Parents' desperate plea: No more ads for toys

[sweeps]

In a season that inspires earnest letters about toys, one notable batch is being sent not by kids to Santa's workshop but by parents to the executive suites of real-world toy makers.

The message: Please, in these days of economic angst, cut back on marketing your products directly to our children.

[irmanator]

i cancelled the satellite and as a bonus they don't see the ads

[PrincessPerky]

Now how would a kid see an ad without parental knowledge?

My kids have none of that direct marketing..no TV in general, and when they do come up wanting, a word or two from their parental unit is all it takes.

[MonkeyMama]

Yes, ads will always be there. It would be far more productive to shelter your kids from them (like ages 1 -3) and to educate them about ads when they get old enough to understand.

I think in general this is a good rule of thumb. Educate, because you can't change everything out there and shelter your kid from everything.

Our kids watch a fair amount of TV and commercials. It hasn't been a problem. They ask for things, we say no, life goes on. So the whole thing seems kind of silly to me. Those parents are so wrapped up in their financial whoas that they miss the point.

[disneysteve]

Our kids watch a fair amount of TV and commercials. It hasn't been a problem. They ask for things, we say no, life goes on. So the whole thing seems kind of silly to me. Those parents are so wrapped up in their financial whoas that they miss the point.

That hits the nail right on the head. Parents don't know how to say NO to their kids anymore. Our daughter also watches plenty of TV. She sees plenty of ads. She sees products in stores. She sees movies that have a zillion product tie-ins. And she asks for things that she doesn't get. Why? Because WE, her PARENTS, the ones IN CHARGE, say NO, you can't have that.

Imagine that.