Kids Really Love Crappy Stuffed Animals

So I originally saw this story last week and made a mental note to follow up, share it with our esteemed readers, and maybe give it the “Tara-ble Idea Award”. On October 24th, 3-year-old Robert Moore of Antigo, WI was shopping with his grandmother. When his grandmother turned around for just a moment, the child climbed up the prize claim shoot of a claw machine and got himself stuck inside. Eventually he was freed by rescue personnel (your tax dollars at work). This alone is a hilarious enough story to share, but what made it really interesting is that the article included pictures, not just of Robert Moore, but of MULTIPLE children stuck inside of claw machines (mostly at Wal-marts).

I laughed and made a note to post this story when I got a chance. When I went back to find the story this morning, a DIFFERENT story popped up. Five-year-old Joshua Walke of Abilene, TX got stuck in a claw machine 2 days after Robert Moore. That’s 2 kids stuck in claw machines this week. In fact, so many of these same stories popped up when I googled “boy stuck in claw machine” that I couldn’t even sort them out. Turns out…this happens all the time (mostly at Wal-marts).

Now, I’m no claw machine engineer, but doesn’t it stand to reason that if little boys all over the country are climbing into these things and getting stuck, the design should be altered? Here’s what I would suggest…a one way trap door that swings down to let prizes fall, but can’t be pushed up so curious little boys without parental supervision can climb inside. Or maybe cover the toy drop trap door with metal spikes…or razor blades…or malaria.