Barbie Dolls

I know my sister-in-law does not because she feels it buys into the "having to be perfect-looking thing" that society crams down our throats. I can se where she's coming from, but we only have boys, so we're not there yet!

I have heard of a childs parents that did that. They said because the kids always seem to make the dolls play & act out in a romantic sexual type "pretending" manner. (having dolls in sex positions & words used during etc etc etc)

I had three sisters, and none of us were allowed to have Barbie's growing up. It was for the reason already mentioned....our parents didn't want us thinking that was the ideal body to have. Instead, we had the "Sunshine Family," which had a mom, dad, children, etc. This helped us role play "real life" situations rather than sort of the glamour world of Barbie.

I now have a 3 year old daughter and she has one Barbie---it is "Art Teacher" Barbie because my sister is an art teacher and I thought it would be cute for them to play together. I don't think I'll make a big deal about Barbie one way or the other, but probably won't intentionally buy other ones for her. She has Lil Sprouts dolls and some from the Fisher Price line that she likes, so those work for us.

I think the biggest concern people have about allowing their daughters to play with Barbie dolls is that they'll develop a warped view of what their own bodies should look like. I have known of several mothers who banned Barbie for this reason. Somehow, though we didn't look for them, we seem to have collected quite a supply, and they have always remained tucked under the bed in a box gathering dust. My daughter had no interest in them.

I have 3 girls and one boy, I have always played with barbie as a child and my children do now. We have the hole nine yards, house, beach cruiser, tons of clothes, many many friends. My children know that life is different then Barbies they love to sit and play for hours, Sometimes they even get there daddy to play with them lol. So I would say if Barbies are something your child in interested in then let her play if you are concerned then make it fun play with her.

I had barbies growing up...the kind with extra-large breasts and no panties on. I don't know if my parents had simply instilled it in me at an earlier age or if it was just natural, but I was always a little different with my dolls than the other girls. I even have a few sitting at my desk as jokes from clients/friends because when I was little, my barbies were having Board meetings or were in trial with Ken and other dolls, not running around in the Corvette Ken bought, shopping all day! I think my mother had concerns at first that I'd get the nothing but a housewife with unattainable body married to Ken fantasy life from it but I had turned it into something else and the ambition carries to my adulthood. No matter what the doll looks like, if you give your daughter values and support, the doll symbolizes whatever she needs it to in her life. Aren't all dollies pretty? Kids are curious about sexuality, their bodies, etc. no matter what you restrict them from so I think you should stick to education and female self-confidence as the tools to defeat the negative connotations ANY toy may carry.

Well, we are not there yet as our daughter is only in her twos, but I would take Barbie over Bratz any day!
I had 2 or 3 Barbies growing up and remember having a great time with them. I had very few store bought clothes for them so since they needed some, it encouraged me to make clothes from scraps as well as knitting etc. I made them cars etc. from shoe boxes and everything else I could find. So, I guess, it is all in how you look at it.
The body image issue I think would only come up if the family overall buys into it, i.e. she would learn to obsess about weight etc. much more if you were doing that yourself consistently where she can observe it than from playing with her doll.

Hope this helps : )

D.

I don't like to let my daughter play with any doll that can be fully undressed, unless it is a baby doll.

That may seem way over the line to some people but I think it encourages an inappropriate amount of curiosity about genitals.

My friend and I used to fashion a certain peice of anatomy for Ken out of clay (the part that is missing). I will not go any further but it was really inappropriate play. Dolls that can be fully undressed allow for this type of behavior.

I just don't want her sexualized before she has to be. So much in our world today teaches little girls that they have to be "sexy". I don't want my little girl to play with dolls that teach her that as well.

We are big "Groovy girls" doll fans and her favorite Polly Pocket (just as much fun as Barbie to dress and undress).

Good luck!