Obviously the quick answer to this question is no. No one really NEEDS a Stanley tumbler. There are tons of water bottles on the market (and, ahem – in our kitchen cabinet) that a child could use to stay hydrated.
The more relevant question is: why does my child WANT a Stanley water bottle? Why are Stanley tumblers trendy for kids? And how do we, as parents, deal with the latest trends? (P.S. this is NOT an ad for any of the brands mentioned – just my life experience!)
Now, listen – much has been said about Stanley tumblers. You’ll find tons of parodies of “Stanley girls” on Tiktok and commentaries about the privileged, basic-white-womanness quality of it.
Kelly Pau said it well in Salon:
Stanley cups signal a certain sense of class. People who buy it are rich enough to afford an unnecessarily bougie water bottle, but it’s not so expensive that they can be accused of trying to flex too hard. Instead, it’s a humble brag masked under the guise of a quasi-wellness lifestyle of hydrating and going to yoga.”
I ACTUALLY OWN A STANLEY…..
Let’s back up a little because yes, I do own a Stanley water bottle. In early 2023 (a bit before the Stanley madness), my most-trusted water bottle was peeling and gross. Too lazy to do research of my own, I popped over to our local moms Facebook group for input – what water bottle do you love?
Several recommended Stanleys, some praised Owalas, with an assortment of a few others. I found a color I liked and clicked “purchase” without overthinking it. The problem was, when it arrived 4 weeks later (mysteriously delayed), I realized it didn’t fit my needs. Having opted for the handle-free version, attempting to wrap my hand around the large circumference of the bottle practically gave me a hand cramp. Why is my hand so small? Do I seriously need hand strengthening exercises?
I also didn’t love how the straw flopped around, untethered to anything in the bottle. And it definitely wasn’t spill-proof. Aside from the pretty lavender color, I was disappointed. This was not the functional water bottle I needed for errands or Jazzercise class.
When my friend Cady suggested an Ello water bottle, I tried again and loved it! It has a great on-off switch to prevent spills, plus a built in straw that stays stationary. And I can actually grip the whole thing with my hand! Or use the handy overhead handle.
I share all this background for a reason, I promise!
WHEN YOUR KIDS WANT THE LATEST TRENDS
It was about a year later that my 3rd grader came home from school asking for a Stanley. By this time, it was a full-blown cultural phenomenon that had, like with most trends, started with adults and seeped down to the elementary school classrooms last.
Knowing all the flaws with my purple Stanley (which, by the way, I do understand now that the features included in other models that might address my earlier concerns) I was borderline annoyed that the Stanley trend had trickled down to 8 year-old girls. My daughter’s friends told her she “needed” one, and she agreed.
While I’m not a rebel by nature, there are many trends I resisted in my formative years, simply because of their trend status. Sure, I got on the bandwagon with so many trends – jelly sandals, Champion sweatshirts, 90s flare jeans, and thinly-plucked eyebrows.
But others bugged me – like the small black Kate Spade purse (real or knockoff), the Tiffany heart tag necklace, and, later on, Ugg boots – only because it felt like they were everywhere.
Now certainly trends vary among generations, regions, cultures, and socioeconomic classes. If I’d grown up 10 years earlier in a different part of the country, chances are that I would have been exposed to different trends.
HOW TO TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT TRENDS
Whether or not your family can afford the hottest trend, it’s still a worthwhile conversation to have with children so that they can understand consumerism and trends.
After several weeks (maybe months!) of my daughter asking for a Stanley, she informed me one day that she wasn’t that interested anymore.
“Really? Tell me more,” I said.
We talked about what a “trend” is and how many trends come and go. I told her she’s not alone and shared that I’ve been susceptible to trends throughout my life, too. I shared about my beloved purple Champion sweatshirt that I wanted so badly, even though I’m not sure why. I still love purple, but why did it need to be Champion brand?
Simple. It was a trend.
INTRODUCING TREND TURTLE
My daughter explained in her own words that sometimes we want something because we really want it; sometimes it’s because everyone else has it.
She then shared her own genius idea to help with this – – Trend Turtle.
In her imagination, she goes to visit Trend Turtle, a character she made up, to contemplate the most recent trends. You simply picture the cute turtle….
…then ask yourself:
Is this something I really want?
What do I like about it?
Would I still want it if no one else had it?
Do I want it in order to fit in with others?
Do I want it because I’m seeing it everywhere?
I was majorly wow’d that she had done this on her own, without my encouragement. It made her feel all the more confident in her decision.
That’s not to say that she won’t want the newest trend in jeans this fall, but here’s to baby steps!
Will you try Trend Turtle with your kids? Tell us how it goes.
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