Every year retailers and manufacturers eagerly wait to see which toys will top holiday wish lists. While every toy company wants to have a prominent place, there is one list that they want no part of : W.A.T.C.H.’s (World Against Toys Causing Harm) annual 10 worst toys list.
W.A.T.C.H.’s (World Against Toys Causing Harm) is a Massachusetts charitable non-profit corporation, was founded by Edward M. Swartz, who was a nationally known trial lawyer and child safety consumer advocate. The organization has identified toys that have the potential to cause injuries or death in hopes of warning the public of possible dangers. W.A.T.C.H.’s annual “10 Worst Toys” list nominates representative toys with the potential to cause childhood injuries, or even death.
Here are a few tips from the organization for choosing safe toys:
- Be cautious of toys marketed only online without instructions or age recommendations. Likewise for toys that come as a bonus with other merchandise. Always check the quality.
- Watch out for toys with small, removable parts, attachments at the end of a lace/string, or long handles are choking hazards to small children.
- Be careful of toys made with hazardous and flammable surfaces and components.
- Toys that make extremely loud sounds can affect a child’s hearing, particularly small children who play with their head near the toy.
To see the 10 Worst Toys list, go to toyssafety.org.