girl roles-playing princess, etc.

[SpinSpinSugar]

Umm... Have your brother get her a bike or trike or whatever - and turn the damn tv off. Take her to a park with a sandbox or some swings. Give the kid something else to do or be interested in - rather than letting them figure out what they "want" to get into.

Kids need firm rules, boundaries, and limitations - no different than dogs or any other pack mammals. If she wants her Princess stuff - than it should be earned first, the amount of time and manner it's played with controlled, and she needs to respect the limits when it's time to put it away. If those things do not happen then no Princess playtime... period.

SpinSpinSugar

[limewave]

Umm... Have your brother get her a bike or trike or whatever - and turn the damn tv off. Take her to a park with a sandbox or some swings. Give the kid something else to do or be interested in - rather than letting them figure out what they "want" to get into.
SpinSpinSugar

Easier said than done. We take DD on bike rides all the time. Play at the park. DH built her a huge sandbox that she loves to play in. And the only TV she watches is Handy Manny in the AM when we're getting ready for work. She loves all of those things . . . but she also loves Princesses. I think this has more to do with her older cousin--whom she ADORES.

Unless you homeschool and don't let your kids play with other kids . . . then you can't control everything they are exposed to.

[SpinSpinSugar]

Unless you homeschool and don't let your kids play with other kids . . . then you can't control everything they are exposed to.

But you can control the intensity to which they express their interest in the things they are exposed to. Or at least the actions that come from those things they are interested in.

SpinSpinSugar

[tulip]

Just let her be a frikkin princess already. You don't have to buy all the stuff, but don't give her grief for liking princesses!

[shootingstar]

Just let her be a frikkin princess already. You don't have to buy all the stuff, but don't give her grief for liking princesses!

Methinks my brother-in-law, the princess-phobic guy, doesn't quite yet understand little girls. His jobs never involved working with children and nor does he have any sisters. Worry-wart: kid is only 18 months old.

His wife (my sister) is a physician --she will gently steer daughter to value...inner qualities of self/people more. I'm sure of it.

7- yr. Niece-daughter of a different sister: she just finished warm season of soccer and will be starting hockey for lst time this fall. Also enrolled in gymnastics. Enough distractions from Barbiedom and princess stuff but she occasionally wears pink/purple, etc. It appears to me, she's outgrown her dolls since I didn't see her dragging out any or see any evidence.

24-yr. old niece-daughter of yet another sister, is a geotechnical engineer with a great career right now. Yea as a kid, she did the nail polish pretend stuff, some pink clothing (but not everything), etc. She went to a family wedding this summer, as a guest, dressed in khaki pants and casual jacket. OK. Girliedom is so distant right now to her. She didn't seem to wear any makeup at this dressy function. (Yay!!!! She gets the message right about empowerment.)

[limewave]

Just let her be a frikkin princess already. You don't have to buy all the stuff, but don't give her grief for liking princesses!

[ACG]

I have to chime in here. I grew up in a house of 3 girls, 1 younger brother. Raised 2 girls (19 and 25), now raising a 7 year old girl.

My 19 year old pointed out that why do we have easy bake ovens for girls and not for boys, good point kiddo!

Disney is out there, the mass media of it all. They send you stuff to your home, they own various TV stations, etc. They have an obsession with stories of young innocent princess girls, no moms, kinda dumb dads, marrying some prince guy. Not real life.

There are princess parties, everywhere too. People make a big deal out of 8th grade graduation, like it is wedding! And let's forget the prom's, or what about that TV show about super rich spoiled girls having sweet 16 parties.

I believe that as a parent you can and should supervise what your child, boy or girl is exposed to. Saying that I realize you can not control everything but must with firm and loving guidance provide them with an environment that shows them ALL aspects of life and it's opportunities.

My two cents over and out.

[malkin]

Get a copy of The Paper Bag Princess for those princessy girls (and boys)!