Sitter’s Checklist: Parenting, toy makeovers, and even more! ways to get kids to buy stuff
Congratulations to Amy and Marc Vachon from Equally Shared Parenting. They will be featured in this Sunday’s New York Times Magazine (online version available today). I met Amy at the CCFC Conference in Boston last April. Amy and Marc’s success is great news for bloggers and for parents with a passion. (Downside: I will end up doing more laundry because of this.)
The New York Times reports on the most recent toy makeovers, including Strawberry Shortcake (click for the must-see visual). As described at The F-Word:
The new, “improved” Strawberry Shortcake’s adorable chubby cheeks have been noticeably thinned out, her pudgy nose realigned into a perky little point, her signature red kinky hair straightened into hot pink silky tresses, and her frilly bloomers replaced with, well, I don’t even want to speculate on what’s beneath that mid-thigh-high dress — even her cat is thinner.
Good thing that cartoonish body images don’t affect little girls! Oh, wait. Never mind.
Marketing to kids has become a competitive business. So here’s some great! ideas! on how to capture kids’ attention! But please, if I read one more article on marketing to children with the tagline it isn’t child’s play I’m going to throw up.