• View ecochildsplay’s profile on Facebook
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Twitter
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Instagram
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Pinterest
  • View Jennifer Lance’s profile on LinkedIn
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on YouTube
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Google+

Eco Child's Play

Live a greener, healthier life!

  • Environment
  • Pregnancy
  • Food & Recipes
  • Health News
  • Parenting
  • Green Toys
  • Beauty & Beauty Products
  • Green Home & Cleaning
  • Contact

Worst Toy of the Year!

Every year, the Campaign for a Commerical-Free Childhood (CCFC) selects several toys for the TOADY award. Readers vote on which toy is the worst toy of the year. This year’s winner is the [amazon_link id=”B007G3VAVC” target=”_blank” ]Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Apptivity Monkey[/amazon_link].

“The TOADY voting reflects growing resistance to the toy industry’s cynical attempts to foist screens of every conceivable size and shape onto infants,” said CCFC’s Director, Dr. Susan Linn. “Screen-free stuffed animals have been a source of comfort to young children and a springboard for creative play for generations. The Apptivity Monkey is a textbook example of more being considerably less.”

Fisher-Price markets the Apptivity Monkey as “the best of both worlds for baby—a soft, cuddly friend to hold and hug, plus fun interactive learning with your iPhone or iPod touch!” There is no evidence, however, that screen media is educational for children under 30 months. CCFC’s ongoing efforts to hold the “genius baby” industry accountable for its deceptive educational claims led Disney to offer a groundbreaking refund on Baby Einstein videos in 2009 and to alandmark judgment by the Federal Trade Commission against the makers of the video series Your Baby Can Read earlier this year. The push to convince parents that screen time is educational for babies—and the packaging of a screen device inside a stuffed animal—are what propelled the Apptivity Monkey to outpace its formidable competition.

“I voted for the Apptivity Monkey because it is in clear violation of pediatrician and professional recommendations to keep babies and toddlers under 2 away from any screens at all,” said CCFC member Anna Martin. She added, “It’s more like the Capptivity Monkey.” Jennifer Long, owner of a child care center, noted, “It’s bad enough that most toys for babies are battery operated and flashy/light-up, but now they are encouraging screen time as part of a toy. I’m sad for the sweet little babies that get an Apptivity Monkey this holiday and for the unknowing parents that buy it thinking it’s good for their baby.”

 I am sure that all of us have at one time or another have used our iPhone to entertain our children.  Just the other day, a friend guiltily admitted to giving her four-year-old son her phone while he had to go to work with her.  The occasional use of a smart phone to keep a child content during a difficult time, like waiting in line, is fine, in my opinion.  The regular use is a concern.
Sure this stuffed monkey would protect your phone while child is entertained, but really, it shouldn’t be trying to make it more appealing.  Kids don’t need anything additional to draw them towards these devices.
Screen time is an issue for all of us.  The same friend mentioned how her eight-year-old daughter received a lot of homework on the computer, and that she was concerned about screen time.  This family often chose not to do assigned computer homework, as it violated AAP recommendations for screen time, an organization my friend called very conservative.
Although there are lots of good educational apps designed for preschoolers, screen time is a real concern. Children need to play freely and learn from that play.  For example, they need to discover geometry and spatial relationships from building with blocks, not playing on an iPad.
Please choose wisely this holiday season.  Classic toys are classic for the very reason they have stood the test of time for both developmental appropriateness, as well as enduring entertainment.
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • More
  • WhatsApp
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe!

« Green Gift Ideas: Ito En Tea Stones
11 Classic, Retro Toys »

Trackbacks

  1. Worst Toy of the Year! – Eco Child’s Play | Buy Baby Toys Online says:
    December 9, 2012 at 9:41 am

    […] Eco Child’s Play […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Content

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

Contact Eco Child’s Play

Plants Over Plastics! Repurpose Compostable Home Products

Convenient Plastic Container Free Dropps Laundry & Dishwashing Pods

More from the archives!

Depression Drug Illegally Marketed to Kids, Kickbacks Paid, FDA Approved Anyway

Green Children’s Literature Review: The Order of the Trees

Original Children's Clothing

Tin and Wooden Tea Sets for Children

NY May Follow SF and Ban Happy Meal Toys

cbd salve joy organics

CBD Products that Actually Deliver: Joy Organics

wama hemp underwear

The Most Comfortable Underwear is Made of Hemp: WAMA Review

Information

  • About & Contact
  • Archive
  • Blog
  • Consulting Services
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, & Sponsored Posts
  • Privacy Policy

Five Tips For Talking To Your Children About Climate Change

Eco Kids' Toys: Aurora Naturally Eco-Plush Made from Soy and Kapok

Hard Boiled Eggs Disaster: Natural Dyes for Natural Easter Egg Hunts

What is Your Child's School's Carbon Footprint?

Environmental Education: Google Earth Engine

Popular Categories

  • Breastfeeding
  • Health News
  • Natural Childbirth
  • Parenting
  • Education
  • Product Review
  • Green Toys

Get our posts via email

Please stay in touch!

You might also like to read…

Canada to Turn Dirty Diapers Into Diesel Fuel

Gardasil is "Mostly" Safe, But Is It Effective?

kids yoga

Kids Yoga and Bedtime Routines: Yawning Yoga

New Chapter Organics Whole-Food Organic Multivitamins for Every Kid

5 Green Products: Haba Master Builder Set Coliseum to Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Divine Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.