While I don't think that having a Barbie doll with ruin them it's not really something that I would promote. There are plenty of princesses and types of dolls the promote a more positive image than others so if I had a daughter that went to toys like that I would choose those ones instead hoping that they would set a better example for her. I currently have a son not a daughter but I can't say that even with my son I do avoid things in our every day life that I feel set a limited and gender specific example for him. He loves to play with trucks and trains but he also has I don't know that he loves. I don't buy a lot of clothing with silly logos on it and I would be the same with a girl in terms of avoiding the clothes that say daddy's little princess. I don't think there's anything wrong with little girls wearing pink if that's what they choose when they're old enough to start choosing but I do think that saturating A little girls closet in 95% pink clothes certainly sets the example at a very young age that this is what girls are supposed to wear and it is exactly the same for boys. Having said all of that I think it just comes down to being very conscious with your choices you make as a parent in terms of what you approve and don't approve. If my daughter wanted a toy that really set an awful example I would explain that to them and I wouldn't buy it for them. More than anything I just find that I'm really careful with the language that I use around my son. It drives me absolutely insane when the older generation of men in my family Say things like " oh Charlie don't cry, toughen up" or tell me not to coddle him or he will be tonsensitive. I have just noticed that a lot of gender stereotypes in terms of what a boy or a girl does and personality characteristics that they will have I really implemented by the adults around that child from the moment they are born.
I have zero preference what my sons prefers to play with. He loves watching "orange princess" which is Beauty and the Beast. It's his favorite. He also loves playing with babies and tucking them in and pushing them in a stroller. He loves pink too. But he also loves trucks and trains and dinosaurs and digging in the dirt. I just want him to be happy. If this baby is a girl the same will go for her. If she likes trucks and trains that's what I will buy her. If she likes pink and princess then we can do that too.
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Sometimes I don't know how my DH became such an amazing and open-minded man. His dad was one of those uber-masculine fathers who controlled every little part of how and with what his kids played. DH would have NEVER been allowed any kind of doll or to even let out a peep about liking a non-"boy" color or activity. We bought our house a few years ago, and had someone paint the entire inside, and FIL literally told DH that "real men" paint their own homes. Gag. I will NEVER raise my son like that.
Eta: not that there's anything wrong with painting your own home. It just doesn't make you any less of a man to pay someone to do it.
what are your feelings on little girls (or boys) and obsessions with princesses? Do you think it sets them up for failure and creates a false "weak" image of themselves? Breeds brats? Bunch of crock people need to calm down?
Disclaimer: my brain is working about 43% today i hope this debate question makes sense.
I don't have much to add on this topic that hasn't already been said. I'm firmly on team #letthembelittle. Kids will play with what they want and we should let them.
But on the topic of "setting them up for failure" or creating a "false weak image", I'd just like to say that I grew up watching all the Disney princess movies and my mom used to tell me all the time that I was gonna grow up to be a beautiful princess....
I may not live in a castle or have servants and such, but I'm definitely a f*cking princess.
I heart theSkimm I heart YNAB --------- “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." - Albus Dumbledore
Just a random side note - I've picked DD up at preschool before to find plenty of the boys wearing tutus and princess costumes. And plenty of girls dressed up like police/firefighters (yes, I know it's not the same thing, but I feel like it's "more accepted" for girls to do that vs. boys playing with girlier toys). Regardless of whether or not you want them in your house, they still might find them.
And if you could have only seen the sheer joy on those kids' faces dancing around...you couldn't tell them no.
Now, I'm pretty sure if this one is a boy, DH is not going to run out and get him a tutu or anything. But the point is, as many others have pointed out, let kids be kids. They're too young to understand the difference and all they know is they want to have fun and play with their friends. As long as they're not hurting themselves or someone else, I say let your imagination run wild.
BFP#1: 12/3/13 EDD 8/15/13. Heartbeat found on 12/26/13, HB gone on 1/4/13. D&C 1/7/13
BFP#2: 4/19/13 EDD 12/28/13. Team Green for pregnancy and Baby Girl arrived 12/21/13. BFP#3: 2/9/13 EDD 10/18/17. Team Green for Round 2!
I think it's hilarious when DS comes running upstairs in one of DD1's princess dresses and dress up heels. He's playing with his sisters, using his imagination and he's having fun. So help anyone who dares to make any judgemental remarks to me about it. He will also play dolls with them (albeit, roughly and sometimes in a way to irritate his sisters), plays in the play kitchen and plays "house" as well.
On that same note, my girls will play with the play workbench, use the hammer to "build stuff", play trains and trucks and watch and help dh when he's putting stuff together. My dad raised me to know how to fix things, change the oil in my car, change a spare tire, put together furniture, etc. I still loved princess stuff too. And my kids will all be just as well-rounded as I am.
Re: Hot Topic Tuesday - Princess Wars
Eta: not that there's anything wrong with painting your own home. It just doesn't make you any less of a man to pay someone to do it.
But on the topic of "setting them up for failure" or creating a "false weak image", I'd just like to say that I grew up watching all the Disney princess movies and my mom used to tell me all the time that I was gonna grow up to be a beautiful princess....
I may not live in a castle or have servants and such, but I'm definitely a f*cking princess.
#glamorous #thanksmom #imgladshebelievedinme
I heart YNAB
---------
“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times,
if one only remembers to turn on the light."
- Albus Dumbledore
And if you could have only seen the sheer joy on those kids' faces dancing around...you couldn't tell them no.
Now, I'm pretty sure if this one is a boy, DH is not going to run out and get him a tutu or anything. But the point is, as many others have pointed out, let kids be kids. They're too young to understand the difference and all they know is they want to have fun and play with their friends. As long as they're not hurting themselves or someone else, I say let your imagination run wild.
BFP#3: 2/9/13 EDD 10/18/17. Team Green for Round 2!
On that same note, my girls will play with the play workbench, use the hammer to "build stuff", play trains and trucks and watch and help dh when he's putting stuff together. My dad raised me to know how to fix things, change the oil in my car, change a spare tire, put together furniture, etc. I still loved princess stuff too. And my kids will all be just as well-rounded as I am.