Is It Okay To ...........

I just asked my daughter (9), who is going into 4th grade this year, about this. She said "What's the big deal? If she likes My Little Pony then let her have it!"

So, there you go :-) From the expert.

I tend to buy 'more visible' items that are neutral & buy little trinkets that are *fun*, so they can be changed quickly. So I won't buy my kids backpacks with characters on it but will buy some fun accessories with whatever characters they like.

I tend to decorate like this too. So for my sons Star Wars themed bedroom the larger items are neutral but I have lots of Star Wars decorations. This way if they change their minds it won't break the bank to change things out.

Although I think she will be fine with her MLP backpack I thought I would share my ideas.

Oh I think she'll be fine. They're still little kids at 8.

No, she is not too old. I'm older than your daughter and I have a MLP lunch bag. =o)

I don't know where my 3 year old got this (TV show or something?), but he keeps saying, "Everybody will laugh at me" about things.

We keep saying, "No they won't, don't worry what other kids think, anyone who would laugh is someone not worth caring about, who cares" etc...

Mean kids will laugh at something, there's not preventing that. Maybe something as silly as a backpack will be a great way for her to weed out the good friends form the bad IF anyone notices it or laughs at it. But I think My Little Pony is sort of trendy like Hello Kitty-older kids like it too.

I'd let her get it maybe, but no harm in saying, "You know, My Little Pony is sort of for littler kids, so don't be surprised if other kids don't understand why you like it, really mean kids might laugh, but you shouldn't care about those kind of kids, just be yourself, but are you sure there's not something a little more for big 3rd graders you might like? Look at this one...." and still let her choose. She's old enough to work with information you give her to make a choice.

I'm 100% with Margie M. Exactly what I was going to say :)

my daughter was into princesses this year and got made fun of by every child that came over so now she chose to change her room after being teased by maybe 8 girls. I let her decide, but I am proud of her for standing up to them all year and stating she likes princesses and it is her room. The latest girl was the one who convined her it is for babies.

If thats what she wants, support her!!! You don't want her to be influenced by peer pressure already at age 8, do you?? I would use this opportunity to tell her that everyone likes different things. Its ok to not have the same backpack as the other 20 girls in the class. If she likes the backpack, it should be her decision. I would tell her go for it!!!!! Let her be an individual and stick up for herself. If kids make fun of her backpack, let her defend herself and show others that she doesn't have to like the same things. GL

M

No, she is not too old. I'm older than your daughter and I have a MLP lunch bag. =o)

Hmm well, my daughter was in 4th grade last year and had a Littlest Pet shop back pack...she did not get teased. I do not think anything of it, they only get to be little for so long, I would let her pick what she wanted.

I dont think its a problem.
My DD is going into 3rd also and picked out an ICARLY backpack and a hello kitty lunchbox.

I don't know if this is true everywhere, but from what I've been told by my 19 year old sister, My Little Pony is very cool now - with kids HER age. She and her friends and even their boyfriends are obsessed with it. I guess there's a new My Little Pony now? It's still for kids, my kids like it, but apparently so do teenagers. I don't know, I'm not "with it" according to her, but she says your daughter "rules" and "wins!" Lol! :-)

ETA: My 6 year old daughter caught me typing this, and now I'm looking at My Little Pony backpacks for her too, thanks for the idea! :-)

I completely understand your dilemma. Unfortunately you are probably right about the other kids. Maybe you could find some sort of compromise? A Little Pony pencil case and notebook instead. It would sit inside her backpack so not all the kids would see it and it would be smaller. Or a Little Pony backpack for home and sleepovers? I have an almost 8 year old who still loves little girl things, which I love, but not all kids are like that. Good luck.

I STILL love My Little Pony!

She will be fine! My daughter is going to the 7th grade and for her birthday she got ALOT of princess'ish things and didn't seem to mind it! I guess that's the "in" thing now. And as parents, and im sure you all will agree, let them be kid's and try not to grow up soo fast! I'm always reminding my daughter of that.
Now it's funny that you mentioned this, I was telling a friend of mine about how my son LOVE's Transformers and anything that has pic's of it on it and she was like "really? Our son woule NEVER wear something like that!" I told her that I was fine with OUR son not rushing to grow up soo fast!
But she'll be fine and don't be suprised if she sets the "trend" for her class! Hope she has a wonderful school year!

My 13 yr old son wants a plush backpack... so I'm guessing that is trending big right now. He is completely "aware" of what's "in" and what's not cool. My 10 yr old daughter wanted an M&M plush backpack last year.
I'd say let her have it.

I didn't even know My Little Pony was on anymore. But I suspect my 11 year old would use My Little Pony stuff. But we homeschool so it's not the same.

Hi, Mommy:
These concerns need to be addressed to your daughter.

Ask her suppose questions : Suppose your friends make fun of you for this, how are you going to cope with their remarks?

Something to help her prepare herself. In this way, you are teaching her how to stand up for her own beliefs and values.

Just a thought.
D.

Let her be herself. What if kids make fun of her? She can learn through the experience-great teaching moment!

My son used to love having his nails painted until kids on the bus made fun of him and he stopped. I miss him being expressive but I understand and he now knows what it felt like to be made fun of.

Kids can be so cruel.

I would let her pick out just a generic one that will last a few years!

I also recommend going with LL Bean (my fave) or Land's End. Those backpacks wear like iron and last for years. Most of my kids are on year 3 or 4 with their current ones and they show no sign of wear and tear. Just tell her that you're going to get a sturdy backpack that lasts longer because you don't want to waste $ replacing her bag every year. Let her pick out a pattern or color she likes, have it monogrammed (you really need to do this - my kids have always had at least one classmate with the same bag) and then you don't have to worry about issues that can come with character bags. Then let her have MLP pencils or stickers or something less obvious.