Holidays

Bill Clarke's Toy Test 2004

Consumer Champ Lists Hot Toys, Not-So-Hot Toys

POSTED: 3:13 pm MST November 22, 2004

UPDATED: 11:05 am MST November 23, 2004

DENVER -- We want to help you narrow down the long wish list of toys your kids may have, so we'll show you some of the hottest toys this season as well as some potentially dangerous ones.

We've looked at all the top toy lists and compiled our own.

Here are the top seven toys we found:

Consumer Champ Bill Clarke took the hottest toys for the holiday season and put them in a room and let three girls and three boys -- ages 6 to 10 -- put them to the ultimate toy test. They picked the toys they wanted to play with and to get their true reactions, we put our camera behind a two-way mirror.

Elmo is one of the most recognizable of the toys. He dances, he sings, but at $30, Elmo sat on the table all alone. Our testers may have been a little too old for Elmo, or maybe what's annoying for adults is just not interesting for kids.

The popularity of the movie Shrek has put the green ogre on many hot toy lists. We put the Shrek edition of the old game Operation to the test. It sells for about $16. While it did better than Elmo, the kids only gave it a couple of glances.

We soon found out where the boys' attention lay. They went straight to a Hot Wheels track set, unassembled because they asked for it that way. But that was a big mistake. It's only about $20 but it was too frustrating for the kids and a real problem for the parents to put together.

"We've outlawed the set. We can have all the cars we want but that stuff with the flips -- no more, it's too much," said one mother.

The girls stuck with the Bratz Tokyo-A-Go-Go dolls, despite some difficulties.

"We can't comb his hair," one girl said of the boy doll.

With all the accessories, including combs, purses, cell phones and even extra shoes and feet to go with them, the dolls have it all and they sell for about $25.

But the big toy bust was the Hovercopter. At $40 suggested retail, it never got off the ground. It's supposed to be a hot toy for this Christmas but the model we got doesn't work and it's all Styrofoam. The first time a kid leans on it, it's going to fall apart, Clarke said.

The VideoNow color personal video player did hold up. It was a big hit with the older kids but it also costs about $75.

When time for the Toy Test was up, the Hot Wheels were still unassembled.

So what did we learn from the toy test? First, make sure you are getting your children age-appropriate gifts or else you may have a situation like our lonely Elmo. Second, "some assembly required" really does mean "assembly required."

Thirdly, remember batteries! Some toy boxes said, "batteries not included" in big bold print but others had it written so small that most parents would miss it. And finally, before spending $40 on a toy like the Hovercraft, check it out thoroughly. Flimsy Styrofoam doesn't last long in the hands of enthusiastic 8-year-olds on Christmas Day.

What Toys Are Unsafe?

When you're buying toys, don't assume that it's safe just because it's on the shelf sold for that age group. You really need to look carefully, consumer advocates say.

The most dangerous toys for children on store shelves this year are toys that can cause a child to choke, cause severe bodily injuries or cause impact injuries.

The group WATCH -- World Against Toys Causing Harm -- has complied the list of the world's most dangerous toys.

The toys include the Pocket Rocket Miniature Motorcycle. The problem is its low profile. Motorists driving through a neighborhood may not see the little one who's driving the miniature motorcycle. Some states have outlawed the Pocket Rocket.

The Imaginarium Police Car Building Blocks are marketed for children as young as 1 year old but it has four thin, wooden dowels and they are a choking hazard.

The Megabuster Battle Weapon has the potential to cause impact injuries, especially if it is aimed at the eyes or face.

The Fun Slides Carpet Skates are also on the dangerous list. The packaging warns not to use it near stairs but doesn't say anything about protective gear. Without that gear, there is potential for head and other impact injuries.

One of the most dangerous toys making the list this year is the Air Burst Rocket. If you have doubts, read the warning label which says it can cause "severe injury, including loss of an eye or death."

The 38-inch Playtime Trampoline is sold in the toy aisle for children as young as 3 years old. WATCH said this one should not be sold as a playtime activity because it needs adult supervision.

Then there's the Happy Birthday Bear. These stuffed animals have tiny gift boxes that can easily break off and can cause a child to choke.

Keeping Your Kids Safe

Parents can keep their children safe this holiday by being informed shoppers.

Harmless looking toys like Legos and marbles can block a child's airway, causing that child to choke, especially for those younger than 3. For kids younger than 5, thinly constructed toys can break into small pieces, leaving jagged edges.

Doctors say it's important to choose the right the toys when you're out shopping.

Shopping for toys during the holidays can be fun and exciting, but it can also be frustrating. There are thousands of toys to choose from and parents need to pick the right toys for the child's age but all parents can make mistakes.

"Sometimes, we do slip up and we'll let him play with toys that are too small, but nothing bad has happened yet and we try to be as on top of it as we can," said father Peregrin Marshal.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said last year, more than 140,000 kids were treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related incidents.

"There are certain kinds of toys that just aren't safe. A lot of the really cute little things have eyes the child can chew off, whereas the safer ones would be where the eyes are sewn in," said Dr. Frank Martorano, with Littleton Hospital.

Another toy to watch out for is a balloon.

"I had a sad instance where a child died and I looked down his throat and there was a balloon that was across the opening of the child's airway," Martorano said.

Even Tinker Toys can cause problems.

"If a kid puts a Tinker Toy in his mouth and runs with it, then these things can go right through your palette," Martorano said.

Martorano also suggests reading the recommended age labels and keeping your older child's toys away from your younger children.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission came out with a list of recalled toys. For more go to CPSC.gov.

Additional Info:

Toy Safety Shopping Tips

Which Toy For Which Child

Child Safety Protection Act Fact Sheet