Bratz dolls - banned at my house!
By LeslieD
@LeslieD (59)
United States
January 6, 2007 10:16pm CST
Ok, I know I'm an older mom, but when I see the Bratz dolls on the shelves, it makes me sad. All the make up, the short mini skirts, the hoochie clothing. Disgusting. I know Barbie wasn't exactly the best roll model for a growing girl either, but these designers of Bratz have crossed a line and I have told all my friends and relatives that if a Bratz doll is given to one of my girls, it will be returned promptly to the store.
Girls these days have a different life than I did when I was growing up. I lived the easy times in the 60's. It was always a good day as long as I could sit outside and read under a tree or just spend time relaxing after school. Now, girls are expected to have a million activities, compete with boys in all sports regardless of the dangers involved, and also dress and act provocitively in order to "get her man." I'm sorry, my 7 year old doesn't need a "man" in her life!
Back in the day, if someone new that I hadn't seen on my street before went walking by, I would think nothing of answering a cheery "Hello!" in response to a greeting. This is a different world.
How about it parents? Do you allow this type of plaything to inhabit your daughter's toybox?
10 people like this
54 responses
@puma_nz (999)
• New Zealand
7 Jan 07
I know where you are coming from LeslieD.. I have an 11yr old who absolutely loved BRATZ dolls which was okay until she showed me one with TATTOOS and PIERCINGS!!! that did it for me (and her for that matter) It was a HUGE put off!! Alot of parents have complained about these things they call "DOLLS" and most shops have taken them off the market. My Children are very old fashioned now.. They are not into the latest "CRAZE" of Playboy and Von Dutch etc..
This maybe a bit disgusting.. but my girl wanted a Playboy Blanket for her bed.. and I said to her "You wanna have a Playboy cover??? Sure! I'll give ya one.. gimme a couple of days and you'll have one" I printed out pages of Playboy images and completely covered her Bed.. to her SHOCK!! she came home and saw millions of Naked women on her Bed.. She grabbed each page and threw them at me. Ofcourse! To her, Playboy was the biggest thing since the evolution of man.. But in 30secs.. That totally wiped her mind of everything..
I may get dirt for that but thats cool.. thats what I did..and she now sticks to "Cultural Art"
2 people like this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
7 Jan 07
Its not only the bratz dolls. Its the clothes that are out there. They all look like street walkers. The idea of wareing night clothes or under clothes on the out side is part of the problem. Those chamese are very pretty but they are under clothes.
1 person likes this
@LeslieD (59)
• United States
8 Jan 07
You are right, some of the clothes in children's clothing stores are gross. Why on earth would you want someone to see your child wearing a pair of shorts that says "sexy" on the back and she's only five years old? Come on parents! Wake up! Sexuality will come into their lives at the appropriate time, let them have a childhood!
@april444 (1341)
• United States
7 Jan 07
I was shocked when these dolls first started comming out. Like what in the world are people thinking wanting our daughters to play with hooker dolls? On my daughters 5th birthday she recived one brats doll and one myscence doll. I quickly put a decent dress on the my scene doll. The bratz doll at least had pants I threw the mini skirts away. My girls love the princess dolls and regular barbies. The other 2 dolls dont get played with alot but my 3 year old loves to take her head off lol.
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
7 Jan 07
I have a 10 year old daughter and she has several Bratz dolls. Never have I seen any with peircings or tatoos- but then again would I be shocked? No..
Bratz dolls are our generations Barbie's. Barbie had Ken-
I see nothing wrong with the dolls. They are fully dressed.-- Campfire Bratz, Sleepover Bratz (She comes in pj's- pants and a long sleeve pj top)? what could be wrong with that?
Its the time we say no to our children and they play with them somewhere else-- they are just dolls.
Parents, teachers, adult family members, friends teach your daughters right and wrong- not Bratz dolls.
Do i think kids are growing up faster than we did as children? Yes-- Do I think my daughter is being taught harder lessons at school than when I was in 5th grade? Yes I do--
Bratz are just a fad--
1 person likes this
@trysameer (219)
• India
7 Jan 07
yeah....! you r right ....dolls are meant for kids fantasy, not for their demoral values...many kids are just out of their values just bcoz of the immature contents of the paying materials..!
@nancygibson (3736)
• France
7 Jan 07
I agree with you, I don't have children but I do work with them and many fo my friends have daughters that age, and its not a healthy role model at all. I'm very lucky that round here cildren still get taken out for long muddy walks and to play in teh woods (though with parents these days not alone like we did sadly) but I know a lot of kids in towns think this is normal behaviour and that does worry me.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
7 Jan 07
I am not a parent yet but i have seen bratz dolls before... i don't think i will allowed my child to play with it as well because it is not a good toy according to my opinion... so, yes, i agree with you...
1 person likes this
@nuffsed (1271)
•
7 Jan 07
Bravo!!! It is long past time to take a stand. It's not an old fuddy duddy thing either. Too many stores have sexy underwear for six year olds and it is irresponsible for parents to buy this stuff. Let kids mature slowly. Let them enjoy some innocence.
It's all about Corporate profit at the expence of your childs childhood!!!
Take a stand!!!!
1 person likes this
@glasser3 (354)
• Hibbing, Minnesota
7 Jan 07
I am not yet a parent but i might be in the near future but basicly my opinion is that yes these bratz dolls and alot of other toys, movies, tv shows, games, music, clothing styles ect would be banned in my house because they are just one more distraction and one more view of a not so good side of our culture that my child would not need to be exposed to and granted some may say well that doesnt really matter because if your a good parent its your values that will be distilled in them . yes granted thats true to a point but think of it this way are you exactly like your parents or did music, games, ect change you in some way. Truth is i highly doubt anyone can answer that as a yes because we are all diffrent in some way from our parents.
1 person likes this
@Aleksius (32)
• Norway
7 Jan 07
It's just dolls, it's not gonna make them into bulemic monsters without feelings. If your daughter wants to bplay with Bratz dolls; let her. She'll grow bored of it before she's even old enough to think about looking good.
But then again, I don't have children so my parent-instinct has far from awaken.
1 person likes this
@ladybear (128)
• Denmark
7 Jan 07
I think your doing the right thing. It is important to set boundries and let them know what i real and what is not. I do belive that our children are way to influenced by what they se in cartoons and out side of our homes.
My datter now 14, is so convinced about her apperence and what it is the outside world thinks of her that I sometimes wonder if she really knows what is going on around her. And when we say that things don't go in this house we get told, oh but all my friends can. So what you are not raising your datters friends kids. And it will do them good in the long run that you stick to what YOU belive. Good work.
1 person likes this
@loopymiss (3)
• New Zealand
7 Jan 07
I agree about the Brats dolls. I would not like my daughter having them either.
I am a young mum.. and back when I was little we never had or did what kids are getting up to or have these days. I am horrified when I go into town and see little 10 year olds with makeup, short skirts and glam on. I would not like my 4 yr old doing that when she is older. To me that is just asking for trouble dressing the way that some younger girls do.
And YES I do think that kids toys and dolls have a big influence on kids.
1 person likes this
@mikeyr6000le (2123)
• United States
7 Jan 07
Good for you. I feel the same way. I am not a parent though but have seen the Bratz dolls. I even caught a bit of the cartoon. It's just as bad, if not worse. People use to feel that way about the Barbie doll though. I myself would rather give my kid a Barbie then a Bratz.
1 person likes this
@cajundharma (641)
• United States
7 Jan 07
No Bratz or Myscene dolls at our house either. I have a daughter who will be ten in a couple of months (omg, how did she get to be ten already??) and I really don't want her imagination filled with visions of makeup and navel-bearing shirts and skirts up to here. As a responsible, non lazy parent, lol, I want her to grow up with healthy examples of what beauty is.
@Crystallanelle24 (90)
• United States
7 Jan 07
Well I buy bratz dolls for my daughter and although they have the "hootchie" clothes on, my daughter knows that this isnt a real way to dress and that this is just a doll that is intended to be beautiful and just fun to play with. even the bratz baby dolls. I hardly think its a reason to just return them or not let your kids play with them. They are just dolls. barbie wears bikinis, short shirts, skirts, no bra, no panties, etc, and barbie has been around for years. Bratz dolls will be too.
@awesomehorizons (884)
• United States
7 Jan 07
I was a teenager in the 60's too and remember the mini skirts, hip huggers, bell bottoms, halter tops, and hot pants that most girls wore back then and all that eye liner and heavy makeup?
It's the same thing today ... a 'fad' and our parents hated it, remember? We did grow out of it and went on with our lives. I understand not wanting the dolls in your house and I wouldn't want them either but sometimes as parents if we make a big deal out of things our kids will bend over backwards to do just the opposite of our wishes, out of curiousity, even when they know better.
The main thing is for your girls to know your values and they will more than likely follow them no matter what type of dolls they have. When they understand what the dolls represent then chances are they won't want them anyway ;)
Hang in there because your girls will grow up fast and then you will wonder where the time went. Then 'dolls' won't matter one way or the other, and they will still grow up being fine adults, you see?
@awesomehorizons (884)
• United States
7 Jan 07
I didn't like all that either but it's still just a fad and all kids grow out of fads with the guidance of their parents, you are doing a great job :)
@Michele21 (3093)
• United States
9 Feb 07
I love the Bratz dolls and my daughter had tons of them! I think they are cute, I won't get my daughter the ones with tattoos or anything, but the short skirts and make-up is fine with me. I don't want to shelter my daughter, it is just a toy.
@GypsysTear (75)
• United States
14 Feb 07
THANK YOU!!! I'm only 22 and not yet married or have kids... but the MOMENT I saw a commercial for those things I refused to ever buy my daughter one once I have one. Hehe I just wrote a post earlier comparing Barbie to Bratz.
These Bratz dolls scream wh0re have you seen the Bratz Baby Dollz? These dolls show that not only is it ok for these preteens to paint themselves up like girls on the street but that it's ok for babies to look this way as well!
These things are awful and show no taste at all!
