An outraged mum has slammed a popular Australian store for its 'rude and graphic' depiction of male genitalia on her child's toy - and is now calling for all genitalia to be banned on toys.
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While looking forward to a family trip to the zoo earlier this month, 33-year-old mum-of-five, Tanya Husnu, decided to bring along some special animal-themed toys for their exciting day out.
But when the mum and professional blogger headed to her local Melton Kmart department store in Melbourne, Australia and allowed her three youngest children Aylah, three, and twins Hakan and Osman, four, pick out their own plastic animal toys, she - and the kids - got a little more than she'd bargained for.
The excited children picked out zoo-themed toys as requested by their mummy. The plastic elephant, hippopotamus and lion toy cost $5 (around £2.76) each in the shop.
But Tanya was shocked and concerned when her kids started questioning her about the anatomically correct, but graphic 'willy' on the lion which her son, Hakan, had chosen.
Upon closer inspection, Tanya realised to her dismay that the lion toy (which Kmart's website states, is suitable for children aged three and upwards) had a 'graphic' depiction of male genitalia hidden under the animal's tail. The other toys did not.
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Tanya explained: "We were planning a trip to the zoo and I thought it would be really great if the kids could take some animal toys with them on the day.
"We went into Kmart and my three youngest picked out their own toys. They were all really happy with them.Then one of the twins turned the lion around, and my daughter yelled out 'look mum, the lion's got a willy' and they all started laughing.
"I thought it was really inappropriate. In this day and age, it's not acceptable to have things like that on children's toys. I buy a lot of toys, and my house is full of toys. But I've never seen anything like this before. It's so stupid and just plain weird.
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"You might find something like that in a specialty store on a hen's night or something. I was really shocked. I mean it's funny as well and you can't help but laugh but it's still just not appropriate for a child's toy that is on full display in the kids' section."
She added: "My kids thought it was hilarious though. At the zoo, they kept lifting up the tail and showing strangers walking past the lion's bits as they walked past and yelling out 'willy!'. It was so embarrassing."
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Tanya explained it was "shocking" to see and added that, although her kids understand the basic differences between the male and female anatomy, such a 'graphic' depiction should not be allowed on toys aimed at children as young as three.
The mum has urged Kmart to consider taking this toy off the shelves.
She commented: "Some kids will probably know what it is especially when they have siblings around the same age, and yes as some have said they will need to learn what it is at some stage.
"But that's really the parent's decision. For kids who are not aware what that might be, it's really quite rude. I'm a really easy-going parent, and I'm open to explaining the facts of life and where babies come from to my kids.
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"But some parents might want to wait to have that conversation or have their kids exposed to that kind of thing at such a young age. If I only had a little girl for instance, I wouldn't want her seeing what men's private parts look like at that age.
She continued: "I don't know what they were thinking. It's not on any of the others, so it just doesn't make sense why it's just on the lion, it's bizarre. I definitely Kmart should look at removing this toy from the shelves."
Kmart has been contacted for comment.
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