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

[Gymbomom]

As a mom of a teen, I am curious what "teenage situations" you are referring to? Going to Girl Scouts and swim practice? Going to the mall with friends to buy earrings at Claires? Wearing makeup?


My girls played with them when they were younger. They dressed them up in crazy outfits(sometimes the guys clothes) and drove them around in the cars.I didn't see any harm in that.


As far as children emulating older kids and adults that is some of what doll play is about anyway. Just something to think about.

Yes, wearing makeup, going to the mall without mom, boys, dressing to impress...those are things a teenager talks about, thinks about, etc. I think that is totally normal. I did not say those things were bad.
I just said I don't want my CHILD thinking about those things right now. I want her to be entertained by things a child thinks about. She has plenty of time to grow up and do all of those things, when she is a teenager!

Another example, I let my dd watch the Mary Kate and Ashley shows when they were young. I do not let her view the ones released most recently. Why??? They are the same Mary Kate and Ashley right???
Well, the newest ones deal with boys and dating, etc...why would I sit my child down in front of that and say, hey think about this stuff...k??


We play with My Scene dolls, but I haven;t let her watch the movies included again, they are all about who likes who, and I am mad at you because I thought you liked him, etc.... What child should watch something like that?? I don;t want mine to!

 

[KristiKelly]

I've never liked them, never bought them. DD has received a couple as gifts. I've always thought they looked like little hooker dolls.

 

[noodleknitter]

I've never liked them, never bought them. DD has received a couple as gifts. I've always thought they looked like little hooker dolls.

Then when they made the little hooker babies...well, that was just creepy.

 

[DisneyPhD]

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.

I agree, no Bratz in my house (dolls or otherwise.) Really who came up with the great idea to call dolls brats? That isn't what I want my daughter to look up to.

I have a plan. Fork out the $ for American doll toys and other toys I think are quality. If my DD wants "older" dolls when she is older, we will think about it, but really you can find hip dolls that aren't bratz. The American Girl today dolls are super cute and have great clothes. My DD also really likes the new Holly Hobbie line (hip clothes, fun dolls.)

She knows they aren't allowed in our house. She doesn't like them. I don't think I would say that she can't play with them at friends houses, but I do think watching the DVD is too far. I don't think the other mother should of allowed it.

We do allow sponge bob, (in moderation) but not most other Nick shows or even some of the new ones for older ages on toon Disney. My dd's are 5 and 2, they don't need to grow up too fast.

Remember about 7 years ago (or was it longer) that all these little girls loved the spice girls? Not my niece. It wasn't allowed. Today she is one of the nicest 15 year olds you will ever meet. Oh and she thinks bratz are nasty too. She says that girls shouldn't be allowed to play with them.

 

[fakereadhed]

Another example, I let my dd watch the Mary Kate and Ashley shows when they were young. I do not let her view the ones released most recently. Why??? They are the same Mary Kate and Ashley right???
Well, the newest ones deal with boys and dating, etc...why would I sit my child down in front of that and say, hey think about this stuff...k??

That is like comparing apples to oranges. If you didn't let them play with the MaryKate and Ashey dolls, then I would follow you.

BTW, my 13yo is not allowed to go the mall without mom yet

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well when Barbie intro'd Skipper and Kelly--they didn't dress them like hookers....

A girl in my daughter's dance class last year had a bratz baby...now why does a baby need a Marilyn Monroe mole (how funny that they think this is to make young girls feel that they will look better) and heavy makeup and dress just like the little tart teens that Bratz portrays?

 

[ChrisLei]

I think it is everyone’s own personal opinion on this matter and what they feel comfortable with.
In my house my DD 7 does have Bratz and does have the movies...now with that said let me preface it with this is my personal opinion, I don't feel a movie series or dolls are going to corrupt my child. They are dolls and not real and she knows that. She simply sees them as a toy and they are fun to dress up and play with. We don't wear "hoochie" clothes and she has never asked for them.

I use my guidance with her to make her know what is acceptable and what is not. I am not always with her 24/7 and I cannot control everything that she sees and hears. But as her parent I do teach her right from wrong.

As parents we each have our own way of raising children and like it or not we have to respect the differences that each of us have....not necessarily like them just respect that everyone has different options.

I am all with you! My daughter has had Bratz dolls for 3 years now and she has never asked to dress like a hoochie. LOL Actually she is the girliest girl you would ever meet. She loves pretty frilly dresses, is very modest, loves taking dance classes, and watching anything DISNEY! (of course like her mom!)

A doll is not going to make a deep impression on a child. They look at it as simply a doll. My brother played with toy guns his whole life does that mean he has ever shot a gun? Does he have an obsession with guns? NO.

If a parent feels that they don't want to buy a particular toy because it looks ugly or whatever fine. But to teach a child to discriminate....because that is what it is "My daughter can't play with that child because she plays with THOSE toys" is even worse than what the doll looks like.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I posted earlier regaridng my thoughts, but i just wanted to add that right now my two DD's are upstairs playing with their Bratz dolls along with their Ariel and Sleeping Beauty dolls. I was sitting in my room reading a book and i was also listening to what they were saying. I always listen to their storeis. You can learn alot about a child by just listening, even if it's while they are playing. Right now their Bratz and princess dolls are at CRT waiting for Belle, Jasime and Mulan to come to their table.
I was reading alot of posts reagarding parents who want their kids to act their age and not try to be older than they are. I pretty much thought i was that way because I do not want my children to grow up or act older than they are, but how many of us let our children wear the plastic high heels or dress up gowns, play jewelry or even let them play with makeup and nailpolish? By doing this we are letting them act older than they are even if some of your do not play with Bratz dolls. It's really not about the dolls, it's really society that plays a huge rols in our children's lives. It's TV, magazines, the news, our neighbors, their classmates. It's really up to us to set them straight.
My daughters like the Bratz dolls, but they know they are not real and do not think of them as role models or anyone that they would want to look like. They rarely ask to wear makeup, usually only if i am putting it on. I am their biggest role model and i don't want them into that stuff yet so i stopped wearing it at home. They don't ask to wear short skirts or shorts. My oldest likes to wear pants. I don't ever talk about being unhappy with my appearance. I only let them wear light colored nail polish. They are in Brownies, are cheerleaders and go to dancing school. They love princess's. They do not talk fresh, say inappropraite things, talk back or make fun of other children. Iteach them to be respectful, to appreciate the differences in people, to respect their bodies and be happy the way they are.
They have the dolls and the books and as the mother of my children i don't have a probelm with the Bratz dolls. I limit their television because that does not build imagination. They are not allowed to watch Nickelodeon or Cartoom Network. Even some Disney shows have sexual inuendos.
I guess thats what makes this world great. I love that we all have different opinions about everything. What a boring world it would be if we all thought the same way.

 

[dana1003]

Not a fan either and im hispanic. Its nice too see that they tried to find something to fit every person but i dont like they way they make them look so "street" looking. guess what? not all hispanic girls want to have painted faces and bling, bling. too sterotypical for me. they can play w/any doll they like..doesnt matter what race, color, gender as long as it doesnt send the wrong message. my girls are only 3 and i think playing w/baby dolls is good enough.

 

[belle&beast]

My daughter is not that into her Barbies or even her princess dolls from the Disney Store. She still prefers to play with baby dolls. However, she does like the "bling bling" although she doesn't know that term yet! She loves to play dress up and wear big necklaces and high heeled shoes. She has never asked for Bratz, but she is the oldest in our family and even the oldest cousin, so there is very little influence from older girls. If she wanted them, I would consider it, but for now we'll stick to Bitty Baby and Doodlebear!

 

[DisneyPRPrincess]

I don't know about everyone else but I have never seen anyone teen or otherwise, dressed like the BRATZ dolls. And I am a NYer! LOL We see everything! So to think that kids want to dress like them is obsurd. I played with Barbies my whole childhood and I can safely say I never wanted to dress like her.