Coles Collectables causing chaos in schools

Principal slams the Little Shop promotion

Content Editor / August 27 2018

Victorian primary schools are urging parents to ban kids from bringing their Coles Collectables minis to school, saying it is causing bullying and other problems in the playground.

Peter Adams is a Principal at Pascoe Vale primary school in Melbourne, and has called the promotion ‘genius and [an] absolute disgrace’.

In the school newsletter, Mr Adams asked parents to prevent the children from bringing the toys to school, saying they are causing fights between kids.

Mr Adams says the toys are causing problems for teachers, with children getting upset over lost and stolen toys.

I spy with my little eye, A @colessupermarkets MINI RED HAND (and a $100 gift card)! 1 in 1000 chance 👌🏼 Anyone else collecting the Little Shop Minis? I love them 😍 * * * * * * #coles #coleslittleshop #littleshop #colescollectables #miniredhand #colespromotion
I spy with my little eye, A @colessupermarkets MINI RED HAND (and a $100 gift card)! 1 in 1000 chance 👌🏼 Anyone else collecting the Little Shop Minis? I love them 😍 * * * * * * #coles #coleslittleshop #littleshop #colescollectables #miniredhand #colespromotion

Not all schools feel the same way, however, with some using the toys as teaching tools and encouraging parents to donate extras so children can play shop.

The Coles Collectables have been divisive from day one, with some consumers saying they love them, and others slamming Coles for mass producing plastic toys right on the back of the plastic bag ban.

The promotion was set to run until August 28, however Coles now say they will keep going until the stock runs out.

Nicola Conville has worked as a journalist and editor for more than 20 years across a wide range of print and online publications. Her areas of expertise are parenting, health and travel. She has two children; Lucy, age eight, and Nathan, age five.