The Toy Association Statement on the 2016 W.A.T.C.H. ‘Worst Toys’ List

The holiday season is always a magical time for families as they delight in new gifts and strengthen bonds through play. Unfortunately, certain groups, like W.A.T.C.H, leverage this time of year to advance their own agendas and garner headlines with their lists of alleged “unsafe toys.” However, when examined and reviewed, year after year these lists have repeatedly shown to be full of false claims that needlessly frighten parents and caregivers. 

What families can count on is that toys sold on U.S. toy shelves are safe. Safety is the toy industry’s top priority every day of the year. By law, all toys sold in the United States, no matter where in the world they are made, must first meet 100+ rigorous safety tests and standards and be certified as compliant by an independent, federally approved testing lab. These U.S. safety requirements are among the strictest in the world and are in place to ensure the safety of children as they share in the joy and benefits of play. 

For more information on toy safety and ways to ensure safe play, families can visit www.PlaySafe.org.