“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 dolls and I don’t let her dress like those dolls and I don’t even let her play with the dolls. I’m just very uncomfortable with the name.”

I was so grateful that I avoided saying they looked like whores who grew out of their clothes, which is what I usually say about those attrocious little beasts. And I didn’t get into the symbolism of why their heads are so freakishly large – to fit their self-absorbed massive egos inside.

What would you do if Bratz dolls were held up as role models for your children?

You can also see what others think by voting in our ongoing poll about the Bratz dolls and their stepsister Barbie.

Tags: barbie, bratz, dolls, children, kids, toys, soccer, preschoolers, family, parenting

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Please vote in our new poll in the right sidebar! Thanks.

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Here are the results:

I wonder if the results would be the same if we were comparing Bratz to the new My Scene line of Barbies (like the one pictured above), which are described as “fun ‘n flirty dolls”. They do look creepily like the Bratz dolls, I think. I’ll stick to traditional Barbie, or maybe none at all. Strawberry Shortcake is looking better and better! How long can I keep her cool in our house?

Thanks to each of you who participated in our poll! Please share your input for our next poll about spending amounts for kids’ birthday gifts. It’s in the sidebar at the right, or you can vote by clicking here. Thank you!

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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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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 thinks they’re beautiful. He states that, “it’s time for Barbie to retire,” and that Mattel (makers of Barbie) has engaged in, “really unfair competitions,” where the battle of the #1 and #2 dolls are concerned.

While the interivew/news segment talks about several of Barbie’s personas being career oriented, they point out that the Bratz girls are more about shopping. Larian characterizes the Bratz dolls as, “Girls with a passion for fashion.” Larian also seems to find it laughable that girls associate Bratz with teenagers and Barbies as mothers. Yeah, because who would ever want their kids to find it fun to be around mom and emulate her characteristics?

There is also a battle being fought in the courtroom over who had the original idea for the Bratz-style dolls. Mattel claims that the designer of Bratz concept devoped the idea while still working at Mattel.

I really can’t say that I’ve looked all that closely at the Bratz dolls, primarily because of their name. It really bugged me that they came out with a doll for little girls that, in name, relayed a sense of sass and entitlement. I don’t like it, anymore than the cute pink shirts that say things like, “spoiled brat.” Nope, not for my kid. Of course, you don’t actually see a “poor house” Barbie, either. So, maybe my opinions are colored by my memories of playing with Barbie. I’m okay with that for now.

Take a few minutes (actually, about eight) to listen to what both sides have to say and share your opinions on the interview.

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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 grow up, I want them to be able to experience all of these everyday items in doses that I can keep track of.

Pragmatism. I like it!

NB: We’d love to hear where your toys come from. Vote in the new poll over in the sidebar to your right!

Technorati Tags: polls, children, kids, kids phones, cell phones, children cell phones, parenting

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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 an ad for the toy and asked for it. I wonder if it’s because most of the TV that they watch is on PBS, and they, therefore, don’t see many ads for toys. They’ve also never attended preschool or daycare, and are only exposed to their friends’ toys. I wonder if that’s kept the “I wants” at bay in our home, not that we don’t hear it at all!

Honestly, almost all of our toys are gifts or excellent condition hand-me-downs from friends. And it’s not that we wouldn’t buy toys for our kids if we thought they needed them. Between the gifts and the second-hand toys, we don’t have any room for anymore!

What about you? How are most of the toys in your home acquired? Take our poll in the right sidebar to let us know! Thanks.

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• 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!

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]]> http://www.blisstree.com/playlibrary/results-of-the-toy-ethnicity-poll/feed/ 0 http://www.blisstree.com/playlibrary/cell-phones-for-kids/ http://www.blisstree.com/playlibrary/cell-phones-for-kids/#comments Tue, 15 Aug 2006 18:04:43 +0000 Lei http://www.playlibrary.com/2006/08/15/cell-phones-for-kids/ Post from: Play Library
]]> 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 phones because they look like toys – Nothing new.
• Mobile phone radiation – Unproven
• Privacy – In the Internet age, privacy is an illusion.
• Bad mobile habits like spelling – I’m sure kids are smart enough to know when “gr8″ is or is not acceptable usage.
• Repetitive stress injuries or text thumb disease (oyayubibyou or oyayubi sadai in Japanese).
• “Freaking out” when there’s no phone signal – Kids freak out over anything and everything anyway.

Have you or would you get a cell phone for your kids? At what age? Please take the new poll to your right in the sidebar!

Update: Results of the poll.

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