The World Against Toys That are Harmful (toysafety.org) released their annual list of the 10 Worst Toys this week. As the mother of 3-year old triplets who is preparing to start toy shopping for the holidays, I took a look at this list right away. Given all the toy recalls that have been going on this year, I could only imagine what toys would be on the list of the 10 worst toys.
As it turns out, only one of the toys on the list of the 10 worst toys has been recalled. The other nine are still on the market despite the fact that each poses significant danger.
When I read through the list, it reminded me of that old Saturday Night Live skit with Jane Curtain as a reporter interviewing Dan Akroyd as Irwin Mainway, head of Irwin Novelties who was responsible for distributing dangerous Halloween costumes such as "Johnny Space Commander" (a plastic bag with a rubber band), "Invisible Pedestrian" and "Johnny Human Torch." Don't remember the skit? Check it out below.
I do have to question the common sense of several of the toys on the 10 worst toys list. Here is the list of the 10 least safe toys along with their manufacturers:
- Go Diego Go Animal Rescue boat, by Fisher Price. Contains lead paint. This toy has been recalled.
- Sticky Stones, GeoCentral. Magnetized stones that, if swallowed, could "stick together across the intestines, causing serious infections and death."
- Jack Sparrow's Spinning Dagger, Zizzle. Viewed as eye hazard. Check out the picture.
- Dora The Explorer Lamp, Funhouse. Potential for electric shocks and burns.
- Lil "Giddy Up" Horse -- Sassy Pet Saks, Douglas. Contains fibers and small parts that could be a choking hazard.
- Spider Man 3 New Goblin Sword, Hasbro. Rigid plastic could cause injuries.
- Hip Hoppa, by Spin Master Ltd. and Vivid Imaginations, Ltd. A combination footboard and bouncing ball that children jump on has the potential for head and other injuries.
- B'Loonies Party Park, Ja-Ru, Inc. Children blow balloon-like toy out of substance squeezed from tube. Has potential for chemical ingestion.
- My Little Baby Born, Entertainment, Inc.; Zapf Creations AG. Baby doll comes attached to tiny pacifier that could be swallowed.
- Rubber Band Shooter, Simple Toys LLC. Shoots rubber bands and presents eye hazard.
Doesn't common sense tell toy manufacturers and their marketing teams that a rubber band shooter is not a good idea?
What do you think about the list of the 10 worst toys for 2007?
This is a pretty upsetting list. I'm not sure what we should buy this year for our kids. I wonder if our parents worried as much. Of course most of our toys were made here-but someone told me that a lot of our old toys had lead paint! I found a list on toyportfolio.com of toys they say are lead free.
Posted by: Dan | November 14, 2007 5:20 PM | Permalink to Comment