WATCH worst toys list 2007

[kayevcee]

Makes disappointing reading.

This years winners are:
1. Go Diego Go Animal Rescue boat, by Fisher Price. Contains lead paint.
2. Sticky Stones, GeoCentral. Magnetized stones that, if swallowed, could "stick together across the intestines, causing serious infections and death."
3. Jack Sparrow's Spinning Dagger, Zizzle. Viewed as eye hazard.
4. Dora The Explorer Lamp, Funhouse. Potential for electric shocks and burns.
5. Lil "Giddy Up" Horse _ Sassy Pet Saks, Douglas. Contains fibers and small parts that could be a choking hazard.
6. Spider Man 3 New Goblin Sword, Hasbro. Rigid plastic could cause injuries.
7. 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.
8. B'Loonies Party Park, Ja-Ru, Inc. Children blow balloon-like toy out of substance squeezed from tube. Has potential for chemical ingestion.
9. My Little Baby Born, Entertainment, Inc.; Zapf Creations AG. Baby doll comes attached to tiny pacifier that could be swallowed.
10. Rubber Band Shooter, Simple Toys LLC. Shoots rubber bands and presents eye hazard.

Hasbro puts in a disappointing showing, with only a single item at number 7 that appears by virtue of being as dangerous as a stick or other blunt object of appropriate size.

In classic media fashion, the article states:
"One toy on the WATCH list, Go Diego Go Animal Rescue Boat by Mattel's Fisher Price, was recalled last month because it contained lead paint, but the rest are for sale."

This is technically correct, but misleading. A bunch of Mattel's toys were recalled because their paint, known to contain safe (unless, say, you drink an entire can) quantities of lead was not tested for composition before use, in a breach of toy safety procedure. The paint is probably no worse for you than normal, but because it wasn't checked they couldn't be sure and recalled them just in case. Unfortunately, 'contained lead paint' takes up less column space so that's all that is usually said.

I'll... try to stop going off on one when articles do that.

On a lighter note, here are some toys that actually merit public fear and alarm: The Ten Most Dangerous Toys Of All Time.

-Nick

[The Doctor]

I want some Lawn Darts!

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

Why isn't that BSG toy #1 ? Caused more grief in the toy industry than anything else. The others were just odd toys. BSG changed the way toys are made forever

[Shockprowl]

I made a Rubber Band Shooter when I was at school!

[kayevcee]

So did I! It contained a rubber band and my thumb.

-Nick

[elliotthopkins]

I cut my hand with Dad's fishing knife. Blood everywhere. I learnt my lesson there.

[Nigel]

Okay. I can see there are some genuine risks in that list. But the chances of any actual harm would seem very small. (Apart from the Hip Hoppa. I hit my head on a wall using one of those twenty years ago - so it's not as if it's still any surprise this year.)

What's the matter with people today? Why are they obsessed with eliminating every possible risk from childhood? Children learn through play and experience; quite frankly, I'm glad that "Rigid plastic could cause injuries" (Spider-Man sword): a child needs experience to learn. I once accidentally gave someone a bloody nose with a tennis racquet and I was more careful how I used it afterwards because I'd had the experience and learned from it.

Applying similar logic to traditional toys, I have come up with this list, in no particular order:

1. Yo-yo. Motion of toy may cause injury upon impact. (Note, it was developed as a weapon thousands of years ago.)
2. Boomerang. Unpredicatable flight may cause injury through unexpected impact. (Note, it was developed as a weapon thousands of years ago.)
3. Skateboard. Unstable base may cause child to fall.
4. Magnifying glass. Glass may break and cut child.
5. Monopoly. Hotels may hurt foot if stepped upon.
6. Tennis racquet. Rigid material could cause injuries.
7. Marbles. Falling hazard.
8. Ball. May hurt upon impact.
9. Skipping rope. May trip child.
10. Bubble liquid. Viewed as eye hazard.



"3. Jack Sparrow's Spinning Dagger, Zizzle. Viewed as eye hazard."
This one I find just daft - a child has a spinning thing on their hand, so what's the first thing they do? Obviously put it right next to their face. (Incidentally, Home Bargains has this toy in stock.)

[kayevcee]

They probably will. We didn't get many in in Toys'r'us and they sat and collected dust even more than most of the other POTC items.

-Nick

[The Doctor]

Good to know.

-Ralph