The ’60s and ’70s were a different time when it came to kids’ toys—safety regulations were looser, parents weren’t hovering, and manufacturers didn’t always think through potential hazards. As a result, many of the toys we loved back then would never make it onto store shelves today. Whether it was sharp edges, toxic materials, or a complete lack of concern for choking hazards, these toys were thrilling, but looking back, it’s a miracle more of us didn’t end up in the emergency room. Let’s take a trip down memory lane with 12 vintage toys from the ’60s and ’70s that would be considered dangerous now.
1. Sky Dancers
Sky Dancers were beautiful, fairy-like toys that launched into the air with the pull of a cord. The problem? They had no real flight control and often came crashing down into kids’ faces.
These hard plastic toys caused numerous injuries, including black eyes, broken teeth, and concussions. The original versions were eventually recalled, though safer (and softer) versions exist today.
2. Mattel Slime (With Real Worms)
Mattel’s original Slime was fun, gooey, and came in a plastic trash can, but at one point, they took it too far—releasing a version that contained real worms. While kids loved the gross-out factor, parents were less thrilled when they discovered the worms weren’t exactly preserved well and started to decompose inside the slime.
It didn’t take long for this version to disappear, but for a brief moment in the ’70s, kids were playing with a toy that was basically biohazardous waste.
3. Creepy Crawlers (Original Version)
Creepy Crawlers was a fun concept—kids could pour colored goop into metal molds, then heat them up in a special “Thingmaker” oven to create their own rubbery bugs and creatures. The problem? That Thingmaker got hot—we’re talking about a small, unregulated heating element that reached up to 300°F.
Kids regularly burned their fingers, and the plastic fumes weren’t exactly great to breathe in, either. Eventually, safer versions with lower-heat ovens were released, but the original versions were basically tiny industrial burn hazards disguised as toys.
4. Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper Missile Launcher
The original Battlestar Galactica toy line featured ships with tiny, spring-loaded plastic missiles. Unfortunately, these weren’t just for show—kids quickly figured out they could launch the missiles directly into their own eyes, or worse, down their throats.
One tragic incident in 1978 led to a major recall after a child choked on one of the missiles. This ultimately led to stricter safety regulations on projectile toys, including the modified versions of Star Wars action figures that no longer had working missile launchers.
5. Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab
Yes, this was a real toy. In the early 1960s, the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab was marketed as an educational science kit, allowing kids to learn about radiation by playing with actual uranium ore samples. It came with a Geiger counter and instructions on how to conduct simple nuclear experiments at home.
While the kit didn’t pose an immediate radiation threat, the fact that it contained real radioactive materials makes it one of the most dangerous toys ever produced. Needless to say, it was pulled from shelves fairly quickly, but not before some kids got a crash course in nuclear physics—whether they wanted it or not.
6. Slip ’N Slide (Original Version)
Slip ’N Slides were a backyard staple, but the original versions were basically an accident waiting to happen. The thin plastic sheets were laid out on grass, connected to a hose, and kids would take turns running and diving onto them. The problem? If the ground underneath wasn’t perfectly even—or worse, had hidden rocks or sticks—kids would end up with bruises, scrapes, or even concussions.
Adults and teenagers also quickly learned that Slip ’N Slides were not meant for anyone over 100 pounds. Many ended up with neck or spinal injuries after hitting the ground too hard. While modern versions include extra padding and safety warnings, the original models had a “good luck” approach to injury prevention.
7. Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman Dolls (With Inflatable Air Tubes)
The Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman action figures were among the coolest toys of the ’70s, featuring tiny bionic parts and even a pumping mechanism that let kids simulate their “bionic strength.” The problem? Some versions came with small inflatable air tubes inside their arms, which could easily be pulled out and swallowed.
There were several reports of choking hazards, leading to design changes in later versions. But for a while, kids were playing with action figures that doubled as a choking risk.
8. Water Wiggle
The Water Wiggle was a fun-looking sprinkler toy designed to spray water in unpredictable directions as kids ran around trying to dodge it. But the problem was that it had a long, flexible hose that could easily wrap around a child’s neck.
Even worse, if the head of the Water Wiggle detached—which sometimes happened—it turned into a high-pressure, whipping water hose that could knock kids down. Several serious injuries led to recalls, and it’s now considered one of the most dangerous water toys of all time.
9. Hanna-Barbera Monster Mask
This plastic Halloween mask, based on a Hanna-Barbera cartoon character, had a terrifying flaw—it contained high levels of lead paint. Kids were wearing this directly on their faces, inhaling the fumes and risking lead poisoning.
When concerns about lead exposure in toys became more widespread, this mask was one of many recalled. But for a while, kids were unknowingly wearing something that could poison them, all in the name of a cool costume.
10. Clackers
Clackers were two hard acrylic balls attached to a string, and the goal was to swing them up and down until they smacked into each other, creating a satisfying clack-clack-clack sound. The problem? Those acrylic balls had a habit of shattering upon impact, sending shards flying like tiny glass bullets.
Kids got hit in the face, hands, and eyes, leading to injuries that ranged from bruises to deep cuts. By the early ’70s, Clackers were deemed too dangerous and were pulled from shelves. Today’s versions use softer plastic and safety cords, but they don’t have that same chaotic energy that made the originals both exciting and terrifying.
11. Super Elastic Bubble Plastic
This toy allowed kids to blow massive, plastic-like bubbles using a special tube of goo. The problem? That goo contained toxic chemicals like polyvinyl acetate and acetone, which gave off strong fumes that could cause dizziness and nausea.
Kids played with it indoors, inhaling the fumes without realizing they were essentially breathing in plastic. While it was incredibly fun, it was also a health hazard and was eventually discontinued.
12. Jarts (Lawn Darts)
Few toys scream “bad idea” like Jarts. These were giant, metal-tipped darts that kids were supposed to throw toward a plastic target ring on the lawn. Of course, when you give children sharp projectiles, it doesn’t take long for things to go wrong.
Jarts caused thousands of injuries, including serious head trauma and even deaths. By 1988, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned them completely. If you still have an old set in your garage, they’re now considered collector’s items—but you might want to keep them far away from kids.
The ’60s and ’70s were filled with toys that would never pass today’s safety standards, but back then, they were just part of growing up. Looking back, it’s a miracle more of us didn’t end up in the hospital with some of these. What dangerous toys do you remember from your childhood? Let’s relive the wild west of toy manufacturing!
