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Fairly Odd Mother

Frantically waving my magic wand to make wishes come true.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

The isle of misfit toys


So, I just got in from New York, and boy are my legs tired!


Ba-dum-bump. . .

But, seriously, my legs ARE tired after walking approximately 1,023,784 steps in two days trying to see all that is new and interesting at this year's Toy Fair for the most fabulous Cool Mom Picks.

Rest assured, kiddos, there are loads and loads of cool things coming your way in the near future, although there are probably more toys that you should truly hope go away really, really fast.

I visibly flinched everytime someone picked up a bubble-gum pink toy and said, This is our girls' toy! Especially if it would be an equally cool toy for boys if only it wasn't being produced in day-glo pink (I'd personally like to make it "cool" for boys to embrace pink, but I think I'd be fighting an uphill battle on this one.)

There were plastic dolls dressed like ladies-of-the-night. I'm not kidding.

There was an electronic toy that walked, talked and rolled its eyes. But most amazing? If it fell over, it was able to pick itself up so the kids wouldn't have to lean over and pick it up. Because, we all know our kids need to move LESS.

I overheard one vendor saying how she's glad that her piece of electronics isn't considered a "toy" (even though it is clearly for kids) because it means she can skip all that pesky safety testing necessary for children's toys.

I overheard another two vendors complaining about the safety testing they have to do, and how they plan to do only what is minimally required by Wal-Mart.

But, the absolute loser moment for me at Toy Fair? It was seeing a ride-on three-wheeler bike for girls. But instead of leaving it as just a ride-on toy, it was branded with stickers all over it. Whose names were on those stickers? Oh, just Danica Patrick and her sponsor, Go Daddy. Because isn't that just perfect for your little 5-year-old?



Ugh.

Labels:

posted by Fairly Odd Mother @ 8:58 AM 

8 Comments:

Blogger Mama Goose said...

More reasons why I'm glad I have boys. Oh, but then there's the violent toys... sigh.

9:34 AM  
Blogger Mrs. Q. said...

That's right up there with Pussycat Dolls jammies and Trojan skateboards! Ugh

Those pesky safety regulations. Sorry our children's health is such a drag. (shudder)

10:23 AM  
Anonymous Stacia said...

I'm all for pink toys for boys. And I'm all for minimal safety requirements, too. Oh, wait ... not so much. Sheesh!

10:50 AM  
Anonymous Stacia said...

PS: Let me clarify, just in case: I really am for pink toys for boys!

10:55 AM  
Blogger Deb said...

When will manufacturers for kids products realize that having every.single.thing. covered in some stupid logo or character is a big turn OFF?

And that toddler boys and toddler girls are pretty much shaped the same, so can we stop sexualizing our girls with clothes that are shorter and tighter than the boys version? Some of us don't think that sweatpants with "Jail Bait" printed across the butt is cute. And frankly, while we're on the subject, I'd like to see jeans that will actually cover someone's entire butt.

I swear, it gets more and more frustrating to shop for my kids. I have to kill myself to find something other than Hooker Barbie or stuff emblazoned with skulls - it's hard to even find a jigsaw puzzle that is not a product placement for something.

Oy, I have the agita now....sorry, didn't mean to vent all over you! How'd you score a trip to the Toy Fair? Sounds like fun!

11:01 AM  
Blogger Issa said...

They made a doll that rolls it's eyes? Great like I needed yet another person/thing doing that. AWESOME!

Who thinks of that crap?

Am looking forward to the new finds you guys put up on CMP. My wallet isn't, but I am. :)

12:32 PM  
Blogger Patois42 said...

Sick. Sick. Sick.

Thanks for doing this hard leg work so we don't have to!

7:14 PM  
Blogger Mrs Catch said...

Vote With your Wallet I say...

2:43 AM  

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