Barbies

[DaycareMom]

So this morning all the DCKs were playing Barbies. DCB4 starts undressing them and saying he wants to see her butt and boobies. I explain to him that those are private areas and we need to keep the Barbies dressed. He continues to keep talking about her butt so I told him if he couldn't play by the rules, he couldn't play with the Barbies.

How do you handle this kind of situation? Do you have rule(s) regarding Barbies?

[kathiemarie]

So this morning all the DCKs were playing Barbies. DCB4 starts undressing them and saying he wants to see her butt and boobies. I explain to him that those are private areas and we need to keep the Barbies dressed. He continues to keep talking about her butt so I told him if he couldn't play by the rules, he couldn't play with the Barbies.

How do you handle this kind of situation? Do you have rule(s) regarding Barbies?

To be honest I just don't have Barbies in my daycare. Let me say I LOVE Barbie. Played with her until I was in my teens (with my little sis of course : My girls played with Barbie... but just for the reason you described I just don't think they belong in daycare. I would put them away and let your kids play with them outside of daycare hours.

[Blackcat31]

I HATE Barbies.

They are fine for older kids but not for preschool aged kids in a mixed age setting. (for the reason you are having issues with them now )

I have baby dolls and that's it.

...and yes, if a kid that age continued to speak about butts and boobs after being told not to...he would be spending some time in time out AND having a discussion with the parent.

[DaycareMom]

I HATE Barbies.

They are fine for older kids but not for preschool aged kids in a mixed age setting. (for the reason you are having issues with them now )

I have baby dolls and that's it.

...and yes, if a kid that age continued to speak about butts and boobs after being told not to...he would be spending some time in time out AND having a discussion with the parent.

Yes, I will definitely be talking to DCPs!

[NoMoreJuice!]

Barbie Solution

I have a fun solution for you! I saw this idea on Pinterest and I did it to all my barbies! I took red/blue/green nail polish and painted shorts on them, and then painted white tank tops on all of them. Some people just paint underwear or swimsuits, but I went for a little less skin just in case. They're never clothed anyway. No more naked Barbies! Why does Mattel still make them naked anyway?

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/258534834828917334/

[Blackcat31]

I have a fun solution for you! I saw this idea on Pinterest and I did it to all my barbies! I took red/blue/green nail polish and painted shorts on them, and then painted white tank tops on all of them. Some people just paint underwear or swimsuits, but I went for a little less skin just in case. They're never clothed anyway. No more naked Barbies! Why does Mattel still make them naked anyway?

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/258534834828917334/

Welcome to the forum!

Great idea too!! Thanks for posting!

[DaycareMom]

I have a fun solution for you! I saw this idea on Pinterest and I did it to all my barbies! I took red/blue/green nail polish and painted shorts on them, and then painted white tank tops on all of them. Some people just paint underwear or swimsuits, but I went for a little less skin just in case. They're never clothed anyway. No more naked Barbies! Why does Mattel still make them naked anyway?

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/258534834828917334/

Wow! Awesome idea. Thank you!

[butterfly]

I have a fun solution for you! I saw this idea on Pinterest and I did it to all my barbies! I took red/blue/green nail polish and painted shorts on them, and then painted white tank tops on all of them. Some people just paint underwear or swimsuits, but I went for a little less skin just in case. They're never clothed anyway. No more naked Barbies! Why does Mattel still make them naked anyway?

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/258534834828917334/

Thanks for the idea!! Just got done painting mine! - I must say I felt a little dirty positioning the barbies in order to get them completely painted and then positioning them so they could dry. Thankfully no dcps came in while I was doing it. ::

[NoMoreJuice!]

Lol!

Lol, it's a naughty job, but somebody's got to do it!!

[craftymissbeth]

Thanks for the idea!! Just got done painting mine! - I must say I felt a little dirty positioning the barbies in order to get them completely painted and then positioning them so they could dry. Thankfully no dcps came in while I was doing it. ::

::

[BrooklynM]

I played with Barbies, my daughter hated dolls, she wouldn't even take them out of the box, so we always regifted them. In general, dolls freak me out a bit because my grandmother collected dolls and they were super spooky. I have a few play babies in the daycare though.

BUT...FUNNY story speaking of boobies, . Yesterday, at pickup one of the moms who has 2 kids here was getting her baby into the car and the DKB started hitting at my boob and said "ball", it was super funny. The mom was dying laughing. He has been patting them once and while for a week and I just tell him, no no, that's not for you, but he thinks it is so funny! Kids! You gotta love their innocense!

[Starburst]

You could use a permanent marker (or paint) to put on a bikini and "cover" those areas (though some Barbies have painted on underwear). My older cousin's used to have weird parties with their friends (don't ask) where they would take old Barbies and cut their hair and draw on them with permanent markers.

At that age it's normal for them to be curious but in a group setting it can be very awkward (that's probably why they aren't anatomically correct). And taking the Barbie's away, especially after this incident, the other children might get upset and blame him.

ETA: I just saw the other comment on that after I posted. Nail polish probably would work better. I would probably do that with ken dolls too.

[LadyMacbeth]

I've seen this suggestion before about covering Barbies up permanently. I feel like it sends the wrong message, like there is something wrong with nudity or something shameful about the female body. In any case, Barbie is mostly used for dramatic play from an older child, who enjoys imitating a teenager or tween. A younger child is more inclined to play house so a baby doll would probably be more appropriate

[Starburst]

I've seen this suggestion before about covering Barbies up permanently. I feel like it sends the wrong message, like there is something wrong with nudity or something shameful about the female body. In any case, Barbie is mostly used for dramatic play from an older child, who enjoys imitating a teenager or tween. A younger child is more inclined to play house so a baby doll would probably be more appropriate

Well, I would cover the Ken dolls too, even though they are not anatomically correct (which technically the Barbie doll isn't either).

[Evansmom]

Personally for smaller kids I like the Groovy Girls dolls. They have removable clothes, flat chests and underwear painted or stitched on (I can't remember which). I love that they come in all different skin tones, they have cute faces and hairdos. They're made from cloth. You can buy accessories for them if you want.

More appropriate for preschoolers than barbies IMO.