There are so many fabulous toys our there. Have you ever noticed that certain toys have received awards? Ever wondered why and who gives them? Here is a brief run down on some of the most popular toy awards. I also provide an example of an award winning toy from each category.
What Are The Toy Awards?
1. Parent’s Choice Award
This is the toy award that I think most people will have heard of right away. The criteria that they consider can be summed up in the Parent’s Choice description of a good toy- “Good toys (and puzzles and games) offer new ways of thinking, new ways of seeing, and new ways of creating. Good toys, be they rooted in tradition or launched by technology, offer new approaches to learning; imagination, not a power supply, is the catalyst.” The Parent’s Choice Awards are very respected as they are awarded by Parents’ Choice Foundation’s panels of educators, scientists, performing artists, librarians, parents, and kids themselves. They are awarded with both objectivity and expertise.
Oibo baby blocks (above) are an excellent example of a Parent’s Choice Gold Award Winner. To me, this one shows it is a popular trusted toy and I know my own kids enjoyed Oibo toys when they were younger.
2. Dr. Toy’s Award
Dr. Toy’s Awards Winners are selected by one person- the noted play and child development authority, Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (a.k.a. Dr. Toy). The Dr. Toy Awards are given to toys that “encourage parents and teachers to focus on the value of play as essential to the learning process.” Dr. Toy’s Awards only go to safe, affordable, educationally oriented, stimulating new products for children.
Bizy Beez MagStix is an example of a toy that has won the Dr. Toy’s Best Picks Award. This winner is pictured below in my affiliate Amazon link.
3. Major Fun Awards
This award is selected by award winning toy designer and educator, Bernie DeKoven. The Major Fun Award recognizes toys that are “uniquely fun.” It is presented to games that are easy to learn, fun enough to play over and over again, made to last, and adapt to younger and older players.
Cuboro Wooden Blocks Marble Run is a Major Fun Award Winner. This really is a major fun toy. We have it and it is great fun for the whole family to work on building together.
4. Spiel Gut Award
Speil Gut literally means “Good Toy” and is a German award. It is a highly respected award offered by an independent collection of educationalists, psychologists, doctors, technicians, experts in design, chemistry, electronics, and parents. Their criteria include play value, material, workmanship, construction, durability, safety, design and as Spiel Gut puts it, “Playing always entails learning, not by means of teaching, but on the basis of personal experience – the most effective form of learning in childhood.”
Kellner Stickfigures are an example of a the Spiel Gut Award Winner. These are such a fun, imaginative toy set. These are sure to cherished for their creative appeal.
So there you have it- four different types of awards an example of their award wining toys. Do you notice these types of awards? Does it have any impact of your buying decision?
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