Are Barbies a good influence on my children?

She's just a toy, and a good one at that, says Annalisa Barbieri. Barbie bad for you? My arse she is. Thank goodness for Barbie, for a toy that still involves some imagination, around which children can create their own fantasy world instead of having one ready-made and presented to them. read more

Playing Barbies was one of the handful of activities all four of my children played together. So yes, all-in-all, Barbies were a very good influence on my children. Interestingly, the play had little to do with me, their Mom. read more

So for that, I think Barbie had a pretty good influence on me. Growing up, I never thought deeper about Barbie. All I was worried about was whether or not Barbie had all her accessories and looked pretty once I clothed her. I never once thought that I should strive to look like Barbie or that she was the epitome of feminine beauty. Barbie was just a doll; that was it. read more

Barbie is an inanimate object. It's hard to imagine her being either a good or bad influence on girls. I played with Barbies a little when I was young. It never ever occurred to me that Barbie didn't look like the women in my life. read more

The way I saw all the different skin tones that Barbie had, reflected the diversity I saw if my friends growing up. So for that, I think Barbie had a pretty good influence on me. Growing up, I never thought deeper about Barbie. read more

Parental input and guidance has the biggest influence on how children play with and perceive their toys. When my Mom knew I didn’t care for Betsy Wetsy she accepted my love for the Barbie doll my paternal Aunt gave me. How my Mom guided me was to get involved with my love for designing doll clothes. My maternal grandmother got involved, too. read more