Baby Dolls NOT Barbie Dolls
Our World Has Changed!!
Many women who grew up playing with Barbie dolls find nothing wrong with passing this on to their children. They remember the fun they had imagining they were Barbie and playing grown-up. However, we must acknowledge we no longer live in that world. There are many more challenges for children today and the bar for moral standards has been lowered and lowered to the point, we may have to dig a hole to keep going lower.
Today’s world is filled with a steady stream of images and messages coming at children from all directions. They are learning that beauty and possessions are equal to happiness. This messages resonates throughout social media and the internet. The larger girls, with the hand-me-downs whose families cannot afford to give them this lavish lifestyle are becoming more and more depressed. But, the girls with tiny figures, expensive clothes, and the latest possessions are unsatisfied, and depressed as well. They are not understanding that they are enough, just the way they are. They think the next purchase, or the next weight loss will give them fulfillment. But when they possess it, the anticipated joy is replaced by the desire for another object. The internet has proven to be another source of empty promises and images of fake happiness.
The dress code for children is following the trends of teens and young adults. But none of these truly represent my real concern for little girls today. We must take a look at the messages children are getting and what they are understanding. Yet, first we have to acknowledge that children are not adults, they do not have fully developed brains, they are not capable of filtering the good information from the bad information. They have not had enough of life’s experiences to be able to deal with difficult situations and problems, and they are not knowledgeable of the evil that exists in the world. Children are innocent and naïve. They are trusting and they believe in the good in the world. They believe they are safe and they accept everyone as being honest and truthful.
We must not let society decide how we raise our children.
Barbie Messages
To be fair to all of the Barbie fans, I find no harm in Barbie for older children who have had a chance to feel secure in who they are. Barbie can inspire girls to become professionals. But it is better when given in small doses and after a period of time where children learn to share and to nurture.
However, I do feel there is a line we need to be careful that we do not cross. When looks, body image, and material possessions rule our hearts and lives, we are stepping out of the will of God and into the hands of the enemy. Barbie does teach a few lessons about careers, but I caution parents to be careful that the concept that this is a perfect world and adults are always happy is a terrible falsehood that does not prepare children for the disappointments that will surely come their way.
Myth: Being Beautiful makes you happy.
Billions of dollars are spent each year in the beauty industry. We are told we need the perfect skin, the perfect teeth, the perfect eyes and lips, and we must stay wrinkle and pimple free to be beautiful.
This belief leads young girls to be insecure and to feel they will never be truly loved unless they look perfect, which is never attainable. God made us, we do not all look the same and we should not obsess about our looks, but worry about our hearts. Beauty will fade, as we age, we will become less attractive. Beauty should never be a central concern of our lives.
Unfortunately, parents are buying into this myth. Some parents go as far as to pay for plastic surgery for their young daughters. They want to repair any flaws their little girls may have. Some parents want the “perfect” daughters. Girls quickly pick up on the message that they are not enough as they are. They think they must be damaged if moms and dads need to have surgeons repair them. They feel inadequate and ugly. They are never satisfied with their looks. The emptiness within them starts to grow and a search to fill that void begins.
Truth: Beauty comes from what is in our hearts, not from our appearance.
God has given each of us our own specific gifts. We should spend more time focusing on those and how to use them to bring glory to God. Parents should look at the heart of their children and work to help them develop hearts of compassion and giving. True beauty lies within.
Myth: The perfect figure is important.
While looking the best we can is to be desired, it is even more important to know real beauty comes from within. Yes, it is important to exercise and eat a healthy diet. But today we are seeing too many girls struggling with eating disorders such as bulimia. This is a fine line for parents. We must let children know we love them no matter how they look.
Mr. Rogers once wrote a song titled, “It’s You I Like”. The words include ..
“it’s not the things you wear
it’s not the way you do your hair
but it’s you I like
The way you are right now
The way down deep inside of you”
These words are so true and we need to show them in the way we love our children and accept them.
Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord see the heart. I Samuel 16:7
Truth: Happiness comes from within.
Judging ourselves and others by a body image only brings disappointment and unhappiness. No matter how pretty we are, or how thin we may be, it is never enough.
Myth: Material possession are vital.
Having the right clothes and shoes are not the answer. Unfortunately, the clothes, the car, and the house will not bring us happiness. The more we have, the more we want.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “You, say, ‘If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.”
Truth: We will not find happiness in the things we possess.
What we wear, and how we adorn our bodies is not as important as who we are inside.
Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, but rather what is inside the heart — the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. I Peter 3:3-4
Teach Children to Give
Baby Dolls Teach More Important Lessons
I Am Not The Most Important Person
Children, especially girls need to learn to care for others. They begin to understand that it is important to care for someone else. The needs of others are more important and more pressing that the wants of self. Children imitate what they have seen their parents and others do when caring for a child. Girls show they can give love, they understand the baby needs love, hugs, and a caring parent. They make their baby happy by playing with it and using their imagination to feed, clothe, put to sleep and hold it. Children imagine the importance of giving and not receiving. They learn happiness comes from within their hearts, not from their outward appearance.
I hope you will consider rethinking how children are using their imaginations to help them become more content with themselves.
Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.
Luke 12:15
