you really want KIDS to PLAY with these toys?
Yesterday I was randomly scrolling through twitter when I saw something that caught my eye… and truly made me say, “What the….” out loud.
Cruella de Vil with puppy and car Little People set from Fisher-Price http://t.co/NlLZM03UeQ
— Stitch Kingdom (@stitchkingdom) July 23, 2013
Um… what?
Miss L has the Fisher-Price Little People Disney Princess Songs Palace. It’s pretty gosh darn adorable, and she makes the Princesses all take turns singing their songs and dancing and makes them do chores around the castle (because I think she truly adores Rapunzel and Cinderella and Snow White for their work ethic).
But why would anyone want their kid to pretend to play with a puppy murderer? Let alone… their 1.5-5 year olds.
Let’s see, how does that song go again. “Cruella de Vil. If she doesn’t scare you no evil thing will?”
Oh yeah, that’s right.
See, somehow Miss L got a copy of the “101 Dalmations” book. And when she finds it from the secret shelf I try and hide it on, we selectively skip words and phrases, and all she really knows is that Cruella is bad lady who wants to steal puppies. When she asks the logical question, “Why does she want the puppies?” I refuse to answer honestly with, “Because she wants to make a coat out of their cute spotted fur.” Because that honest answer just gives anyone nightmares, including myself. And this lovely book doesn’t shy away from the fact that all of the puppies gasp in horror when they know what is going to happen. I think the movie is much easier to watch than to read this synopsis of horror.
Here’s the product desciption straight from the Fisher Price page. You tell me if someone could have actually written this with a straight face: “With Cruella and Patch figures included, kids will enjoy recreating familiar scenes from the Disney classic “101 Dalmatians” movie—or creating new adventures of their own!”
Could you honestly imagine your little kiddo going, “CATCH THOSE PUPPIES!” in the middle of your living room and you being “OK” with that? I posted this on FB yesterday and Ashley said, “Like what are kids supposed to play "I’m going to get you puppy and skin you to make a coat…ha! Ha! Vroom! Vroom!"” I just…. yeah. I don’t understand that one.
Another great quote, “Kids discover cause & effect when they place Cruella in the driver’s seat and press to hear fun sounds and a song!” I think there are many different ways that I can teach a kid “cause and effect” instead of giving them this toy… wow!
I mean, I’m used to Playmobil being totally off their rockers for their playsets… like this gem from the 2013 CITY ACTION collection…
Yes. Please dear child aged 4-10. STOP THE BANK ROBBERY!
Can you imagine the complaints if your kiddo doesn’t have the full SWAT team set ready to stop the heist? Or the helicopter? Seriously… that poor guy at the ATM never had a chance if you don’t shell out $200.
There’s also this wonderful POLICE ADVENT CALENDAR for the holidays:
Normally the sets are cottage scenes of Christmas with Kris Kringle and such, but in case your kid needs more excitement in their December, here’s a museum thief trying to break into the (presumably) British Museum and the mummies and 1 policeman are fighting back? [Chances are the good guy would win, since the cop has that fancy 4-wheeler and the camo-thief is stuck with a bike? Oh wait, he has a semi-automatic rifle that Santa gave him on one of the days of Advent. Nevermind.]
This is why I seriously give BLOCKS as presents. Because if a kid wants to conjure up something crazy creative with those blocks, then at least there was an exercise in imagination. Here, we’re just shoving a not-so-great depiction of humanity at a kid and telling them to have fun with it.
Are there any more crazy toy sets that we should all be on the lookout for?
One Comment
Christi
I loved Cruella de Ville a kid. She had the best theme song and she was so sophisticated and modern. Not like those old evil queens living in castles in a forest. I always wanted to see more Cruella and less dogs in the movie.