Comments on: Genius, Mistress of Manipulation, or Spineless Sell-Out? You Choose. http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/ Anyone else find childhood a little stifling these days? Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:09:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Unplug Your Kids » Santa Lists and Sponge Bob (Christmas/Holidays Unplugged) http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-595 Unplug Your Kids » Santa Lists and Sponge Bob (Christmas/Holidays Unplugged) Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:36:29 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-595 [...] honestly had not thought about the whole Christmas list dilemma until I read this post at Outside the (Toy) Box. What do you do when your kids want Sponge Bob Cyber-Slime 3D-Goggles and [...] [...] honestly had not thought about the whole Christmas list dilemma until I read this post at Outside the (Toy) Box. What do you do when your kids want Sponge Bob Cyber-Slime 3D-Goggles and [...]

]]> By: radical mama http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-398 radical mama Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:26:21 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-398 I was on Etsy this morning and I saw lots of little fairy princess dresses for around $12. Not Disney and handmade to boot. Just thought I'd pass along the info. I was on Etsy this morning and I saw lots of little fairy princess dresses for around $12. Not Disney and handmade to boot. Just thought I’d pass along the info.

]]> By: blue milk http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-393 blue milk Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:40:38 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-393 This was such a great post. This is the first year that my daughter is old enough to understand the concept of Christmas but she's not yet old enough to understand the huge potential of wishing, so when we sat down to write a Santa letter and we asked her what she wanted she said - a baby's rattle for her doll to play with. Guess we should return the trampoline we bought then - not! This was such a great post. This is the first year that my daughter is old enough to understand the concept of Christmas but she’s not yet old enough to understand the huge potential of wishing, so when we sat down to write a Santa letter and we asked her what she wanted she said - a baby’s rattle for her doll to play with. Guess we should return the trampoline we bought then - not!

]]> By: Laura http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-388 Laura Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:53:11 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-388 Well, I think of it like this: you got a Barbie dreamhouse, and you turned out ok, right? So a little judicious princess-ing could be ok, too. I have to admit, though, that when my son begged and begged for a crappy theme toy, and I gave in, and the toy broke the first day, I felt like the universe had really cut me a break. See? I told him? It's a bad toy, and no fun, and lets take it back and get a good toy. Well, I think of it like this: you got a Barbie dreamhouse, and you turned out ok, right? So a little judicious princess-ing could be ok, too. I have to admit, though, that when my son begged and begged for a crappy theme toy, and I gave in, and the toy broke the first day, I felt like the universe had really cut me a break. See? I told him? It’s a bad toy, and no fun, and lets take it back and get a good toy.

]]> By: Shaping Youth » Marketing Mindfulness to Kids: Giving vs. Receiving http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-387 Shaping Youth » Marketing Mindfulness to Kids: Giving vs. Receiving Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:52:20 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-387 [...] and when it comes to granting junior those “light up the face” video moments, even the most savvy media mavens turn toward ‘compromise’ on the wishlist [...] [...] and when it comes to granting junior those “light up the face” video moments, even the most savvy media mavens turn toward ‘compromise’ on the wishlist [...]

]]> By: The Secret Ingredient http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-385 The Secret Ingredient Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:50:12 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-385 I too, loved circling things (dozens of things that I'd never even seen before) in the big, giant Sears catalog at Christmastime. I never got most of it, but the whole concept of "you never know" was fun. My daughter found a Lillian Vernon Kids catalog a few weeks ago and decided that she literally MUST have every freaking pink thing or princess-type thing in there. Before she found that catalog (which I accidentally left lying around), she didn't even KNOW there were "bed tents" that looked like a princess castle. What I have found is that this is the type of stuff that gets old after a few weeks (or even days). Both my kids play with their blocks at least 3-4 times per week, and have been for a number of years now. Good creativity-----even if their main goal is to build a castle! I too, loved circling things (dozens of things that I’d never even seen before) in the big, giant Sears catalog at Christmastime. I never got most of it, but the whole concept of “you never know” was fun. My daughter found a Lillian Vernon Kids catalog a few weeks ago and decided that she literally MUST have every freaking pink thing or princess-type thing in there. Before she found that catalog (which I accidentally left lying around), she didn’t even KNOW there were “bed tents” that looked like a princess castle. What I have found is that this is the type of stuff that gets old after a few weeks (or even days). Both my kids play with their blocks at least 3-4 times per week, and have been for a number of years now. Good creativity—–even if their main goal is to build a castle!

]]> By: Amy http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-383 Amy Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:56:23 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-383 Oops, typo...I mean 'markers', not 'markets'. Oops, typo…I mean ‘markers’, not ‘markets’.

]]> By: Amy http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-382 Amy Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:55:13 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-382 I love the poster idea. We have a wish list too, but alas the only thing on my daughter's is a Hello Kitty "kit". She's never had anything Hello Kitty, but as far as yucky commercial characters go, Hello Kitty is not that harmful. So, Santa will stuff some Hello Kitty lip balms in her stocking. Otherwise, I'm free to give her some nice toys, like a marble run and a really nice set of markets (not the crappy washable kind - she's ready for the real thing now). One small victory: We were discussing getting an Advent calendar a few days ago, and she said brightly "Why don't we save some money and make one?" My husband said "That's my girl" with a smug smile, and I set about making one with my daughter as an art project. It turned out really cute; I finished it up after she went to bed so she could be surprised by what is behind each day's window (used shrunken clipart from Microsoft Word - really easy). She can't WAIT to open the windows each morning. Yeah!! I love the poster idea. We have a wish list too, but alas the only thing on my daughter’s is a Hello Kitty “kit”. She’s never had anything Hello Kitty, but as far as yucky commercial characters go, Hello Kitty is not that harmful. So, Santa will stuff some Hello Kitty lip balms in her stocking. Otherwise, I’m free to give her some nice toys, like a marble run and a really nice set of markets (not the crappy washable kind - she’s ready for the real thing now).

One small victory: We were discussing getting an Advent calendar a few days ago, and she said brightly “Why don’t we save some money and make one?” My husband said “That’s my girl” with a smug smile, and I set about making one with my daughter as an art project. It turned out really cute; I finished it up after she went to bed so she could be surprised by what is behind each day’s window (used shrunken clipart from Microsoft Word - really easy). She can’t WAIT to open the windows each morning. Yeah!!

]]> By: Woodmouse Loves Crafts http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-380 Woodmouse Loves Crafts Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:45:59 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-380 Fantastic! As I was reading (before I got to the part about the poster board) I was thinking how my parents did it when I was a child, which was to just let me pick things out of a catalog. Each year that was actually my favorite part. Your version of selecting things that you are okay with is brilliant! I'm adopting this idea, it is just too perfect. Fantastic! As I was reading (before I got to the part about the poster board) I was thinking how my parents did it when I was a child, which was to just let me pick things out of a catalog. Each year that was actually my favorite part. Your version of selecting things that you are okay with is brilliant! I’m adopting this idea, it is just too perfect.

]]> By: Aurora http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-378 Aurora Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:24:40 +0000 http://outside-the-toybox.com/genius-or-mistress-of-manipulation-you-choose/2007/12/02/#comment-378 Oh my goodness, what an absolutely fabulous excellent COOL idea! I'm totally using it next year! Love your blog! Oh my goodness, what an absolutely fabulous excellent COOL idea! I’m totally using it next year! Love your blog!

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