Anonymous wrote:We didn't introduce Barbie and princesses ourselves, but she got them as gifts and loves them.
I don't feel like its my job to police all her influences. They were gifted to her by her doting grandparents.
I think her biggest influence is how DH and I interact and treat each other, I don't think the Disney princesses and Barbie make a huge difference one way or another.

+1
My parents bought all the princess stuff. One daughter loved them - ended up a tomboy. The other daughter loathed them - ended up as girly as can be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A boy and a girl, now teens. No guns (not nerf, not water guns) and no Barbies.

A pp was correct, our boy turned everything into a gun for a while, sticks, fingers, even biting a pancake into the shape.

If ever guns of any kind, or Barbies, were given as gifts, if a gift receipt was attached, we exchanged, and if not, we donated.

Why? Because I do not believe guns are appropriate toys in any way shape or form. As for Barbies, you do know Mattel modeled them on Lilli, a German sex toy? (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.messynessychic.com/2016/01/29/meet-lilli-the-high-end-german-call-girl-who-became-americas-iconic-barbie-doll/&ved=2ahUKEwj84Pvt59vmAhWRnOAKHTd1BBkQFjAAegQIAhAE&usg=AOvVaw2QqweRqsMjQ6dkAA6ehN0B) Sorry, I don't want her as a role model for my daughter.

As I said earlier, both are now teens, and neither seems to be mal-adjusted or suffered in any way for not having played with guns or Barbies.

I could almost guarantee that ZERO kids think they are playing with a sex toy. I mean, unless you tell your kid that, how would they know? It’s a doll for Chrissakes! Get a grip, people.

This is true. However, that doesn't mean kids won't do freaky shit with Barbie. My Barbies were all scissoring before I knew there was a word for that.

Anonymous wrote:I tried to introduce my Barbie's and a few new to my daughter because she LOVES play like that. But she never took to them. Maybe she will later?
She does love LOL dolls though, which to me are way worse than barbies and more like those ugly Bratz dolls my sisters played with

My daughter has a few barbies but doesn't play with them either.

Barbies are making a comeback because of the movies, but it's not like the 90's. They're no longer the toy every girl has and plays with.

I think it's because there are more options now, like the LOL dolls you mentioned. Also some lines of toys that were around then, are more popular now and have more extensive collections from which to choose.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I refused to host a laser tag party but my son attended them. For me it was enough that he knew I would not host one. Do I think they turn kids into mass shooters, no but I do think there are literally millions of other ways to have fun.

So, it’s about you...not your kid?

The message we send to our kids by our actions (which may be different than other families) are very important. Now that they are older and know the terror that guns are causing they understand that message loud and clear.

Christ on a cracker, lady. It's just laser tag.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We didn't introduce Barbie and princesses ourselves, but she got them as gifts and loves them.
I don't feel like its my job to police all her influences. They were gifted to her by her doting grandparents.
I think her biggest influence is how DH and I interact and treat each other, I don't think the Disney princesses and Barbie make a huge difference one way or another.

This. I did not introduce either but she received both as gifts. She never really got into Barbies but she went through a major princess obsession and came out the other side just fine. She tells me I’m the prettiest mom she knows and I weigh 175 pounds so clearly she does not have some unrealistic perfect body standard in her mind. At least not yet at 9.

Never bought toy guns for my son but others did and he and DD both enjoy a good nerf or super soaker battle.

Super soakers encourage gun violence and should never be allowed.

Anonymous wrote:Toy guns, but it didn’t matter. Around 3.5 everything became a gun: sticks, shoe horn, ruler, LEGO, etc.

Lol!! Exactly this. After my DS turned 4, he turned everything into guns or swords. He loved the Nerf gun available at a birthday party venue he tagged along to. I finally gave in and got him a sword. But still holding off on gun toys. He's such an incredibly sweet and gentle boy and I screen what cartoons he can watch (no Transformers as they are too violent for his age yet), but I was surprised to hear him pretend play with two other boy at a party, "I know how to kill" or "I can kill" or something to that effect. The other two boys and him were pretend fighting, laughing, giggling, and at least another parent was beside me keeping an eye on them. I am amazed at the gender differences between my older daughter and my younger son, in that even though he's low on the agression side compared to his classmates, him having XY chromosomes he still wants to play fighting, guns, shooting and used the word kill.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, why are you anti-Barbie? Here is another perspective...Barbies come in all shapes and sizes now - literally! They are also barbies that are astronauts, doctors, politicians, teachers, bee keepers (!!!) and veterinarians, and the list goes on! DD (age 6) loves barbies and is very engaged and imaginative with her barbers.

Do they have fat dumpy Barbie yet?

Yes! I saw one at Target! It had a huge ass and short, pink dyed hair. We are definitely skipping that one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Barbie haters.. we got one of the cheaper barbies for DD for Christmas. She’s dressed like a doctor and has a totally different “shape” than traditional Barbie. DD thinks she’s great.

There are so many Barbie options now. Adults need to stop projecting their toy issues on their kids. They aren’t getting body image issues because of Barbie. They’re getting body issues because of adult messages about bodies.

This statement sums up this entire thread. I don’t have boys, but I do have girls and the hours & hours of joy and pretend play my girls got from Barbies is priceless. They prefer brown-haired or darker skinned Barbies. Lots of choices now. But, go on. Give your kid an iPad instead.

I did pretend play with lots of dolls that weren't barbies. Why does it have to be barbie? Why does everyone have to be the same growing up with the same toys?

Anonymous wrote:OP, why are you anti-Barbie? Here is another perspective...Barbies come in all shapes and sizes now - literally! They are also barbies that are astronauts, doctors, politicians, teachers, bee keepers (!!!) and veterinarians, and the list goes on! DD (age 6) loves barbies and is very engaged and imaginative with her barbers.

Do they have fat dumpy Barbie yet?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Barbie haters.. we got one of the cheaper barbies for DD for Christmas. She’s dressed like a doctor and has a totally different “shape” than traditional Barbie. DD thinks she’s great.

There are so many Barbie options now. Adults need to stop projecting their toy issues on their kids. They aren’t getting body image issues because of Barbie. They’re getting body issues because of adult messages about bodies.

This statement sums up this entire thread. I don’t have boys, but I do have girls and the hours & hours of joy and pretend play my girls got from Barbies is priceless. They prefer brown-haired or darker skinned Barbies. Lots of choices now. But, go on. Give your kid an iPad instead.

not having Barbie doesn’t mean no dolls at all. Calm down or does Mattel own pretend play exclusively?

Anonymous wrote:To the Barbie haters.. we got one of the cheaper barbies for DD for Christmas. She’s dressed like a doctor and has a totally different “shape” than traditional Barbie. DD thinks she’s great.

There are so many Barbie options now. Adults need to stop projecting their toy issues on their kids. They aren’t getting body image issues because of Barbie. They’re getting body issues because of adult messages about bodies.

This statement sums up this entire thread. I don’t have boys, but I do have girls and the hours & hours of joy and pretend play my girls got from Barbies is priceless. They prefer brown-haired or darker skinned Barbies. Lots of choices now. But, go on. Give your kid an iPad instead.

Anonymous wrote:Oh, man, I LOVED my Barbies. One of my favorites I called “Barbara” and dressed her in a modest dress my grandmother sewed. I pretended she was a librarian and she went out to each at French restaurants.

—bookworm English major

I love you. The only better thing would be if she had been a wildlife biologist with your stuffed animals

- bookworm science nerd

Anonymous wrote:Mostly books that are outdated and racist (like Seven Chinese Brothers, etc) or sexist

m

I’m actually going the opposite route. We are using books that are very racist or misogynistic to teach our values, but in an age-appropriate way. Kids look at the book And can’t believe that anyone thought this way, so we talk about the way that society has changed and hasn’t.

Anonymous wrote:Toy guns, but it didn’t matter. Around 3.5 everything became a gun: sticks, shoe horn, ruler, LEGO, etc.

Same here. You can choose not to introduce whatever you want, but kids will likely come in contact with most things at school, a playground, or at sports practice. I don't allow my boys to play with guns in the house, but I guarantee you anything and everything will become some sort of weapon once they go outside.

You can also think about this in the opposite direction. My mom wanted me to play with traditional things, like Barbie when I was young. I could care less about Barbie, or any doll, so I didn't play with any of them.

Anonymous wrote:We didn't introduce Barbie and princesses ourselves, but she got them as gifts and loves them.
I don't feel like its my job to police all her influences. They were gifted to her by her doting grandparents.
I think her biggest influence is how DH and I interact and treat each other, I don't think the Disney princesses and Barbie make a huge difference one way or another.

This. I did not introduce either but she received both as gifts. She never really got into Barbies but she went through a major princess obsession and came out the other side just fine. She tells me I’m the prettiest mom she knows and I weigh 175 pounds so clearly she does not have some unrealistic perfect body standard in her mind. At least not yet at 9.

Never bought toy guns for my son but others did and he and DD both enjoy a good nerf or super soaker battle.