The Information Parents Actually Want from Advertisers

Recently, I took my son to a fantastic exhibit at a local museum. Picture this: a huge ball pit, about hip-deep for adults, sprinkled with “islands” for a fun way to bounce in and out. It was a blast!

But I soon discovered, after bumping my shins several times, that the edges of those islands were just bare plywood. Let’s just say that trying to pull a mid-40s woman out of a sea of balls is a recipe for bruises. As I sat there that evening, slathering arnica gel on my sore legs, I couldn’t help but wonder why there wasn’t a warning about the potential hazards of plywood. Sure, they warned us about the depth of the balls and assured us of their anti-microbial properties, but what about the bruises?

It got me thinking about how many products and venues fail to provide parents with the essential information we truly need. Here are a few ways I’d like to see advertising evolve to better serve us:

Bras

Can we stop featuring bras on just one model? Breasts come in all shapes and sizes, and bra companies should showcase how their products fit different types, from pre-pregnancy to post-pregnancy.

Water Parks

Instead of a single, blissful family in a lazy river, how about an aerial view of the park during peak season? Let’s see what we’re really getting into on a scorching summer day.

Toys

Alongside age recommendations and imaginative photos, toy packaging should let us know just how impossible it is to open that box before a kid’s birthday party.

TV Ratings

Sure, we get the warnings for sex, violence, and language, but how about a scale for character voices? A rating system that ranges from “pleasant” to “screechy” would be super helpful.

Food Dyes

While I appreciate knowing about the chemicals in our food, I also need to know how likely that Go-Gurt is to stain my kids’ clothes and what it takes to clean it.

Detergents

These should come with disclaimers like “Sorry, that Go-Gurt stain isn’t budging. But I’m great on grass stains!”

Cars

When it comes to safety ratings, we need to know how easy it is to install a car seat. Can I do it in a crowded parking lot in the sweltering heat without losing my cool?

Movies

Theaters should provide movie times, ticket prices, and even the temperature inside the theater. We need to know how many layers to bring to avoid freezing while watching the latest flick.

Video Games

Age ratings are helpful, but we also need a heads-up about how addictive these games are and how hard it will be to pry kids away for dinner.

TV News

Watching the news with kids around should be possible. Why not let us know when the scary segments are coming up so we can tune in after?

Medications

While drug companies do a good job of warning us about food restrictions and driving, they often overlook how bad the medicine tastes and how much bribery we’ll need to make our kids take it.

Tech Devices

Parents only care about battery life. How long will it keep the kids entertained and quiet?

This article originally appeared on Aug. 22, 2015. For more insights and helpful tips, check out our other posts, like this one on home insemination. Also, for anyone interested in the journey of becoming a parent, visit Make a Mom for expert advice. Lastly, the CDC offers fantastic resources on pregnancy and home insemination.

In summary, advertisers need to provide relevant information that speaks to the unique challenges parents face. Whether it’s understanding product safety or managing our kids’ expectations, we want transparency and practicality.