Yeah, you read that title correctly. Your kid can get a tattoo all for less than $20.
Or at least, they can act like it. The toy company Spinmaster released a product in 2007 called “i-tattoo” that is dubbed on Wal-Mart’s website as:
“A cool vibrating electronic tattoo pen lets you decorate your skin with all kinds of fun designs, safely and easily. Take advantage of the assortment of awesome tattoo stencils for a professional look. Or, let your imagination run wild and invent new designs that are all your own. When you’re in the mood for something new, just wash it off and start all over again!”
I am not against tattoos at all. In fact, I condone tattoos, because I think they are an excellent expression of body art, HOWEVER I do believe there is a reason you have to wait until you are 18 to get one…so you can make a sound decision for yourself, as a somewhat level headed adult.
Now, while this is just a toy that emulates the act of getting a tattoo, it still puts it in the kids head at a young age that it is a hip and cool thing to do, where as it may be something that they are not are should not be interested in.
Young children are impressionable. They will take things and run with them. How is giving them a fake tattoo machine any different than giving them a toy cigarette?
Smoking is a decision that adults can make for themselves as something they want to do, and as to not encourage our youth to make adult decisions at too early an age…you can no longer find toy cigarettes on the market.
So why a toy tattoo machine? Kid’s already grow up way too fast. They are faced with tougher decisions at younger ages that we ever had to make. Why sensationalize something at an early age that may not be for them?
Regardless of how far we have come as a society, some people still frown upon visible tattoos in the work place, and deem them as unsuitable in many social situations.
What are your thoughts on this? Let’s get a good debate going…leave a post below!
Sound off below…
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Not all toys that replicate potential dangerous activity lead to said activity long term, but I don't really see the point in teaching our children that covering their skin in ink is a great idea either. Some things are best left to real life lessons, because reality doesn't come with a reset button or a Konami code for 99 lives. Then again, I suppose it's not as bad as teaching your kids how to hire a hooker and kill her to get your money back in Grand Theft Auto. My jury's still out on this one.
Touche.
You could probably argue that point for every single toy on the market. Ultimately it is up to the parent to make the decision to buy something like that. A four year old kid can't drive his ass to Wal-Mart and put a fake tattoo machine on his Discover. Just sayin.
Yes. B.A. you are right, the child can't drive his ass to the Wal-Mart and put it on his Discover…but why put it out there for the kid to see anyway? Why not market educational toys that are fun, so the child can grow up to be smart and then make the decision to buy an actual tattoo?
This thing is $140!!!!!!!!! http://tinyurl.com/kt2yz3
Yeah on Amazon….I don't know what that's all about…all other sites have it at $20…..commenting from my BlackBerry at work now….will post a longer comment touching base with everyones responses later.Thanks for posting…keep em coming
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: IntenseDebate Notifications
Maybe we shouldn't allow little girls to get their ears pierced either. That just leads to other holes in ones skin such as the nose, lip, or eyebrow.
Also, they sell tattoos in every single store you go in to. For 50 cents any child can purchase a temporary tattoo and they are a lot easier for a child to obtain than this contraption which I'm sure also requires some assembly on the part of the "adult" Two quarters and any child can have a tattoo. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/detail.gsp?image=h... Lets nip this thing in the bud and abolish those machines! While we're at it, the candy machines can go too. Candy rots your teeth, only adults should be able to make the decision about the future health if their teeth. Actually, while I'm thinking about it, the whole entry way to WalMart should be abolished. Putting quarters into machines…reminiscent of slot machines. Those crane machines, also a lesson in gambling… The world is just slam full of bad examples for children. Lets start an activist movement!!
I'm on the fence with the ear piercing thing…but I HATE HATE HATE when I see it on infants. HATE.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/detail.gsp?image=h... What is the world coming to?! I can't believe I don't have a tattoo yet! I used to have Pooh Bear Tattoo bandages all over me growing up! .. I was clumsy.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product... and the company that sells that toy ink machine on Amazon, also has this available http://www.amazon.com/Radica-I6003-Big-Screen-Pok... for your young deadbeat. I wonder if they make "Kiddy Liquor" hhmmm… Mt. Dew? I think I'm onto something. And so launches the Parent Group S.T.R.I.C.T. Suggestive Tools Revealed In Children’s Toys
HA. I'm for it.
How crazy is the thing about the gambling machines huh?
It is just a toy, and should not be such a big deal. It is a parents job to shape and mold their children into upstanding adults and members of society. If a parent fails to do that, it is their fault, not the fault of a toy tattoo machine. I also take offense to the fact that you speak of tattooed individuals as if they are on a lower level in society than someone who has no tattoos. There are thousands of men and women in this country that make a very good lining from the tattoo industry. Many of these artists are parents, and tattooing is part of their daily lives. Tattooing allows them to provide for their families and give them a great life. Why wouldn't those individuals want to share that with their children the same way a Lawyer, Soldier, Business Manager, or Mechanic would? I don't see it as being any different than buying a kid, a toy Fireman kit, Doctor kit, or a toy tool set. Passing judgment on ones profession is an ignorant and closed minded thing to do, especially on a public forum. I may not personally buy this item for my children, but I support the idea and ability to do so. I respect and support the art and tattoo communities very much, and as a parent and tattoo collector I resent the overall tone of this article. I also find it funny that you mention smoking in this article, implying that the ramification of smoking and getting a tattoo are even in the same ballpark. All while supporting a product called the "Safe Cigarette"…. I guess I expected more.
Ben,
First and foremost, thanks for posting a comment that sparked so much interest on this page.
I think you may have misinterpreted what I said about tattoos in today's society….
Personally, I have no issues with them, but unfortunately, I do not represent society as a whole. We live in a very straight laced place, where in a lot of cases, corporate America does not support such forms of expression in the work place. This is something that hopefully in the near future, changes.
To me, I view the tattoo as a great way use your body as a canvas to express your thoughts or feelings. I view tattoo artists as gifted individuals.
I would be a hypocrite if I said I was dead set against tattoos. I have a tattoo. I plan on getting a few more before it is all said and done BUT I am 25 years old.
However, as I said in the article, the decision to get a tattoo is an adult decision to be made. As is smoking cigarettes, or drinking alcohol. While the ramifications may be different in each case, the point still remains that the decision is to be made by an adult.
So, if you would not market alcohol or cigarettes to a child…why would you market another adult decision to a child…tattoos?
Unfortuneatley you can not put a age limitation on self expression. Personally I experienced tragic things in my life at a young age, mainly losing my father.Many years later, at the age of 16, I personally felt that I would like to memorialize him with a tattoo, not because of any television shows, marketing strategies, or childhood toys, It was a personal choice that I felt confident enough to make. Within the legal guidelines set in place, minors are able to get tattooed, only with parental consent. Therefore, you are putting the ownership back on the parent/guardian. I feel that we live in place that is constantly trying to take the "blame" (for lack of a better term) away from parents. It seems as though our society is always trying to make everyone (except the parents) responsible for the children and anything that may happen to them. Instead of trying to "fix" everything else, invest that energy back into the family, and you are making some ground. In the end, parenting is the only way to ensure how our children turn out.
It's not just infants you have to worry about getting piercings from their irresponsible parents, now it's animals as well. Like this woman in PA who tried to market "gothic kittens" online. Yep. Cats with ear, neck, and tail piercings. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28300503
You must log in to post a comment.