My 2014 List of Toys to Avoid
Kids are super excited come Christmas time and there’s always a list of toys to be featured on Santa’s naughty or nice list. Sure, parents want to trust what manufacturer’s, stores, and advertisers say about the different toys offered during the holiday season, but sometimes during the frenzy of trying to get into consumers’ wallets, retailers get it all wrong and the toys that they advertise are not all what they’re cracked up to be.
A parent has to have a skeptical eye. If little Tommy is crazy about a certain toy but you “know” that it’s worthless, what do you do? It’s Christmas time after all, and the last thing you want to do is break little Tommy’s heart. Nevertheless, sometimes you just have to put your foot down. Here are three toys to avoid on this year’s hot Christmas list.
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THE TOP TOYS TO AVOID ON CHRISTMAS
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Stretch N Shout-Leonardo
Is it deja vu or have the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles already had their day? The Ninja Turtles first came on the scene in 1984, approximately 30 years ago! Unless Leonardo can text speak, instant message, or is outfitted with a digital camera with a minimum of 5 or 6 megapixels, he’s simply an old-timer trying to keep up with the younger generation.
With this toy, Leonardo’s “claim to fame” is in his arms. The longer you stretch them, the higher he shouts phrases he’s known for like “it’s Turtle time,” and “let’s do it!” Well, big deal! It seems as though the Teenage Mutant Ninja set doesn’t offer enough to keep kids interested these days. After tugging Leonardo’s arms for a day or so, the iPad will appear even more appealing. Verdict: BORING!
Razor® Crazy Cart
If you are willing to pay a few hundred bucks for this manufactured go-cart, it’s best you read the overview and the specs before shelling out your money. There’s no question, the Razor Crazy Cart is lots of fun. Any kid would enjoy it. If your home is big enough, they can wreck havoc inside or take it out on the driveway. This go-cart moves forward, sideways, backwards, diagonally, and anything in between. But that’s about as far as it goes.
What happened to the good ole’ days of the homemade go-cart? A few pieces of wood, four-wheels, a steering wheel, and a lot of love was all it took. Heck, it probably lasted longer too! Looking at reviews, this go-cart is akin to replacing parts similar to a NASCAR pit crew! Parts seem to malfunction one after another due to poor engineering. This does not mean that the Razor Crazy Cart isn’t fun if you think it’s worth the money and you have the patience to wait for replacement parts. However, things were built better way back when and nothing beats a dose of love and getting your hands dirty. Save your money and purchase a nice bicycle instead. Kids can ride further and sneak a little exercise in at the same time.
Little Live Pets Bird with Cage – Rainbow Glow
The Little Live Pets Birds are colorful and include plenty of features. And yes they are cute! They are manufactured to make 30 various sounds like whistles, chirps, and tweets, for “lifelike” play. The term “lifelike” is the operative word here. For the price tag, you’re better off purchasing a “real bird” that will teach your child the beauty of interacting with nature, and if they are old enough, the joys of being responsible for little creatures. By the time the novelty wears off and parents have gone bonkers, all love will be lost for these birds and they will end up in toy pile for charity.
LOOK AT IT THIS WAY
If you think about when you were a kid and the many toys you received for Christmas, or the toys you wanted and didn’t receive for one reason or another, today you may spot them on eBay selling for a mint! Many Star Wars toys are at least worth something if they are kept in good condition, and Masters of the Universe Figures from 1981 go for lots of money. Why? Because they last, they are timeless and memorable.
The stuff you grew up playing with may still have some value, and if you think any of the goodies on the kid’s hot Christmas list 2014 will be of any value in 25 to 30 years it might be worth the pain and suffering of putting up with them! Yet, you may get lucky, and the “Little Live Pets Bird Cage Love Birds” may be worth more than the annoyance they cause!
More toys I hate?? SURE!!! Check here for the “what were they thinking”… (of course you may not agree!)