W.A.T.C.H. Reveals Nominees for “10 Worst Toys” For 2017 Holiday Season

45th Annual Report Cautions Parents:
Beware of the Danger of Purchasing Potentially Harmful Toys

Contact: Alan Eisner (617) 320-3122, alanseisner@hotmail.com
Speakers: Joan E. Siff, President; James A. Swartz, Director
Date/ Time: Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 10:00 a.m.
Location: Franciscan Children’s, Chamberlain Conference Room, 30 Warren Street, Brighton, MA

Worst Toys of 2017” and demonstrated why the “Wonder Woman Battle Sword,” “Spiderman Spider-Drone,” and other potentially hazardous toys should not be in the hands of children. This year’s toy report addressed the types of toy hazards available online, as well as in retail stores, so parents know what traps to avoid when buying toys.

In a year when consumers are expected to spend 51% of their holiday budget online, W.A.T.C.H. highlighted the impact of online purchasing on toy safety. Although parents have a right to expect that toys they give to their children are safe, unsafe toys remain an ongoing problem. Due to poor design, manufacturing and marketing practices, there are toys available for purchase today with the potential to lead to serious injury and even death. W.A.T.C.H. urges parents and caregivers to take precautions when buying toys— especially during the upcoming 2017 holiday season.

At this year’s press conference, Consumer Advocates Joan E. Siff, President of W.A.T.C.H., and James A. Swartz, a nationally known trial attorney and Director of W.A.T.C.H., demonstrated toys with inconsistent and inadequate warnings, cautions and age recommendations as well as other classic safety hazards that continue to re-appear year after year. Swartz and Siff also provided up-to-date information about toy recalls and stressed the necessity for more stringent oversight of the toy industry and continued vigilance by parents and caregivers – read more on the W.A.T.C.H. website here.