I would become concerned with his insisting that he is Zoe only if it is carried out throughout his daily life, both in your household and in public. That behavior, if continued over several weeks, would merit a discussion with your pediatrician. I would just roll with this now, letting him know that you can play along with him most of the time, while letting him know that you understand that he is pretending. You might even engage his imaginative play in this regard by both pretending that you are Zoe -- he might get a kick out of that. At an unconscious level, kids who are imitating younger children may be saying to grownups that they would like some of that special attention, care and appreciation that they see a baby/younger getting. I am sure that you will handle this with sensitivity, understanding why it's happening and that's it's nothing to be concerned about.
Two-Year-Old Boy Pretends to Be a Girl
Carleton Kendrick has been in private practice as a family therapist and has worked as a consultant for more than 20 years. He has conducted parenting seminars on topics ranging from how to discipline toddlers to how to stay connected with teenagers. Kendrick has appeared as an expert on national broadcast media such as CBS, Fox Television Network, Cable News Network, CNBC, PBS, and National Public Radio. In addition, he's been quoted in the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, USA Today, Reader's Digest, BusinessWeek, Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and many other publications.
Please note: This "Expert Advice" area of FamilyEducation.com should be used for general information purposes only. Advice given here is not intended to provide a basis for action in particular circumstances without consideration by a competent professional. Before using this Expert Advice area, please review our General and Medical Disclaimers.