Consumer group releases list of 10 worst toys for the holidays (laughing through tears)

Patch ^ | November 23, 2020 | AP

[DoodleBob]

BOSTON (AP) — Cute plastic animals with tiny accessories that pose a choking hazard, Black Panther-inspired claws with the potential to cause facial or eye injuries, and green slime that could be harmful if swallowed: These are just some of the items on an annual list of potentially dangerous toys released Monday by a consumer advocacy group.

"Although intended for fun and entertainment, many toys contain hidden hazards unnecessarily putting children at risk of injury or death," Boston-based World Against Toys Causing Harm Inc. said in a statement announcing its "10 Worst Toys" of the year.

With parents looking for ways to keep children occupied during the coronavirus pandemic, and with the 2020 Christmas shopping season approaching, toy safety awareness is critical, the group said.

"Shockingly, classic toy dangers, such as small parts, strings, projectiles, toxic substances, rigid materials, and inaccurate warnings and labels, continue to reappear in new generations of toys putting children at risk," the organization said.

There are an estimated 240,000 toy-related injuries to children each year and a child is brought to the emergency room every three minutes for a toy-related injury, according to WATCH.
The Toy Association, which represents toy manufacturers, called the WATCH list needlessly alarmist.

"By law, all toys sold in the United States must meet 100+ rigorous safety tests and standards," the association said in a statement. "However, WATCH does not test the toys in its report to check their safety; their allegations appear to be based on their misrepresentation of the mandatory toy standards — and of the priority the toy industry puts on safe and fun play."

The Toy Association said parents and others should always choose age-appropriate toys, encourage safe play, and make sure they purchase toys from reputable manufacturers and sellers.

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The full "10 Worst Toys of 2020" list and their potential dangers from World Against Toys Causing Harm Inc.:

1. Calico Critters Nursery Friends. Potential choking hazards.

2. Missile Launcher. Potential for eye and facial injuries.

3. Marvel Avengers Vibranium Power FX Claw. Potential for eye and facial injuries.

4. Gloria Owl. Potential for ingestion.
5. WWE Jumbo Superstar Fists. Potential for blunt force and impact injuries.

6. Sci-Fi Slime. Potential for chemical-related injuries.

7. Boomerang Interactive Stunt UFO. Potential for propellor-related injury.

8. Boom City Racers. Potential for eye and facial injuries.
9. My Sweet Love Lots of Love Babies Minis. Potential choking hazard.

10. Star Wars Mandalorian Darksaber. Potential for blunt force and eye injuries.

[Professional]

Nobody has mentioned gasoline? Amazing how much dangerous fun you can have with just some simple gasoline and some matches. Sure we lit a few people on fire, but only for a little while...we all remember the commercials/psa about drop tuck and roll? Pyromaniacs!

[OldMissileer]

My parents were born and raised in/around a little village on the Little Manistee River. I hope to retire there next year if I don’t have to take up arms. I was hoping for a nice retirement like my parents and older brothers and sister have had so far. I may have to sacrifice my retirement and possibly my life fighting for freedom and liberty.

[cyclotic]

I found a set of original Jarts Lawn Darts at my mother in laws place about a year ago.

I transported them illegally across several state lines

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Jarts are very dangerous...

But they CAN be made safe and fun. Enjoy, kids!

[leaning conservative]

We did some cool stuff back in the day didn’t we?! ; )

[cymbeline]

My chemistry set had magnesium powder and potassium permanganate. The mixture is quite an explosive. I ordered several additional bottles.

Then my friends and I switched to black powder. A little heap of that stuff explodes, not burns like shotgun powder. The local dealers quit selling it to kids after someone killed himself.

[leaning conservative]

I am reporting you to the czar of VERY dangerous games.

[musicman]

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[SgtHooper]

So many great toys, and still here!

Cap pistols? I reasoned that if one little cap made such a nice loud noise, how about taking a whole roll? Unfortunately, my method involved a claw hammer—not much standoff distance. When that hammer head impacted the cap roll just right, BOOM! Smoke and ringing in my ears! I do have tinnitus, but that’s prolly from heavy machinery and 105 tank guns. (Maybe some rock n’ roll in there, too)

Another great “toy” was a steam engine I received as a gift. It had a boiler, oiled pistons (use Singer oil), a whistle, and a firebox. Once I added the fuel brick and fired it up, would take a few minutes to get a full head of steam! Then release the pistons and blow the whistle. Could get that little toy just a screamin’! Of course, the best view was just a few inches away as it boiled up a head of steam! No accidents, thank GOD!

Another great “toy” were fireworks called Cracker Balls! Actually, an outstanding little firework. You’d buy a package of like 10 little balls of various colors, that ranged in size from a Kix cereal to a Sugar Pops pop. What you do, is throw them hard against a surface and they’d blow up. POP! And sand or some abrasive material would spray everywhere. You could feel it, but nothing too risky, if ya kept you eyes closed! So moving upward, if you tossed some balls in front of a moving car, simply driving over one would POP!, and the driver would pull over to check his tires! But that got boring, and we figured that all it took was some downward pressure and the ball would explode. So now, we’d place them under the toilet seat pads that keep the seat spaced above the bowl rim. Place a couple under those pads and wait for a victim. BAM! Hear a scream, if a woman, or cuss words if a man! The sand would spray the back of their legs! LOL! But as happens, all good things come to an end, as kids starting biting down on them. The Balls were quickly pulled off the market, and that was that!

[dgbrown]

Access to gunpowder is all a kid needs. Start small with caps and move on to unwrapping firecrackers, then cans of black powder.

Doe anybody know anyone that shot their eye out with a BB gun? If you played by the rules, no head shots, you were safe, oh and 2 pump limit.

[Vermont Lt]

I actually knew a guy who shot his eye out with a BB gun.

To this day, we all point at him and laugh.

[RooRoobird20]

You beat me to the punch, Doodle Bob LOL! The number one toy of all time IS the “Bag O’ Glass.”

There’s one “toy” I see over and over again in stores and online. I would give this “toy” to a child whose mother is my enemy:

“Educational Insights GeoSafari Ant Factory, Ant Habitat, Certificate for Mail In Ants Included, STEM Learning, Ages 5+”

Only $39.99 plus free shipping at Amazon LMAO.

[RooRoobird20]

What about B-B guns and sling shots?

All the boys in my 1960’s neighborhood had one or the other or both LOL!

[vis a vis]

Kind of, got bought out

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Scientific_Corporation

Edmund Scientific has provided items used in television shows such as House, MythBusters, 24, Modern Marvels, and motion pictures such as Star Trek, and the 1975 version of Escape to Witch Mountain. Wah Chang, the artist who designed and built several props in the 1960s for the Star Trek television show, used moiré patterns found in the Edmund Scientific Educator’s and Designer’s Moiré Kit for the texture used in the Starfleet communicator props.[4]

[cyclotic]

My dad owned a glass company. When I was 14 or so, they started me at building those doors. Built thousands of them.

Once we had a piece of the tempered glass that for some reason we needed to throw out. I bridged it across the top of the dumpster and threw a sledge hammer at it. I had to launch the sledge seven times before it finally shattered

[Deplorable American1776]

You are correct. It was to me different than HO and N scale. My friend loved his American Flyer set, but I built a nice layout. I was jealous of the stuff he could get, since N was relatively new. I know his American Flyer are worth $$_...

[ApplegateRanch]

I didn't see this on the list...

[V_TWIN]

ENJOY MY FRIEND!

[pigsmith]

I had a similar chemistry set. Fiddled with it a little, read the instructions and decided I wasn’t adventurous enough to see what happens if I mix this one with that one...

[themidnightskulker]

Once again,I am not disappointed in a Freeper’s veritable cesspool of useless knowledge.

Thanx.