Happy Wednesday,

And godspeed to anyone traveling with little ones today! Know that we’re all thinking of you. It’s probably too late to go get paint tape, but if you happen to have some sitting around, one of my friends sent me this instagram reel and it might be worth a try.

nicholaknox

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One Big Idea

The Growing Threat of Toys That Spy

It’s the holiday season and that means coming together as a family, time off of school, and buying gifts for the kids. In today’s technologically advanced world, children’s toys are no longer just physical objects for play. A new report from The PIRG Education Fund sheds light on a chilling reality: the increasing prevalence of smart toys with potential privacy and safety hazards. These toys, equipped with microphones, cameras, connectivity, and location trackers, bring a new dimension of risk, often unknown even to young, tech-savvy parents. For instance, an 11 year old girl was recently kidnapped after meeting a man on the popular mobile game, Roblox. Even giants like Amazon have faced privacy violations due to Alexa collecting children's voice recordings. These highlight the urgent need for awareness and caution​​.

Smart toys, ranging from talking stuffed animals to virtual reality headsets, are designed to engage children in innovative ways. However, they also pose hidden dangers, as they can collect personal information and habits, sometimes without adequate security measures. For example, the PIRG report tested Meta's Quest 3 VR headset and found that while it offers some parental controls, it doesn't fully address concerns about the impact of virtual reality on young brains. With about 150,000 children annually treated for toy-related injuries, the report emphasizes the importance of scrutinizing these modern toys not just for their physical safety, but also for their digital implications. Fortunately, I still have some time until I have to worry about purchasing these modern gifts.

Trending Stories & Insights

• Sharenting: The C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Poll on Children’s Health asked a national sample of parents of children 0-4 years about using social media to share parenting ideas. There are some interesting takeaways, for instance: 4 in 5 parents of young children use social media to discuss parenting topics

• Balancing act: Bluey is one of the most popular shows on television, drawing more viewers than Succession. Now the studio behind it is capitalizing on their success and launching a video game. The developers, however, faced a unique challenge: creating a game primarily for young children that also encompasses aspects of parenting

• Quite the twist: The generation known for always being on their phone and TikTok is worried that they’re going to raise kids who… are always on their iPad. Go figure

Tip of the Day

• Dining out? One of the best hacks I’ve found for dining out with my daughter is bringing our own chair. I’m not sponsored, but the Inglesina chair is a game changer

Here’s a dad joke

Why did the turkey bring a microphone?

Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for the answer!

Time(out) for Memes

yourdailydosageofbabies

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