The Grinch who stole innocence

Research shows a link between the premature sexualisation of our children and serious mental health problems like eating disorders and depression. We know too that drinking excessively has become a huge issue for teenage girls - recent surveys commissioned by Wesley Mission show that half say they drink alcohol, with one in five confessing to having done something they regret while they were drunk.

It would be too simplistic to argue that it is the dolls alone that are damaging our daughters, yet surely when we buy a plastic Paris Wannabe we are buying into an insidious trend to steal the innocence of childhood away. If it is OK to buy a lingerie clad Baby Bratz reclining on a revolving bed under a disco light - just what exactly is off limits?

Parents must start to say enough. At present, the silence is deafening.

Parents must also be particularly inventive in seeking ways in which they can offer their daughters engaging alternatives.

A friend’s daughter was given a Lollipop Doll just before Christmas - and, as is so often the case - this was despite Mum trying to set limits and asking friends and relatives to stay away from Barbie and Bratz.

The little girl was confused when faced with this cross between Britney and a preschooler: "I don't understand why she has a little kid's face on a lady's body. Look, she has lady's breasts," she said to her mother.

The clever child, believing girls should be more than useless decorative objects, asked mum to turn the doll into a nurse. Which her clever Mum did, complete with university nursing degree (with red ribbon, in her pocket) and stethoscope.

So far, the new look nurse doll has saved the life of a large toy hippo.

Maybe she’ll be able to do something about all the Generation Bratz girls who will start the New Year riddled with eating disorders and depression because they think they’re not hot enough.