W.A.T.C.H. - World Against Toys Casuing Harm Top 10 List

[meegbear]

This is a Boston group that lists the worst toys for the 2006 holiday season. To me, this is the worst of them ...

SUPERMAN LAMP

Price: $9.87

Manufacturer or Distributor: Idea Nuova, Inc., New York, NY 10001

Purchased: Walmart

Age Recommendation: None

Warnings: "This is an electric product - not a toy! To avoid risk of fire, burns, personal injury and electric shock it should not be played with or placed where small children can reach it", and other warnings/precautions.

HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR ELECTRIC SHOCK INJURIES!

W.A.T.C.H. OUT!! This colorful "lamp" purchased in a toy department, is a molded figurine in the form of the popular comic book and big screen hero Superman. The character comes with warnings which state, in part: "This is an electric product - not a toy! To avoid risk of fire, burns, personal injury and electric shock it should not be played with or placed where small children can reach it." Incredibly, families are further instructed to "(un)plug the product when leaving the house, when retiring for the night, or if left unattended." The manufacturer's proclamation that the figurine is not a toy has little meaning to small children, who may be attracted to the figurine, and thus be exposed to the potential electrical hazard.
------

A lamp that you shouldn't leave plugged in. Great Toy!

The entire list is at: http://www.toysafety.org/worstToyList.html

[Bassic]

1. I think that's a weird list.

I had toys similar to a number of those when I was a kid.

Plus, after touching a lit light-bulb once, I was smart enough not to do it again.

[deucemagnet]

2. Do not taunt Superman Lamp. n/t

[Pool Hall Ace]

3. So one of the top 10 toys that causes harm . . .

is not a toy.

[Archae]

4. These guys would have had a field day with our toys.

Late 1960's, early 1970's.

The Super Ball, "Clackers," "Thingmaker," Fisher-Price sets, etc.

And we played "war" with BB guns.
(We got tired of the arguments over who got shot and who didn't, with a BB gun, you know it!) :-)

[Coventina]

6. I had something called a "Water Wiggle"

Basically, it was a device that screwed on the end of your hose, and used water pressure to give children a severe beating.

I laugh everytime I think about that "toy".

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Ah, the Water Wiggle.

Made, appropriately, by a company called "Whamo!"

[Coventina]

13. LOL! I'm glad someone else remembers it.

But I guess a beat-down like that is hard to forget!

I suspect the Whamo! company was founded by parents who invented the toys in lieu of corporal punishment.

[meegbear]

7. I remember Bing Bang Bong ...

It was like an mini obstacle course with ramps and rubberband-type trampolines you'd assemble different ways and you would have BBs run it.

They'd pull it as a choking hazard, even if it was marketed for older kids.

[Bassic]

11. It was the same for us in the 80's.

I had one of those bow and arrow sets :D And super-balls did not die with the arrival of Disco, rest assured.

[buckettgirl]

5. Bow and arrow set??

Wow, that is something that my grandparents and my parents would have grown up with... and now it is too dangerous.
Go figure.
Apparently none of us should have survived childhood.

[Bassic]

12. I disagree with this sort of list.

I for one would like my kid to know what it's like to get knocked around through play. Learn to be intelligent, and also to deal with the fact that sometimes you get hurt and that it's not always a big deal.

[bif]

8. Johnies First Crossbow!

It shot single edge razor blades.

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. Thanks! Sent it on to those friends and family

who buy for kids.

I also included several other links in the email such as their home page and a few others, and included this good/common sense page W.A.T.C.H. has.
http://www.toysafety.org/toyHazards.html