Tell Toy Companies: Target Parents, Not Kids, With Holiday Ads

This is my latest letter although I cannot take credit for its content...it came from "Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood."

"I am writing to urge you to suspend all advertising to children this holiday season. With the global economic crisis intensifying, many families will have to scale back their holiday shopping this year. It's wrong to create unrealistic expectations in children or to foment family stress by encouraging kids to lobby for gifts that their parents may not be able to afford.

I understand the need to create awareness of your products. I urge you to do that by advertising directly to parents instead of enlisting children as lobbyists for their holiday gifts. Since it's parents, not children, who can truly understand their family's financial situation in these difficult times, it is more important than ever that you respect their authority as gatekeepers. Please target parents instead of children with your holiday advertising."

Sincerely,
Laura Monahan


The above letter was sent to the following companies:
~Mattel: CEO Robert Eckert
~V-Tech: CEO Allan Wong Chi Yun
~Leap Frog: President & CEO Jeffrey Katz
~Hasbro: President & CEO Brian Goldner
~Spin Master: Co-CEOs Anton Rabie and Ronen Harary
~Jakks Pacific: CEO Jack Friedman
~Techno-Source: President Richard Migatz
~MEGA Brands: CEO Marc Bertrand
~MGA Entertainment: CEO Isaac Larian
~LEGO: CEO Jørgen Vig Knudstorp
~Activision Blizzard: CEO Robert Kotick
~Thinkway Toys: CEO Albert Chan
~ThinkFun: CEO Bill Ritchie
~Electronic Arts: CEO John Riccitiello
~Ganz: CEO Howard Ganz
~Oregon Scientific: President Mike Prager
~Disney: CEO Robert Iger
~Playmates Holdings LTD: President Lou Novak
~Nintendo: CEO Tatsumi Kimishima
~Take-Two Interactive: CEO Ben Feder
~Microsoft: CEO Steve Ballmer
~KMart: CMO Mark Snyder
~Walmart: CEO Lee Scott
~Target: President & CEO Gregg Steinhafel
~Toys R' Us: CEO Gerald Storch

Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/621/t/6914/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26139