Dear Toy Manufacturing Companies,
As a parent, I wish you would consider the following thoughts when creating, producing and selling your toys.
- Safety. I know it is cheaper to manufacture it in China. Is it cheaper and better for your company’s reputation to have recalls? Can’t you improve your safety checks and maybe even exceed the safety requirements set forth by our government?
- The sound. It’s annoying and loud. Where you do come up with these lame jingles anyway? Yes. My child is amused by the sound of the toys. But can you tone it down a bit and make them a bit more appealing?
- Less pieces. It may seem enticing to sell lots of pieces and parts to a toy set. Buyers think they are getting more for their money. But I’m more concerned about the hundreds of pieces and parts I will have to pick up at home. Let’s keep it to 20-30 piece sets, OK?
- Batteries. I am more likely to purchase toys that include batteries. Because really, buying batteries is where the money drains. And I don’t ever remember to buy the special C size or the 8 AA batteries that your toy requires.
- Consider the message you are conveying. Do you need to have toys with half dressed Bratz and other toys that hint at disrespect to themselves and others, even their bodies? What are you trying to tell my child at her innocent age of 4? Even though I am not interested in purchasing those type of toys, your commercials and displays in stores do make impressions on my children.
» Tell me… What do you wish toy manufacturing companies knew or would change?
I agree. There are just some toys that I don’t allow in my house because of what they stand for. Most people think that they are harmless but I see more than that. and I don’t want that affect on my kids.
Plus I could do with a ton less of mess to clean up too. What happened to the simpler toys that kids loved? That I used to play with?
I so agree, especially with #1 and #5. Thus why we avoid Bratz and Barbies. They send so many terrible messages to little girls. NO ONE has a body like that, but our culture starts early telling kids that thats the way women are supposed to look. Then some of the clothes, ugh.
I can’t WAIT to reply to this in more detail on my blog next week. I agree with you about a lot of it, but I think hearing why manufacturers do what they do from my experience as a toy designer “on-the-inside” will give you some added insight. (but don’t worry, I still hate Bratz and Barbie)
I totally agree with all of your points but especially number 5 (yuck) and 2. I wish toys came with a volume button (or weren’t so loud to start with).
I signed up for CPSC recalls when Noah was born to alert me specifically of children’s things that were put on the list of recalled items. Its how I found out that his crib was recalled for a new part.
The item that gets most recalls are hoodies and jackets with drawstrings “due to stranglelation”. I always wonder why they dont just stop making hoodies and jackets with drawstrings. It would save them time on the eventuality of recalling their product…………that has always boggled my mind.
I also dont enjoy the demonstration pictures they show of a crib recall where a child has wedged itself down the side and caused strangulation. They use a toy baby and place the baby in the position the child was apparently strangled in. So disturbing…………
As far as toys go, make them so that it doesn’t take herculean strength to put them together. The “snapped together” toys are a pain. You should have seen me and the hubby putting together Christmas stuff last year. The kid’s Cozy Coupe had us red faced and sweating. We even tried to use a hammer to get the pieces to snap together. It finally took the both of use lying on top of the car and pulling the plastic bar towards us to get it together…………yeesh!
I wish they would commit to simpler packaging. It really takes the fun out of Christmas morning and birthdays when a child can unwrap a gift in 5 seconds, but it will take Mom, scissors, wire cutters, and 3.987 days to get those toys out of the package.
Even a simple Barbie doll has her hair stitched to the packaging and a plastic strip. Why?
yes, packaging is another point. i wish they would use more eco-friendly and easy to get out of packagings.
Pingback: Toy Safety is Complicated - inside view of toy safety - toy companies and safety | Small for Big