What Toys Have You Banned From Your Home?
My oldest son was never so excited to launch Target. He was full of birthday gift cards and since he had never had the opportunity to buy his own toys before, it was the perfect moment to stroll down the aisles in search of what he really wanted. His eyes widened especially when he saw a wide range of foam darts on one of the streets.
As a child I had such a toy, but nowadays, possession of such a toy could be considered problematic at best, and maybe even harmful. Parents of colored children certainly have reason to worry about their children playing with toy pistols, and the BMJ published in 2017 that three people (two adults and one child) came to the local emergency room with pain and blurred vision from – because they were included. business end of a dart fired from a NERF gun.
To their credit, Hasbro told the BBC in a statement that “NERF products are designed with years of consumer knowledge and research, and undergo rigorous testing and testing to ensure they are safe and fun to play and meet or exceed global standards. … standards and regulations. Foam darts and NERF cartridges are not hazardous when used correctly. “
However, I led my son past the aisle with a toy gun, and after a bit of research, my dinosaur-obsessed child settled on an egg that contained a mysterious mini-carnivore as well as some other Jurassic-related items similar to that you could find unboxing channels like Ryan’s World on YouTube. Of course, these videos – and the toys that come with them – have their own problems, as Michael Rich, director of the Center for Media and Child Health at Boston Children’s Hospital and assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, explained to his father :
“Children watching these videos will learn that people love getting things. I call it consumer porn because the thrill and joy is in opening, unwrapping and unpacking with the words, “Oh, look what I have!” But this is a very ephemeral, fleeting moment, because then you move on to the next, the next, and the next. It’s about surprise and discovery. And this discovery is not something that stimulates their imagination or creativity, but directs it into a predetermined story. “
Rich thought it was fun taking everything out of the mucus-filled bags, but after five minutes my son had already lost interest. He seemed to have spent his money on the experience of opening the box instead of the contents inside, and he immediately wanted to go back to Target to get another one. (And I should have paid more attention to the label and the numerous warnings for small parts and glowing mucus.)
In addition, there is a seemingly endless stream of toy stories that reinforce gender stereotypes or trigger a scary and expensive trip to the emergency room . They’ve been around for years (candy cigarettes, anyone?), But it’s hard for a concerned parent to understand the damage, both physical and psychological, a purchase can cause. The problem seems even more daunting with things like social media and video unboxing, which can heighten a child’s desire for these toys, which may not be as good as they seem.
Tell us: Are there toys that you won’t buy your children because of the harm they can cause? What foods do you find too harmful or “problematic” for your kids to buy (or let them buy for yourself)? What are your rules for playing with these toys in someone else’s house? In the comments, tell us what is on your Don’t Buy list and how you came to your decision.
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