Idiot Ideas

So, this, from a "daily deal" website, wanting $15 for $30 worth of goodies:

"It’s a toss-up as to what’s more exciting to a pre-schooler: baking a batch of chocolate-chip cookies or creating their latest masterpiece with some modeling clay or finger paint. Put the two together, and you’ve got a recipe for some downright delicious fun.

Art and cooking are two of the biggest sources of joy and creativity for kids, and the concept of combining them was what spawned the (named removed to protect the idiot). At this imaginative studio/kitchen, students are encouraged to cook up tasty chef-d’oeuvres with edible paints or paint powder. By the end of the session, they’ll have a work of art that looks good enough to eat (because it is!).

With today’s Sweet Deal (and we do mean sweet), you’ll get $30 worth of (the idiot product name) for just $15. Just as fun to use as it is to say, (the idiot product name)is the world’s first completely edible paint. It’s available in a medley of yummy flavors, from fruits to cotton candy, and vibrant colors.

Voucher includes 5 tubes of Edible Paint for Kidz and 5 tubes of Edible Paint Powder, as well as a paint brush and Chef style Hat."

Who in Sam Hill thought it a good idea to teach kids to eat fake PAINT?? And, from the looks of it, the paint and powders are just chock full of sugar, colorings, flavorings and preservatives designed to make them taste yummy.

In my house, the confluence of sugar + artificial additives = HYPERACTIVITY*. On speed. With a side of "Watch this!"

So, what's going to happen when Junior decides ALL paint tastes good and starts ladling the "lemon yellow" leftovers out of the Sherwin-Williams paint can you thought was high enough up on the shelf? Or when little Josie decides to lick the walls in search of the one that tastes like cotton candy?

And, truly, didn't we all learn a little lesson from kindergarten when Elmer's Glue was a delicacy? Am I not the only one who was completely freaked out when I learned glue = horse parts = I ate Mr. Ed?

I'm guessing the direct generational line from the folks who brought you candy cigarettes are behind this. If that's the case, you can expect edible paint in Halloween sacks starting next year. In little rectangular boxes. Or, maybe in long stick form.

Oh, wait! That reminds me of Pixie Sticks. Which reminds me of edible paint. Which makes me think "Hmmmm. Is this REALLY a new idea or an idiot idea dressed up to look like new?"

I'll let you decide. I have a "deal of the day" email to delete.


*Hey, Kool Aid. You listening?