DD, just 6, comes home from first day in Y1 with lovely colouring-in of..

[LindsayWagner]

.. two photcopied Bratz dolls illustrations. She has labouriously felt-tipped their trout pouts, stripper heels, crop tops and fishnets. Oh, and the crucifix that one has draped around her cheekily out-thrust hips.

This sounds like the time DS's class (Y1) was given the Argos catalogue to cut up and stick to make a Christmas wish list.

EVERYTHING electronic was stuck on it - DS, Wii, Playstation, laptops, computers. There must have been a frenzy.

Such a crap Christmas followed when he got some lovely books, a new duvet cover, pyjamas, etc. :(

But why would these pictures be in there for the OP's dd to choose from, itisnearlysummer? The teacher must have thought they were appropriate pictures for 6 year olds to colour in. Surely there are plenty of other colouring in images she could have chosen, that wouldn't have involved Bratz toys?

"I can do 'so wimpy and roundabout that no-one understands what I'm actually talking about' or 'nutter with spittle flecks'. I seem to lack the middle ground gene."

Ha ha! That is exactly me. Confrontation is possibly my greatest fear and weakness - especially when it comes to teachers. Terrified of 'em.

at Hully

Like you I wouldn't have any issue with the colouring in (& Hula - no issue with Ben 10) but bratz FFS. WTF? I'd be questioning the suitability of the teacher if she thinks this is acceptable - and I'm usually very laid back. Out of all of the 'kids' (though how they ever became a kids thing I'll never know) bratz is the only thing I can think of that I'd object to.

even the name 'Bratz' makes me shudder!

Can you do it for me shitstorm?
Okay, how about

Me: I'm sure it was an oversight, but I just wondered if it would be possible not to offer Bratz illustrations for colouring in? You've probably seen there's been a lot of discussion around the premature sex'n of children recently, and I think lots of parents are keen to provide role models that don't play upon their sexuality, especially at this young age?

Teacher: MASSIVE FUCKING EYEROLL

I think you will come across as a precious and slightly unhinged to complain about it. She will see them on the shelf in the toy shop. How exactly do you think colouring them in is going to adversely affect her in any way?

Me:

I agree that Bratz weren't a great choice, but I would seriously wait and see how the next week or two pan out. Teacher will be feeling under great pressure this week without complaints already. I always find it's best not to draw attention to oneself straight away as stroppy parent. You never know what else is going to happen that REALLY makes you cross - and you could end up wishing you'd picked your battles.
Explain to your daughter Bratz dolls are yucky, don't think any harm will have been done. Hope the week gets better!!

Make some placards and march in the playground. It's best to nip this sort of nascent sexism right in the bud right now.

Hi OP - could you deal with it by writing a kind of generic type letter to the head (and this works especially well if you have more than one child at the school so that they can't identify exactly which teacher you are referring to) complaining about the suitability of colouring in materials / images shown to the children which she/he could relay to the whole staff? (Unlikely to happen I know but a thought). I just think that criticising the teacher (which is what it will feel like to her, however constructive you are) in the first week won't help your relations with her throughout the rest of the year. Alternatively does your school have a suggestion box (ours were going to but have seen no evidence of it yet) where your could anonymously post your thoughts. It's very difficult sometimes for parents to have a say without fearing personal consequences in terms of ease of communication with the staff who after all will be looking after your little one all year so you kind of want her on your side. By the same token you don't want her colouring Bratz images - I have a little girl who started Yr 1 today so I feel your pain - I wonder what she is going to come with this afternoon ???

Being given the pictures by a teacher is a bit more endorsing than seeing them on a shelf, though, Sexual? cue Christmas whining: But Mrs LovelyTeacher uses them, why can't I have one?

SHPP Well, I don't think the actual colouring in will adversely affect her. I do think that endorsement by the school of this brand, which IMO encourages girls to believe that sexual attractiveness is an important quality in a little girl, might have an impact.
I suppose it depends whether you believe in social conditioning.

para-olympian Barbie. Really?

Bet the Bratz earn more than all those Barbies, tho, especially the merchant

They outsell Barbie two to one apparently.

I don't like Ben 10 tbh, especially since I read on here that the word "slut" was used in the cartoon. But I would be too much of a chicken shit to complain, and anyway, it's everywhere.
I do think Bratz is different though. Horrible stuff. :(

I'd like to see a '40 year old' Bratz - she could come with an armchair stuck to her arse in a Jeremy Kyle-set presentation pack.

Srsly I think you're all right about waiting and I like Cleverything's suggestion of positive introduction before going mental. I think I could adapt that to lots of situations.

Just write a note and say

"I know that some parents are fine about the Bratz line of dolls but I am against them on grounds of comon sense. They give a bad message to girls about what is acceptable in terms of makeup and clothing. I would pefer that my DD didn''t get to colour in pages from commercial toy lines in future...many thanks for all your hard work with settling her so beautifully.

My DD once came home with a worksheet in year 2...it was about measuring and had clip art images all around it...one was a little cartoon sketch of a man measuring his penis.

think the elderly teacher had only seen the yard stick and not the giant knob.