Sometime in the '70s, my grandmother got me a craft kit to make beaded fruit...and never heard the end of it from my mother. The set consisted of flocked plastic fruit that you decorated with beads and sequins poked into the plastic with straight pins. You can imagine how many little pieces there were. My mother reported that she was still vacuuming up beads, sequins and pins a decade later, and she probably wasn't exaggerating much.

I'll get back to you 'cause right now I'm coming up empty. Possibly the trombone, flute and electric guitar noises coming from upstairs are causing me to think any holiday toy is better than a real live musical instrument in the hands of teenagers.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Fast Times @ Homeschool High & Flamingo House Happenings

When I was in first grade my grandmother (who did a lot of sewing) made my sister a five foot tall Raggedy-Ann doll, with a matching dress for Christmas. She made a big deal about having something really great for both of us, so after seeing that doll I was super excited about what my gift would be (and hoping it was a doll like my sister got). Well, my gift was a two foot tall candy cane. Needless to say, I was a bit let down. I like to think my grandmother's intention was to make me a doll too, and maybe she just ran out of time.

I guess a candy cane isn't really even a toy. Oh well, it seems I'm still harboring some negative feelings over this...the tears are welling up (just kidding).

Now that I think about it...the worst toys are the ones that are packaged with all those plastic ties to hold them in the box. And it takes so long to get the darn toy out...and all your kid wants is for you to hurry up and get the toy out...and every time you think you have finally cut that last one...it's not the last one. I think Barbie's are the worst...they have plastic ties that you have to cut, twist ties that you have to twist off, and then some crazy stuff stitched into the hair and attached to the box. Talk about "not" echo-friendly.

Oh well...That's my rant, I digress.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at CatherineBlogs.com and The Political Voices of Women

FURBY. How could anyone forget this? My sister had one. Awful little monster. (The furby, not my sister.)

I got a bass guitar when I was a freshman in college, and since I lived away from home my parents never had to listen to me pound away. But I had their approval anyway; my mom said she'd be very disappointed if I didn't start playing in a band soon. :)

Just the Way It Is - A laugh, an epiphany, a like-minded soul

Every time I start to answer the question, I feel like an old fogey because my choices are, well, old fogey-ish sounding. Like:

--anything that makes electronic noise all by itself without any input from anybody.Just walk by and the noise starts--drive me wild. (Billy bass, anyone?)

--anything parents had to stnd in line for more than 15 minutes to buy. Just because it's had the biggest hype, is it really that great? (Rememberthe great todo over Tickle Me Elmo, or Cabaage Patch dolls? Was it really worith it?

--anything that requires video action with screaming, cursing, people being killed, maimed, tortured,. That's not entertainment, and it's not a toy, or a game to do those things.

--anything you are buying your child because the child browbeat, whined and trantrumed you into buying it. No way.

--anytihng that is over the child's maturaity or comprehension level. Frustrating for both parent and child. Even if it is educational, a child could be de-motivated by trying to play with something that they don't understand, and you'll be constantly roped into explaining, playing, fixing, etc. Even if the child begged and pleaded for it, you will be so sorry you gave in and bought it because that child is likely to be very unhappy with their gift.

Okay, do I sound really grumpy? I don't mean to be--I refer toys bought in the spirit of giving joy, and children who appreciate gifts for what they are. I think children can benefit from less focus on "what am I getting" and more on "what can I do for others." Easy to say, difficult to put into practice when children are surrounded by non-stop commercials and ads.

Granny Sue
Stories from the Mountains and Beyond
www.grannysu.blogspot.com
susannaholstein@yahoo.com

Every time I start to answer the question, I feel like an old fogey because my choices are, well, old fogey-ish sounding. Like:

--anything that makes electronic noise all by itself without any input from anybody.Just walk by and the noise starts--drive me wild. (Billy bass, anyone?)

--anything parents had to stnd in line for more than 15 minutes to buy. Just because it's had the biggest hype, is it really that great? (Rememberthe great todo over Tickle Me Elmo, or Cabaage Patch dolls? Was it really worith it?

--anything that requires video action with screaming, cursing, people being killed, maimed, tortured,. That's not entertainment, and it's not a toy, or a game to do those things.

--anything you are buying your child because the child browbeat, whined and trantrumed you into buying it. No way.

--anytihng that is over the child's maturaity or comprehension level. Frustrating for both parent and child. Even if it is educational, a child could be de-motivated by trying to play with something that they don't understand, and you'll be constantly roped into explaining, playing, fixing, etc. Even if the child begged and pleaded for it, you will be so sorry you gave in and bought it because that child is likely to be very unhappy with their gift.

Okay, do I sound really grumpy? I don't mean to be--I refer toys bought in the spirit of giving joy, and children who appreciate gifts for what they are. I think children can benefit from less focus on "what am I getting" and more on "what can I do for others." Easy to say, difficult to put into practice when children are surrounded by non-stop commercials and ads.

Granny Sue
Stories from the Mountains and Beyond
www.grannysu.blogspot.com
susannaholstein@yahoo.com

One word: Whee-lo.

Show me a child who was delighted to get a spinning wheel on a piece of bent wire, and I will show you one poor, sad, dumb child. The commercials were on ALL the time and people actually BOUGHT these things. Crazy.

This comments section is cracking me up! Every year I'm amazed by the junk that floods the stores (and the airwaves), enticing our kids to new levels of desperation. But for me, the Worst Toys for Christmas are toys that make little kids look like teens or adults, like the fake tattoo parlor and the Bratz wear mentioned in that article. Tattooed boys and little girls that look like they should be working the red light district? No thanks! Let little kids be little kids, I say.
:)

My Travel Site

It doesn't end when they get older. I'm still traumatized by the gift (from a very nice and generous friend) of a foosball table for my kids. It required a solid, backbreaking day of labor for two people to assemble with skate keys, and dominated my lovely little bungalow porch for a year before finding its way to a new home. Good riddance!

Deb

www.debontherocks.com
when life throws you on the rocks, it's time to get your rocks off

Teddy Ruxpin was pretty creepy.

This year I bought my daughter a drum kit. I may regret that forever.

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Sports and Fitness
Sarah and the Goon Squad
Draft Day Suit

One year my mother gave my children a harmonica each. What they lacked in skills, they made up for with enthusiasm. A LOT of enthusiasm.

I have 5 kids.

http://www.fullthus.com/blog