hhhhhmmmm am i being too dramatic?

Ok, here's the deal, Paris of course is coming up 5.

We were thinking of different things to do for her birthday, to which we had thought of under the sea or something since she's had her eye on the mermaid cake in my cake book for yonks now. you know the deal, some blue streamers, invites with mermaid on them, something like that.

We go to have a look at the site we get the themed plates etc from because i remember them having under the sea ones.    

Up comes a new range - high school musical, which Paris sees.

Now here we are. Paris wants high school musical party, shes mad on it - which is interesting considering she's seen the 1st movie, only once, and only came near the tv when the songs were on - sung them and left to play again. All she's interested in are the songs, which is fine by me as i really think this is aimed at pre-teens, not pre-school.

I do think the marketing has really been aimed to pull in the littlies too though. I can say that yes she has had a high school musical drinkbottle. but has no other mechandise - she does want a high school musical duvet cover, which at first i thought what's the harm since she loves the songs, (to her it's all about the music), but now wondering if that too would be a bit old for her.   

Am i being over-dramatic in not feeling right about this. I feel that it's not really a theme a 5 yr old should have. I mean chances are, we'd get maybe the themed plates or the cups and do the rest ourselves anyway, and just get out the singstar for them to have a sing to and monkey about as little 5 yr old girlies do.   But, something about the whole idea is irking me, I have tried convincing her into maybe a "popstar" party instead, which is a bit more childish, but pretty much really the same thing, minus the teen-themed merchandise.

I do know that most of her other teeny friends also share her craziness about high school musical as alot of them have older sisters etc, and they all talk to each other.   However i am sure it's just the new craze, they have no idea about the actual content or concept of the movie.

I think i have just written a load of bollocks.

What's the harm in having a party with a few high school musical things?    Do you think she's too young, or is it just another harmless thing like being obsessed with strawberry shortcake/polly pocket etc? (I'd much rather HSM than Bratz anyday.... i must admit)

Am i clutching at straws and just freaking out at my little girl growing up and not loving all things pink and frilly anymore, or do you think it into the "growing up before her time" realm.

I know that no, she won't rule the roost, we as parents make the final decisions, at the end of the day i want her to be happy with her birthday and have some say in it (as discussed in another birthday post, no she doesn't expect bigger and better each time). But i need to sort out my thoughts as to why i feel this way before saying yes or no for definite. I need to really think if this is me just being silly or if i have valid reasons that other parents would agree with on this.

Help?

Edited by mum2paris

Nyah loves HSM, has both the movies and went to the ice show recently.

I'd go for it.

newmum wrote: I would tend to say no. But then I'm pretty anti ANY merchandise themed stuff...

Me too. I Really really dislike the whole merchandise thing (although Jake has a wiggles tee shirt, lol)

We seem to have accumulated a fair bit of Thomas stuff, but Jake is more into the whole trains thing as opposed to Thomas in general

I had my heart set on a rocket themed party for Jake as he really loves rockets,I bought plates, cups etc with rockets on them, but he was fairly insistent on having a train cake, so it was a train cake and rocket stuff. If Paris wants the cake from your book, I owuld do your theme, but maybe play some HSM music for her?

Not really into the whole merchandise themed duvet thing either, seems like a collosal waste of money to me, when its likely to be a passing phase. Mind you, I have a hankering for all things Barbie, so that might change... lol.

I have no ideas on how to deal with this as I have a boy and he's only 1.

However I do think that HSM is probably being aimed at younger girls when really the content is more likely pre-teen as you said - I will be honest and say that I haven't seen it. I do think that unfortunately alot of things these days are being aimed at young girls but really should be aimed at someone older. I remember going to buy an outfit for my young cousin a few years ago for her birthday and being horrified at the options, most of the outfits available were a smaller version of what I would have worn to town on Saturday night and I am 14yrs older than her!

It probably is a bit scary for you that she is growing up and entering a new phase in her life, but I don't think you are being too dramatic. Personally I would steer clear of HSM if you can without making it too big an issue.

Sounds like a good compromise    Charlottes pretty easily distracted and doesn't often get fixated on stuff so luckily we haven't reached that territory yet! I think I would have gone down the same road as you- trying to fit in what she wants but steering clear of the HSM aspect of it, as I agree, the whole thing does seem aimed at older kids.

hmmmm personally i wouldnt let sarah have a HSM party, and shes not even allowd to play with bratz dolls, horrible moralless skanky things they are.
sarah wanted a hannah montana party and i said no also, as i thought she was a bit young for that too.

i think 5 is tricky as there kind of at an inbetween age, if you know what i mean.

What a cool party idea, you're a very creative mummy.

Wish someone would give me a popstar party.

Hey Janine,

I saw yesterday you can hire out High School Musical singalong - its exactly like Singstar but with the Highschool music songs - could be worth a go!

Great compromise Janine.

 

I don't mind HSM though.  I know it's about teenagers but it's aimed at the tween audience, which seems to include anyone primary school age. 

It's a fairly harmless movie, yes it's a love story but isn't cinderella, sleeping beauty etc too.  It's definitely alot tamer than Grease which it's been compared to - there's no sex, dropping out of school, smoking, rebellion or anything of the kind.  I was happy that my niece (who's 7) likes it.