A few thoughts on the toy recalls

[trystinn]

Caveat: I'm not a parent. So I'm speaking only as an observer and as a former teacher. As a sort of rule, I rarely give plastic toys to kids - I prefer books, stuffed animals, bathtime toys, etc. When I do, its because its something really cool like an Egyptian temple set to a pagan child. *WEG*

In an odd, ironic sort of way I think the toy recalls are a very good thing. Anymore I go to homes of my friends with children and end up dodging plastic bits with every step. And when I do manage not to step on one, I end up sitting on one anyway. Thousands of little plastic bits all over the place, all being ignored or destroyed. When the kids come to my house and they do, they either drag half those plastic toys with them or whine about me not having enough here. (FYI: I do have a few here. Hello Kitty play house and construction toys, I also have tons of children's books, however. And we've a no video game rules in the house, which means you bring it in, we send you back out with it)

I think people are coming to realize that no one is in charge of the safety of their child but them. No toy company is going to do it for them, all those companies care about is the bottom line and sucking us into even more purchases. The government is going to take forever just to consider the issue, and when they do come up with some insipid committee or council, it will be costly and ineffective. In the same way my mother insisted on wood toys back in the seventies (I had one of the last wood kitchen sets), parents are going to have to decide if all that plastic is good for their kids and the rest of the world. After all, who recycles all those plastic bits and bobs?

In the long run, I'm hoping we see a few changes come out of all this. Perhaps we'll go back to the good old days when kids had to learn how to amuse themselves, instead of having toy makers do it for them. I mentioned to rainbear last week how surprised I was to realize none of the kids on my block knew how to play hopscotch. Hopscotch! Can you imagine? None of them had a jump rope, either, or knew any jump rope songs. Too busy with playsets, videogames and Heelies, apparently.

Feh.

Comments

[midnightfae.livejournal.com]

I once spent an entire summer with nothing but a book on 50 ways to save the Earth and whatever I could dig out of the kitchen or the garage.

...

Mom was less than thrilled when I adorned every trash can with a monster cover and a sign advising what monster ate what for proper recycling.

[wild-heart.livejournal.com]

No hopscotch?

But of course not. That would require getting off their asses. And we can't have the children outside, dontcha know. Somebody might grab one of them. Best to keep them inside, glued to a TV or game console, sanitized, medicated, and zombified.

Anyone up for a game of flashlight tag?

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

We're pretty fortunate to have fairly active kids on this side of the block - each has a decent-sized yard, but not much to do inside it (i.e. no clubhouse, swingset, etc.). They do manage to drop by here several times a day to play with the rabbits. With the exception of the gal we pulled out of the water last week, most of the kids are normal weight.

Washington, given our rainy weather, is known for overweight kids. So agian, we're pretty fortunate.

[man-of-snows.livejournal.com]

May I hit you up for a tarot reading in exchange for something you may want or need?

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

Always. Got a preference on the type of tarot deck or layout?

[man-of-snows.livejournal.com]

No preference on the deck. Perhaps, NOT a deck of cartoon characters or Victorian Faeries unless you are especially attuned with them. :) Where do I email you the question or shall we do it by phone? precilla81@hotmail.com

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

I tend to use very classic decks, with A.E. White symbology, i.e. Morgan-Greer.

Just as an FYI: I pulled a three card for you this morning, something I do as a sort of gauge before longer spreads. Left to right:
High Priest/Heirophant (V)
High Priestess (II)
The Seeker/Hermit (IX)

Looks like you've a spiritual journey ahead. You sure you aren't considering BTW? That's a fairly standard "oh hell, Gardnerian is it?" kind of layout there.

Try me at TBarrettS AT Yahoo DOT com.

[winterlion.livejournal.com]

*laughs*
So very true.

My niece is learning sewing, knitting, practical politics (how to organize people) and French. She's also quite capable of coming up with 1001 things to do on a quiet Saturday morning. Occasionally it's cartoons but usually not...

And my nephew? Builds stuff.

They both read.

Of this I am happy because it's a sign my brother and his family are not one of the new lost ones.
I feel sad for the scared parents though. Most of these toys being recalled are "mostly harmless" (meaning one has to be foolish for them to be dangerous). *shrug*

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

I'm so with you.

As soon as Keely is old enough, I'm going to teach her hopscotch!

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

Oh please do! And don't forget jump rope, including double dutch and japanese jump rope!