The big day is about to arrive and on Christmas morning a lot of children will awake and eagerly rush to see if Santa Claus left them presents. For many parents the selection of appropriate gifts for each family member has become an ordeal. Fashion and children's expectations are shaped by massive advertising campaigns and making choices appropriate to mixed age groups can be a trap.
There are clear dangers lurking in this year's crop of "must have " items. Top of the list for many teenagers would be a "Hooverboard " and users would be wise to wear both a helmet and other protection when using one. Basically, this is a version of the Segway and the rider changes direction by moving body weight in the desired direction. It will take practice to master and there is the expectation of many falls during that process.
Unfortunately there is another danger that is not clear to those making a purchase decision. Top of the range models cost somewhere near the five hundred dollar mark, but many cheaper versions are on offer and these toys depend on battery power for locomotion - and there is a distinct danger of some rechargeable batteries catching fire if they are overcharged or suffer a malfunction. There have been warnings of instances when such items are stored in a child's bedroom for recharging - such a malfunction causing a house fire. Extreme care should be taken in establishing a safe recharging
protocol.
Another toy that will have very wide appeal for girls - is a "Mermaid Swim tail "! This is virtually a body suit that fits over the legs and extends to the torso and has a fish tail at it's end. The user adopts an undulating leg motion to power the tail up and down and gain traction to move through the water, but the feet are held together and in the event of a problem the user can not restore balance as is the case when the feet are unencumbered. It is really only suitable for strong swimmers.
This should only be used when an adult is present to intervene where necessary, and there is a danger that younger children may demand to have a turn or sneak use without the parents knowledge. It is an appealing toy, but it's dangers are not apparent on casual inspection. It seems certain to be a major seller this Christmas season.
Drones will also be high on the list of presents and that delivers retrieval problems. It takes skill to control a drone by remote control and during the learning process it seems inevitable that these units will become stranded in trees, power lines and on neighbours roofs. Just as happened when kites were all the rage, teenagers tend to undertake dangerous climbs to retrieve their toys - and most resent the presence of an adult to supervise the use of drones.
There is no doubt that Christmas is an expensive time of the year. Some psychologists claim that many parents over indulge their children with expensive gifts to compensate for the lack of time spent with them during the year because of work pressure. There is also the problem of peer pressure. The young are equally socially competitive as the adult world and if one teenager is the recipient of a wonder gift that far outclasses that of others it tends to lead to envy - and in some cases the start of class warfare. Kids can be very imaginative - and cruel - in levelling the scoreboard.
When the festivities subside there will be the inevitable attempts to return what some consider unsuitable gifts or duplications and policy will vary from store to store. Then there is the warranty question. Many items come with an expressed warranty - usually twelve months - but many leave that unstated and the buyer must rely on the implied warranty that all goods must be serviceable and perform the task intended.
In this age of Online trading that adds a new dimension. In New South Wales the law requires a faulty item to be returned to the point of sale - for Refund - Repair or Replacement - at the customers option. No doubt Consumer Affairs will be kept busy sorting out that problem in the aftermath of this Christmas !
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