Being "girlie"

You may let your son mingle with the other child on a limited exposure. Make it a point that you are around (or another male guardian) watching them play. It's hard to calculate how much influence your child's playmate has impressed upon your son. Certainly, we don't belittle "girlie" qualities. It's just that you don't like your son to develop similar liking.

Seems like this is somewhat of a gender issue which I usually avoid giving a comment to. But I share the same apprehension. A lot of people underestimate the strength of peer influence. I'm not a child psychologist but I don't think at that age your son would acquire those girlie qualities as long as he's also got a male role model in your house. They say that kids usually undergo through that stage, like playing with girl toys and stuff but they eventually outgrow it. So probably you just have to find a way to teach him the difference between boys and girls. Okay, that's my diplomatic take on the matter :) Here's a straightforward one. Don't let him play with the 3-year-old kid anymore. Your son might see that boy as his role model and pick up those girlie qualities. At that age, kids really imitate what older people do.