50 Of The Worst Toy Design Fails That Ought To Get Someone Fired (New Pics)

Quite a few of us likely remember our favorite toy from back when we were kids. For some it might be a Teletubby, so washed out over the years it’s difficult to guess if it’s Laa-Laa or Dipsy looking back at them; for others it can be anything from toy cars, to dolls, blocks, or even a bunny made out of an old sock.

While some of such old toys show clear signs of time relentlessly passing us by, others somehow look even worse when brand new. You probably see where this is headed and yes, you’re right—today, we have prepared a list of some awful-looking toys for you to browse, some of which were made according to a terrible, terrible design, while others have suffered from a manufacturing defect and similar misfortunes. Scroll down to find them on the list below and see what nightmare-of-a-toy current children might be looking back at with eyes full of sentiments decades later.

In order to learn more about how playing with toys can affect children’s development, We turned to the psychologist and author of Playful Parenting, Lawrence Cohen, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions. You will find his thoughts in the text below.

#1 The Description Is Spot-On

#2 Chinese Toy

#3 I Saw This T-Rex Squirt Gun In The Toy Aisle Of My Local Grocery Store. I Bought It Because Of The Trigger Placement

In a recent interview with We, the psychologist and Playful Parenting author Lawrence Cohen suggested that even though less significant than the people in children’s lives, toys, too, can play an important role in the little one’s development.

“Children need objects to manipulate, to apply their minds to, and to help them discover the world,” he said, adding that in the old days, this was done through everyday objects—natural and man-made—such as water, sand, cups, sticks, rocks, trees, cooking items, and dress-up clothes. Though, according to the expert, to be a great toy, it must be as good or better than these things—safer, more durable, more appealing to the child.

#4 Hair Fell Off The Doll, Now My Daughter Walks Around With A Middle-Aged Balding Friend

#5 Finally Added This Rafiki Toy To My Collection

Coming back to the importance of other people’s involvement in playtime—be it the kid’s parents, teachers, or nannies—Dr. Cohen suggested that children benefit from both, playing together and on their own.

“Children need both. The most important role for adults is to make sure children have lots of time for free play, a safe place to play, freedom to create and determine their own play, and interesting creative open-ended materials.”

#6 It Looks Like My Daughter’s Doll Has Already Been Through A Lot

#7 My Kid’s Dinosaur Toy Has Human Hands

#8 This Space Barbie Set That Has The Solar System Diagram That Is Completely Wrong

Earth and Venus are apparently in the same orbit. Mars seemingly does not exist. There is a new pink planet and a purple planet with a ring.

As a matter of fact, according to the psychologist, toys aren’t even always necessary for a child to engage in playtime. “Babies love to use a grown-up’s face as a toy. Toddlers and preschoolers love to walk and run and climb and make noises and see all the things their bodies can do,” he pointed out.

However, the expert suggested that, when children do use toys, they need to be more interesting than the box they came in. “Most are not,” he told We.

#9 Dollar Store Barbie

#10 My Son Just Asked Me Why The Tiger Had A Little Flower Under Its Tail. Thanks For The Detail LEGO

#11 You Know These Creepy Life-Size Dolls? Creepier Still Is In The Box That They Come In

The point that a toy should be more interesting than the packaging it came in is especially relevant nowadays, when a box is more than a way to transport the toy from point a to point b.

According to Design Force, one of the main roles of toy packaging in mass retail is to make it stand out from a sea of all kinds of items in a matter of seconds. Unless people come to the toy store looking for something specific, it’s very likely that the decision to pick up one item instead of another is purely an impulsive one. And that’s when appealing packaging comes in handy, as it can help catch the buyer’s eye and boost the sales. However, the toy itself shouldn’t be outshined by its box.

#12 These Silicone “Fidget Toys” Smelling/Looking/Feeling Like Fruit Snack. Please Don’t Sell These To Kids

#13 Should Add This Figure To My Collection

#14 The Teddy Bear With The Muzzle Rotated 90 Degrees

Design Force pointed out that during the pandemic, consumers showed great interest in the toys and games category while shopping online, likely because with people all over the world spending days on end in their homes, they had to keep their little ones—arguably themselves, too—occupied. Between 2019 and 2020, the category reportedly saw an increase in page views by a whopping 135%.

According to data presented by the NPD Group, despite the slight—and by slight, I mean roughly 0.2%—decrease in sales in 2022 (compared to sales in 2021), for the three years leading up to it, the toy industry in the US had experienced rather strong growth, going from $22 billion in 2019 to $25.7 billion in 2020, and $29.2 billion in 2021.

#15 Poor Spidey

#16 Quite A Big Construction

#17 This Poor Barbie

Outdoor and sports toys seem to be the main driving force of the toy industry, as they accounted for roughly $5.2 billion in sales in 2022, Statista reports. As for its biggest players, the Danish company LEGO, the Japanese toy manufacturer Bandai Namco, and the US companies Hasbro and Mattel seem to top the list.

#18 My Niece Got One Of These Unicorn Toys With A Golden Carrot For Her Birthday (Not My Niece In The Photo)

#19 How’s This For An Action Figure? Toys At The 99-Cent Store

#20 Clearly Haunted Zuckerberg’s Doppelganger Doll, Found By My Friend’s Mum On Vinted

A ten-year-long empirical study of Toys that Inspire Mindful Play And Nurture Imagination (TIMPANI), carried out by the Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut State University, found that some toys are more likely to inspire quality play than others. The ones that do the most reportedly have to meet one of the three criteria of being simple, open-ended, or non-realistic.

The first point emphasizes that in order for a child to immerse themselves in rich play, the simpler the toy, the better, as with them, kids are more likely to use their imagination while playing. A toy with lots of sounds, buttons, and other pieces works more like entertainment rather than means for mindful play.

#21 My Son’s Birthday Dinosaur Balloons Came Anatomically Correct

#22 This Kids’ Toy Had One Thing It Was Supposed To Teach

#23 Superman Or Quasimodo?

The second feature of toys that make children actively engage in mindful play is being open-ended. According to the researchers, while toys with specific instructions or ways of using them can be beneficial, open-ended ones allow the little ones to delve deeper into the creative processes while playing.

The third aspect of them bearing no resemblance to something that exists in real life plays a similar role and allows children to use their imagination more as they make decisions about what such toys are and how they should be used.

#24 Son’s Color Toys

#25 This Little Toy Has 13 Tags

#26 I Should Have Bought It

Whether it’s a toy that inspires mindful play or something that stimulates kids because of how loud and bright it is, one thing is clear: neither one might seem like an appealing option if the design is as bad as it is in some of these pictures.

However, if for some reason you enjoyed browsing these pictures, We has more terrible toy designs in store for you, so continue with another collection, which you can find here or here.

#27 Worst Slide Design Ever. Worst Six Feet Of My Life