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Reception class 'Frozen' merchandise pressure

112 replies

mrsjavierbardem · 05/06/2014 10:32

Dd is desperate for one of these very hard to get £40 Elsa or Anna dresses. It sounds like most of the girls will have one soon and be wearing them to parties etc. dh is adamant we shouldn't cave in to the pressure . But it is hard isn't it?
Anyone else standing firm against the Disney product thing? It is hard to be firm when so many girls have them.
Any wisdom on this subject would be appreciated.

OP posts:
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NotCitrus · 06/06/2014 11:19

dirtydog I've not seen Frozen, nor most of the recent superhero films. Nor have my dc. But I do know that from age 2 there are "superhero and princess' charity fundraisers, loads of kids at nursery and school obsessed with one or the other, and zillions of outfits in my supermarket.
If the princess in Frozen has superpowers as well as a floaty dress, that's a great improvement, but why are there only the dresses for sale and aspired to by girls - where's the Ice Bolt Shooter and the widgets for making "ice" slime and the Frozenmobile or horse or whatever she uses for transport?

curiousgeorgie · 06/06/2014 11:24

She doesn't have transport... She walks Wink

ihaveadirtydog · 06/06/2014 12:14

Omg dd would go crazy for an ice bolt shooter! (although some would argue that such merchandise would stunt the imagination...
I see your point though.

BuzzardBird · 06/06/2014 12:18

My DD was so happy with her outfit I made her and has now asked me to make her an ice bolt shooter Confused

Any ideas?

RazzleDazzleEm · 06/06/2014 12:20

I did read about someone recently who was trying to subvert princess sparkle-obsession by reminding their princess that she would be running the kingdom when she grew up, so would ask for her opinions on public policy and social issues. Which I'll try to copy, though dd is actually way more into dinosaurs and vehicles so far

Don't expect that to last! Mine was too through no genetic engineering of my own, I gave her a doll she just wasn't interested...and had access to boys toys.

I too have said to my DD that being a real princess is actually very difficult, the public own you, you have no privacy and so on....you can do this once the child gets old enough to understand.

I never ever say boys or girls toys to my DD i let her play with whatever she wants.....

she used to love all colours, then at aschool came back with pink obsession I would say yes I love pink too, but I also love blue and so on...now she hates pink...

She loves Frozen, and still has a penchant for dinosaurs but also all animals and has really what I would call broad interests.

Which include occasionally dressing up as a fairy or princess.

ihaveadirtydog · 06/06/2014 12:42

too much buzzard?

BuzzardBird · 06/06/2014 12:44

Fantastic dirtydog! She would love that! Grin

CheeryName · 06/06/2014 12:57

I do think its rubbish that 'girls fancy dress' = looking pretty and 'boys fancy dress' = saving the world.

Which is why I encourage DS and DD with a range of interests and although we have some Disney films we also have Ghibli etc.

As well as Christmas/birthday presents they each have opportunity to earn one special thing over the summer holidays. Mainly because DS always wants the new season football kit when it comes out each September and I'd rather he gets max use out of it than wait until his winter birthday/Christmas Wink

hiccupgirl · 06/06/2014 14:26

My DS aged 4 has a total Disney Princess obsession at the mo. He has one dress up dress which is a witch one. Currently he is being Rapunzel in it with scarves on his head for the long hair. Other times he's Elsa with a hair band with a long thin hair plait thingy on it. Lack of different costumes doesn't hamper his ability to role play his favourite characters!

He would love a nice bolt shooter though probably wouldn't use it as Elsa doesn't have one.

Mutley77 · 06/06/2014 17:11

I think the phase is so short lived and why not indulge them while they still enjoy it! Dd (9) would never be seen dead in pink or high heels now so I don't think her Disney Princess phase from 3 to 6 did her any harm at all!

But yes big spend items are generally for a birthday or Christmas here unless a grandparent is visiting and wants to splash the cash a bit (then I will make a suggestion of what will be well received!)

While I think it's nice to indulge them I wouldn't buy a 40 pound item for no reason as I don't think it helps them appreciate getting nice things!

RazzleDazzleEm · 07/06/2014 13:17

I think the phase is so short lived and why not indulge them while they still enjoy it

totally agree its such a short phase child hood is so short...

Nocomet · 07/06/2014 13:43

Exactly, childhood is short (my DDs are 16&13)

If a DD enjoys wearing a £40 driven dress for the two years a good elastic backed princess dress fits. That's less than 50p a week for a lot of smiles.

Unlike many toys DDs really want, dressing up clothes really do get used.

Nocomet · 07/06/2014 13:45

DCs really only play with toys for 6-8 years, so two years smiles is a good percentage of childhood.

AWombWithoutARoof · 07/06/2014 13:52

We too have a 'quiet but firm' opposition to Disney. I'm a bit miffed that our preschool is having a sing-a-long Frozen session at the end of term, I'm not keen on sheep-like buying of merchandise, and, by extension, preschool advertising a product.

I'd say either we couldn't afford it (if that was true), or keep changing the subject in the hope she forgets about it.

AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 07/06/2014 14:11

This is really an interesting discussion, I have to say.

My 4yo loves Frozen, has asked for both an Ironman fancy dress and an Elsa dress for upcoming birthday, launches into "let it go" regularly around the house, and is just as happy wearing a fireman's outfit or a princess outfit.

That would be my 4yo DS. Grin I've given him some lovely floral scarves that he uses as superhero capes, skirts, dresses, long hair (draped over his head).. whatever he fancies when he is playing. If he's having fun and using his imagination (and playing safely obviously), then that's really all I'm worried about.

My DD (who is now an adult) refused to wear anything pink once she hit about 3yo. She is in her late 20's now and still will not wear anything pink or frilly, although she wears dresses as she likes them, just not pink. She was very particular in her clothing choices growing up and was determined to find things that other people weren't wearing so she scoured secondhand shops to find clothing that she liked and kind of developed her own style.

The thing I have an issue with is people that actively discourage their children to wear specific gender related things or Disney things, and push them towards other clothing, but then say "I want them to make their own choices and be unique." Yeah, well, how are they making their own choices if YOU'RE telling them what to wear?? How is that any better? DD had some items of clothing when she was young that "the other kids were wearing too" but she gradually shifted into things that she personally liked. My only influence was that it couldn't be horrendously expensive (as we couldn't afford it) and it had to be presentable (as in not too short, not sleazy looking, and so on).

I'm not sure I quite understand the stress over gender stuff in children. IMO it can sometimes be the parent projecting their own issues onto what their children wear or play with, in their stress that a child will be "indoctrinated" or unduly gender influenced.

BrianTheMole · 07/06/2014 14:12

Completely agree Alice.

AWombWithoutARoof · 07/06/2014 14:24

We don't specify gender of dressing up stuff or toys, DD can play with whatever she wants, I just can't go along with the herd worshipping of the traditional Disney stuff and associated merchandise, particularly when it's so uninspiring for girls.

AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 07/06/2014 14:40

Herd worshipping of Disney? Hmm Okay.

I grew up with Disney (and with my age, it was the OLD Disney stuff, not in the last 20 years) and DD grew up with Disney (within the last 25+ years), and neither one of us has been damaged by Disney exposure.

I think that sometimes there is too much focus on minute details and implied messages that people are looking for in Disney stories. For most people, a little exposure to Disney is in no way "herd worshipping" and doesn't create some huge psychological crisis for girls. If you look at lots of children's stories (and movies), you can pick holes in them and find underlying "messages" that are perhaps not great in general. But for the most part, I suspect that in most instances, a balance of exposure to lots of different ideas will deliver a fairly well balanced child.

Obviously, your child, your choice. But it does seem that some get overwrought about it. Far better IMO to allow your child to choose a good mix, even if it does include Disney, and make sure that overall they understand that just because they see it in a film, that doesn't mean that's the way life has to be.

Nocomet · 07/06/2014 14:57

I totally agree. Banning Barbies, refusing to buy disney DVDs etc. If your DD really wants them is totally counterproductive.

No 4-9 year old is going to understand the femanist arguments unserpinning your reasoning, they are just going to be cross.

Cross primary DCs, in effect put their fingers in their ears. They don't care about the reason for nos for things that really matter to them. They just concentrate on how to explain to their DFs that mummy is a mean cow.

Watching the films together and talking, about the themes. Getting DDs to save up part of the cost of the dresses to appreciate branding is expensive. Both are likely to be far more effective.

hiccupgirl · 07/06/2014 16:04

My DS's preschool staff made a stage for them to take turns being Elsa singing 'Let it go' if they wanted to. I thought this was fantastic responding to what the children were wanting to play not some mass indoctrination by Disney. This was after weeks of the kids choosing to sing and act out the film without any leading by the adults.

I do think being very anti anything in popular culture tends to be counter productive with kids. I totally agree with encouraging them to question themes and think critically but by banning things or avoiding them they tend to become more desirable and it's natural for kids to want the things their parents are trying to steer them away from.

AWombWithoutARoof · 07/06/2014 17:03

DD doesn't actually know we don't like Disney by the way, she has a couple of Disney dolls other people have bought. She isn't leading some Amish existence. Just balk (like it sounds the OP's OH does) at spending a fortune on something we don't really approve of just cos everyone else has it.

BrianTheMole · 07/06/2014 18:10

You don't buy things because everyone else has it though Confused. You may buy it if its something your dc would love. Just like my dd adores her Elsa lookalike dress. Which isn't something everyone else has anyway.

RazzleDazzleEm · 07/06/2014 23:11

A womb, but the frozen film is really good...

I guess you also dont encourage anything else thats popular then like harry potter?

Dickens and Picasso were all the rage once, would you have been against them too?

I went to see Malificient the other day and I loved it, it was stunning in 3d.
Most of the disney films are very clever and charming and excellent.

RazzleDazzleEm · 07/06/2014 23:13

. I thought this was fantastic responding to what the children were wanting to play not some mass indoctrination by Disney. This was after weeks of the kids choosing to sing and act out the film without any leading by the adults*

^ agree.

the let it go song is great...the lyrics have touched a nerve with them all its a great song about being who you want to be and who you truely are....

gamescompendium · 07/06/2014 23:51

Not a fan of the whole Disney Princess thing and I certainly wouldn't be paying £40 for a polyester dress! There are problematic issues with the Disney princesses. It's not the same as when we were all kids, it's much bigger business, and it's not so much the princess stage itself that is an issue so much as what Disney primes a girl to become. Just think of these famous Disney Allumni: Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus. I don't want my daughters to aspire to that.