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NOVEMBER 21, 2000

The biggest shopping day in the Holiday Season is fast approaching, but a consumer group in Massachusetts doesn't want you to buy certain toys for your children, saying they are dangerous and even deadly.

The World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH) has released its annual list of the 10 worst toys on the market. From choking to eye injuries, the group says these toys are disasters waiting to happen.

If your child or grandchild is a Bart Simpson fan, you might be better of buying him or her a t-shirt of the bad boy. The group names The Simpson's Bart Action Set to its list, warning that Bart's slingshot, recommended for ages 5 and up, can cause bodily harm.

Parents might also want to take a look at Sesame Street's Ernie. A doll marketed to children as young as 18 months has the potential for choking, says the group.

Even a toy as simple as a truck can cause harm, says WATCH. Big problems like choking appear to come in little red packages marketed to young children.

But the alternatives to some of these toys can gives parents headaches too. Sony's PlayStation 2 debuted to long lines and product shortages. Bids for the game machine on Ebay are running as high as $475, so you might want to ask where the college student in the family where his money went.

So for many parents, it might just be another Pokemon Christmas. The ever popular cards appear to have kids still interested after all this time, proving that sometimes simple toys are the best bet.

Kids also love those darn Rugrats. So pack up the kids and take them to Paris this Christmas. It might be the gift they always wanted.

WATCH's Worst Toys, Name, cost, and potential risk:
The Bart Simpson Action Set, $9.99 - Eye injuries
Classic Horror Psycho Saw, $14.99 - Psychological harm and impact injuries
Sesame Street's Check-Up Ernie, $19.99 - Choking
Jungle Gym Jump-O-Lene, $26.99 - Broken bones, suffocation
Disney's Mickey Jack-in-the-Box, $9.99 - Choking
Warner Brother's Character Plush Clocks, $18.00 - Laceration, ingestion
Baby Looney Tunes Pull Back and Go Friction Vehicle, $4.97 - Asphyxiation
Ansa Doll Play's Big Box of Bottles, $7.99 - Eye and puncture wound injuries
Military Bazooka, $12.99 - Hearing loss
Little Big Truck, $5.99 - Choking

Relevant Links:
The 10 Worst Toys - www.toysafety.org/2000/2000.html
PlayStation - www.us.playstation.com
Pokemon - www.pokemon.com
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie - www.nick.com/all_nick/movies/rugrats_paris