Danger lurks in the aisles of the toy store. Photo: Matthew Oliphant/Flickr
This year's list of the 10 Most Dangerous Toys of 2009 has been released just in time for your holiday shopping. It includes some popular toys, many of which have tie-ins to movies, television shows and books that kids will be very familiar with. For example, a Curious George counting book made the list because it has beads which can come loose and pose a choking hazard to a child. And then there's the Disney-Pixar Wall-E Foam Rocket Launcher, which has the potential to cause serious eye injuries.
Another gun-like toy, the Spy Gear Viper-Blaster, made the list for being exactly what it was intended to be: a weapon with foam ammunition.
Keep in mind that even after you've read the list and checked it twice, you might want to consider this advice from James Swartz, founder of W.A.T.C.H.: If a toy comes with lots of warnings about where and how to use it safely, it is probably best to avoid it altogether.
Here's the complete list of the 10 Most Dangerous Toys of 2009, via the W.A.T.C.H. site:
Disney Pixar Wall-E Foam Rocket Launcher
Moon Board Pogo Board
Curious Baby George Counting -- My First Book of Numbers
The Dark Night Batman Figure
X-Men Origins Slashin' Action Wolverine
Lots to Love Babies -- "mini nursery"
Just Kidz Junior Musical Instruments
CAT "rugged mini"
Pucci Pups Maltese
Spy Gear Viper Blaster
AC,11-23-2009, 11:52PM
When I was a child, there were only two types of injuries you could get
1. you could put your eye out
2. you could break your neck.
Somehow, with all the treehouses, BB guns, firecrackers and everything else my mom never knew about, I survived!
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Mandy,11-24-2009, 12:53AM
I have a totally crazy idea when it comes to choosing a toy: Use Common Sense.
I know it's nuts, but hey my kid's still alive and injury-free (within normal 3 yr old peramiters).
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Shoshana,11-24-2009, 2:06AM
I agree, this is absolutely ridiculous! Children are being kept in bubbles. I was raised in the nineties, so my childhood was more cartoons and manufactured toys, but even those have changed. Today's toys don't encourage children to be creative and active. They provide to much, if you will. Cartoons are no plot and all "education".
When I was seven years old I spend my time going down a hill on a homemade go-cart (I fell off countless times, and got run over twice), exploring the creek to no end (yes, there were snakes, no, we didn't care), and making expansive cities out of mud and sticks. Today at seven, kids are sitting on their butts playing video games. Yes, I had an N64, but I spent a couple of hours a month playing it at most.
No wonder obesity is skyrocketing. To the parents who are complaining about that, take a look at what your kids spent their weekends doing.
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libslie13,11-24-2009, 5:22AM
curious george the obama look-alike is frightening, he spends all the taxpayers money right in front of you, but wins morons over with his ability to recite the alphabet backwards using a teleprompter, he lies incessantly...comes complete with his team of liars wearing badges that say cnn, abc, cbs, nbc, msnbc and 666
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ilike2co,11-25-2009, 11:21PM
I agree with many of the commenters. As parents, its our responsibility to supervise our kids and teach them the proper way to play with their toys. You have all of these age requirements for toys. My son is 3 1/2. By Christmas of last year, he already owned 7 different "buillding block" sets: a marble coaster, toddler knexs, legos, clippo, mega blocks, magnetix, and zoob. Only 3 of the sets were deemed age appropriate because of the size of the pieces. We play together. I show him how to use the toy and teach him not to try to eat it. Every child is different and as parents we have to know our kids' limits and what's best for them. These lists should be taken as a suggestion, not the rule. But we have to keep in mind that some parents rely on info like this and if it'll save a child's life or prevent serious injury, then its worth it. Additionally, let a childcare provider have a "dangerous" or recalled toy in their facility that causes injury or death to your child then we will see how significant your "back when I was kid" stories really are!
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