Notes

THE FANTASTIC Bratz Debate
Bratz have already been a massive phenomenon in the toy industry for years. Now, with the upcoming Bratz movie, the brand is defined to become, if possible, even more more popular.

However, there has been a debate for some time over the suitability of Bratz as a toy for young children. The argument has raged around the world, and contains left parents and care-givers with an extremely difficult choice to create. Do they allow Bratz into their households or do they risk incurring their children's wrath by denying them the toy that 'everyone has'.

read more will let you know that their dolls are targeted at the 8-12 year old market. Experience shows, however, that children of a much younger age, often only four or five years old are attracted to the brand.

Marketing Experts talk of a phenomenon, which they call Kids Getting Older Younger. They appear to believe that firstly this is the fact of today's world, secondly it's not a problem and thirdly that they are merely reflecting this in their brands rather than in many ways being responsible for the trend. Regardless of blame, our children are more sophisticated than ever before. However, does the Bratz brand promote values that any parent will be happy for a twelve year old to experience, let alone a child of four?

From the outset, a word that you'll hear used again and again in the marketing of Bratz is 'Sassy'. Leaving aside, for a moment, that this is the toy industry's favorite euphemism for 'sexy', what does the dictionary tell us about the word 'sassy'? Impudent, improperly forward or bold, rude and disrespectful. Any child psychologist will let you know that doll play is an extremely important part of a child learning appropriate behavior for true to life. Are these really the values we want to teach our children?

The blatant commercialism of Bratz also causes many parents to baulk. Children are taught by Bratz that the main things in a girl's life are appearance, make-up, clothes, boys and dating. This encourages them to miss the important developmental stages of middle childhood and travel right to the pre-occupations of an adolescent world, developing a new generation of good little consumers on the way.

Of course, it isn't all bad. Bratz will be the first fashion dolls to market in virtually any numbers that move away from the 'white and blonde' clich� of Cindy and Barbie, supplying dolls with a mixture of ethnicities. They also have slightly more realistic figures than their predecessors. Friendship is one value that is positive and is ever within descriptions of the dolls.

However probably the biggest criticism made by parents of Bratz is their clothing. In the past, Bratz dolls have appeared in miniskirts, fishnet stockings, and feather boas. Needless to say, children will inevitably desire to copy. Whilst discussing this problem of the sexualization of young children, the American Psychological Association were heavily critical of Bratz. They stated that evidence showed that sort of sexualization had a poor effect on a girl's self-confidence, body image, self-esteem, sexual development and mental health.

Of course, MGA Entertainment will let you know that it's around the individual parent to decide if Bratz dolls are ideal for their kids. However, so called Children's Marketing Gurus have been teaching a different philosophy for years. check here tell the toy companies simply not to worry about whether parents like their products. Just pitch at the youngsters, and let the nagging factor do the rest.

Whatever you decide to do as a parent, it's a tough choice. Good luck!

get more info is Managing Director of Bus Stop Toy Shop. Most likely the smallest toy shop on earth in the small Scottish town of Largs. He's also a big kid himself. Go to the Bus Stop Toy Shop website at:
Homepage: https://public.sitejot.com/tarphopper7.html