At what age do children typically know the gender of themselves and others?

Children typically develop an understanding of their own gender and the gender of others around the age of 3 years. By this age, many children can label themselves and others as male or female, which marks the beginning of gender identity awareness. While some children may show signs of this understanding slightly earlier or later, 3 years is considered the average age. As children approach their fourth year, this understanding becomes more solidified, and they often become more vocal about gender distinctions and may begin to display gender-typed behaviors and preferences.

At around age 4, children often have a more concrete grasp of gender categories, but the foundational knowledge is usually established by age 3. This understanding forms part of their cognitive development as well as their social interactions with peers. Recognizing oneself and others in terms of gender is a key component of their overall identity formation and understanding of the social world.