At what age do children typically achieve an understanding of gender stability?

Children typically achieve an understanding of gender stability around the ages of 3 to 4 years. At this stage, they begin to recognize that gender is a stable characteristic and that it remains consistent over time. For instance, a child at this age may understand that a girl will continue to be a girl and a boy will remain a boy as they grow older. This understanding is part of their cognitive development process, where they start to establish categories for themselves and others based on sex.

Before this age, children may mix up gender roles or labels, as they have not fully grasped the concept of gender as a stable attribute. They may identify boys and girls based on physical appearances or roles rather than understanding that these attributes remain constant. The other options reflect ages at which children are still developing their overall understanding of gender concepts, with stability typically not established until the 3-4 year range.