I went shopping for new toys for my 2 year old granddaughters the other day and was absolutely dumbfounded by the pick of unhealthy baby toys readily available for our children. I was so disgusted by the vast selection of unhealthy baby toys I felt I needed to vent here, both for myself and for those of you who want to leave comments at the end of the post.
It's bad enough that we adults are bombarded on a daily basis with sneaky marketing strategies meant to brainwash and instigate hyper-consumerist tendencies, but some of the ploys meant to hook children through their toys is just plain wrong! We as adults can at least spot the rouse. We may still partake, but we have the judgment making skills and (for the most part) the aptitude to decipher when we are being catered to for our betterment or our detriment. Our children simply don't have that skill; which is why it is up to us to cut out the unhealthy baby toys.
One flagrant violator was the McDonald's McKids toy line. Inside the french fry and burger cases, the backpack, and the kitchen setup were several dozen mini milkshakes, burgers, fries, and cookies. I can't blame the McDonald's corporation for trying to make a profit and let's be honest, they would not sell these toys if people didn't buy them; but we have to understand that this is how our little ones recognize the logo and associate the golden arches with fun at a very young age. This sort of brand recognition marketing will maintain the obesity rate at a steady incline until we as role models take matters into our own hands and start to say no to unhealthy child's toys.
I also saw a donut shop toy set...yup, donuts. Let's face it, any child that recognizes custard filled donuts and iced mocha before they even see the inside of the store is destined for cavities and diabetes... and that's the most positive scenario.
Like I said, I can't blame these billion dollar businesses for doing what they do best. We already know what they're all about. We know that for the most part they are cold, methodical, profit machines that will do whatever is required to ensure their fiscal well-being. Building unhealthy habits in our children only helps their future bottom line.
It is up to us to educate and inform our children so that these marketing firms that are successfully initiating brand recognition at such an early age do not continue to feed the unhealthy baby habits that feed into the childhood obesity epidemic through unhealthy toys for our children and babies. They will continue to fabricate and market these toys to our children, but we need to try to remember that the authority is always in our hands to say NO!
We can stop purchasing these unhealthy toys for our babies and help our children form healthy habits; or we can continue down the same path. Let our children be influenced by people who don't care about them or their well-being. Allow them to be yet another unhealthy statistics in a growing unhealthy society. Or we can do what is right rather than what is easy. We can value our kids by valuing what we buy for them. We can keep our integrity by giving our children a fighting chance against the illness and dysfunction both instigated and ignored by the fast food industry. Nevertheless, it all begins by what we choose to surround our children with.
The Lil' Shopper Play Set: Review Good Propensity Forming Toys For Our Youngsters
Before I came across the Lil' Shopper Play Set I was shocked at some of the baby toys I saw. I am a firm believer that healthy habits start at a young age, and one of the best ways to stress these healthy habits are through the toys we buy for our baby.
Amazing Toys For Christmas 2010. Which Toys And Games Are Going To Prove To Be The Hottest This Year.
If you are buying toys this Christmas either for your own children or for those of friends and family, it can be rather confusing knowing what to buy.
Strawberry Shortcake Dolls - What Has Made Them Keep Their Reputation After All These Years?
Strawberry Shortcake dolls are very popular with kids and grown ups alike. This lovable character was originally created for greeting cards but has since become a very well known TV character.
Dolls Don't Get Much More Cute Than A Baby Born And They Are Available In A Selection Of Styles To Match Every Budget
If you are in the market for newborn dolls this Christmas, check out the range called Baby Born. These cute and realistic baby dolls have been around for quite a few years yet they remain as popular as ever.
Hunting For Angry Birds Toys For Sale?
Unless you've been living on cloud cuckoo land you can't fail but to have noticed that the Angry Birds are dominating news in so many ways at the moment - but where do you find the angry birds toys for sale?
Lego Batman Video Games On PSP3, DS Or Nintendo Wii. Seems Set To Be A Bestseller And In Demand Present This Christmas.
If you are wondering what your kids are going to be playing this Christmas, the Lego Batman game is already a favorite. Kids love Lego and the fact they can combine their favorite toy with their number one super hero is a recipe for success.
Find Out The Unbelievably Fascinating Angry Birds Plush Toys Available For Sale And Be Part Of The Enjoyment Each And Every Day
The incredibly exciting Angry Birds game has been a real hit since it's inception, and is now responsible for more than 100 million downloads to cellphones and now PC and Mac's. Find out why the Angry Birds plush toys are one of the best hits of recent years.