Worlds Most Dangerous Toys 2006
AdventureDad | November 28
The organization World Against Toys Causing Harm has released a list of the most dangerous toys in 2006. I can see how some of these toys can be a bad idea but also how almost any toy can be harmful. There must be another million candidates for this list. The Z launcher, Bow & Arrow Set, and Sky Blaster certainly seems able to cause harm if used inappropriately. Asking a small kid not to aim at “the eyes or face of a person as an injury could result” or that users must “alert all within range when launching Sky Blaster.” is not going to be effective.
Personally, I think it’s up to parents to make sure any toy is appropriate for their child. This shifts more of the responsibility to the individual parents which probably is too old fashioned. That leaves no room for the mandatory multi-million dollar lawsuit:-) I’m certainly guilty of letting my son play with some potentially dangerous toys now and then. Early on he played with small cars, most in the “3+” category, that had small parts which could fall off. And last winters snow racer adventures without a helmet probably wasn’t a good idea. That my son is calm and responsible is no excuse but we’re now being more observant.
Do you have any toys at home that make you nervous and belong on this list?
Edit:World Against Toys Causing Harm is a non-profit organization who wants to give parents more education regarding dangerous toys. More information about W.A.T.C.H. can be found on their site and you can find a short write-up about their increased popularity here
Any Elmo doll is likely to cause mental anguish for the parents and possible bodily harm to the doll - so I’d put that on the list.
I agree with the thought that it really should be the parent that is responsible for what is given to a child. It is sad though that you really do need to have the “age appropriate” warnings for those that just don’t seem to have the common sense otherwise needed to select a toy.
I was ready to pick apart W.A.T.C.H. like some other organizations that seem to pick on some toys for the stupidest of reasons. However in this case most of their findings I do agree with, although despite how they wish twist it to justify adding it to the list, a lamp is not a toy… period. And that spot probably should have gone to something that is actually an unknown danger (as you say there are millions of potential candidates to this list).
On one of their other pages they also bring up a good point that is often overlooked by parents. Using the Consumer Product Safety website after (and even before) the holidays to ensure the toys that you (or friend or relative) purchased did not wind up on a recall list. Just another way to ensure a safe and happy holiday.
Now excuse me while I go through my daughters toybox and check everything again.
[…] Adventure Dad posted over at the Blogfathers a list of the most dangerous toys for 2006. A Bow and Arrow set was among the few. Well if you want to get caught up on this list prior to the holiday season go take a look. […]
Oh, the bow and arrow set is lovely. Not!
We pretty much gave up on prohibiting small parts when my son was 2. And now that he’s almost 4, I can’t exactly remove all small parts from the house for my daughter. We’ll just have to keep parts of the house baby safe and deal with it.
I’m weary of these people and their ‘lists’. If it were up to them kids would only be playing with their hands (with an age label attached)
It’s up to the parents - Some still have common sense (BB guns probably not a good idea for a 5 year old)
And it’s entirely based on the child in question. I’m sure groups like this are helpful for some people…but really, where do the concerned parents who organize and disseminate this kind of information FIND THE TIME to infect my life with this kind of worry?
Sheesh.
I was raised in the country without safety helmets and it took my wife quite a bit of hassling to get me to wear a front mask when playing hockey. My point? Life has to be lived,
My second point? There is nothing that makes me madder than a child dying/being hurt of stupidity from their parent… so I frown on the list, I prefer to put my hands on the product, test it, see how it works and finally decide if it’s safe… I am taking the responsability.
P.s. adventure dad… I have no issue with the snow racer without a helmet… as long… as you haven’t left him down a 30degree 50 foot hill!
I don’t know what it is called, but it’s this “air gun” thing that shoots out gusts of air. You pull back on a button attached to a big plastic shower-cap-looking thing, and it throws air. It sounds harmless, but it’s not! It’s loud and dangerous, I swear! Recently, the plastic shower cap broke and the stupid button almost went flying (at a very fast speed, mind you). It’s just the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen!
Can you tell I hate the bastard?
Forget saftey. Can we at least get volume controls on all toys before I go permanently flippin nutso.
I know a family who insist that their children only play with ‘real’ objects - no ‘toy’ versions of anything - on the principle that children should be given the opportunity to learn about/how to use ‘real’ things, and not plastic replicas. Which sounds like an interesting theory, until you see their kid racing around the yard waving around a real hammer. My point: parents can make stupid choices even when they’re rejecting toys entirely. *Hands* can be dangerous if the kid is karate-chopping other kids. Be an observant, thoughtful parent, and don’t raise assholes, and you’re probably good with anything - sticks, rocks, Light Sabres, WMD Elmos…
The San Francisco ban on toxic toys made me think more about safety than anything else. There are no lables so you don’t know what is and isn’t safe…
The bootom line is these organizations take so much responsibility away from parents. And let’s face it most parents don’t watch their kids to begin with. Too busy with careers and their own BS to truly differeniate between right and wrong, should haves and shouldn’t haves with their own children.
There I’ve said it!
I want to add “A Genuine Red Ryder 200 Shot Carbine Action Air Rifle with the compass in the stock”
The Compass doesn’t work and your shild could get lost in the wild.
Oh yeah “You’ll shoot your eye out Kid!