What's the real difference between how boys and girls develop? Is it sugar and spice versus snails and puppy dog tails? Is it Mars versus Venus? Is it all in genes and chromosomes?

For example, girls have more acute hearing than boys and begin talking a bit sooner, but boys show superior spatial intelligence even in the first year. Girls start life growing physically faster and at a more steady rate. Girls develop social skills sooner than boys and are more interested in people and feelings even in the first year of growth.

What do these and other gender differences mean for parents and caregivers? Do they contribute to stereotypes? How can parents nourish the whole child?