9 year old boy with "traditional girl" interests

[anng1007]

I have a sweet, smart, funny 9 year old son.  He has always like to play with traditional girl things (dress up, etc.).  Right now he is completely obsessed with Hannah Montana and Raven Symone.  He has friends at school, but they are all girls.  I have no problem with this, however, he never gets invited on playdate because the girls at his school seem to only have playdates with other girls and the same goes for the boys.  He is happy at school and seems to be well liked by most of the children, so I can't understand why he never gets invited anywhere (except to an occasional birthday party).  I have tried arranging play dates at our house and the few that we have had seemed to have gone well, but he has never been asked to any of their houses in return.  The only people he sees regularly are his cousins (all girls) and my best friends daughter.  There are children in the neighborhood but he will only go out and play with them if his older brother goes with him.  I have tried enrolling him in activities that he likes (gymnastics, which was all boys and theater camp, which turned out to be mostly girls), but he didn't make any friends at either one and ended up hating them.  Has anyone else had this issue and can you give me some advice, PLEASE!

[lylli]

Is it possible that he just does not have a lot of male influence in his life?  If I am way off base please excuse me.  If you think this  may possibly be a cause try big brothers and/or boyscouts.  Sometimes one on one guy time helps.  If he is happy and well adjusted I would not be too concerned though, he is young after all.

[RockRose]

My youngest son was like that.  He did have boys who would attempt to be his friends - and he was well-liked,  as you say about your son,  but my son didn't like competing physically,  and didn't like playing rough sports.  So,  that left him completely without stuff to do with other boys.  They wanted to play airsoft,  or wrestle,  or football,  or other things where there was a definite winner or loser,  and he was always on the loser side.  : (   It's funny,  he hikes the canyon all day,  explores the woods,  rides his bike forever and is trim and fit,  but as far as competing strength-wise,  he just couldn't do it,  and didn't want to.

He's turning 13 next week and his friends have completely changed.  He has a regular crowd of 6 neighborhood boys,  and more aquaintances who all get together every weekend or so for some activity.  

I don't know what to say except wait it out.  And keep thinking of things other boys might want to do - action movies,  a trip to the creek to catch tadpoles,  etc.

Best wishes.