Chemicals in Plastics are “Gender Benders”

Does your son play with dolls? Could just be his charming personality, or it could be something in the water.

A team of  scientists has found that chemicals commonly found in some plastics can make boys more like girls. Continue reading »

Want a Green Xmas? You Should Probably Start Now

Look, I know Halloween is not even a week behind us, but if I’ve learned one thing as a parent it’s this: it’s really hard to put off Christmas shopping and not (1) overspend (2) disappoint and (3) feel just really awful about child labor/carbon footprints/wrecking the environment. So, theoretically, I’m starting to plan for the holidays now.

How exactly? Well, I’m not sure, but I’m after a bit of research, here’s what I’ve come up with so far. Continue reading »

A LEGO By Any Other Name

What does your kid call the square LEGO with four little bumps on top? The round cylinder that looks like a beer mug? The little dot used for headlights on a LEGO truck?

The Morning News chatted up a bunch of kids and found everyone has a different name for individual pieces in the LEGO brick collection. They pulled together a LEGO nomenclature chart that’s a bit of geekery this parent can appreciate. Continue reading »

American Girl Gives Kirsten the Axe

One of the first American Girl dolls ever sold is being retired from the collection. Considering her story dates back to 1854, it’s no wonder Kirsten was getting a little long in the tooth.

She’s now following another one of her fellow trendsetters - Samantha Parkington who helped start the collection was axed last year - into the “archives.” Continue reading »

Alternative, Lesbian and Eating Disorder Barbies (Maybe NSFW)

Bulemic Barbie

If Barbie, often little girls’ exemplar of womanhood, is to represent females, she needs to mix it up.

Continue reading »

Black Barbie Gets Real

Back in 1967, Mattel came out with their first so-called African-American Barbie doll.  Her name was Colored Francie and other than her hair and skin color, she looked exactly like the white Francie doll.  Since that time, the toy company hasn’t done much better in creating a Barbie doll that African-American girls could identify with.  But last month, Mattel gave it another shot with the debut of three new black Barbie friends:  Grace, Kara and Trichelle.  Did they get it right this time?  Continue reading »

Sixth Graders Give Toys ‘R Us a Reprimand

A group of Swedish sixth graders studying gender roles noticed something fishy about a Toys ‘R Us Christmas catalog:  The boys pictured in it were all doing active things — playing with action figures or sports toys.  The girls, on the other hand, played passively with dolls and princess. Continue reading »

Unintentionally Disturbing Children’s Toys

Making toys is hard. Who knows what kids like, amIright? Here, example, are some good intentioned toys that crossed the line from fun to frightening.

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Placenta Teddy Bear. So Snuggly!

Placenta snacking isn’t for everyone. But still … who doesn’t get a little sentimental about a good and faithful placenta?

Designer Alex Green knows how you feel, so he put together a little DIY kit so that you and the baby can treasure your physical attachment for years to come. Continue reading »

Target Busted for Selling Toys with Lead Paint

Much to my chagrin, I have a soft place in my heart for Target. I’m never tempted to so much as glance at a Wal-Mart, but sometimes when I get an uncontrollable hankering for a cheap tank top, tile cleaner, and discount shampoo, I find myself in basking in the spacious neon glow of a Target, vaguely praying that no child in India lost a finger in the making of the three-dollar garment I’m about to purchase. Continue reading »