Hello, I have seen plenty of best/worst toys for Christmas over the years by many "experts" so I thought I would compile one for regular parents by a regular parent. This list will come in different episodes as I see toys roll out so here is the first leg of the adventure. In this segment we will explore a few of the toys that have already made the naughty list.
Monopoly Electronic Banking
In the latest edition of Parker Brothers Monopoly series of board games the company has managed to alter several components of this timeless classic to bring it from dominating several 'top ten' lists since the Great Depression all the way to the bottom of my personal 'bottom ten' list. Instead of encouraging hard work and promoting advanced math skills we now have credit cards and calculators. Another problem I have with this is the marketing campaign behind it. In the commercial you see a child going around putting things like extravagant homes and exotic sports cars on a credit card while in the background a song that repeats "It's all about the money, money. It's all about the money". Clearly for Parker Brothers it really IS all about the money. Sad to think a that the board game that single-handedly brought this country out of the Great Depression will probably lead us into the next one.
Alternatives: The original Monopoly, The Game of Life, Candyland
Doggie Doo
I saw a commercial for this atrocious game for the first time today. "Doggie Doo" is a game that consists of a plastic dog that you feed playdough to and it poops. Contestants must then collect the feces in order to win. Honestly, I don't even really know what to say other than a game that encourages children to play with dog poop and expect a reward from it is well beyond twisted and tasteless. Basically, buying "Doggie Doo" is like purchasing everything bad about a real dog with none of the benefits. Goliath games is responsible for this disaster as well as the "Pop the Pig" (a game that consists of children overfeeding a pig until it explodes) and I recommend buying nothing from this company.
Alternatives: Basically anything other that "Pop the Pig"
Kaboom! Foam-Tastic
You would not normally think of this as a potential Christmas gift but my four-year-old saw a commercial for this product and said "I want that" so I thought it should be addressed. While I'm sure Kaboom! Foam-Tastic is a fine cleaning product it would make a terrible Christmas gift for a child due to the fact that it is most certainly poisonous and probably would not be used as it is intended anyway. In fact, if you were thinking of getting this for your young child for Christmas you should probably not have children at all.
Alternatives: Baby's First Vacuum by Hoover, Easy Bake Oven
Thanks and check back often for more best and worst for Christmas! Have a blessed evening!
