It's a wrap

By Elizabeth S.

One thing that's guaranteed to ruin Christmas morning: Packaging.

I understand that toy manufacturers have redesigned toy boxes so the kids and parents can "test" the toys in the store before buying them. I understand this means they have to secure the toys in another way. I understand that theft may also have led to the new security packaging we see on the things we buy. But all the understanding in the world doesn't help on Christmas morning when my son is climbing the Christmas tree in absolute meltdown mode because 45 jolly minutes have passed and Dad hasn't yet managed to free the Super-Mega-Transforming-Super-Hero-Type-Toy from its many twisty-ties and its hard plastic womb.

Whatever happened to the days when a kid could just tear the gift-wrap off, open up a box and actually take a toy out and play with it? A slight delay may have taken place while the hunt for batteries ensued, but that's about it.

Now it's 2004, and the world is a nastier place and we have had to create a new Christmas tradition. I call it Boxing Day, but it's not like the Boxing Day I grew up with in England. On this Boxing Day, I literally beat the living daylight out of boxes. And their twisty-tie cohorts.

Sometime around Dec. 20, we get the kids to bed and rent a movie. My husband stretches out on the couch and I sit cross-legged on the floor, armed with scissors, Swiss Army knife, screwdrivers, batteries of all sizes and the usual wrapping paper and tape. I open each and every toy, get rid of the finger-slicing hard plastic wombs. I un-twist all those horrid little twisty-ties and remove the little plastic tags that hold them to the cardboard. I unscrew battery compartments, add batteries, re-screw battery compartments. And then I try to return the toy to its former home. Not always easy. And then I try to wrap it. At this point, I have lost the plot in the movie we rented and my legs have turned numb and yes -- I admit -- I do resent my husband a little bit. But hey, it's better than ruining Christmas morning.

Comments

[Nicola]

Wonderful! This was our first Christmas as parents. I never realised what a nightmare all of that packaging would be. The arm waving squealing excitement that followed the opening of each new toy was soon followed by 10 month old "give it to me now" frustration and tears as mommy and daddy frantically tried to get said toy out of its multi-faceted packaging. Next year I'll follow your advise and unpackage the gifts before wrapping. Good idea.

[sarah]

even worse is the hard plastic shell that baby toys come in - the one that has to be ripped open with an extremely sharp knife (wimpy 8-inch kitchen scissors just don't work). when you're trying to get your screaming toddler safely through a parking lot, and wielding a swiss army knife - watch out, standers-by. i think store owners should be required to know 17 different ways to stop profuse bleeding before being allowed to sell those well-packaged toys.

[Ancarett]

That's a clever idea. I have to admit, I'm frustrated by the plastic packaging that passes for boxes with many of these dolls and action figures. How the heck do you extricate one from that in order to detangle it from the twist-ties without destroying the packaging?

[AGK]

Ah! Amen. I mean, really, where IS Barbie's hair going to take off to? WHY is it sewed into the back of the box? And the toys that aren't secured? Usually the ones that break if you sneeze while holding it. Ugh. You've got a good plan. Wish I'd have thought of it!