Any parent that even has to worry about their children being exposed to , or even purchasing, such idiotic items, should look closely at their relationship with their children and check under the bed to make sure they don't already have a copy or two of Playboy!

If more time was spent communicating with kids as to what is morally correct for their age, and not picketing high street stationers, would not a drop in sales impel the manufacturers to withdraw such "toys" from the market and reposition in the appropriate place?

alex, rhodes, greece

As a father of a teenage daughter (and son), I can pretty much guarantee you that it is neither the fathers nor the daughters who are buying these "toys". That means that they are being bought almost exclusively by mothers. It would be helpful if people stopped referring to "parents" or manufacturers as being responsible for this sexualisation of children, and laid the blame where it belongs, with mothers.

john smith, Manchester, UK

8 year old girl: "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy I want a peek-a-boo pole to dance on!"

Mother "NO!"

8 year old girl:"Buuuut Maaaaamaaa little Destiny has one and her uncle vidoe tapes her when she plays with it."

Mother "Your grounded till your 25."

In America we call anyone who buys that stuff for their kids "White Trash" or just plain ignorant(if of another color.)
You don't need consumer groups to ban these. You need parnets to step up and have some morals and teach there kids some values and that sex is the pysical expression of love.

Allyn, Indianapolis,IN, USA

If noboby bought the products, they would soon disappear from the shelves. Manufacturers will have carried out vast amounts of market research prior to developing these products - so it seems that the 'customer' wants these hideous products.

In my view, young children see far too much sexually explicit material - on TV, magazines, newspapers, advertising hoardings etc. Society seems to be sending out the message that if you're not part of the sexual scene, then you are missing out. We need to reassure our children that this is not the case, and that there is a time and a place for everything. I have two teenagers so I am well aware of the pressure that they are under to conform to what they think is the norm.

meryl, reading,

How on earth can you put the peekaboo pole in this item as a toy !? you cannot compare an ADULT piece of rubbish (peekaboo) with a barbie hot tub, barbie products are for children-poles are for ADULTS. They are not to be found in WHSmiths either !

If i remember correctly the peekaboo farce started when it was wrongly listed online at Tesco's, and for some silly reason that automatically classifies it as a toy marketed towards children ?

How ridiculous, any SENSIBLE adult wouldnt buy a pole for a child, and in reality no child would write to santa for one. You wouldnt buy alcohol for a child would you ?

stupid parents for buying any of these items

felicity, Leeds, West Yorkshire

it is not only sad that toy manufacturers resort to manufacturing such item, it is even a bigger problem when UK reatilors but & stoch such items! the Buyibf directors & managers of all reatailors includi9ng all high street superstores, tesco,asda.WHSmith & alike are under so much preasure that they leave thier scrouples behind. I think who eber that is in a position to do so, should NAME & SHAME the buyers of such toys/items so that their own neighbour is aware of them. do these people dont have any children themselves??? or perhpas born in stables!!! we should name & shame them so that every knows who in these stores buys such items!!! & why shouldnt we name them??? what will they buy next chasing the allmighty last penny for the board room!!! if we cant do anything about the hollow headed perent who buys this, then at least we should name & shame the individuals who order such stock!!! I wish i knew the names & for which companies they buy for! is its legal to buy such items, then lets see how proud in teh own comminity they might be once the local newsagent knows him/her!!??

Johnny, Manchester, England

Oh My! This is not on! kids should be kids, not adults! let them act their age and stop stealing thier childhood off them so early. How dare they!

allgiggles1984, lancashire,

I agree that retailers are going too far and making children grow up too fast...BUT...it is the customers that are buying them!! In Woolworths a while back I saw clothing for sale with pictures of : a stick man + a stick lady + a bed = a picture of a smile - this was on boys underwear and labelled for 6-7 year olds!! I am sorry now that I made no complaint! But someone bought them and so they made more for sale! Do Tesco's really believe that the Barbie pole dancing toy is not played with by children? How do the conversations go round the table when they discuss these products - do no high level business people have children? No wonder UK has the highest level of teenage pregnancy in Europe!!

Anne Ferrett, Ashtead, Surrey

Welcome to Great Britain, the place where we had crimes like the Soham murders, but where a teacher is unable to kiss a child good morning or comfort them if they fall over, but it is ok to sell lap dancing kits for children, the world really has gone mad. The extremes of what is right and wrong to do with children have truly been turned on their heads. Further sexploitation of children though toys and clothing which makes girls looks like sex workers should be banned, how far does it have to go before there is a backlash against retailers and manufacturers of these products. The more manufacturers feed the sexual fantasies of perverts through toys and clothing which are unsuitable for a teenage girls let alone a child, the longer the abuse of children will continue.

roy jordan, London, ENgland

The toys are just the tip of the iceberg.The sexualisation of children goes beyond all that.Starting with telly and mags.It'll sure take a long while,but it needs to be stopped.

louis smythe-silva, sintra, portugal

I think the point Ruth makes is one of the most scary. The fact is that 20 years ago "adult" domestic toys such as ironing boards may have been seen as innapropriate becuase they encourage children to behave like adults. If things continue the way they seem to be going as far as sales of pole danceing kits and thongs is concerned, the children 20 years from now may be acting out a far more dangerous part of adult life, if only in play. What's worse is by then it may seem like the norm.

Hanna, Kent, England

I totally agree that these products should be taken off the shelves . As the mother of two preschooler girls, I am horrifed at some of the toys that are aimed at this age group. We have banned Bratz toys from our house totally and refuse to give in and buy these toys, or clothes which also promote the same image

Debbie Holland, Darwin, Australia

supply and demand: there is currently a demand, therefore shops and manufacturers supply these things. Come on Mums: don't buy the stuff.

Liz , Bath,

How do toy ironing boards, hoovers and shopping trolleys fare in this cull? At one time, such 'sexualised' toys were deemed extremely appropriate for 50% of children.

Ruth Wollacott, Hornchurch, Essex

If a grubby looking old man was caught trying to pass these 'toys' onto children in a park, he'd be pilloried as having very questionable motives. So why on earth should the UK's leading stores be viewed any differently? Do they now have peadophiles in charge of marketing? However stupid that last remark may read, it's the first question that comes to mind.

Stuart, Lincoln,