Toy Store Activity

At the local FAO Schwartz toy store, there are a variety of toys available for purchase depending on the individual needs of the customer. When attempting to glean gift suggestions for fraternal twins, a five-year-old boy and girl, there are certain realities that one must come to terms with when dealing with store employees. Recently, this reality was encountered when asking for appropriate gifts for the children for their birthday. 

The store employee in question suggested sex-specific gifts for each of the kids, who were a niece and nephew respectively of the purchaser. What they suggested was as follows: first, the salesperson suggested a set of race cars or gaming systems for the male child and a particular doll for the female niece. This of course was somewhat expected, as most employees would understand what kinds of toys sell to individual children, most specifically based on the actual gender of the child themselves. 

This is not to say this was particularly a bad thing at all, as both children actually enjoy these types of toys as it is. When suggested to the salesperson that they are more creative with their toys the person was immediately open to it. They directed the purchaser towards a set of toys that were interactive, educational, classic (such as time-tested books by acclaimed authors), and free of any particular gender-based classification. Looking back this might have been approached differently because asking them to do this right from the start would have saved a great deal of time and energy. However, it is also important to remember that toys should be suggested that each child likes, regardless of gender.