The other night I'm watching a cartoon with my 4 year old and she asked me for some apples. I go to the kitchen and cut up some apples. Normally I fast forward all commercials, but while I was downstairs a commercial came on. I walk back in the room and my sweet Baby Presley says to me, "Mommy I want shape ups". Just as I see the tail end of a cartoon commercial, "Heidi has shape ups".
I didn't know what to tell her, I said, no those are for (who are those for?- they don't work!). I was just so bothered that isn't even a conversation I want to have with my still perfect daughter all of 4 years old!.. Next thing I know, the cartoon we were watching came back on- relief...
She did not however forget. I was telling the story to two other Moms and Presley's eyes lit up, "Yeah, Heidi has Shape Ups (the chorus in the commercial)". I almost didn't believe I saw that- how can they be selling these to kids? WHAT parent would buy into this?! So I looked it up on YouTube.
Yup, true. They come in sizes for PRESCHOOLERS- size 2! I don't know if I'm more sadden, angered or offended by this. Everyone has to know how I feel about marketing to kids but this is so hard to believe. Has society really come to this point that we are selling, "you're not skinny/fit enough" to our two year old girls?
As a women I work very hard to do things to make me stronger and not focus on being "skinny". I want to encourage my Sweet Baby to be strong and I'm concerned with all these messages saying otherwise.
What are your thoughts? Repost this too please. It's bullshit, and it's not ok.