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.

[SkyDancer]

And way back when:

[Deplorable American1776]

Jeez, I’m glad I grew up in the early 70s. I had chemistry sets with Mercury and uranium, creepy crawlers sets (made my own fishing lures with them) and lead melting set... Made fishing weights. Am I still alive?

[mware]

When I was a kid the most dangerous toy was a Glass Blowing Kit for kids

[Jakarta ex-pat]

Worst toy for a kid?
Anything with a screen that is a substitute for human interaction.

[Deplorable American1776]

Most of my gifts at Christmas was clothes and accessories for my N scale train layout...

[leaning conservative]

When I was young my friend & I broke a thermometer open & rolled the mercury around on the floor. Fun times.....

[Empire_of_Liberty]

Yeah. I don’t know how the neighbor kept from killing me when I nailed his driver’s side leather seat through the open window.

[Deplorable American1776]

We had Jarts and AC Gilbert was in New Haven. American Flyer trains. Great trains, but I didn’t like the 3 rails. HO and N looked real...

[blueunicorn6]

When I was a teenager, I would put on these thick, leather snowmobile gloves.

Our cat would see me putting them on, and his tail would start swishing.

He liked to fight.

He would grab the glove, roll over on his back and start kicking with his back legs.

His ears would be back and he’d be growling.

The problem was, I’d be ready to quit and he’d still want to fight.

One night, I woke up and he was sitting on my chest.

“Where are your leather gloves now?” He said.

I pulled the covers over my head,

[ConservativeInPA]

How the heck did we survive childhood?

We probably just don't remember the stupid kids that killed themselves playing - Social Darwinism.

I had all kinds of stuff to build with - Erector Sets, Lincoln Logs, etc. Chemistry sets, other science stuff from Edmunds Scientific (wonder if they are still in business), knives, BB Gun, camping and fishing stuff.

[mylife]

Estes rockets with cherry bombs glued fuse down on the ejection charge provided tons of fun and honed our skills at timed fuses and calculating flight paths

[nesnah]

American Flyer trains. Great trains, but I didn’t like the 3 rails.

---

American Flyer had 2 rails. Lionel had 3.

[BBQToadRibs]

My brother and I had a race track for liquid mercury. You put 2 beads of mercury at the top and pulled the gate to see who’s bead of mercury went the fastest. Again, 1970s. You’d be sued into oblivion trying to sell that to kids now.

[OldMissileer]

My grandfather was some kind of Plant Manager or something for Oldsmobile in Lansing, MI.>/i>

I was born and raised in Lansing.You couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting an Olds or some other GM car. My Dad was so fed up with seeing them he only bought Fords, then later bought the Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth minivans.

[mylife]

:)

[eldoradude]

For your little budding tyrant...

[reed13k]

My wife loves Calico Critters (Slyvanian Family is the overseas name) and does crafts and seasonal displays with them. She grew up in Japan where they originated and couldn’t afford to buy them as a youngster.

She held off forever on any personal hobbies outside gardening, because she was concerned about our finances. I finally had enough last year and set her down to show that we were really, really ok and I wasn’t spouting nonsense.

She is still frugal, only buying stuff on sale or used; but I’m so happy to see her enjoying something for herself after all this time.

[HangnJudge]

I want the light saber!

[reed13k]

Wow - I was specifically looking for Mercurochrome a couple years ago as I hadn’t known it had been banned or whatever....

[KarlInOhio]

He would grab the glove, roll over on his back and start kicking with his back legs.

My parents' cat would get a crazy look in her eyes when I put on "the glove". She loved a good tussle. I still have a scar on my wrist from one time she got me above the glove.