Last week, World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.), published a top ten list of the worst toys of 2007, representing toys with the potential to cause childhood injuries or even death. Let's take a common sense look at the list and see whether these toys are really so bad.

GO DIEGO GO ANIMAL RESCUE BOAT

This toy was recalled. Months ago. Along with millions of other toys. Why WATCH chose this one over the others is beyond me. Maybe it's just supposed to be representative of all the leaded toys, but given that it was recalled and no longer on the market, listing this toy makes no sense to me. You shouldn't see it on store shelves, and if you bought one, you should already have a replacement by now.

STICKY STONES

These are simply magnetic stones. They're not for children under three. Magnets are great educational toys for kids, as long as they know to keep them out of their mouths. Yes, not only can they be a choking hazard (as the label suggests) but also become very deadly if two or more are swallowed. But we learned this already from the Magnetix recall. If your child suffers from an oral fixation, you already know not to buy this toy, but for any other child who knows not to eat iron ore, this would be a great gift. As with most of these, just keep them away from younger siblings, but you're a parent--you already knew that.

JACK SPARROW'S SPINNING DAGGER

This is only $5. I want one! It's a plastic dagger that straps to the wrist and can spin around, ready for action. Why is it dangerous? Because of possible stab wounds? Of course not--it's blunt! It has the possibility of causing blunt damage injuries. Guess what? So does a toy car when a child is having a tantrum! Just make sure the kids pretend and don't hurt each other, and they'll be fine.

Blunt daggers...sheesh....

DORA THE EXPLORER LAMP

Why is this toy on the list? Because it's not a toy--it's a lamp. I'll leave you to ponder that one.

LIL "GIDDY UP" HORSE -- SASSY PET SAKS

Age Recommendation: "FOR: AGE BIRTH & UP" (tag attached to horse); "THIS TOY IS INTENDED FOR CHILDREN AGES 18 MO. and UP" (removable tag attached to Pet Sak)

The problem, as you can see, is that the toy was mislabeled. The whole thing should have the same older age label to avoid confusion. This isn't a bad toy--it's a typo.

SPIDER-MAN 3 NEW GOBLIN SWORD

Warnings: "CAUTION: DO NOT poke or jab with sword. Sections are made to stick together in the extended position and will not easily collapse if jabbed into an object, individual or animal," and other warnings.

This is a blunt, telescoping sword. It looks like a lot of the lightsabers that have been available for years, except that it's spring-loaded instead of requiring the "Chinese Yo-Yo" motion. It's rigid, but at the same time, it's hollow. Could you get clubbed pretty hard with this? Maybe. Would it cause more than just a bruise? Not likely. (On a side note, I bought some foam--Nerf®-like--swords with money I got for my birthday in June, enough for the whole family. We donned glasses or sunglasses for eye protection and proceeded to chase each other around with them. That night, when I tucked the 9-year-old into bed, she said, "This was my best day ever." That's right. For $200, I can take them to a local amusement park and get, "That was fun!" For $25 and some sweat--chasing around is a serious workout--I get, "Best day ever!" Do the math.)

So if you get this for your kid, add the warning, "If you whack your brother/sister/pet with it, it gets taken away." The world has plenty of invisible villains for your kids to fend off.

HIP HOPPA

This is a pogo stick with a ball instead of a spring and a rope instead of a stick. While you might want to get started on the grass--I know I'd fall--this is no more dangerous than a bicycle. I know--I have the bike scars to prove it.

B'LOONIES PARTY PACK

What confuses me most here is that it's listed as a 2007 toy. This stuff has been around for decades. It's like nasty-smelling bubble gum that you attach to the end of a straw and blow into a bubble. It's dangerous because it looks like gum, but it smells like solvent, not exactly appetizing for kids old enough to play with it and know better. It's also susceptible to flames, but then again, so are kids, and kids shouldn't be playing near open flames in the first place.

MY LITTLE BABY BORN

This one I'll agree with--sort of. It comes with a pacifier that's too small and could be a choking hazard if detached. If you or the grandparents want to get this one for a child under 3, just remove the pacifier before giving it to the child. The doll itself is fine, and there's no reason to throw the baby out with the bath water pacifier.

RUBBER BAND SHOOTER

This gun shoots rubber bands--not a new concept. No, it's not entirely safe, either, but as long as you stick with target practice, you should be fine. It's really not such a difficult concept. You can either say, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!" or use the "target practice or taken away" method.

When I saw this list, I thought it might be helpful. Then I read it, and my Spidey Senses® started tingling. Oh, wait. That was Common Sense that gave me the goose bumps. Can toys be dangerous? Yes. Are these the worst toys of the year? Not likely. Baseball bats, skateboards, baseballs, bicycles, and fat crayons can all be dangerous, but you know what your kids can handle and what they can't. You alone are the expert on your own kids and what would be dangerous for them. You have enough to worry about with watching recalls, making sure homework gets done, and all the other difficult tasks of parenting. You don't need some watchdog group telling you that you're a bad parent if you buy a lamp for your kid's room.

Check out our next show for some more dangerous-but-cool toys.

Plastic daggers...sheesh....