OT-Bratz dolls-HATE THEM! Just a rant....

[princesspiglet]

Ok, my daughter went on a "playdate" this past weekend and stayed at a friends house for a few hours. When I picked her up I asked her what she did and she said played with Bratz dolls and watched a Bratz movie. I really don't like the message these Bratz things are sending out, but I let this slide. This morning she picks out an outfit and decides that it is not "stylish" enough and she needs some "bling"!! She said she learned this from the Bratz movie. WTH? Do parents actually let their young daughters watch these shows and have these dolls??? I asked the mother at school this morning and she thought it was fine, she saw nothing wrong with it. I was mortified and told Athena she would no longer be allowed to watch anything Bratz or play with Bratz dolls ( this was the first time, they are not allowed in my house). She got mad and threw a tantrum, but I refuse to give in to this.

Am I overreacting or is there anyone else out there who agrees with me??

 

[KirstenB]

We have an 8 y.o. dd. We don't like Bratz either, so we haven't bought any. However, she probably plays with them at her friends' houses. Although I don't like them, part of going to your friends' houses is playing with their toys.

So if the toy isn't dangerous or incredibly inappropriate, that's okay with me.

 

[fakereadhed]

As a child of the 70's, my feminist mom thought that Barbie was giving the wrong message to me. My grandparents bought me some, and I don't think it corrupted me, or hurt my self image.

Different times, different dolls.

 

[tinkwannabe2]

I have my daughter trained... when she sees them on TV or at the store, she makes an ugly face and says "Eeeew, those are the icky dolls!" On her Christmas list for family I put "No Bratz please."

 

[Jimmae05]

I personally don't see why they are a problem. They have variety with faces and races, and have about 5 different african american dolls, and 8 different asian dolls. They aren't all barbie blonde, and some of them have painted on moles, to show that everyone is beautiful. Some of the clothes are a bit revealing, i'll admit, but a lot of them are not. (think of the winter wonderland line from a year or so ago, some of the clothes were really cute)

(and about your daughter wanting "bling", that was never a prob, until the most recent line, but still, the "bling" isn't too outragous. If she asks again, suggest some earrings or a bracelet to go along with the outfit.)

Now, this is just my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own.

 

[karinbelle]

I have a DS, but there are shows I won't allow him to watch (the new "Mr. Meaty" - I just think it looks gross). However, I do allow him to watch SpongeBob (but I know friends of his who cannot watch this show). We also don't watch Ed, Edd & Eddie. I explain to him what is wrong with those shows.

She is your child and if you are uncomfortable with the message the dolls send, explain it to her. Don't just tell her she can't because you said so. She probably needs a reason. She might even pass some of your wisdom on to her friends.

I agree the Bratz dolls are terrible and send the wrong message. To me, Barbie was not that bad - though I didn't have a Barbie. At least Barbie has a job, career, family, etc. Bratz dolls are just glorifying the Paris Hilton lifestyle. Who wants their daughter to aspire to that?

The Bratz dolls seem to value "looks" above brains and hard work. That's my main problem with them. I wish my sister wouldn't get them for her 4 year old.

 

[Denine]

When your child plays at another childs house, it is hard to keep them from toys you don't like. I do agree that I can't stand those dolls and they will never be in my house!

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

What can we really expect from dolls called Bratz? lol I won't buy them for my kids either. I guess I am strict compared to some parents. I won't let my kids watch Spongebob either. THey are trained... ewww, spongebob! He walks around in his underwear for crying out loud! lol

Oh, and I saw a Barbie doll wearing a bikini with a tattoo on her body. I was not impressed. I am NOT raising divas or hoochie mamas in training. WHen my dd was 3 and 4 she would always point out magazines or real living breathing girls and say to me, Mama, that girl needs more clothes! I was so proud! I'm not at the extreme where woman can't be attractive - I just don't think we have to show the world all our assets. Whatever happened to leaving something to the imagination or, more important, your husband?

 

[badblackpug]

Oh well, we have Bratz and Barbie. I don't think the kids will grow up to be pole dancers by playing with them. As far as clothing goes, you control what your daughter wears, and ALL little girls like bling! They just don't use that term, but my experience has been the sparklier, flowerier, and louder colored, the better!
...and Barbie comes in a variety of skintones and ethnicities now. We have red headed Barbie, Latino Barbie, Asian Barbie, Black Barbie, and plain ol' blonde Barbie.

the Bratz dolls are ugly, though!

I would like to see heavy thighs Barbie, cellulite Barbie, thick waisted Barbie, acne Barbie, and flat chested Barbie......

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

I would like to see heavy thighs Barbie, cellulite Barbie, thick waisted Barbie, acne Barbie, and flat chested Barbie......

Now that would be something to see...

 

[fakereadhed]

I would like to see heavy thighs Barbie, cellulite Barbie, thick waisted Barbie, acne Barbie, and flat chested Barbie......

They already did...minus the acne!

Rosie doll

 

[LubsPoohBear]

to each there own we love the BRATZ they are teens dress like teens act like teens( ok so there rich teens) but for me i like my girls playing with the teen dolls and the best part about them is its harder too loss them lil shoes ( like barbies don't get me wrong we have them too )

 

[maciec]

I agree that the Bratz dolls are ugly! My dd is 6 and I will not let her have Bratz dolls. I do not like the image they portray. I do not think that it is appropriate for a 6yoa.

With that being said, they are geared towards girls 9-12. When my dd gets to be 9, I will re-evaluated then. Until then, they are not going to be in my house.

 

[jennobrn01]

I'm with you OP.

Marketing materialism and provactive dress to young girls is disgusting. We speak often how children are mimics and highly impressionable. Play is a childs life. Certainly their playthings (toys, movies, games) influence them greatly.

If I am blessed with a daughter I want her toys to encourage creativity, intelligence, and integrity.

 

[disneyfanfamily]

I don't like Bratz. However, if my child plays with them at someone's house, I don't have a problem with it. DD6 keeps asking when she will be old enough to get one. I just say "I don't really know". Probably never. However, when Bratz is a thing of the past, something else will come out that I do not like...It's not so much the dolls, but that attitude that it seems to portray. Isn't that funny? Can a doll portray an attitude? She just looks like she has an attitude, in my opinion.

But, I wouldn't be devasted if DD got one from someone as a gift. I'd let her keep it. Just don't like it very much. She knows our values (as much as a 6 year old can). What she plays with shouldn't affect her outcome as an adult.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

It is a doll and the only message that it sends is the one that people make their own assumptions about. Just like everyone thought Barbie sent a wrong message. I always played with dolls, however I never once wanted to be blonde and I never once thought about having to be thin just because she was. SHE WAS A DOLL!! She was a doll that i spent hundreds of hours playing with, making up scenerios and changing their clothes. The Bratz dolls come in different races which sends a positive message that you can be friends with all kinds of people and accept their differences. MY children are caucasion and their fav dolls are Sasha who is African American and Jade who is Asian. Every Bratz book that I have read with my children has always been about friendship, being honest and about not boys, sex or anything that i would find offensive. And i am over protective about those kinds of things. They don't used bad language in their movies. The only things i don't like is their clothes, but my children have never asked to dress like any of the Bratz. My children have tons of Barbies, Bratz, Strawberry Shortcake Dolls, Holly Hobbies, etc. It is a doll and when my children play with them, they play with all their dolls together and make up tons of stories about friendships. I listen to what they say and how they play and never once has it be inappropraite. It builds imagination. I talk to my children about peer pressure even at their young age, but in an age appropriate way. Young children look up to their parents. If you set the example that you feel is appropriate for your children then a doll should not pose a problem.

 

[ntburns22]

If my dd6 recieves them as gifts she can have them. But she knows that we will not be buying her any. My problem with them comes from the cartoon/movies, I don't know if we have seen the same one twice or what. But both times they were making fun of a girl for getting a nose job. My dd is facing reconstructive surgery (Midface Hypoplasia) in her tweens. Getting a new nose is on her list, when we watch Bratz it just makes her more worried about her future. So for us it is easier to not to watch or to buy.

 

[KerriSue]

I would like to see heavy thighs Barbie, cellulite Barbie, thick waisted Barbie, acne Barbie, and flat chested Barbie......

If they had these kind of dolls, I could finally say I looked like Barbie

Dont forget saggy ****y Barbie and stretch mark barbie

 

[noodleknitter]

Yuck. If I had wanted my girls to look and act like these "teens", I would have just bought them their own hoochie outfits and let them walk the vegas strip.

Just because they mimic society, doesn't mean they are good. It would be like buying terrorist action figures for my sons. Sometimes we don't want them to emulate the "real world." Sometimes it is good to shoot for a better world.

 

[Gymbomom]

ITA ~ OP!!!

We don't "do" Bratz either at our house. But, for me the way I approach thimgs like this is for everything I evere "take away" I try to find something to replace it.
ex: I say no to Bratz, but we do My Scene instead.