In the weeks following the holiday season, toys piled high in the houses of families across the country. For some households, these products range in size and age category, and the boxes of many were likely discarded without second thought. Some of these toys, though, deserve a closer look due to their potential safety hazards. Should Texas parents have major concerns over the toys their children play with daily? While some are weary of media coverage on dangerous products, some experts would agree that not all toys on the market are safe.
Good Housekeeping released an article before the holidays that listed the top ten most dangerous toys of 2017, first pointing out that toys without correct labels are nearly always suspicous. Some of the dangerous products of last year included a Wonder Woman Battle-Action Sword, Jetts Heels Wheels and, perhaps most infamously, fidget spinners. Most of these products contained parts that could easily become detached and pose choking hazards. The article directs readers to Good Housekeeping’s toy tests, which follow the standards of the Consumer Product Safey Commission to evaluate the assembly, durability and other crucial aspects of toys.
Consumer Affairs also weighed in on last year’s most dangerous products. Using data from the World Against Toys Causing Harm (known as WATCH), they state that many of the previous year’s safety issues have nevertheless reappeared among popular toys in 2017; in fact, at least 15 recalls for toys had circulated within the last year. 254,000 toy-related injuries occurred in 2015 alone. While many parents dismiss such warnings by accusing them of presenting unnecessary scares, organizations such as WATCH are persistent in their safety efforts, claiming that the country’s ability to filter out dangerous products for children is in need of improvement.