The Wild World of 1970s Toys: A Look Back at the Most Dangerous Playthings
Following on the platform heels of “How to Choose Safe Toys for Your Kids”, last week (www.chikachakatoy.blogspot.com), we couldn’t resist taking a closer look (lest we shoot our eyes out) at toys of the ‘70’s. A giant thank you to LovetoKnow.com for the inspiration for this post as well (https://www.lovetoknow.com/home/antiques-collectibles/dangerous-toys-from-70s).
Ah, the 1970s—a time of disco balls, bell-bottoms, and toys that could
maim, scorch, or blind you faster than you could say “right on.” Back then, toy
manufacturers seemed to embrace the philosophy of “What doesn’t kill you makes
you stronger. 😂
Let’s take a
nostalgic (and slightly horrified) look back at the most infamous toys of the
decade, why they were risky, and how we’ve managed to survive them. Barely...
Lawn darts, or Jarts, were basically tiny missiles masquerading as a
family game. Heavy, sharp-tipped, and clearly designed by someone with a
vendetta against suburban lawns, these darts could turn any backyard BBQ into a
scene from a medical drama. Reports of serious injuries—and, tragically,
fatalities—finally led to their ban in 1988.
Modern Insight: Nowadays, we have foam versions that
bounce harmlessly—unless your aim is really terrible, in which case you’re just
annoying your neighbors.
Remember Clackers? Two acrylic balls on a string that you’d swing up and
down to make them collide in a hypnotic, rhythmic clacking sound? Well, they
were also a fast-track ticket to bruised knuckles and flying shards of plastic.
It’s as if someone thought, “What if we made nunchucks, but for kids?”
Modern Insight: Today, toys are made to withstand the wrath of children—and their clumsy
parents. Materials are stress-tested, and most don’t double as weapons.
The Easy-Bake Oven promised kids the magic of baking their own treats,
but it also brought the magic of third-degree burns. Using a high-wattage light
bulb to bake cakes, these ovens could reach temperatures hotter than your mom’s
temper when you spilled grape soda on the shag carpet.
Modern Insight: Modern Easy-Bake Ovens are designed to be much safer, with better
insulation and heating elements that won’t double as hand-roasters.
The Creepy Crawlers Thingmaker let kids create rubbery bugs by pouring
liquid plastic into heated molds. Sounds fun, right? Well, it was… until you
accidentally touched the scalding hot metal or inhaled the chemical fumes that
smelled like melted crayons on steroids.
Modern Insight: DIY kits today are a lot friendlier to both kids and their parents’
blood pressure. Non-toxic materials and safer heat sources keep creativity
flowing without the risk of a trip to the ER.
In the 1970s, chemistry sets were the ultimate gift for budding
scientists. They were also a great way to turn your kitchen into a scene from
“Breaking Bad.” Real chemicals meant real burns, explosions, and enough toxic
fumes to evacuate a small neighborhood.
Modern Insight: Today’s chemistry sets are all about controlled chaos. Non-toxic
components and clear instructions ensure kids learn science without needing a
hazmat suit.
Who needs actual toys when you can hand a kid a B.B. gun and say, “Good
luck out there”? Popular in the 1970s, these were responsible for countless eye
injuries and a whole generation of kids who learned the hard way that safety
goggles are not optional.
Modern Insight: These days, airsoft and paintball guns come with mandatory protective
gear and strict rules, so you can still have fun without recreating a war zone.
This “fun” toy consisted of a weighted lemon-shaped object attached to a
cord that kids would spin around one ankle while hopping over it with the other
foot. Sounds harmless, right? Until you tripped, twisted an ankle, or
accidentally launched the lemon at an unsuspecting sibling.
Modern Insight: Modern jump ropes and hop toys are designed to be lighter and safer,
leaving fewer bruises in their wake.
This craft kit let kids dip wire frames into colorful liquid plastic to
create artificial flowers. The downside? The liquid plastic was highly
flammable and filled the room with fumes that could knock out bigfoot.
Modern Insight: Craft kits today use non-toxic, safe materials to ensure the only tears
shed are from artistic frustration, not chemical exposure.
This was essentially a frisbee with a harder-than-necessary edge. When
thrown with vigor (as kids inevitably did), it could easily become a projectile
weapon, leaving its mark—literally—on anyone unfortunate enough to be in its
path.
Modern Insight: Modern flying discs are made from soft, flexible materials that are less
likely to double as flying saucers of doom.
Shrinky Dinks let kids color on plastic sheets, bake them in the oven,
and watch them magically shrink. But with high oven temperatures and the
potential for burns or inhaling plastic fumes, this seemingly harmless craft
posed some sneaky dangers.
Modern Insight: Today’s versions come with strict safety guidelines and materials
designed to minimize risks, so kids can shrink to their hearts' content without
worry.
Lessons from the Past
The toys of the 1970s were equal parts thrilling and terrifying, and they
taught us some valuable lessons—like the importance of safety regulations and
maybe, just maybe, rethinking the concept of “fun.” Many of these dangerous
playthings paved the way for today’s safer, smarter toys, proving that
sometimes, nostalgia is best left in the past.
Tips for Choosing Safe Toys Today
- Check Labels: Look for age recommendations and safety certifications. If it’s labeled “Definitely Not a Death Trap,” you’re on the right track.
- Inspect Materials: Avoid toys with small parts for young kids or materials that scream “I’ll break in five minutes.”
- Supervise Play: Even the safest toys can become dangerous when kids (or overenthusiastic adults) get creative.
- Stay Updated: Keep an eye out for recalls or
consumer safety alerts. If it’s trending for all the wrong reasons, skip
it.
The toys of the 1970s remind us how far we’ve come in ensuring safer, more enjoyable play for kids. What are your memories of some of these and other toys that didn't make the list in your childhood?
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