Saturday, August 29, 2009

Barbie Games and Growing Up


I’m often at a mix emotionally about growing up. There are certainly things I’d love to do as a grown-up that I can’t do now, but then I think about giving up the best things about childhood and I feel like crying. There are so many things that are great about being a kid. I love not having bills to pay and I love the freedom to do nothing on the weekends if I want to. If I were to pick something that makes it clear, I find Barbie games to be particularly nice. They symbolize everything I love about not growing up.

I can play Barbie games day or night. I don’t have to worry about getting up for a job or even getting up for school in the summer. I can invite friends over and do nothing except play Barbie games for hours on end. When I’m feeling sentimental about childhood, I can open my box of Barbie dolls and play Barbie games with those. Sit on my twin-sized bed and dress and undress Barbies in all of their pretty, cute clothes. It’s a simple life, and truly one that I love.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Barbie Games and Pink


I’m sure I’m not the only one, but I’ve often struggled with the idea of Barbie always being in pink. I understand that Barbie is for girls and that girls are represented by pink. I also understand that pink is a pretty color. I’m not arguing either point. My concern is that pink is shown at an almost unrealistic level. I mean – who drives a pink corvette anyhow?

Don’t get me wrong – I love pink. I wear a bit of pink from time to time and at one point, I even considered dying my hair pink just to say I did it. But when it comes to my Barbie games I like a bit of color variety. Perhaps a green outfit or maybe even a blue. Barbie can come wrapped in a big purple box and the “pink aisle” in the toy store can be strewn with many different colors instead of the single, rather obvious shade of pink. Will it happen? Nope. Pink is as much a part of Barbie as her long blonde hair.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Is There Anything Wrong with Barbie Games?


You might have heard a bit about Bratz games from time to time, but you don’t often hear much about Barbie games. Are Barbie games wrong on any level? It depends on who you’re asking, of course.

Barbie Games are Provocative
It used to be that parents complained a bit because Barbie games seemed a bit too edgy for most. They didn’t like the idea of a big busted blonde bombshell sitting in their child’s toy box ready to be dressed and undressed. Fortunately, they got over it and now Barbie games are considered quite tame by comparison to many other dress up games already mentioned above.

Barbie Games Create False Perceptions
There is also the claim that Barbie games create false perceptions of reality for little girls. Never mind that there are family members, friends, teachers and everyone else around them who look like real people, these parents were concerned that Barbie would create self esteem problems for children who didn’t look like the plastic doll. They worried that the children would want so badly to look like Barbie with her tiny waist and large bust they would harm themselves.

It would seem that Barbie is no longer the problem with false perceptions. Instead, Hollywood and virtually all celebrities are showing up with images far more appealing for young girls than Barbie. It is the real people who create a false perception of beauty – not a small plastic doll.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Barbie Games and Your Brain


When you think of Barbie games, you don’t normally consider them to be especially stimulating of the mind. However, every form of Barbie game is actually helpful in many brain processes. That’s not the mention that the Barbie games are just plain fun.

Barbie games help the mind in many ways. One of the most critical is through creativity,. When you play Barbie games, you’re using all forms of creativity, You’re putting together outfits online. You’re putting together ideas and scenarios for your Barbies to enjoy.

Playing Barbie games also presents an ongoing challenge for the brain. There is always something new to discover or figure out. This is especially true of online Barbie games. There you must create outfits and styles for your virtual Barbie to wear. Doing so makes you think creatively time and time again.

Barbie games are also terrific about establishing communication through the internet. When you play Barbie games you have the opportunity to share, collaborate and communicate with others who share the same interests. Learning to work online with others from around the globe is a critical skill for the future. Being truly global is something most businesses expect, and Barbie games can help you deliver.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Barbie Games Are Forever


There are many forms of toys and entertainment that are losing speed thanks to the onset of video games and computerized versions of just about everything. However, baby toys and Barbies will always be around and will likely continue to get more popular than ever before. After all, Barbie games are forever.

Girls have always loved fashion. Some of the earliest toys found in archeological digs are dolls dressed lovingly in stitched clothing. Throughout generations, girls have sought dolls of one kind or another and creating clothing for the dolls became an industry. It was not until the fifties, however, that a woman realized girls don’t want to just dress up baby or toddler dolls. They want to play with a fashion doll who wears adult clothing.

Barbie was born and became immensely popular. She still is today and every new generation of girls turns to Barbie first as her fashionista friend. Later, she might also develop a love affair with the trendy Bratz dolls or small Polly Pockets, but princesses and pixies have Barbie’s position rather firmly locked up.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Conservative Barbie Games?


Ask any mother a generation ago and you’d have heard an earful about how Barbie is pushing the limits on decency and what is appropriate for young girls to play with. Today, however, Barbie is much closer to a conservative figure in fashion than she was even a decade ago.

Barbie might have once been a wild child with her tiny waist and large bra size, but today she’s womanly and dresses rather conservatively. The Bratz dolls have stolen the crown in the risqué and daring fashion doll department. The Bratz dolls arrived five years ago and immediately caused a stir with short skirts, pouty lips and teenage attitude.

Barbie games couldn’t compete with that look. After all, Skipper was as far removed from teen angst as you could possibly get. But Barbie has held solid in many regards. Girls who enjoy the beauty of fashion dolls still flock whole-heartedly to the pink aisles at the store. After all, there is much to be said for a classic beauty vesus teenage drama queens.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

3 Reasons I Love Barbie Games


Barbie gets a bad rap sometimes from those that simply don’t understand her. But I, as a Barbie games lover, have plenty to say on the topic.

Barbie games are pure, simple fun. Playing games online can get complicated with multiple personalities and friends all trying to get in the same guilds or whatever. But Barbie games let you settle in with some popcorn, a drink and just enjoy yourself.

Barbie games let me play with creativity. I hate it when a game is decided before I even start to play. I don’t like following a predetermined path. I’d much rather exercise a bit of creativity as I create new outfits and a totally different style for my favorite Barbie games.

Barbie games can be social. If I feel like being social, I can do so easily with my Barbie games. I can create a design and send it off to a friend to enjoy. Or I can keep the designs to myself and not have to mess with other people when I feel like having a night in.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Rox My Sox – Barbie Games


What is it about Barbie games that makes me want to be a teen again? I love silly teen expressions and the funny things they say. Most of all, I love the innocence of being a teen and knowing that even the most stressful things in your life aren’t that big of a deal.

Of course, as a teen, those “stressful” things you know aren’t really that big of a deal can still be a huge ordeal as you navigate the tricky waters. It’s for this reason that I love Barbie games the most. Barbie is the symbol of what is good and right in the world. She’s pretty, she’s always happy and she has a great job and her choice of men.

When I finish growing up, I have every intention of becoming a Barbie. Of course I can’t trade in my human form for a bit-too-perfect plastic one, but I can make it so that I’m happy most of the time, have the company of good friends and enjoy every job I ever have. What could be better than that?

Saturday, August 1, 2009

The Many Faces of Barbie Games


Barbie games have had many different faces over the years. Of course, Barbie has looked almost exactly the same, but her style and the fashion options available to Barbie have changed quite a bit.

The earliest Barbies were dressed simply in a swimsuit with her hair in a ponytail. Soon fashions followed and the Barbies that were released in the years that followed had the same trends as the decades they represented. The Sixties brought a bouffant Barbie. The Seventies had a Barbie with straight hair and a golden tan. The eighties had a roller skating Barbie and then came the many movie adaptations of Barbie.

But Barbie has had one dramatic change over the years that will likely be the longest lasting. Yes, she got a belly button, but more importantly, Barbie moved online. When Barbie games became an online fixture, Barbie was more readily available to girls and women everywhere and that was a tremendous boost to her image and popularity.