Now that the holiday season is over, we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Gone (until next year anyway) are the reams of circulars picturing perfect families bonding over perfect games. Off-air are the educational,ly-based, imagination-stimulating, motor-challenging, award-winning toys for award-winning children. Absent at last are the “Joyful Joneses,” the “Smiley Smiths,” and the “Functional Friedmans.”
I know my child is not the “advertisers’ ideal” and my family is not the “manufacturers’ market,” but I still ask myself “why should that be the case?” Maybe if we all close our eyes tightly, click our heels three times, and really, really, really believe, we can create a world, if only for a minute, where everything is imperfect. In my imperfect toyworld:
Candyland would be sugarless.
Monopoly would sell only ranches and handicap-accessible hotels.
Chutes and Ladders would have elevators and ramps.
And all Easy Bake Oven recipies would be gluten-free.
Scrabble scores would double for Dolch words.
Operation would still allow you to take out wrenched ankle, and the entire procedure would be covered under your insurance.
Barbies would come in all shapes and sizes and abilities.
And there would be at least one doll who, when you pull her cord, speaks through an augmentative communication device.
No Pursuits would be Trivial and the Game of Life would never be too challenging for a child.
Happy New Year to all with hopes for a happy and very, very healthy 2008.