Two-year-old Elizabeth engages in gender segregated play groups. A likely explanation for her preference to play with girls is that

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When examining why a two-year-old like Elizabeth might prefer gender-segregated play with girls, we consider what is typical in early childhood development. 
Option 1: 'she does not have a choice because there are no boys in her environment.' While environmental exposure can influence play, this statement overstates the influence of mere availability and ignores the broader tendency for young children to gravitate toward same-sex peers even when other options exist. It also assumes environmental scarcity is the main driver, which isn’t the strongest explanation for early play preferences.
Option 2: 'her family taught her to discriminate against boys.' At age two, children are just beginning to form social categories, and while family socialization plays a role, phrasing this as deliberate teaching of discrimination toward an entire gender is not typically supported by developmental research at this age. It is an unlikely and oversimplified mechanism for a simple preference observed in toddler peer choices.
Option 3: 'she does not like rough-and-tumble play.' This aligns with established patterns in early childhood: boys are more often encouraged or inclined toward rough-and-tumble activities, while girls may prefer activities that are less physical or more social. A preference for playing with girls can reflect gender-typed activity preferences that emerge early, even if they are fluid and not fixed.
Option 4: 'she is confused about her gender identity.' At two years old, children have not yet developed a complex understanding of gender identity or gender constancy. Gender-identity concepts are still emerging, so attributing a preference for same-sex play to confusion about gender identity is not well supported by typical developmental timelines.
Overall, the reasoning supports that early childhood play often reflects gender-typed preferences rather than firm environmental deprivation, explicit family discrimination, or identity confusion, making the third option the most plausible explanation among those presented.

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Two-year-old Elizabeth engages in gender segregated play groups. A likely explanation for her preference to play with girls is that

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