Encouraging Cognitive Abilities and Teaching About Death
A while ago, my wife and I went online and bought the boy a Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Fishbowl to fulfill the boy's incessant need to put things in containers and take them out again.
The description from Fisher-Price says:
"Baby will love discovering the fascinating effects of water with Ocean Wonders™ toys, complete with aquatic sounds, bubbles and swimming fish! This roly-poly Fishbowl will captivate baby with its lights, fun music and bubbly sound effects. Colorful fish bob and swim inside the water-filled walls, and baby can practice put-and-take-play with the 3 cheerful flutterballs!"
There are supposed to be three fish swimming around happily in the water around the outside of the bowl. Here's a picture of our fishbowl:
Note that one fish is not swimming, and he's not happy. It's understandable that he's not happy, because he's wedged up at the top of the bowl. I've tried shaking it, I've tried hitting it, nothing has worked. The fish is stuck, and basically, it looks like he's dead. I don't recall reading about that feature in the product description. "Baby will also learn about how fish float to the top of the bowl when they die."
Thanks, Fisher-Price.
Comments
Viking054 said:
That would frustrate me to no end... Time to teach the boy what happens when we open toys that aren't supposed to be opened.
Demosthenes said:
Hey, look at it this way: They're giving him the "death talk" so you never have to.
On the other hand, you better hope he grows out of his taking-things-in-and-out-of-bowls phase before you get a real fishbowl with real fish.
Syar said:
notice its the smaller fish up wedged in the bowl. what does that teach the boy? that big fish will give you a wedgie and stuff you in uncomfortable places if you look at them funny?
fisher-price needs to rethink the messages they're sending out. I mean, think of the children. and the small fish. who'll protect them? *weeps*
Glo said:
Wow. Fisher Price really does contribute to the well-rounded education of today's children.
But I think you're taking this wrong. I think that fish has evolved into an amphibian. He's showing off his newly-grown lungs. Give him a party or something. I think he looks really satisfied with himself.
Katie said:
Can you open the top bit? Because I'm sure then you could fix it. Can't you send it back in and get a refund? I say you ought to complain, the boy does not need to learn about death now!
I said:
I had thought about trying to crack open the top, but the toy is built specifically to NOT be opened. It's probably some sort of toxic, flesh-eating liquid in there or something. So if I get it open, I'm not sure I'll be able to get it closed (and water-tight) again.
alicia said:
Who are you to judge this fish's happiness, just because his idea of fishiness is different then yours?
I think that he is standing up by laying down - "Fisher Price, you can not package my expression of self. I am an individual!"
cadiz12 said:
they're just keepin' it real, omar.
anne arkham said:
Say a prayer and flush him.
zoe said:
ok, you have got to let me see that toy omie!
kinda reminds me of the fish we have at home that swim or float around the bottom or top of the plastic bread bowl cover, that we like to pretend is a fishbowl.
zoe said:
that was just me by the way