were very young, like two years old.

14 Not Interested In "Gendered" Activities

A trans child may prefer to take part in activities associated with the other sex. For a trans girl, it may be doing arts and crafts or playing princess. In contrast, for a trans boy, it may be playing with Legos, Matchbox cars or action figures.

A child who isn’t trans may also be interested in toys and games associated with the other sex; this does not make them trans. What could differentiate between a trans child and gender non-conforming child is how they talk about that activity. If a trans boy were asked to play with Barbie dolls, their response would be along the line of that is for girls.

Their tone can make that sound derogatory, as if they were telling their parent that this activity is not designated for them. Also, it should be pointed out that this isn’t a one-off statement, but if the child continually repeats the same sentiment over time, there may be reason to suspect something is going on. That said, there's nothing off about a little boy that wants to keep house and play with baby dolls. We're trying to raise future fathers here.

13 Play Time Is Freeing

Childhood is a time to explore and learn new things about the world surrounding them. It is considered very normal for a child who is playing pretend to take on the other sex’s gender identity.

For example, when a group of girls are playing house, one girl will take on the role of playing the dad. That is considered normal and healthy. If a child always assumes the role of the opposite sex when they play house or firefighters or doctors or whatever their imagination can conjure up, then that might be something to consider as out of the ordinary.

Even if a child were to prefer playing the role of the opposite gender, it is still considered normal. In most instances, this desire for the child to play the opposite sex is coupled with other indicators where transgender issues are concerned. Nonetheless, that’s just the new normal, right?

12 Well That’s A Different Hair Style

Once children hit about four or five years old, they start really caring and wanting a say in how their hair is cut and styled. Obviously when they are that young, parents generally have the last say about their hair style. If a child is showing signs that they are transgender, they may be more vocal about how their hair is cut.

If a boy says he doesn’t want short hair because it is ugly or makes a general comment about how short hair is for boys, then it may be that the child indicating to the parent that they are unhappy with their current gender.

The same can be said for girls. Trans girls will want to have very short hair, generally. They too will also make a comment about the gender of a hairstyle. For example, a girl could say that she feels uncomfortable with long hair and would like to have a haircut akin to one a boy would have. Of course, sometimes kids are just trying to express themselves in a new way and it has nothing to do with their gender.

11 An Urge To Pee The Other Way

A child may not come forward at first and directly say they want to use the bathroom intended for the other sex; it could start as something subtler than that. Even though they are fully toilet-trained and have been for several years, they may have accidents in public or at school.

They may feel inclined to hold it because they know they can’t walk into the bathroom designated for the other sex. Hopefully, the child is able to verbalize that problem to their parent.

If they say that they had an accident because they couldn’t go into the bathroom they wanted to, this can be a big sign that a child is transgender. As a parent, it may help to speak with someone at the school about the child’s bathroom situation. Most schools are obliging.

10 Referring To Themselves As The Opposite Gender

Again, it is completely typical for young children to play around with their gender. They are learning and mimicking the world around them. It goes beyond play when they refer to themselves as the opposite sex.

If a little girl were to say that she is a boy or a little boy were to say that he is a girl, this can change things. Saying it once or twice isn’t an indicator that a child is trans; it is a constant issue for truly trans children.

It can also be the depth of their conviction and how they say it. If referring to themselves as the opposite sex becomes a recurring thing, a parent might want to start asking the question why. “Why are you referring to yourself as a boy/girl?” It would be in everyone’s best interest to refrain from asking a loaded question or asking the question in a derogatory manner.

9 It's All About The Pronouns

In the English language, there are many nuances. It is possible to write a sentence about a person and never once reference their gender. When a child or adult is struggling with gender identity, personal pronouns are important; they do matter. If a child starts referring to him or herself as the opposite of their born gender identity, then it is important to start an open dialogue with the child.

Many psychiatrists that focus heavily on transgender men, women and children offer valuable insight. A general consensus amongst these professionals is that this gender crisis isn’t a phase and that they will not grow out of it.

Parents who think that their child is transgender should ask them if they would like to try being referred to as a she or a he. After this little experiment, take note of their demeanor. Are they more comfortable being referred to as the other sex? This can be very telling of what lies ahead.

8 Signs Of Depression Or Suicide

This is a touchy subject for very obvious reasons. If a parent is wondering if their child is transgender, depression and suicidal behavior is an incredibly sad sign that they might be. People within the LBGTQ community have a higher rate of depression.

Much of a child’s and young adult’s depression is brought about by either the child not wanting to accept their true identity, fears that they will be rejected if they were out, or family members and friends who have rejected them.

It is tremendously important that parents keep an open dialogue running with their kids and for them to have that difficult conversation about sexual identity. By talking about their emotions and feelings, they will be a better adjusted human being. If a child is showing signs of depression, please seek professional help.

7 It's No Longer A "Phase" Past The Age Of 10

As previous points have stated, it is very normal for young children to play pretend. A little girl can pretend to be a daddy and a boy can pretend to be a princess. That is normal up until a certain point.

After the age of nine or ten, children generally stop these sorts of activities. The child matures and outgrows pretend, imaginary play. As a child enters their preteen years and is still playing the opposite sex, then it may be something more permanent.

If a child is still identifying as the opposite sex during “play” time, then it may be time to have a conversation with them about this topic. If the conversation is coming from a place of judgment, that may deter the child from opening up about their activities.

6 Partaking In Sports Designated For The Opposite Gender

Little girls who like rough and tumble sports—and little boys who prefer dance classes—may be transgender. It is perfectly acceptable for a child to like either thing. After all, it is our social construct that dictates what activities are “girlish” and what activities are “boyish”. While many people are proponents for changing these gender stereotypes, the norms still exist.

It isn’t necessarily that they like to play sports designed for the opposite sex, but rather their opinion about it. If a parent wanted to enroll their little boy in little league, a reaction of someone who is transgender might be, “no, that activity is for boys.”

It is the excluding of themselves from that activity designated for their gender that is the real marker. If a little girl likes skate boarding and wearing baggy clothes, but still refers to herself as a female, chances are that she is not transgender. She simply may be a girl who likes skateboarding.

5 Wanting To Shop In The Other Clothing Section

Around the age of four, children like going clothes shopping with their parents because they want to have a say in their wardrobe. As a parent, the burden of picking out the wrong clothes no longer falls on the parent’s shoulders.

If a child is transgender, it can be more uncomfortable for the parent. Parents have an image of how they think their child should be and it can be a difficult pill to swallow when they realize that this is not the reality that they live in.

When taking the child clothing shopping, a parent’s first instinct is to head into the section of their assigned gender to find clothes that best fit their clothing style. However, they may no longer wish to shop in that department. A little girl may want to have looser fitting pants that are in the boy’s section and not in the girl’s section. This is a sign that the child may be transgender. Or, they’re a tomboy. Or, they don’t require a label at all. Dig deeper and find out what is happening and what is right for your individual family.

4 Connecting With Others Who Are Trans

Reading bedtime stories is a wonderful part of a bedtime routine. It helps promote literacy and gives parents and children a chance to bond. Most girls are very happy to read stories from boys and girls points of view, while boys prefer stories written from a boy’s perspective.

If a child prefers to read a book from the other sex’s point of view, especially if they are a boy, then it could be sign of gender identity disorder. They may even show disdain or distress from reading books from the point of view of someone who is the same sex as they are.

If a child is extremely displeased reading books with characters that are the same sex as the child, be open to reading books with characters of the other sex. It may be a phase they are going through, or it can be a sign that the child does not relate to someone of the same anatomical sex.

3 How Does Your Child Perceive Gender?

If gender is a spectrum, there are naturally two ends of that spectrum: masculine and feminine. In determining whether or not a child could be transgender, it is important to have two perspectives on this: where society and the parent would place the child, and where the child places him or herself on the spectrum.

If a set of parents have a boy, they will likely perceive him to be masculine. Even if he were to do things that are perceived to be feminine, he still has a masculine energy. If the boy perceives himself to be feminine, then he may be transgender.

There may be girls who like participating in more masculine activities and they are generally labeled as tomboys. Most tomboys see themselves as having masculine traits, but ultimately, they view themselves from a feminine/female perspective.

2 Hating Their Name

Nothing is more personal than a name. It is part of a person’s identity. However, if a name is very gender-aligned, it can be something that is difficult to accept when a child is trans. For example, Isabelle and Samantha are clearly girl’s names and David and John are obviously boy’s names.

If a child is transgendered, the will probably be uncomfortable being called the name they were given. They might instead choose to adopt another name—one that clearly belongs to the opposite sex or one that is unisex, such as Alex, Sam, Charlie, or Jordan. Or, they might abbreviate their name to sound more gender neutral.

Whatever the child wishes to be called, it is a clear indicator that they are having issues with their gender—although they may not be transgender. It may be helpful to ask them if they would like to use the new name they have given themselves or if they would rather be called the name they were given at birth. If they say that they want to be called by another name, it is up to the parent to decide if they follow through with the child’s request or refuse. Seeking professional guidance on this isn’t a bad idea.

1 Looking At Everything

In pinpointing whether or not a child is transgender, rarely is there one thing. It is not merely that they like to dress like the other sex or pretend they are the other sex. Some children are more interested in activities performed by the opposite sex. It is a complex, melting pot of features that present in the trans child that sets them apart from the rest.

There were many moments that happen before a parent realizes there might be something different about their child. If mom or dad have any thoughts that their child might be transgender, it doesn’t come from just one event—although one thing their child did may have been the ah-ha moment.

Humans are multi-faceted individuals; just because a child is small does not mean that they are incapable of being complex as well. As parents, it is very important to look at a child as a whole before asking yourself—or them—about their gender status. It may help to speak with a psychiatrist about this to determine whether or not they are actually struggling with anything more than pubescence and confused in response to today’s societal construct.

Sources: NYTimes.com, Parents.com, HRC.org, VOX.com