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Original poster

Appropriate ages for toys and other things?

74 replies

MirandaG · 27/12/2008 17:21

Trying to work this out. My DD1 is 5 and I am surprised at the amount of High St Musical, Hannah Montana etc that girls of her age seem to be given. I thought these were for older girls? Last year my DD2 got a Bratz towel (she was five months). A Bratz birthday cake also featured at one point for my (then) four year old. DD1 comes home from school singing Mamma Mia songs and 'I kissed a girl, I liked it'. (This has been banned - am trying to ignore Mamma Mia although not happy about this either) I realise that this isn't a new topic, but what is it all about?
Can't they just be little girls for a while?

Sorry ranting a bit, but would be interested in what people think is the appropriate age range for the following themed toys?

Hello Kitty
Charlie and Lola
High St Musical
Barbie
Bratz
Hannah Montana

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overthehill · 28/12/2008 01:06

I do agree with those who think that children are put under pressure to grown up far too young. However, just to show the other side of the coin: I have a friend who has no children and is very generous but, shall we say, a little out of touch. My dc's are 13 and 9 1/2 and she gave them both Charlie & Lola calendars for Christmas... they were outraged!

PlonkerAlkaseltzerInMyGlass · 28/12/2008 01:21

Ok, I have 3 dd's ages 8 (almost 9), 5 and 17 months. I would say IME of my own children plus family:

Hello Kitty - Any age at all. All 3 of my girls have hello kitty stuff

Charlie and Lola - My 5 yo loves Charlie and Lola. My nearly 9 year old isn't interested per se but will watch it when dd2 does. Dd3 knows the characters but doesn't really watch it - that said, if its not ITNG she's not interested.

High St Musical - Both dd1 and dd2 love HSM as does my 10yo neice. Dd2 loves to sing the songs and likes the film but isn't into the merchandice. Neither dd has shown an interest in the dolls

Barbie - Hasn't ever hit their radar

Bratz - Dd1 had a brief spell of Bratz at around aged 7. It didn't last long. Dd2 isn't interested, although she does undress all dd1's bratz and bathes them

Hannah Montana - Dd1 likes HM. She isn't massively interested though. Dd2 not really interested.

And I have to say that we all love Mamma Mia

Original poster
MirandaG · 28/12/2008 02:16

Thanks again - it's really interesting to see other people's perspectives. Have had too much wine to comment any further tonight!

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Original poster
MirandaG · 28/12/2008 10:43

So, smartiejakeonachristmascake, what do the 10 and 12.5 like? I suppose this is part of what I'm getting at - if the very young children are into things that are really aimed at those slightly older, then what are the older ones into? It's a bit like parties - I see parents lavishing literally hundreds of pounds on themed birthday parties with entertainers etc for four year olds. What are they going to expect when they are 14? Or does everyone just calm down a bit as the children get older and have more input into the party they would actually like .
Fruitful, I guess I was the geeky kid in the playground and didn't really like it at the time, but I'm glad now. I'd like to have a balance for my girls, so that they know about all the things that are fashionable and don't feel left out, but are also exposed to different things so that they are the ones making the choice and not just having aggressively marketed products shoved down their throats.
I'm surprised that people think Chrlie and Lola is for pre-schoolers only - I think it has quite a broad age range and the themes are those affecting school age children - losing teeth etc. That said DD2 is moving on to Clarice Bean now and she loves it - probably because Clarice is a bit older and has big brothers and sisters. My younger daughter is bound to be into all the more grown up stuff earlier just by virtue of having an older sister and I'll probably be a bit less PFB about it all too! Will still hate Barbie though...but won't be banning her

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smartiejakeonachristmascake · 28/12/2008 11:21

MirandaG My 10 and 12 year olds still like programmes aimed at their age- my oldest loves Spongebob square pants! (has loads of themed stuff) and they both love programmes like Drake and Josh, Tracy Beaker and Blue Peter. Also both loved the Chuckle brothers at the panto we saw last week.

The favoutite pressies this year were the obvious like Wii fit (we already had a Wii), books (younger one got some Malory Towers and the older one, Twilight and a Noel Streatfield) but also family games like Pictionary which was a big hit.

I think it's the "teenage dream" yukky boyfriend thing they both hate about Hannah Montana and HSM it's not actually that they are very grown up for their age! Neither of them can stand the main boy in HSM.

Nemostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 28/12/2008 11:24

DD1 was 3 on the 16th dec and got a surprising amount of barbie and make up items for christmas.

Clary · 28/12/2008 11:34

Miranda you're kidding about charlie and Lola not being for pre-schoolers?

Lola doesn't go to school does she.

I read the tomato book to my 3 t'other night cause we really love it but there's no way I would buy it for, for example, a 5yo. It's deffo a storybook for a 2-3 yo.

Nemostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 28/12/2008 11:37

think lola is supposed to be 5 and charlie about 8.
I would say its aimed at 2-7yr olds personally.

Clary · 28/12/2008 11:39

Really? So you would buy I would never eat a tomato for a 7yo?

I must be missing something then. DD would never want to read that to herself and I generally read them something much more substantial. Tho I agree we do dip into the Gruffalo etc from time to time whene everyone is tired.

Lola is 4 actually because she starts school in one of the books.

ramonaquimby · 28/12/2008 11:41

Charlie and Lola not just for 2/3 year olds I don't think.

I have a dd who is 7 and I think she's the only girl amongst her peers who hasn't seem HSM (got 1 and 2 for xmas for her) she is delighted beyond belief.

never been into bratz, I'm not bothered by barbies, she has quite a few, but it's her 4 year old sister who plays more with them

Hannah Montana - didn't know much about her until at all, just knew that she was on dd's radar - saw a set of books at the Book People about Hannah Montana and got them, dd thrilled to bits until I flipped through them - content far too old for a 7 year old, but this is their market I think!!

CatMandu · 28/12/2008 11:53

Charlie and Lola is for pre-schoolers, all three of mine rejected it at about 4/5 years as too baby-ish.

Bratz - dd1 nagged and nagged me for one when she was 7, I resisted for a long time although I gave in eventually. Her group of friends were into them for about 6 months, then dd1 started saying that she didn't like them. One day there was a dressing up party at Brownies and a few girls went as Bratz. DD1 was appalled and told me that was she'd gone off them because the clothes weren't nice for girls. I was v pleased with her.

HSM - dd11 (9) and dd2 (7) love it although more dd2. fwiw I think it's fine for this age group, all about dancing and singing, friendship etc. Much better than Grease, which was quite shocking in hindsight.

DD's love to play with crafty things and playmobil, so still very much into age appropriate toys.

Original poster
MirandaG · 28/12/2008 18:56

Thanks, smartiejakeonachristmascake. LOL at SpongeBob because my five year old loves it too, but so does her dad. I think we like things that work on lots of levels, which is why we all like Charlie and Lola.

Lola does go to school - she's in the school play, she helps Charlie out when he gets a fit of nerves at his music performance and she and Lotta lose teeth, which must make her about 5 or 6. Don't think I would actually buy a Charlie and Lola book for a 7 year old but they might still like one if they'd had it since they were little. We had a Charlie and Lola party and the eight year old boys were fine about it (older children at DD1s minder) - especially the pink milk, which I was amazed at!

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Original poster
MirandaG · 28/12/2008 18:58

I get the sense that Charlie and Lola is a bit of a Marmite thing. I gave a Charlie and Lola item to a (just) five year old for Christmas and her mum looked like I'd put a rotting fish under her nose!

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Original poster
MirandaG · 28/12/2008 18:59

Should that be 'have the sense?' Bit of a hangover...

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tassisssss · 28/12/2008 19:02

I am astounded at how many kids under 6 have watched mamma mia...I have a 5 year old (first child and male so maybe that makes a difference) and it wouldn't cross my mind to watch it with him.

Original poster
MirandaG · 28/12/2008 19:06

I know - me neither. Although I did love Abba, but I wasn't five, but definitely at primary school, maybe eight or nine.

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sheena1 · 28/12/2008 19:14

i think basically that kids r older these days and into all the bigger stuff i buy stuff i know my kids like n want my neice was5 at christmas and all she wanted was high school musical stuff and hanah montana i think its the way kids r ik av loved to buy her a doll n pram but i know she wouldn't play with it

Clary · 28/12/2008 19:17

Lola starts school in one of the books ?I am absolutlely too small for school? - she takes her imaginary friend along.
Maybe I haven?t followed her progress then - does she aactually get older? (unusual for this sort of story - eg the Simpsons where Bart is 10 forever).
No I certainly wouldn?t give a C and L item to a 5yo. We got given a Dora the Explorer book for Christmas for DS2 (he?s 5) and I am puzzled as to whom to regift it to tbh - would bracket C and L with it (will donate to needy toddler somewhere I guess ).

I quizzed DD (7.5) about this this pm - she said the yr 5 girls at school like Hello Kitty the best; a lot of her pals like Hannah Montana but they didn?t in yr 1 as ?It didn?t exist then mummy.? Everyone likes HSm which I think is fine. Not many of her friends like Bratz or Barbie but maybe they never did.

I asked what else the older girls liked and also asked DS1 (yr 5) and they agreed Nintendo DS and maybe HSM still.

Agree would not let any of my 3 watch Mama Mia yet. Lots of DD's peers have tho. Just think the whole theme totally inappropriate (also it's a crap film but I know I am a lone voice on that one )

Smithagain · 28/12/2008 19:20

Feeling very at the idea that 5 year olds are too sophisticated for Charlie and Lola.

Lola is 4/5 (she has started school) and must be about 8/9. The themes they cover are highly appropriate for young school kids dealing with the big, wide world.

Smithagain · 28/12/2008 19:21

Sorry - "Charlie" must be about 8/9

Clary · 28/12/2008 19:25

It's not the themes. I'm talking about the books which are very very simple stories and frankly could be read by my 5yo in less than a minute.

I'd rather he read sthg a bit more challenging - and I am similarly likely yo read the DC sthg longer and harder tbh (eg roald dahl).

Not that we don't ever read them - but I was simply saying that I wouldn't give a Charlie and Lola item as a gift.

Original poster
MirandaG · 28/12/2008 19:29

My five year old loves baby dolls, prams etc still. Maybe it depends on the school/area. We have moved from West London to Dublin and, contrary to what you might think, I think the girls here are into the 'older' things more than the children in London!
Clary - I think Lola does grow up a bit as the series go on. Weird about Hello Kitty too, because it's a very simple, almost Miffy-like character, but obviously appeals to much older girls. Thanks for responses - have to do bedtime now but will log back later.

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Clary · 28/12/2008 19:38

Ah yes my 7yo still likes to dress dolls and teddies and put them to bed etc.

We had a number of presents for her Build a Bear on Christmas morning

PlonkerAlkaseltzerInMyGlass · 28/12/2008 19:47

Lola is 4 going on 5 - I have that on great authority (its on the Charlie and Lola website )

PlonkerAlkaseltzerInMyGlass · 28/12/2008 19:49

Oh, and Charlie is 7 ...

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