Comments on: Gender Free Toys: Do they exist?

By: toyportfolio

toyportfolio — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:19:21 +0000

We did not test these products this season, so I can’t comment directly on these toys but the general concept is right on. We did love the larger wooden castles in their Woodland Adventures series. I don’t know how old your daughter is–but they are worth a look for 3 & up. Their Castle of Courage won a Platinum Award from us. You can see it on our website. I also do need to mention that our testers did love the very pink castle in this line. Although the parent noted to keep hold of the directions, because her daughters loved taking it apart!

Here are a couple of things to look for when looking at any of these mini-pretend settings: (1) small parts – the pieces on many of these play settings are getting smaller and smaller. You can use a toilet paper roller to check size; (2) sound effects-make sure that the moos and nays are coming from the animals, not the buildings! We found that many of the sound effects were built into the structures–so if you put the pig where the horse is “supposed” to go, your child will learn that the pig says nay. Pretty silly. We think kids can make their own sounds!

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:22:23 +0000

I’m shopping for my daughter — I’m intrigued by the Step 2 Main Street Village set — an opportunity to get her a gender neutral house (the cottage), but also a matching fire house, airport (she loves both trucks and planes) and tractor! You have not reviewed these toys — do you have any thoughts on them? They don’t get the buzz that the FP Little People sets do, but seem a little more versatile.

By: toyportfolio

toyportfolio — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:55:38 +0000

Thanks Nancy! If anything by giving them a chance to explore all different types of play you are instilling a broader sense of confidence for taking chances. Doing a craft or a building project are both so important for reading directions, problem solving and learning how to do things in sequence–a skill that both boys and girls need. Thankfully there are more craft kits that will appeal to boys as well as girls–Balitono, Creativity for Kids and Skullduggery all make kits that are fun for boys (even Power Ranger lovers!).

By: Nancy

Nancy — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:44:00 +0000

First I want to say I am a huge fan of the toy portfolio. Keep up the great work. I totally agree with you. Toymakers stereotype our toys to be either “pink and lavender” or “shooting” type toys for boys.
I am a mother of three young boys and after reading your books I buy all types of toys for them. Lots of craft kits too!! The only thing that worries me is since I don’t buy them the typical “boy” toys that most boys play with I am afraid they will get picked on by their friends. For example, I already heard a comment from someone that my kids are so hard to buy presents for because they don’t play with Power Rangers, Ben 10 etc.. I am afraid that this is setting them up to be “different” and this will hurt their self esteem.

By: abbe

abbe — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 04:11:53 +0000

shopping with a friend and her sister the other day looking around to see what I could buy for Hanukkah (even though I had more then I needed already) my friends sister says “I hope you aren’t sticking to just pink and girlie girl things,” and before I could even answer my friend says no way the baby is only 3 months old and she wears pink, purple, blue, red, green orange, and so on. sure my granddaughter won’t be in an outfit that is truely for a boy but she’ll play with anything she wants. about 50% of the population is male and about 50% is female, learn to love the other gender you aren’t and what they offer.

By: toyportfolio

toyportfolio — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:17:52 +0000

I agree–I don’t think the holidays are a time to have this battle. My objection to a pink-a-fied world is really more about girls thinking that they can only exist in that world.

By: Joyce

Joyce — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 22:18:01 +0000

But what if that is all my daughter wants…pink things? She’s got a list a mile long, but everything on it is so girlie girlie! I think it is my mother-in-law’s doing. She is always bringing her princess clothes and princess dolls and princess craft kits. She even calls her “Princess!” I talked to her about this, but it is a lost cause. I don’t want to disappoint my daughter or turn her gifts into a political statement. I agree with you, but I don’t want to spoil the holidays,either.