The Application of Human Factors to the Design of a Toy: Little People® then and Now

In the 1960 s, Fisher-Price® introduced the first Little People® toys. These figures had a cylindrical body with a spherical head, and were approximately two inches in height and one inch in diameter. It was this original hard plastic design that has been associated with 13 reported fatalities. A recall was never issued as this product met all compliance standards. Since then, Fisher-Price has changed the design of the Little People at least two times. The designs of the 1990's are approximately the same height with an increased maximum diameter. Subsequient to this change, no serious injuries have been reported. This paper describes design hazard analyses of the original and the new Little People design. By understanding the human factors of developing children cognitive skills, motor skills, behavior and oral cavity anatomy, hazardous characteristics of the original design were changed to create a safer toy.