Of course, this toy is a current movie tie-in, timed for distribution a few days before the blockbuster arrives at your local movie theater. A few months later, after the t-shirts, shoes, stationery, backpacks, pencils, dishware, stickers, toothpaste--you name it--have glutted the market, you can rush down to your favorite video store and buy a copy of your very own--especially since the movie maker is ONLY making it available "for a limited time." Can't you hear your little darlings saying, "But please, Mommy, if you don't buy it now, it won't be available again until I've graduated from college!"

So, what's a parent and a kid to do? In balancing sound child development with a need to arm our children about what's wrong with corporate America, this parent has put together a list of "Ten Things Kids Can Do to Say No to Corporate America." Some of these may be pretty tough to follow through on, as doing so will mean your kids may be the only ones not following the pack. That's up to you and your kids, to see how much each can handle by "being different." These ten things are listed in order of easiest to toughest. Do what's comfortable for you--and good luck:

1. Write a letter to the CEO's of corporations such as Nike and Disney, asking them about their labor practices in Third World Countries.

2. If you have a choice, don't buy the expensive brands of shoes, such as Nikes, who are known to engage in unfair labor practices.

3. If you must go to a QSR, just buy the food, don't buy the kiddie meals which have the tie-in merchandise.

4. Don't go to the movies, just because all your friends want to go.

5. If you want to see the movie, wait for it to be rented at the video store, instead of buying it.

6. Pay attention to local strike issues, such as the current farmworker struggle with the strawberry farmers.

7. Research the cost of production for an expensive item, and compare it to the amount of money being paid to the workers to produce it. If the difference is more than 15%, you probably shouldn't buy it.

8. Recycle the greed. Donate usable items to food and clothes closets so that someone else might use them.

9. Send for the year-end reports for major corporations, just to see how much money the CEOs make vs. the "average" worker.

10. Tell your friends why you are taking the stands you do.

Standing up against the corporate oligarchy isn't easy, but we must start somewhere. We try a little each day. Feel free to e-mail me your comments or ideas. This is a work in progress. E-mail me at myamada@juno.com.