Comments on: How to sell ridiculously unnecessary product: Parent and kid edition http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/10/08/how-to-sell-ridiculously-unnecessary-product-parent-and-kid-edition/ Blog of Parents for Ethical Marketing Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:28:44 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/10/08/how-to-sell-ridiculously-unnecessary-product-parent-and-kid-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-1538 Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter Sat, 25 Oct 2008 17:00:31 +0000 http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/10/08/how-to-sell-ridiculously-unnecessary-product-parent-and-kid-edition/#comment-1538 Of course -- you're right. Must be the ghosts of my own childhood -- DON'T TOUCH THAT KNIFE OR YOU'LL CUT YOUR FINGER OFF! Good night. Of course — you’re right. Must be the ghosts of my own childhood — DON’T TOUCH THAT KNIFE OR YOU’LL CUT YOUR FINGER OFF!

Good night.

]]> By: lauredhel http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/10/08/how-to-sell-ridiculously-unnecessary-product-parent-and-kid-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-1537 lauredhel Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:52:29 +0000 http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/10/08/how-to-sell-ridiculously-unnecessary-product-parent-and-kid-edition/#comment-1537 (That should be "positively", of course. Time for bed.) (That should be “positively”, of course. Time for bed.)

]]> By: lauredhel http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/10/08/how-to-sell-ridiculously-unnecessary-product-parent-and-kid-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-1536 lauredhel Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:52:07 +0000 http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/10/08/how-to-sell-ridiculously-unnecessary-product-parent-and-kid-edition/#comment-1536 I was kinda amused to see this post nestling in there with your more recent post talking positive about Montessori. One of the key tenets of Montessori education is that children can learn to use adult tools from a much earlier age than our culture would typically allow; and that they need tools and equipment that are fitted to their small bodies. I don't mind the pictured cutlery at all. Bright plain colours, no cartoon characters or licensed advertising, and it looks functional. I was kinda amused to see this post nestling in there with your more recent post talking positive about Montessori. One of the key tenets of Montessori education is that children can learn to use adult tools from a much earlier age than our culture would typically allow; and that they need tools and equipment that are fitted to their small bodies.

I don’t mind the pictured cutlery at all. Bright plain colours, no cartoon characters or licensed advertising, and it looks functional.

]]> By: Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/10/08/how-to-sell-ridiculously-unnecessary-product-parent-and-kid-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-1535 Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:47:56 +0000 http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/10/08/how-to-sell-ridiculously-unnecessary-product-parent-and-kid-edition/#comment-1535 @lauredhel, thanks for reading. I have to say I'm impressed that you had your two-year-old cutting food. I think that's terrific. I never would have had the stomach for it. I think my concern at the time, if I remember correctly, was that I didn't want a regular knife being mistaken for a kid-safe knife. Your point is well taken, as I now have older kids who are just learning to use a knife properly. @lauredhel, thanks for reading. I have to say I’m impressed that you had your two-year-old cutting food. I think that’s terrific. I never would have had the stomach for it. I think my concern at the time, if I remember correctly, was that I didn’t want a regular knife being mistaken for a kid-safe knife. Your point is well taken, as I now have older kids who are just learning to use a knife properly.

]]> By: lauredhel http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/10/08/how-to-sell-ridiculously-unnecessary-product-parent-and-kid-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-1534 lauredhel Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:08:12 +0000 http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/10/08/how-to-sell-ridiculously-unnecessary-product-parent-and-kid-edition/#comment-1534 I have to disagree strongly with the linked poster that "you don't give kids knives". Toddlers can be well and truly ready to learn to use kitchen tools! My son started practising cutting his food, and helping prepare family meals by cutting soft items such as mushrooms and strawberries, at the age of two. The child-sized knife we had worked much better in his tiny hand than an adult-sized knife. The reward chart for kiddie skin care, however, made me shudder. I have to disagree strongly with the linked poster that “you don’t give kids knives”. Toddlers can be well and truly ready to learn to use kitchen tools! My son started practising cutting his food, and helping prepare family meals by cutting soft items such as mushrooms and strawberries, at the age of two. The child-sized knife we had worked much better in his tiny hand than an adult-sized knife.

The reward chart for kiddie skin care, however, made me shudder.

]]> By: Jeff Zuckerman http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/10/08/how-to-sell-ridiculously-unnecessary-product-parent-and-kid-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-1481 Jeff Zuckerman Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:30:59 +0000 http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/10/08/how-to-sell-ridiculously-unnecessary-product-parent-and-kid-edition/#comment-1481 Only in a country that invented and marketed “Lego Fun Snacks” could Sarah Palin be a viable candidate for the vice presidency. And by the way, when did food become “fun”? Is the food itself fun, or is eating food fun? Is food that’s not called fun not fun? Like trout? Or lasagne? “Dad, what’s for dinner?” “I made a nice lasagne.” “What? I hate lasagne.” “Why.” Because it’s not fun.” “Actually, this is fun lasagne.” “Oh, okay.” Maybe PEM should have a Creative Fun Product contest. In 50 words or less, describe what fun product should marketers develop next. The winner could get, like, a fun can of fun refried beans. I wonder if those hungry kids you see in those sad commercials play with their food product. You know, for fun. Sure, they’re hungry, but they probably aren’t having enough fun, either. If you send them the Lego Fun Snacks, do you suppose they stack ‘em or eat ‘em? Only in a country that invented and marketed “Lego Fun Snacks” could Sarah Palin be a viable candidate for the vice presidency.

And by the way, when did food become “fun”? Is the food itself fun, or is eating food fun? Is food that’s not called fun not fun? Like trout? Or lasagne? “Dad, what’s for dinner?” “I made a nice lasagne.” “What? I hate lasagne.” “Why.” Because it’s not fun.” “Actually, this is fun lasagne.” “Oh, okay.”

Maybe PEM should have a Creative Fun Product contest. In 50 words or less, describe what fun product should marketers develop next. The winner could get, like, a fun can of fun refried beans.

I wonder if those hungry kids you see in those sad commercials play with their food product. You know, for fun. Sure, they’re hungry, but they probably aren’t having enough fun, either. If you send them the Lego Fun Snacks, do you suppose they stack ‘em or eat ‘em?

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