Ty Girlz.
So the one be-all end-all toy that my daughter wants for Christmas is a Ty Girl. Actually, she wants two Ty Girlz (yes, with a Z) so that they can play with each other. She talks about it daily. I think the main thing about these is that they come with a code she can redeem on the Ty Girlz website. She loves toy websites and this one looks like a doozy.
Now, on a skankiness scale of 1-10, with 1 being Raggedy Ann and 10 being Bratz, I think these clock in at about an 8. I think they wear too much makeup, look too grownup, have heels that are too high, and wear clothes that are too adult for an eight-year-old girl to play with. Some dolls are better than others. In looking for pics, they look more respectable online than they do when I see them hanging from the display rack at the toy store, for some reason.
Lately, I’ve been trying to not underestimate Emily. Interacting with kids is like hitting a moving target. By the time you get used to them at their current age, they’ve moved along and you’re treating them like they’re younger than they are. So when Emily asked me what my favorite thing about Ty Girlz was, rather than give Emily a non-committal answer or agreeing that they’re awesome, I told her that I didn’t really like the Ty Girlz. She asked me what I didn’t like about them, and I mentioned their high heels, and that I thought they wore too much makeup. I had no idea what to expect in response to this.
She handled it with good grace, standing her ground but not getting upset. “I really like them. I don’t think they wear too much makeup. I like their pretty hair.” Good girl! I may question your taste, but I’m proud of you for not buckling! I also allowed that their hair was, indeed, pretty.
Periodically since then, she’s said, “I don’t think they wear too much makeup.” She’s still angling for a Ty Girl or two. I think she’s decided Santa’s her best shot. I’m undecided as to what to recommend to Santa. But I like that our conversations can be more complex now.
If she wants some toy with an interactive website you might want to look into Webkinz. I don’t know what it is exactly, but they seem to be quite the range here lol.
http://www.webkinz.com/
If she wants some toy with an interactive website you might want to look into Webkinz. I don’t know what it is exactly, but they seem to be quite the range here lol.
http://www.webkinz.com/
PS: I went to the website, and there is a tour that explains it all. They have educational games! Yay!
And stuffed dogs and cats are not skanky! Brats, however, are very much so. If I ever have a daughter she isn’t going near those things until she’s 16.
PS: I went to the website, and there is a tour that explains it all. They have educational games! Yay!
And stuffed dogs and cats are not skanky! Brats, however, are very much so. If I ever have a daughter she isn’t going near those things until she’s 16.
dolls
what an incredible conversation!
Debra
Charlotte
dolls
what an incredible conversation!
Debra
Charlotte
Maybe you could compromise by knitting a dolly or two that look like these.
Maybe you could compromise by knitting a dolly or two that look like these.
It’s a good idea, but unless we can also set up a website for that doll, I don’t think she’ll go for it.
It’s a good idea, but unless we can also set up a website for that doll, I don’t think she’ll go for it.
Yeah, I wish she’d seen Webkinz first. That would have been much easier.
Yeah, I wish she’d seen Webkinz first. That would have been much easier.
You should show her how pretty the website is or something! Or how cute the stuffed animals are.
You should show her how pretty the website is or something! Or how cute the stuffed animals are.
I forgot to log in -Shadeau
I forgot to log in -Shadeau
Wow, sometimes I am so glad I have a boy.:-) However, I still feel qualified to chip in because we do deal with some of the same issues, except ours are more in the form of “that (violent/scary) movie or toy is too mature for you.” You are so right about the moving target thing. Sigh.
I can remember being not much older than Emily, and drawing elaborate pictures of very curvaceous and made-up girls. I was projecting, I think…trying to imagine what it would feel like to be a woman wearing these things and looking that way. Thinking back, they were pretty outrageously skanky, lol. And yet, I turned out to be a non-makeup wearing tomboy feminist.
I would totally support your decision it you end up not getting the skanky-girl toy. I think they are kind of gross, myself…I’m just saying that it’s probably not as big a deal as one might think.
And yay for having good communication with your kid. That’s huge.
Wow, sometimes I am so glad I have a boy.:-) However, I still feel qualified to chip in because we do deal with some of the same issues, except ours are more in the form of “that (violent/scary) movie or toy is too mature for you.” You are so right about the moving target thing. Sigh.
I can remember being not much older than Emily, and drawing elaborate pictures of very curvaceous and made-up girls. I was projecting, I think…trying to imagine what it would feel like to be a woman wearing these things and looking that way. Thinking back, they were pretty outrageously skanky, lol. And yet, I turned out to be a non-makeup wearing tomboy feminist.
I would totally support your decision it you end up not getting the skanky-girl toy. I think they are kind of gross, myself…I’m just saying that it’s probably not as big a deal as one might think.
And yay for having good communication with your kid. That’s huge.
Yeah, actually, after writing that and sleeping on it overnight, I’m starting to come around.
I still maintain that they wear too much makeup though. 🙂
Yeah, actually, after writing that and sleeping on it overnight, I’m starting to come around.
I still maintain that they wear too much makeup though. 🙂
Barbie at least had more sensible clothes when I was younger. She was always more pretty and perfect looking than what she was skanky though. These Bratz dolls and that these days are just disgusting, IMO. I think they’re made more for pre-teen girls, in the 12, 13, 14, 15 range than younger ones. But, le sigh, they appeal to the younger ones too.
There are already enough 12 year old girls who run around looking like skanks, all these types of dolls do it just promote that behavior. Why oh why their mothers let them get away with it I have no idea.
Barbie at least had more sensible clothes when I was younger. She was always more pretty and perfect looking than what she was skanky though. These Bratz dolls and that these days are just disgusting, IMO. I think they’re made more for pre-teen girls, in the 12, 13, 14, 15 range than younger ones. But, le sigh, they appeal to the younger ones too.
There are already enough 12 year old girls who run around looking like skanks, all these types of dolls do it just promote that behavior. Why oh why their mothers let them get away with it I have no idea.
The biggest thing swaying me toward these dolls now is that they’re smiling. The Bratz dolls always look like they’re pouting or they have an attitude or something. Plus they’re skanks, of course.
The biggest thing swaying me toward these dolls now is that they’re smiling. The Bratz dolls always look like they’re pouting or they have an attitude or something. Plus they’re skanks, of course.
Hmm, I am looking at the website now. I love that they have the rock/goth girl, Rockin’ Ruby!
Lucky Lindsay, Jammin’ Jenna, Dazzlin’ Destiny – not so bad. 🙂
Hmm, I am looking at the website now. I love that they have the rock/goth girl, Rockin’ Ruby!
Lucky Lindsay, Jammin’ Jenna, Dazzlin’ Destiny – not so bad. 🙂
I have to agree with you, I think Bratz and these new Ty Girlz (what does that mean?!) and even Barbie lately are really getting skanky. I’m not a wholesome kinda person but I wouldn’t want my child to have these things in abundance.
And they’re creepy.
I have to agree with you, I think Bratz and these new Ty Girlz (what does that mean?!) and even Barbie lately are really getting skanky. I’m not a wholesome kinda person but I wouldn’t want my child to have these things in abundance.
And they’re creepy.
No arguments here 🙂
No arguments here 🙂
Well, and that’s key. Emily may get her wish for a skanky DOLL, but can you see her mom letting HER out of the house looking that way? I think not.
Well, and that’s key. Emily may get her wish for a skanky DOLL, but can you see her mom letting HER out of the house looking that way? I think not.
Just the name alone…Bratz?? Who wants to condone THAT?
Apparently a lot of parents do, though. They are overwhelmingly popular. I know a 6 year old who plays with them.
She doesn’t look skanky herself though. Yet. 🙂
Just the name alone…Bratz?? Who wants to condone THAT?
Apparently a lot of parents do, though. They are overwhelmingly popular. I know a 6 year old who plays with them.
She doesn’t look skanky herself though. Yet. 🙂
Some might say all dolls are inherently creepy. Ahem. And clowns too. But we won’t go there.
Some might say all dolls are inherently creepy. Ahem. And clowns too. But we won’t go there.
Thank you! Since when is being a brat something a parent wants to encourage in their child?
Thank you! Since when is being a brat something a parent wants to encourage in their child?
Heh. Emily loves clowns.
Heh. Emily loves clowns.
Yeah, they have a whole spectrum of fashion choices. Except nerdy. I guess Boyz don’t make passes at Girlz who wear glasses.
Yeah, they have a whole spectrum of fashion choices. Except nerdy. I guess Boyz don’t make passes at Girlz who wear glasses.
Re: dolls
Thanks! I was very proud. 🙂
Re: dolls
Thanks! I was very proud. 🙂
Make one!
Web design is the way of the future! It’s never too early to start!
http://www.webmonkey.com/kids/
Make one!
Web design is the way of the future! It’s never too early to start!
http://www.webmonkey.com/kids/