A plastic version of comic-book superhero Wonder Woman’s sword and a Spider-Man drone showed up as villains on a U.S. child safety advocacy group’s annual list of potentially hazardous toys.
The group, World Against Toys Causing Harm, released its “10 Worst Toys” list on Tuesday, around the start of the holiday shopping season, with the goal of alerting parents to playthings that could hurt their children.
Besides the sword, which the group warned could cause “blunt-force injuries,” and the drone’s “potential for eye and body impact injuries,” the list includes toys that could appeal to smaller children and contain removable pieces considered a possible choking hazard.
Flying toys, including the drone, and those that shoot projectiles, including toy Nerf guns, have long appeared on the list. While the products’ boxes contain extensive warnings about the dangers of flying items, the group’s executive director, James Swartz, said children could not use them in a safe way.
“Really, look at the packaging,” Swartz said. “Is it realistic to use the product as the manufacturer intends? If the answer is no, it’s better to stay away from it.
The list also includes several less-obvious threats. Among them: fidget spinners that can break apart, posing a choking hazard; a pull-along pony with a 19 inch (48 cm) cord the group said a small child could strangle on; and a baby doll with removable hair elastics labeled a choking hazard.
