Dora the Explorer: Be-twixt and Be-Tween

In just a few short days, Mattel and Nickelodeon will reveal the new interactive Dora the Explorer doll. This doll, however, is a more grown up version of that bilingual cutie. In fact, this doll is meant to target middle school tweeners and the pocketbooks of their parents.

Personally, I don't think those kids that the original Dora targeted will even recognize this up-dated Dora. I also don't think that any self-respecting tween will admit to wanting a doll even if she does have her own usb port. Anyone who specifically works with the eight to twelve year old age group can understand that this age is very much a transition age. This begs the question, "What was Mattel thinking?" The answer is simple. The answer is marketing.

Beloved Dora will continue to entertain and educate the small fry set. As of yet, I'm yet to see where this new Dora will appear on Nickelodeon or anywhere else other than the computer. Therefore, tween Dora will truly have no tie in other than the hope that those previous five year old girls will want to continue to play with their old friend but in a techno world.

I'm sure there will be plenty of hype. Commercials will target this group. My question is where those commercials will run. Will they run on Nick at Nite? Will they run during the new 90210, or ABC Family's Secret Life of the American Teenager? This may prove a tricky marketing tactic for the pushers of the new Dora.

The thought of plugging a doll into a computer and having an interactive friend both creeps me out and excites me. Have we come so far in this world that human interaction of playing outside and talking on the telephone will now be replaced by having a doll that you can sit in front of the computer with and create outfits and endless conversation? Are we only allowing children to be kids until the age of eight and then they are past their expiration dates for childhood play? Please say it isn't so.

On the other hand, for the child that may need some down time or is unable for any reason to play with another child that day, tween Dora can provide some companionship. Mattel and Nickelodeon both claim on various sites that this new Dora will still be educational but I'm yet to see that explained. My guess is that this new Dora will encourage computer and technological awareness.

Computer games can be challenging and educational and are excellent for developing problem solving strategies. There are many of these already on the market. Now here we have tween Dora. I guess deciding what outfit to wear to the middle school dance is a form of problem solving but I'm not too sure how it prepares young women for life.

Mattel is in business to make money and this is a new frontier for toy makers. While the new Dora is not as "hoochie" as Mattel's arch rival, the Bratz dolls she is different looking from the old Dora. Children do grow up and so do their playthings but I don't think this doll should grow p with them.

How about a real interactive game like the board game Life? Oh yeah, that would require human interaction. What was I thinking?