Please Don't Advertise to Our Kids... Realistic?

A letter writing campaign by the Boston branch of the "Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood" is asking Toy Company executives to cut back on marketing toys directly to children.

Here is what the Toy Industry Association had to say in a statement on the matter: "children are a vital part of the gift selection process. If children are not aware of what is new and available, how will they be able to tell their families what their preferences are? While there is certainly greater economic disturbance going on now, families have always faced different levels of economic well-being and have managed to tailor their spending to their means."

I was watching an old Planet of the Apes commercial tonight that was promoting action figures. Kids hand their hands on them making them move. Today, I've seen commercials of Barbie walking on her own (which is NOT something that the Barbie doll can do.) This, in my mind, is false advertising. The product is not being represented for what it truly is.

Sometimes, as a parent, we have to say "no" to our kids. It's a fact of life. That responsibility clearly falls upon our shoulders, as parents, as something we have to do. Some parents have trouble telling their kids "no" and really need to get over that. Toy companies shouldn't get too defensive, either. Parents are just looking for a little help with money being so tight this year. Toy makers also need to remember that it is the parents who ultimately make the purchasing decisions.

I think this is a great opportunity to sit with your child after one of these commercials and talk about it. Does the ad mention a price? Is the product properly represented in the commercial? Is the toy appropriate? Kids will nag. This is a GREAT opportunity to engage them in conversation. We don't do enough of that with our children as a society. Had we only talked to our kids about money a generation or two ago, we might not be in the financial crisis we are currently in now.