13 Toys from the ’70s and ’80s That Would Be Recalled Today
Here's a nostalgic look back at 13 beloved toys from the ’70s and ’80s that were as thrilling as they were dangerous. They were so risky that they’d never make it past today’s safety standards.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Toys from the 1970s and 1980s gave kids a wild mix of fun, freedom, and, in hindsight, terrifying risks. From missile-firing action figures to radioactive science kits, these childhood favorites often lacked the safety measures we now take for granted. This list revisits 13 real toys that defined a generation — each one a nostalgic thrill ride that likely wouldn’t survive today’s strict consumer protection laws.
1. Lawn Darts (a.k.a. Jarts)
Image from Wikipedia
These heavy metal darts were meant to be tossed underhanded into plastic rings on the lawn — but more often than not, they ended up embedded in people’s feet, heads, or worse. The weighted tips could easily puncture a skull, and tragically, they did. Eventually banned in the late ’80s, Lawn Darts are now the textbook example of fun gone lethally wrong.
2. Clackers
Image from Wikipedia
Two acrylic balls on a string that kids would clack together at high speed — what could possibly go wrong? The balls sometimes shattered mid-swing, sending sharp plastic shards flying in all directions like tiny grenades. Even if you escaped injury, the sound alone could drive a parent to the brink.
3. Easy-Bake Oven (early models)
Image from Wikipedia
Sure, baking brownies with a lightbulb seemed magical — until kids got their fingers caught in the heating chamber or suffered second-degree burns. The oven’s narrow opening was like a mini fire trap. It took years and multiple redesigns before safety features caught up with the concept.
4. Battlestar Galactica Missile-Firing Toys
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These space-age action figures came with spring-loaded missiles that kids loved to shoot — but some of those tiny projectiles ended up lodged in throats. A 4-year-old boy tragically choked to death on one, sparking massive recalls. From then on, toymakers began gluing missiles in place.
5. Creepy Crawlers Thingmaker (metal mold version)
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Heating gooey plastic in metal molds at 400°F was marketed as a fun DIY activity for kids. The smell was toxic, the burns were real, and no adult supervision was required — just a plug and a sense of adventure. It was equal parts science experiment and danger zone.
6. Slap Bracelets
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These fashionable accessories had a hidden menace: after repeated use, the fabric would wear out, exposing sharp metal strips underneath. Kids who wore them often ended up with sliced wrists — not the cool look they were going for. Schools eventually banned them across the country.
7. Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab
Image from Wikipedia
Sold in the early ’50s but popular among science-minded kids in the decades after, this “educational” lab kit actually contained samples of real uranium ore. It was a full-on radioactive science experiment packaged for home use. Safe? Not even close.
8. Shrinky Dinks (oven version without adult supervision)
Image from Wikipedia
Before microwave-safe kits and adult oversight became the norm, kids often popped Shrinky Dinks into toaster ovens with zero precautions. Fumes from the heated plastic filled the air, and burns from hot trays were common. On the other hand, the little art pieces came out adorable!
9. Kenner’s Real Baking Thing Oven
Image from Wikipedia
Another “real oven for kids” toy, but this one didn’t even pretend to be safe. With temperatures reaching over 350°F, the potential for burns was sky-high. There were even cases of small fires in bedrooms — because who wouldn’t want to bake cookies in a carpeted room?
10. Sky Dancers
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These fairy dolls launched into the air when you pulled a string, whipping around in unpredictable spirals. Kids loved watching them fly… until they slammed into someone’s eye, face, or ceiling fan. The product was eventually pulled after dozens of reported injuries.
11. Playmobil Pirates and Construction Sets (early versions)
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These sets came with an assortment of tiny, removable accessories, which were perfect for imaginative play but also posed a risk of accidental choking. Helmets, swords, hats — every piece was small enough to disappear into a toddler’s windpipe. Parental warnings were minimal or nonexistent at the time.
12. Fisher-Price Power Wheels (first-gen models)
Image from Wikipedia
These battery-powered cars were every kid’s dream ride — until they caught fire. Faulty wiring sometimes led to overheating and actual flames shooting out the back. Later versions added circuit breakers, but early users learned the hard way that speed came with risk.
13. Barbie Dream Pool (with slide)
Image from Wikipedia
The Dream Pool appeared harmless but posed multiple hazards: slippery plastic, sharp edges, and water accumulation that could lead to accidental drownings. Kids would often slip off the slide or bash into the sides. It was less “Malibu fantasy” and more orthopedic reality.
- Tags:
- childhood
- 70s
- 80s
- dangerous toys