They want what they want. They have desires to be boys, girls, rough, quiet, loud, masculine, feminine, etc. all without (and often in spite of) being influenced to the contrary.
Advertising just showcases things that they already mostly want. It doesn't completely change their desires.
What children want is influenced by what their peers want, and what peer groups find desirable is influenced, among other things, by merchandising-related children's TV programming.
When I was young, there was far less difference between boys toys and girls toys than there is now.
Girls want to care for things, communicate, etc, and boys want to blow stuff up or build stuff. It's preprogrammed into our DNA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_children#Reality
http://planetark.org/wen/53118
> "When carers leave the room, the girl jumps at the door and barks," the police said.
An extreme example I admit, but if it's preprogrammed into out DNA shouldn't she be "caring for things" instead?
Wait until you've had a son and daughter, then come back and report what massive differences in behaviour there was right from birth.
And they usually dress them differently (girls get girl clothes, boys get boy clothes).
http://www.newsweek.com/why-parents-may-cause-gender-differe...