Edit: I don’t know how to change the tittle, but non binary is the wrong word usage. He is non gender conforming or feminine boy.

My son (his pronouns) is 6. He LOVES rainbows, his stuffed unicorn and anything else that is unicorn. Extra bonus points if it sparkles. My husband and I think he is absolutely perfect and are trying to create a home where he can be whatever and whoever he is. He is in 1st grade and is starting to get negative attention from his classmates. Just typical stuff, why r you wearing pink, it’s stupid you think your a girl (he identifies as both). I want to encourage him to be himself and be proud, but I also don’t want ignore reality. Here is my question As a mom, how much should I encourage him to be himself vs being more realistic and encourage a more masc typical look (at school only) until he is a bit older? I don’t want to make him feel like he shouldn’t be himself, but I also don’t want to send him out into the world with pie in the sky rose colored glasses.

I know I can’t protect him from everything, but I want to do what I can to set him for the best possible outcome. I just don’t know what to do and could really use some perspective.

TLDR how do I best help my gender nonconforming 6 year old navigate school? Encourage him to be as feminine as he wants despite the teasing, or take a more reserved perspective to minimize the negative?

Edit 2: for those of you saying, “ he’s 6, there no way he knows he’s not a boy” Yes he does, he loves video games, unicorns, purple, playing spy, and he 100% knows he does not feel like a BOY 100% of the time. So please don’t tell me what he should or should not be thinking or feeling. Please keep that to yourself.