For so many years, girls who like to tinker and boys who like to cook were left out in the cold when it came to Christmas presents.  It really spoke to a larger, sadder reality - sexism defined the world in a very powerful way.  Boys would aspire to have "man jobs", and girls would assume the responsibilities of a mother and housekeeper.  Pink and blue, trucks and dolls, science and cooking - all were very clearly divided especially when it came to the toy world.

I am so glad that is changing.  We have much further to go in the adult world, but the world of dolls and cooking toys is making a stand.  Here are 3 examples of kid sized lessons in equality.

Girls:  Project MC²

This line of science and math based toys (with a live-action Netflix series to boot!) aim to inspire girls in STEM.  The fact that schools are hardcore with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math right now is not coincidental.  Boys outpace girls in by staggering numbers in these professional (and high-paying) fields.  Project MC² does a good job of making the whole thing "cool."   These toy sets feature fun and real science experiments and technical goodness.  Any toy that is successful in disguising learning as fun is great for everyone.

Boys: Cooking Play-sets In Colors Other Than Pink and Purple

Before you grab your torch and/or pitchfork, hear me out.  Cooking in and cleaning the kitchen is everyone's responsibility, and as a reflection - these kinds of make-believe toys and play-sets need to be neutral, or at least fairly represented.  If you are going to offer the pink and purple one, also offer a blue and brown one.  Better yet, make one that looks more like the real thing!  Luckily, all of these options now exist.  If you have a little Gordon Ramsey, he can now have a pretend kitchen to berate the lower chefs in. All you have to do is work on the language.

 

Everyone: The TMNT Easy Bake Pizza Oven

Honestly, this is a slam dunk.  It's game over, man.  Game over.  This is the toy that we all need.  It's got it all!  This toy is to equality what Kanye West is to mentally unstable.  We all need to eat, we all love the Ninja Turtles, and we all love pizza!  No joke, you could probably get this for any one on the planet and it would be a tear-bringing masterpiece of a gift!  Except Shredder, Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady.  And the Foot.  OK, almost anyone.

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