A non-profit organization called W.A.T.C.H.  - World Against Toys Causing Harm - is dedicated to educating the public about life-threatening toys and other children’s products, including children’s furniture, clothing and playground equipment. Since 1973 they have published an annual list of the 10 Worst Toys. In order to make this list the toys have to show potential to show childhood injuries or in the worst case scenario, death. Below is the list of the 10 Worst Toys for 2008.

1. ANIMAL ALLEY PURSE PET
Manufacturer or Distributor: Geoffrey Inc. /Toys R Us
Age Recommendation: 0+
Warnings: “CAUTION: Remove all tags, twist ties and plastic loops before giving to a child” (on attached tag)
Hazard: There is a potential for ingestion or aspiration injuries.

2. NINJA BATTLE GEAR - MICHELANGELO
Manufacturer or Distributor: Playmates Toys, Inc.
Age Recommendation: Ages 4 & Up
Warnings: “WARNING: Choking Hazard-Contains small part, not suitable for children under 3 years”
Hazard: There is a potential for blunt impact injuries.

3. WALK’N SOUNDS DIGGER THE DOG
Manufacturer or Distributor: Hasbro/ Playskool
Age Recommendation: Over 12 MONTHS
Warnings: Cautions regarding batteries (on packaging)
Hazard: There is a potential for strangulation or entanglement injuries.

4. PUCCI PUPPIES - MY OWN PUPPY HOUSE GOLDEN RETRIEVER
Manufacturer or Distributor: Battat, Incorporated
Age Recommendation: 2 years +
Warnings: None
Hazard: There is a potential for choking injuries.

5. MEADOW MYSTERY PLAY-A-SOUND BOOK WITH A CUDDLY POOH
Manufacturer or Distributor: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Age Recommendation: 18 months+ on the box “RECOMMENDED FOR ALL AGE GROUPS” on the toy
Warnings: “CAUTION: Before giving to a child, please cut, remove, and discard all plastic attachments” (on package)
Hazard: There is a potential for choking injuries.

6. INFLATABLE GIGA BALL
Manufacturer or Distributor: Kenscott, Ltd.
Age Recommendation: Ages 4+
Warnings: “WARNING: DO NOT USE ON HILLS AND IN WATER” (on box), and other warnings on toy and package insert.
Hazard: There is potential for impact and other serious injuries.

7. SPIDER-MAN ADJUSTABLE TOY SKATES
Manufacturer or Distributor: Street Flyers, LLC
Age Recommendation: Ages 3 to 6
Warnings: “HELMETS, WRIST GUARDS, KNEE PADS AND ELBOW PADS SHOULD BE WORN WHILE SKATING”, and other warnings
Hazard: There is a potential for wrist and other impact injuries.

8. SPORTSMAN SHOTGUN
Manufacturer or Distributor: Parris Manufacturing Company
Age Recommendation: “Not recommended for children under 3 years of age” and “AGE 14+”
Warnings: “Never aim or shoot at any animal”; “Do not aim at eyes or face”; and other warnings
Hazard: There is a potential for eye injuries

9 .EXTREME SPIRAL COPTERS
Manufacturer or Distributor: Toysmith Group
Age Recommendation: Ages 5 & Up
Warnings: “CAUTION: DO NOT SHOOT AT PEOPLE OR ANIMALS”, and other cautions and warnings.
Hazard: There is a potential for eye injuries.

10. GO GO MINIS PULLBACK VEHICLE
Manufacturer or Distributor: Kid Galaxy, Inc.
Age Recommendation: Ages 3+ (on display box only)
Warnings: “WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD-Small Parts. Not For Children under 3-yrs on display package only”
Hazard: There is a potential for choking injuries.

One full month of Toronto holiday festivities officially begins with the 42nd edition of the Cavalcade of Lights from November 29 - December 31. On Saturday, November 29th the opening celebrations begin with live entertainment and the lighting of the enormous Christmas tree at Nathan Phillips Square at 7:15 PM. This spectacular tree has over 100,000 lights and ornaments. The entertainment continues until 8:00 PM when it’s time for the Cavalcade of Lights fireworks. Lace up your skates from 8:10 PM - 10:00 PM and enjoy the rink and the music. This fantastic family-friendly event is absolutely FREE.

The Cavalcade of Lights is not just confined to Nathan Phillips Square. Twenty neighbourhoods and tourist attractions  across the GTA will have their very own lighting displays. The best way to see these fantastic displays is on the Cavalcade of Lights Bus Tour. Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from November 28 - December 21 the Cavalcade of Lights is operating 90 minute guided bus tours through Toronto’s neighbourhoods and tourist attractions for a $25.00 charge. Pick-ups and drop-offs are at Nathan Phillips Square located at 100 Queen Street West. Here is information on how to purchase tickets.

Every Saturday evening from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM throughout the month-long festival there will be FREE live concerts and fireworks at Nathan Phillips Square. Check out the fantastic line-up of entertainment. The skating rink will be open daily from 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM. Skate rentals are available as are indoor change rooms. Children under the age of 6 are required to wear CSA approved helmets.

The Cavalcade of Lights is a fabulous FREE month-long event for the whole family. Come on Toronto, let’s get out and celebrate!

Image courtesy Flickr.com

Thanks to some creativity and ingenuity 1,000 of Toronto’s homeless will be warmer this winter because they will be receiving a 15 Below Jacket, aptly named for the temperatures that it can withstand. It is the brainchild of Canadian designer Lida Baday whose uber chic collections can be found at North America’s finest retailers. She became involved in the project though Steve Mykolyn, creative director of the Toronto advertising agency TAXI. On the occasion of TAXI’s 15th anniversary Paul Lavoie, chairman and chief creative officer, was looking for a way to mark the anniversary and give back to the community. As a result Lida Baday designed a black, multi-pocketed anorak with special pockets throughout the lining that can be stuffed with newspaper or any paper product as insulation from the cold. The jacket was tested in a meat locker at -18 degrees. The 15 Below Jacket is ingenious and multi-purpose. If you remove the paper used for insulation it can be used as raincoat in the warmer weather months and it can be folded as a knapsack or pillow.

The jackets will be distributed by the Salvation Army. In addition to the 1,000 jackets in Toronto an additional 2,000 will be distributed in Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary. The 15 Below Jackets will be given out free to the homeless, peaking at the times when an Extreme Cold Weather Alert is issued, and temperatures fall to -15 degrees Celsius. TAXI got some very famous celebrities including Sir Michael Caine, Robert Plant, John Stewart, Kim Cattrall, and Yo-Yo Ma to sign 15 Below Jackets which were auctioned off on www.Ebay.ca from November 15 - 30 with all of the funds raised going to the Salvation Army of Canada in appreciation of their wonderful work with the homeless.

TAXI is currently is looking for a corporate sponsor or sponsors to continue creating jackets beyond the initial run of 3,000. Will you help?

In June of 2009 every time you take a plastic bag home from a store it will cost you 5 cents for each bag. This is not an extension of the program that Food Basics, No Frills and Price Chopper have in place. It applies to every store including clothing, electronics, and drug stores. The large plastic bags with the handles that we receive to help us manage large bulky purchases like linens and household items are being banned altogether. And, the major difference is that this new program is not being put in place by the retailers, but by the city of Toronto.

Mayor Miller is becoming more slippery with each passing day. Instead of calling this 5 cent fee per plastic bag a tax (the city doesn’t have the power to impose such a tax), he is going to make the retailers charge it and collect it. The retailers will keep the 5 cents per bag that they collect. Many retailers are up in arms and would like to know when the Mayor had the scope of his powers extended to allow him to dictate to retailers what they can and cannot charge. Does this mean that if the Mayor thinks that Starbucks is charging too much for coffee that Mayor Miller can change their pricing?

Originally the city was planning to require retailers to offer a 10 cents discount per bag to customers who did not take a plastic bag, but the retailers hollered and Mayor Miller caved instantly. Instead of rewarding consumers for giving up plastic bags, Mayor Miller thought that it would be much more effective to punish them with additional charges. Retailers in Toronto give out over 460 million plastic bags per year which are ultimately destined for the landfill. I’m all for eliminating plastic bags. I carry my own reusable bags most of the time unless I make an impulse purchase when I’m out for a walk. But, I still believe that a discount per plastic bag saved would have gone a lot further to encouraging people to forego the use of plastic bags.

I can’t believe that it’s almost Christmas. There is less than one month to go and if you haven’t done the toy shopping for the small-fry in your life Toys”R”Us has published lists of the hottest toys for Christmas, broken down by age group. Firstly here is the list of the 15 best new toys listed alphabetically.

1.    50’s Diner(TM) from Step2(R)
2.    Bakubelt(TM) Action Kit from Spin Master(TM)
3.    Circus Ring from Playmobil(R)
4.    Classic Lights and Sounds Trike from Radio Flyer(R)
5.    Girl Gourmet(TM) Cupcake Maker from JAKKS Pacific(R)
6.    EyeClops(R) Night Vision Infrared Stealth Goggles from JAKKS Pacific(R)
7.    FURREAL FRIENDS BISCUIT, MY LOVIN’ PUP from Hasbro(R)
8.    Imaginext(TM) Spike the Ultra Dinosaur from Fisher-Price(R)
9.    Laugh & Learn(TM) Shop & Learn Walker from Fisher-Price(R)
10.    Little Mommy(TM) Sweet As Me(TM) Baby Knows(TM) Dolls from Mattel(R)
11.    Pink 8GB iPod(R) nano from Apple(R)
12.    Pink Tag(TM) Reading System from LeapFrog(R)
13.    Sesame Street(R) Elmo Live! from Fisher-Price(R)
14.    Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Twilight from LEGO Systems, Inc.
15.    Wii Fit(TM) from Nintendo(R)

Baby’s First Christmas

*    Candy Rock ‘N Bounce Pony from Radio Flyer(R)
*    Crayola Beginnings(TM) Baby TaDoodles Rainbow Tower from Crayola(R)
*    Laugh & Learn(TM) Fun with Friends(TM) Musical Table from Fisher-Price(R)
*    Laugh & Learn(TM) Shop & Learn Walker from Fisher-Price(R)

13 months - 2 years

*    50’s Diner(TM) from Step2(R)
*    Crayola Beginnings(TM) Scribble & Sing(TM) Art Station from Crayola(R)
*    Nick Jr. (TM) Wonder Pets(TM) This is Serious Ming-Ming from Fisher- Price(R)
*    Sesame Street(R) Elmo Live! from Fisher-Price(R)

2-4 years

*    Barbie(R) & The Diamond Castle Princess Liana(TM) and Princess Alexa(R) Dolls from Mattel(R)
*    Classic Lights and Sounds Trike from Radio Flyer(R)
*    Classic Train Table with Roundhouse from Imaginarium
*    Imaginext(TM) Spike the Ultra Dinosaur from Fisher-Price(R)
*    Little Mommy(TM) Sweet As Me(TM) Baby Knows(TM) Dolls from Mattel(R)
*    Natural Wood Alphabet Blocks Wagon from Toys”R”Us
*    V.Motion(TM) Active Learning System from Vtech(R)
*    YO GABBA GABBA!(TM) Dance Time Brobee from Spin Master(TM)

5-7 years

*    30″ designer series acoustic guitars from First Act Discovery(R)
*    Circus Ring from Playmobil(R)
*    FURREAL FRIENDS BISCUIT, MY LOVIN’ PUP from Hasbro(R)
*    Disney(R) Hannah Montana Malibu Beach House from Play Along(R), a division of JAKKS Pacific(R)
*    Disney(R) PIXAR U-COMMAND WALL-E from Thinkway Toys
*    Pink Tag(TM) Reading System from LeapFrog(R)
*    Star Wars: Legacy Collection Millennium Falcon(TM) from Hasbro(R)
*    X-trek PRO(TM) Track Set from Silverlit(R) Electronics

8-11 years

*    Bakubelt(TM) Action Kit from Spin Master(TM)
*    Girl Gourmet(TM) Cupcake Maker from JAKKS Pacific(R)
*    Nickelodeon(TM) iCarly Webcam from Imation(TM)
*    SCRABBLE(R) DESIGNER’S EDITION from Hasbro(R) Games
*    Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Twilight from LEGO Systems, Inc.
*    U-Dance from Hasbro(R)
*    Zillions(TM) Pink Touch Screen ATM from Summit

Big Kids

*    iMod(TM) from Razor(R)
*    Pink 8GB iPod(R) nano from Apple(R)
*    Star Wars(R): The Force Unleashed(TM) from LucasArts(TM)
*    Wii Fit(TM) from Nintendo(R)

Happy shopping!