Want your kid to go to sleep? Cut out TV time before bed.

I haven't read Go the F**k to Sleep, but I understand the sentiment. All parents have been in the situation when our children will not settle down and go to sleep. It is especially frustrating when you have plans for their snoozing time and patience runs thin, or you worry about … [Read more...]

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 … [Read more...]

The Good and the Bad on Gender Specific Toys

Thanksgiving is over, and the holiday season is in full swing. As parents and grandparents search for quality gifts for the youngsters, the topic of gender specific clothes and toys is sure to arise in some families. Don't give my daughter that [amazon_link id="B0060RZBKG" … [Read more...]

U.S. PIRG Trouble in Toyland 2012: Don’t give dangerous toys this holiday season

As consumers, we assume that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is doing their job testing products and ensuring our children's safety. Unfortunately, the task is larger than the organization can handle, and toxic, dangerous toys, mostly manufactured cheaply in … [Read more...]

Why does disposable equal wealth?

One sign of a wealthy society is an abundance of disposable products. From single use plastic shopping bags to cheap toys, our society is riddled with "discount" items with short life spans, whether from quality, interest, or intent. In countries of lesser wealth, things are … [Read more...]