I recently took my son to an amazing installation at a local museum—a massive ball pit that was adult-sized and full of colorful balls. It was a blast! However, I quickly discovered that the edges of the so-called “islands” were made of hard plywood, leading to some serious shin bumps as I tried to hoist myself out. As I sat at home later, slathering arnica gel on my sore legs, I couldn’t help but wonder why there wasn’t a warning about the potential for injury. Sure, the staff mentioned the depth of the balls and the material’s anti-microbial properties, but what about my bruises?
This got me thinking—there’s a lot of advertising out there that misses the mark when it comes to providing the right info for parents. Here are some suggestions for how I’d revamp advertising to be more useful:
Bras
Let’s be real—breasts come in all shapes and sizes. Advertisements should feature a variety of breast types, from pre-pregnancy to post-pregnancy and everything in between, so we know how a bra will really fit.
Water Parks
Instead of a single cheerful family floating in a lazy river, give us a panoramic view of the park on a scorching summer day, packed to the brim. That way, we know exactly what chaos to expect.
Toys
In addition to age recommendations and cute photos of kids playing, toy packaging should also include how challenging it is to open the darn box before school on a kid’s birthday!
TV Ratings
We appreciate the warnings for sex and violence, but why not add a rating for character voices? An Annoyance Scale could help us gauge how much we’ll be cringing while listening to certain characters.
Food Dyes
It’s great to know about the ingredients, but I also want to know how much that Go-Gurt is going to stain my kids’ clothes and what it takes to get it out.
Detergents
These should come with a disclaimer like, “That Go-Gurt stain? Not coming out. But I’m great for grass stains!”
Cars
Safety ratings should include how easy it is to install a car seat—because let’s face it, no one wants to be wrestling with straps in a hot parking lot.
Movies
Theaters should provide movie times, ticket prices, and the approximate temperature inside, so we know how many layers to pack to avoid shivering through the film.
Video Games
Age ratings are helpful, but we also need insight into how obsessed kids will become and how hard it’ll be to get them to stop playing for dinner.
TV News
Local broadcasts should let us know when the scary segments are coming up—because nobody wants their kids exposed to a “Murder and Mayhem Report” during dinner.
Medications
Drug companies do a good job of warning us about eating before taking meds, but they often forget to mention how terrible the taste is and what kind of bribes we’ll need to get our kids to take it.
Tech Devices
All we really care about is battery life. How long will it keep the kids entertained and quiet?
If you’re interested in more about responsible advertising, check out our post on advertiser disclosure here. And for anyone considering home insemination, Make a Mom offers excellent resources. For more information on pregnancy, visit WomensHealth.gov.
In summary, parents need more transparency and relevant information from advertisers to make informed decisions. From understanding product usability to gauging potential frustrations, it’s essential that brands cater to our unique needs.