Naming a preschool soccer team “The Bratz”?! You must be joking. Tracee Sioux wasn’t putting up with any of that. When she learned that her daughter’s soccer team was to be named The Bratz, she objected and stood her ground even when other parents belittled and dismissed her concerns.

“Look,” I said. “I’m very uncomfortable with this name because I don’t think we should be yelling Go Brats Go, Be the best little brat you can be. Brats Rule. I try all week long to NOT encourage my daughter to be a brat. I don’t want her to act like those …read more

Following are the results of the birthday gift spending poll. Thanks to all who participated and let us know how much you spend on a gift for a birthday party to which your child is invited. Hmmm….with three kids and several parties for each, I’m either going to have to seek out the sales or pick up a part time job! Sales—-here we come!
Please vote in our new poll in the right sidebar! Thanks.
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We have a new poll up!!! My daughter’s party, and all of the gifts that she was generously spoiled with, got me curious as to what parents are spending these days on gifts for their kids’ friends.
Do you mind taking a minute to vote in the poll? I know that what we’re willing to spend for a gift sometimes depends on how well we know the recipient (or maybe that’s just me?), so vote for what you spend on average for a gift.
Thanks!!!
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Isaac Larian of MGA Entertainment, producers of the Bratz Dolls, was recently interviewed on ABC’s Nightline, with some rebuttal bits by Chuck Scothon, a senior VP at Mattel. He shares his thoughts on the Bratz vs. Barbie battle, and his plans to win it.
Follow this post to the end to see the YouTube posting of the ABC interview (and then please vote in our Barbie or Bratz? poll in the sidebar on the right!). Here are a few interesting bits that I gleaned from it all:
Larian admits that he first thought the dolls looked like aliens, but now …read more

Here are the results of our gift wrapping poll. And let me just say, I’m glad that this part of the holidays are over! Thanks for voting. Please vote in our next poll in the sidebar on the right.

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A few weeks ago, I asked in our poll, “Do your kids have their own cell phone?”
Out of 22 voters, the majority (78%) said “yes” or were planning to get their children a cell phone when they got older.

Yes: 23% (5)
No, they’re too young: 55% (12)
No, I won’t be buying them one: 23% (5)

Mike at Be A Good Dad responded:
I’m not worried about my kids abusing the phone. I’m not worried about my kids abusing the internet. I’m not worried about my kids abusing TV, the microwave, the iPod, the bike, or the basketball hoop. As my kids …read more

My daughter received the Fisher Price Loving Family Doll House for Christmas last year and loves it! Her almost 3 year old brother loves to play with it, too, much to her dismay. I must say, I was pretty impressed by the details in some of the pieces.
It’s one of the many cool toys that we have around the house that the kids love, but never knew they actually wanted until they had it. As I started to look around the house, I realized that there are very few toys that we own because the kids saw …read more

Here are the results of our latest poll which asked the question, “Do you buy dolls/toys of different races/ethnicities?”

Yes: 50% (10)
No: 10% (2)
Haven’t yet but it’s a good idea: 20% (4)
Never thought about it: 20% (4)
Total Votes : 20

I was in the “Haven’t yet, but it’s a good idea” category. Of course, I don’t buy most of the toys my kids receive! Maybe I’ll have to keep that in mind when people are asking what to get them.
Don’t forget to vote in the new poll in the right sidebar!

At the subway station the other day, I saw a girl, who was probably about nine or 10 years old, with a cell phone clipped to her belt. Just like her dad. I wasn’t too shocked. Many people i know, including Christina, buy phones for their kids as a safety precaution.
According to Crave at CNET.co.uk, the average age at which children get their own phones was eight-years-old last year and is expected to drop to five-years-old this year.
Here are some concerns Crave reviewer Andrew Lim raises with my comments in italics:

Children badgering their parents for …read more