Being ManKind: men and boys in the 21st century
Being ManKind wants to reach children and young adults with positive male role models, using their books, lesson plans and workshops. Editor Joe Byrde tells Let Toys Be Toys about their plans and their new kickstarter campaign.
When Dave Chawner, a stand-up comedian, summoned the courage to go to his GP suffering from depression, he never expected to be diagnosed with clinical anorexia.
When Jack Morris left a promising career in the police to stay at home while his wife went out to work, his friends found it difficult to understand such an arrangement. Read more…
Changing our stories to #redrawthebalance
Katrina Encanto is part of the team behind the campaign about gender stereotypes and childhood role models, #redrawthebalance. In this guest blog post she looks at gender bias in media and why lack of representation for women and girls matters.
Book Review: ‘Testosterone Rex: Unmaking the Myths of our Gendered Minds’
The belief that humans have evolved into two distinct types of people with very different natures – competitive, risk-taking males and gentle, empathic females, is widespread and powerful, but is it true? In her latest popular neuroscience book, Professor Cordelia Fine takes us through the science that led to the idea of ‘Testosterone Rex’.
Santa’s end of year review
David Kinnaird has been a professional Santa in Scotland for over 20 years. Here he reflects on how children’s toy choices have been changing in the last few years.
I’ve spent two decades ‘Behind the Beard’ – performing as and training Santas for sites around the UK. One of the first things I seek to instil in those entering the National Elf Service is that there is one question they simply Do Not Ask of the tiny travellers passing through their grottoes.
“What do you want for Christmas?”
The Let Toys Be Toys 2016 Silliness Awards
To say 2016 has been a turbulent year is something of an understatement, but we at Let Toys Be Toys have been able to take heart from successes including Buster Books becoming the 10th publisher to agree to #LetBooksBeBooks back in January, and being awarded the BRIO Prize in February in recognition of our work for the benefit and development of children and young people. Most encouragingly of all, our research at the end of this year found that boy/girl signage in the toy aisles seems to be well on the way out. We’ve also had plenty of media coverage and ever more engagement from our fantastic supporters. So in a nod to everyone who has tweeted us and contacted us with pictures and stories of sexist and stereotyped toys, we bring you our annual silliness awards…
Stereotypes rule in toy catalogues – research findings
Our new research shows that the promotional images used in toy catalogues fall back on the same old tired stereotypes, with only a handful of boys shown with dolls, and girls accounting for just 11% of the children shown with cars or other vehicles. Read more…
Girls and Boys toy labels on the way out – survey results
Our survey of toy stores and websites has found ‘girls toys’ and ‘boys toys’ signs and website navigation options are on the way out. But what more do retailers need to do to allow children to choose their interests for themselves?
Progress from toy retailers – time for manufacturers to catch up
Our research this year shows that retailers have made big strides forward in letting toys be toys, with boy/girl signage on the way out, and more imaginative adverts and promotional imagery. It’s another picture from toy manufacturers, whose packaging, ads and catalogue images still rely on stereotypes.
Magazines that kids 8+ will love
A magazine subscription is a great gift that will keep giving all year round, but many, if not most of the children’s magazines on the shelves fall back on tired old pink/sparkly and blue/camo stereotypes. We’ve picked out a few publications which appeal to boys and girls with different interests.
Read more…
Our awards
