The Worst Toy of the Year

In response to the toy industry's annual Toy of The Year (TOTY) award, to be presented this year on February 15th, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood has decided to grant an annual award of its own. They're calling it the TOADY (Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young Children), and they're asking the public to choose from among five possibilities.

Here's an excerpt from an e-mail I received from CCFC this morning:

From thousands of toys that promote violence and/or precocious sexuality and/or push branded entertainment and electronic wizardry at the expense of children's play, we've selected five exceptional finalists.  The nominees for the 2009 TOADY are:

• • A doll that does everything so your kids don't do anything.

• A video game from one of the most trusted names in children's toys that promotes junk food and violence to preschoolers.
• A toy car that rides roughshod over family budgets and the environment.
• An exercise bike/video game system for preschoolers that makes trips to the park - and parents - superfluous.
• A doll that combines two classic symbols of gendered stereotypes into one unbelievable toy.

Who are these nominees? Find out and cast your ballot at: http://commercialfreechildhood.org/actions/toady.html. Voting is open until February 8. All voters can enter a drawing to win a copy of Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood - a brand new film from the Media Education Foundation featuring the CCFC staff and Steering Committee.

I was torn between two but have cast my vote. I'm not going to tell you -- yet -- what I chose and why, but I'd love to hear how you cast your vote!

Comments

[WendyZ]

This is a tough one! There are several of those toys that I've always hated, and of course I know people who own (and use) them. I just had to choose the Smart Cycle.

[Rae Pica]

Wendy, tell us why you chose that one over the others!

[WendyZ]

Well, I think the thing that pushed me to choose the Smart Cycle was watching children use it. This toy is like a double whammy... Not only is it an electronic video game (and I think we all know how too much of that is detrimental in several ways), but it seems to be a substitute for "real" physical activity. I love a stationary bike just as much as the next gal, but I'd rather be out enjoying nature and getting some Vitamin D in the process.