Of Cats and Kids

Shoppers beware: Even safe toys are dangerous

Posted by: Carol Lombardi

Monday, December 10, 2007 11:20 AM

It seems that toy shopping is becoming about as much fun as grocery shopping, with the The Illinois Attorney General producing a 96-page guide to help parents buy safe toys.

Safe, in 2007, does not mean "prevent children from shooting their eyes out." It means the toys are low in lead, not too loud, free of choking hazards, dangerous magnets and mind-altering substances and unlikely to cause burns, amputations, fires, impact injuries, lacerations, explosions, severed limbs and/or strangulation.

The Illinois Attorney General, who seems to be channeling Burgermeister Meisterburger, has also weighed in on the wildly popular Webkinz , which will apparently not cause death directly (unless eaten) but will serve as a "gateway" to kids chatting with strangers online and being sucked into the dangerous abyss of chat rooms.

Oddly enough, kids were already chatting online with strangers before Webkinz. Kids without Webkinz will still chat online. Attorney General Meisterburger should consider that perhaps some parents see Webkinz-type sites as an opportunity to discuss online chatting with their kids while they are still young enough to think that their parents might know something.

If you live in a tween-free zone, Webkinz are stuffed animals with a code that allows kids to play with and care for their animals in an online virtual world. They can play a variety of games to earn "KinzCash" to feed and provide for their furry little friends and can use a controlled chat function to talk to other Webkinz-loving kids. From an online safety perspective, Webkinz is about as safe as it's going to get.

I think parents, as always, are the key to the child's experience. I wouldn't drop my child off at West Side Park for 3 hours alone, and the internet isn't any different. There is a big difference between an 8-year-old surfing the web unsupervised at 3 a.m. and the same child playing Webkinz for 30 minutes while a parent is 5 feet away. Stupid parents are a much bigger menace than little furry blue hippos.

Comments

Be the first to share your opinion!