Princess fever reigns for generation of girls

Happily ever after
Recently, Disney also came out with a line of princess-inspired wedding dresses, aimed at that age group of young women.

“For many women, there’s still a piece from childhood to want to be a princess,” says Mary Beech, a Disney vice president who helps oversee development of products tied to Disney brands, the princesses included.

That’s exactly what worries parents such as David Williams, a father from Fond du Lac, Wis., who has a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son

Though they’ve given in on a few princess items for their daughter, he says he and his wife have drawn the line on Barbie and Bratz dolls, which he calls “empty-headed girly-girl products.” Coincidentally, Mattel Inc., which makes Barbie, recently won a copyright infringement battle that may mean the end of Bratz, a popular but controversial line of dolls that some parents loathed because of the diva-like attitude they encourage.

Meanwhile, Greg Allen, a father who writes a blog called Daddy Types, applauded the recent demise of Club Libby Lu, mall-based stores for girls that focused on makeovers and super-frilliness.

“As a new parent, I dreaded someday having to fight the superficial, idiotic, pop culture-worshipping chain’s impending influence on my daughter,” he wrote after Saks Inc., which owned Club Libby Lu, announced it would close those stores by this spring. His comments set off a lengthy discussion between those who shared his glee and those who were offended.

There are, after all, many parents who happily go along with the happily ever after.

Janine Fugate, a mother in Minneapolis whose 5-year-old daughter went through a huge princess stage, is one of them.

Little princesses Readers share photos of their royal beauties. Gallery | Submit photo

“Kids get obsessive about stuff. Right now she’s loving Pokemon and super heroes. Next year, it will probably be something else,” Fugate says of her daughter. “What’s important to us is that we give her and her 3-year old sister options and opportunities.”

Of his 5-year-old daughter’s princess obsession, David Miller, a dad in Philadelphia, jokes: “I worry more about the near future when she will want to be a pierced-up drummer in a punk rock band.”

Discouraging diva-like behavior
Some parents try to strike a happy medium by finding positive ways to use their daughters’ obsession with princesses.

“We’ve taken advantage of this by saying that mundane locations like a tower at the end of a hike is a princess castle,” says Chris Gale, a father in Stamford, Conn., whose daughter is a fan of Ariel from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”

“Invoking Ariel has actually gotten her to try and enjoy eating octopus at a local restaurant,” he said.

Others say they also try to nix diva-like behavior that can be brought on by playing princess.

“When they get an attitude, that’s when it’s time to take a bath or eat dinner,” says Bretton Holmes, a dad of two young daughters in Lubbock, Texas. “If you give them enough context, then they’ll turn out fine.”

Haller, the pediatrician in St. Louis, agrees that those discussions are vital, as is monitoring whether girls are using the fantasy play to escape a harmful situation. He also advises against all-princess-all-the-time.

“You can say, ’OK, well, you can play princess until 4:30. Then we’re going to take a bike ride together or play volleyball or clean up the kitchen,”’ says Haller, who’s also an associate professor of pediatrics at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. “It will really help them put this into perspective.”

Beech, at Disney, says she also hopes parents will focus on positive princess traits, such as being compassionate and trustworthy. But she doesn’t fault Haller’s advice.

“I would have to agree with the experts that say ’everything in moderation,”’ she says.

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