by Lisa H Warren

Created on: April 01, 2008   Last Updated: April 02, 2008

Bratz dolls aren't particularly positive toys for girls, and Bratz Kids aren't any better (in fact they're probably worse, because they are aimed at younger girls)

To see the less-than-positive impact Bratz dolls can have, consider other dolls:

Most dolls designed for very little girls are baby dolls and little-girl dolls. They have sweet faces that mimic the faces of babies and small children, and when young children play with the dolls they practice important nurturing skills that can usually only be practiced through doll play.

Life-like baby and little-girl dolls invite real-life little girls to pretend to feed their "children", dress them, bathe them, and take them for rides. Pretend children (dolls) get to have birthday parties, go to school, and play with other pretend children. When little girls play "Mommy" and "Teacher" or "Tea Party Companion" they are feeling positive emotions and using their imaginations. When girls play with dolls they're also imagining what they may be like when they grow up and have real babies.

There is even something very nice about the feeling a little girl has when she is admiring how cute her doll looks in an outfit or imagining what a nice little girl her doll is. Thinking about how nice it is to be a nice little girl can lead little girls to think about being nice in general, and to think about what makes anyone nice. Whether a little girl imagines being a wonderful mother to her "baby", or gets practice scolding her pretend child for some pretend misdeed, a child gets to sort out a lot ideas about right and wrong, good and bad, and learning and teaching when she plays with her dolls.

The experience that little girls have when they're playing with their dolls is a positive and enriching one.

When girls outgrow baby dolls (and sometimes before) they will usually graduate to Barbie dolls (or dolls that are similar). No longer concentrating on nurturing and playing "Mommy", girls begin to enjoy the appeal of fashion. More importantly, they get to imagine life as a grown-up girl. Through imagining girls again get to process any number of ideas related to life as a grown-up girl. Although Barbie has had the occasional outfit found too sexy by most mothers, the Barbie doll, in general, portrays a wholesome image.

When I was researching an article on Barbie dolls I actually ran into studies that mentioned that there are a number of girls who hate Barbie because of Barbie's "perfect" image and pink-sweet accessories; but having some

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>