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Boys Toys

I promised my son a new toy as a reward for a great parent-teacher review of his first month in kindergarten, so we headed out to Toys R Us. I thought maybe, just maybe, this would offer us more non-violent toy choices than our usual shopping places.

There were quite a few science-oriented toys and kits -- mostly for older (8+) kids. Then there were quite a few building/imagination toys -- pretty much all for ages 3 and under, or again, 8+. Our choices whittled down to some basic magnetix kits (great toys, but still geared to older kids), a very few lego kits (lots of duplo for younger, lots of complex kits for older), and lots of hot wheels.

I was not prepared, however, for the overwhelming amount of violent, scary-faced, weapon-toting monsters, aliens, robots, dragons, fighting/action "heros" (hmmm), star wars, et al.

The choices for girls were equally as dismal: barbie, dress-up, pop-star/diva (I know nothing about Hanah Montana other than I never want to watch the show after seeing her plastered on every conceivable product), princess, and fairies.

Basically it seems to boil down to this:

Boys are being play-trained in neanderthal "might is right", violent weapon use, desensitization and war games.

Girls are being play-trained to be image-is-everything, pop star is the ultimate career goal, you'll marry someone rich and everyone will cater to your every princess whim, and you can only be liked if you have the right clothes/accessories.

I thought we realized the harm of all of this in the 60s when Barbie and GI Joe went by the wayside and became "collectibles."

What the heck are we teaching our children? Where's the balance? Where are the choices to the mass market?

And where are the positive role models for kids 5+?