Some toys are dangerous because they are poor quality and unsafe and could hurt your kids and some are bad because of what they represent. Other toys are undesirable because they cement certain stereotypes that kids simply do not need to grow up with. There are plenty of great toys: creative, amusing, educational, activity oriented; and then there are some toys that are none of these. There are toys that are bad for your kids or for you:
Barbie dolls
There are so many reasons why I never bought my girls a Barbie doll: the doll is unrealistic and sends out the message to little girls that beauty is about being tall, thin and fair complexioned. The doll’s wardrobe and other accessories encourage preoccupation with hair, dress, makeup and other superficial, shallow things. And then there is the racial issue and the body image problems associated with this ‘toy’.
Guns
No child ever ‘needs’ a gun. Guns are not nice, they are not fun. Why send out the message to your child that even pretend violence is OK?
Cooking sets
Now I confess I’ve bought my girls the cooker, pots, pans, pretend cylinder, mini fridge, mini mixer quite simply because it kept them amused and engaged. But see how all those cooking sets feature only girls and are in shades of pink? That’s my problem. I think these would be better gifts for a boy… because he needs to realise that not only is it OK to cook and do housework, it is actually desirable.
Toys with small parts
Kids can swallow these easily so be particularly careful what kind of toys you buy for little kids; specially kids who are at an age when they put just about everything into their mouth. Plus these are toys that make you go ‘ouch’ in the night when you inadvertently step on them. Avoid.
Poor quality toys
I am not at all a champion for branded products, but buying cheap toys is a no-no. They are poorly constructed, break easily and you probably have no idea about the kind of toxic materials that went into making them.
Toys for you!
Sometimes the parent has got their kid some elaborate, complicated toy that the kid has not the slightest interest in, and was probably a dream the parent had. Now seriously grow up! Go play a game on your phone!
Noisy toys
This one is for parental self preservation. Why buy your kid a Chinese made ‘phone’ and plays dated Hindi hits or one of those ‘keyboards’ that plays Old Macdonald real loud? And why pay for the recurring cost of batteries! Bad for you; bad for the planet (yes, it helps to add that bit)!
Toys that require your participation
As a parent, I can offer you another tip in self preservation: toys are useful only if they keep a kid amused and engaged all by themselves. If they need your effort and participation and do not provide some quiet time for you as a parent, they aren’t really toys!
