Bratz book is not appropriate for 4 year old girl?

[alliwantissleep]

My daughter's school encourage the children to save money on a weekly basis towards buying a book at the end of term. This helps them to understand the concept of saving up to buy something and allows them to keep track of how much they are saving during the term. So far so good....

My understanding was that the children would be helped to make their choice from a selection of age appropriate books however my 4 year old daughter who's in reception, brought home "bratz style and sketch - design your own awesome stles!" The first pages include illustrations of "Bratz Fashion" but I think they could easily have been mistaken for "Street Corner Fashion"! Throughout the book, girls are encouraged to design clothes, learn how to apply eyeshadow, design nail art. I'm not sure what's worse the awful images or the American slang - "hangin' with your BFFs" etc.

So before I go into school tomorrow to express my outrage over this rubbish, am I being unreasonable?

i don't think i would be outraged

She has learnt to do something really good - saving up for a treat

Assume she has plenty of other influences and books to read?

I would be v v naffed off too alliwantissleep.

It's just wrong in about 16 different ways!

Oh so sorry but got the giggles on designing street corner fashion by a reception child... Oh how quickly they grow !

Bratz stuff (IMO) aint for reception kids - nasty stuff. Might it fall into a bin bag?

I really don't like the bratz. They're far too slutty and look like they'd really enjoy a bitch about you behind your back. What's with their feet? Weird.

Bring back ugly big headded 1980s Sindy! Thats a girl who would have known how to keep her knickers on...perhaps not through choice, but at least she had some sensible shoes in her wardrobe.

Someone on another thread earlier said that their daughter was worryingly "pinkified" and thought girls weren't allowed to play with tractors or something, she said she did her best but external influences were affecting her more than the parents could counteract.

Another poster responded "what external influences?" and said that obviously they weren't looking after their DD properly if she was being so easiy led.

This OP has made me think of that. I mean it's everywhere, isn't it, and it is out of parents control.

Personally I think you are entitled to have a word as I agree this is totally inappropriate. Not sure they will listen though.

I complained about some of the set reading material given to my children in Year 1 which I thought was completely inappropriate and got told to lighten up basically.

My daughter is quite girly (any colour as long as it's pink!). Do I have double standards if I think princessess and fairies are ok but bratz aren't?

Thanks for your comments, I think I will have a quiet word. Of course this will be out of earshot of DD otherwise it may become her favourite book.

YANBU

I have a 4 year old DD and would not be happy either.

YANBU I absolutely hate the bloody bratz, they look like little hookers I wont be letting my dd get into them if I have half a chance. Although, not keen on barbie either!

YANBU. The whole bratz thing passed my dd by (with a little help from me). Children do grow up too quickly and they are being abetted by these hideous things. I agree with whoever said they'd talk about you behind your back too.

yanbu. Bratz are the worst brand imo, even worse than Disney Princess and Barbie. Urgh. I would be kicking off big style.

Never understand why parents are so scared of a doll, it's just insecure parenting.

Little girls like playing with makeup, especially if they see the mother putting it on everyday.They just like copying the grownups around them.

MY DD is 12 had Btatz/Barbie dolls and has not turned out to be a mini hooker, she is the complete opposite and lives in her black skinny jeans and baggy hoodie and not bothered by make up or the latest hairstyle. The likes what she likes and is not influenced by what her friends wear one of whom is a bit of a goth and the other is into the latest neon and leggings.

It's part of an overall message though bruffin.

bratz dolls
sexually procative women at childrens eye level in newsagents
porno style music videos
strip clubs on the high street

it's the thin end of the wedge.

Of course one doll isn't going to doom your child, it's part of a wider picture that people find distasteful.

I saw this book and I've been bleating on about it to anyone who will listen! It's awful - the outfits are totally hookerish! Not for a 4 year old imo - or any child actually!

YADNBU.

I'm going to have a word with DD's class teacher this afternoon! Found out today another little girl bought the book at the end of last term and her mum sent a letter in to complain that she thought it inappropriate for a 4 yo but got no reponse and as it is still available this terms, was obviously ignored! If i don't get a satisfactory response from the teacher it's off to the head I go!

I feel the same as ImSoNotTelling, I'm concerned about the sexulisation of young children and what we present as "normal" to them.

I don't want to go against the grain here but I think you may be overreacting a slight bit. Don't get me wrong - I hate the whole Bratz thing, but as long as you don't start buying into it, then it will be nothing more than a one off thing that will be quickly forgotten.
If you are concerned about the sexualisation of young children, I suggest going off on a rant about the girls clothes that are sold in shops these days. Many of them look like small versions of things I would've gone clubbing in when I was younger. Also, my dd is 7 and some of her friends wear high heels to school Surely, if they're playing and running around they should have nice, flat sensible shoes on?
Anyway, rant over. I just think it's not the end of the world, although I would also be pretty miffed if it were me.

YANBU

I hate bratz and won't lett dd(5) have them.

let not lett

yanbu. I would have a fit.

barbie is sluttish enough without the next level pole dancers bratz dolls. barbie : impossibly small waist . bratz : improbably anorexic .

barbie is just about tolerated in my house, I draw the line at bratz. your are completly right to go into school dont no if id have the balls to do it tho! good luck hope you get it sorted !

YANBU I would not be happy if my DD brought back The Little Book Of Hookers either

Apparently the books are selected by the person that runs the library and so i will have to wait until next week to have my say - in a quiet, diplomatic way of course!