Can you avoid the princess phase?

[Anonymous]

Looking back on my childhood, I think it is more alarming the influence New Kids on the Block had on me as a tween rather than the influence Disney had on me at 4.

Luckily, my parents didn't try to dictate my interests. They gave me freedom to discover my own tastes while guiding me to understand what was/wasn't appropriate. I hope to do the same for my daughters.

[Anonymous]

This is a pp who has one princess crazed dd. I definitely don't force her to wear her princess attire inside while she sits and eats Bon bons and I put make up on her face. She wears her princess gear to the playground, to ride her scooter and to story time. At no point do I think I have made the wrong decisions about who is influencing her life choices. And in ten years, I'd she wants to dye her hair black and listen to punk music while she rides a skateboard, I will probably let her make that choice also. People who squelch their children will have bigger problems than marketing of princesses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also find the princess stuff disturbing. The amount if marketing aimed at 3 year olds is insane! I mean really, should our DDs be that conscious of their clothes at this age?! My DS isn't, but he isn't bombarded with it either.

Any number of studies have shown the negative effects of mass marketing aimed at our young girls: lower self esteem, self consciousness, focus on the material and appearance, less creativity. One study asked preschoolers what they wanted to be for a day. The boys answered with all kinds of creative wild ideas, a car, a tree, a fireman, a spider... The girls? Well they had a total of TWO stereotypical answers: princess and fairy. Disturbing!

Read Cinderella Ate My Daughter.

There is nothing "creative" about being spoon fed a pink princess lifestyle at age 3-5. Then Disney switches to the Fairy marketing and everything is blue and green for ages 5-7. I wish more parents paid attention to the impacts of mass marketing on their children, especially their girls! Princess makeup kits for 3 year olds?! Get them at your nearest Target.

Seriously, you really don't have a problem with a toy company having that much influence over your daughter?

How about the amount of time and energy she is spending on playing princess? When she could be outside, or doing art, or reading with you about thanksgiving.

I see zero value in princess play. Although the toy companies certainly value it!

[phone]

If my daughter were putting on generic princess "dress up" clothes and making up elaborate stories about princesses and castles and fairies, etc. . .that would be FINE with me. . .it is the Disneyfication and the mass-marketing and the spoon-fed homegenization of childhood -- THAT is what I have a problem with -- and all in the guise of CREATIVITY?!?!??! You who think your kids are "just being creative" -- you have accepted the mass marketing as well.