What NOT To Give Kids For Xmas: The Ten Most Dangerous Toys of 2011

With the holiday shopping season upon us, thoughts turn to surprising the little ones in our lives with a fun toy or game. As beautiful as that thought is, selecting toys must be done with care, as many of them present safety hazards to children. The consumer organization, World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H.) has issued its annual "10 Worst Toys" list. To make the list, a toy must demonstrate the potential to cause signficant childhood injuries, or even death.

The W.A.T.C.H. 2011 Ten Worst Toys List includes (in no particular order):

GUIDECRAFT - TWIST ‘n SORT

Price: $13.35
Manufacturer or Distributor: Guidecraft, Inc.
Purchased: WonderBrains.com
Age Recommendation: “Ages 3+”
Warnings: CHOKING HAZARD – Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.”

POTENTIAL FOR CHOKING INJURIES
This play set consisting of a “brightly colored geometric block and solid wood base” is sold to provide “years of developmental fun” with “problem solving challenges” and “fine motor practice.” On October 20, 2011, certain lots of these toys were recalled because “[t]he small pegs on three of the four posts can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children”. After issuance of the recall, a newly purchased Twist ‘n Sort toy exhibited the same “choking hazard” identified in the government’s recall notice. 

BANDAI - POWER RANGERS SAMURAI MEGA BLADE
 

Price: $26.99
Manufacturer or Distributor: Bandai
Purchased: Toys R Us (also available Kmart.com and Walmart.com)
Age Recommendation: “4+” and “Ages 4 and up”
Warnings: Package insert: “CAUTION: PLEASE READ BEFORE PLAYING WITH TOY. Do not: (1) aim toy at anyone, (2) hit anyone with toy, (3) poke anyone with toy, (4) swing toy at anyone….”; and other cautions and warnings.

POTENTIAL FOR IMPACT INJURIES
Young children are encouraged to pull a release and flip-open this rigid plastic Power Rangers Samurai “sword”, which “extends 2 feet.” according to the packaging. The blade has the potential to cause serious facial or other impact injuries.

THE ORIGINAL TOY COMPANY - FOLD & GO TRAMPOLINE

Price: $99.99
Manufacturer or Distributor: The Original Toy Company
Purchased: Stellabella Toys (also available Sears.com)
Age Recommendation: “ages 3+ YEARS”
Warnings: CHOKING HAZARD – Small parts. Not for children under 3 years”, and other safety information including: “Misuse and abuse of this trampoline is dangerous and can cause injuries.”
 

POTENTIAL FOR HEAD, NECK AND OTHER BODILY INJURIES
Sold in the toy aisle for children as young as three years old, the package insert instructs, in part, as follows: “Never attempt any other functions or gymnastic functions or rough play on the trampoline, this trampoline is designed for young children ONLY. The only function on this trampoline should be a controlled bounce (exercise), for young children. No other functions should occur other then [sic] controlled bounce.” The many hazards associated with trampoline use should make it apparent to manufacturers and retailers that such equipment should not be sold as a playtime activity for young children.

HABA - PULLING ANIMAL DUCK

Price: $29.99
Manufacturer or Distributor: Haba
Purchased: Creatoyvity
Age Recommendation: “Age 1+”
Warnings: Do not make a knot or grip in the string.” (stick-on label on box only).
 

POTENTIAL FOR STRANGULATION INJURIES
This wooden duck, which “waddles amusingly when pulled”, is sold as a pull toy for one-year-old babies. The duck’s cord is approximately 33” long, presenting a serious potential strangulation hazard. The industry’s standard limits strings on crib and playpen toys to 12” in length.

SCHYLLING - SCHOOL BUS

Price: $4.00
Manufacturer or Distributor: Schylling
Purchased: Toy Shop of Concord (also available online retailers)
Age Recommendation: “Not for children under 3 years.” (stick-on label only).
Warnings: CHOKING HAZARD – Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.” (stick-on label only).

POTENTIAL FOR CHOKING INJURIES
These miniature yellow school buses are sold with a “choking hazard” warning on a removable, stick-on label. The firm rubber tires, mounted on plastic wheels, can be removed, presenting the potential for a serious choking injury for oral age children.

ZING TOYS - Z-CURVE BOW

Price: $25.05
Manufacturer or Distributor: Zing Toys, Inc.
Purchased: Amazon.com
Age Recommendation: “DESIGNED FOR KIDS 8+”
Warnings: Do not aim at eyes or face. Do not aim or shoot at people or animals. Arrows should not be pulled back at more than half strength… Anyone within close distance to intended target should be alerted prior to firing…; and other warnings on packaging.

POTENTIAL FOR EYE INJURIES
This “high-performance” bow and arrow set is sold with three “long-range” foam arrows, which are marketed as being able to fly “over 125 FEET.” Remarkably, among the many “warnings” for eight-year old children is an instruction that arrows not be pulled back “more than half strength”, and that people nearby “should be alerted” prior to firing.

JJI TOYS - STEPPER “LOW RISE” STILTS

Price: $10.99
Manufacturer or Distributor: JJI Toys
Purchased: Ben Franklin
Age Recommendation: “Ages 5 and up”
Warnings: None.

POTENTIAL FOR HEAD AND OTHER IMPACT INJURIES
These colorful plastic platforms with attached, adjustable “hand ropes” are sold as “perfect ‘low rise’ stilts.” The manufacturer provides no warnings or cautions. The instruction on the throw-away tag invites children, as young as five years old, to “step on the platform, pull the ropes up tight, and begin to walk around” while balancing on top of the cups.

JAKKS PACIFIC - SWORD FIGHTING JACK SPARROW

Price: $15.98
Manufacturer or Distributor: Jakks Pacific
Purchased: Toys R Us
Age Recommendation: “4+”
Warnings: CHOKING HAZARD – Small parts. Not for children under 3 years” (on box).

POTENTIAL FOR EYE AND OTHER IMPACT INJURIES
The "Jack Sparrow" action figure, from the popular Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise, is sold for children as young as four years old. The pirate’s right hand is armed with a 4 ½”-long rigid, plastic sword, which activates in an upward motion at the push of a lever. No warnings are provided
regarding the potential for eye or other impact injuries.

BIG TIME TOYS - THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKY DINKS MAKER

Price: $29.99
Manufacturer or Distributor: Big Time Toys, LLC
Purchased: Kmart
Age Recommendation: “Ages 8+”
Warnings: “CAUTION: ELECTRIC TOY” and many more warnings on package, package insert and product.

POTENTIAL FOR ELECTRIC SHOCK AND BURN INJURIES
This oven uses standard 120-volt house current and shrinks a “shrinky dink” in a “heating chamber” with a 60-watt light bulb. A parent or caregiver needs no further indication that this oven could be dangerous than the litany of warnings and cautions on the toy itself and the packaging,
including: “CAUTION-ELECTRIC TOY: As with all electric products, precautions shall be observed…to prevent electric shock.” “WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD. Pull plug before changing light bulb.” “DANGER – To prevent electric shock, do not immerse in water….” “CAUTION – SUPERVISION REQUIRED - ELECTRIC TOY- UNPLUG WHEN NOT IN USE.” A product with so many inherent hazards does not lend itself to use in a home environment with children.

BANDAI - “GIGAN” GODZILLA FIGURE

Price: $22.99
Manufacturer or Distributor: Bandai
Purchased: Toys R US
Age Recommendation: “4+”
Warnings: CHOKING HAZARD – Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.”

POTENTIAL FOR IMPACT AND PUNCTURE WOUND INJURIES
This “12-inch Classic Godzilla Figure”, referenced on the packaging as the character “Gigan”, features rigid, pointed fins and wings, as well as sharp, dagger-like attachments on its arms. Such unforgiving, plastic protrusions present the potential for penetrating and impact injuries.