'Tis the season for toy tests. It seems every retailer has its own hot toy list.. Many are created by the toy companies themselves. But hundreds of children across the country, and right here in Richmond, Fort Bend County, got to be toy testers this year. It was the ninth year the Goddard School held the preschooler-approved Toy Test.
In September, the Goddard School brought in 25 toys to its 450 schools all over the United States. While the kids played, the teachers observed and filled out ballots for each toy.
"Did the children look like they were enjoying interacting with it? Did they seem curious by it? Especially in the younger ages," said Tamkeen Shroff of The Goddard School at Long Meadow Farms in Richmond.
They whittled it down to 10 educational toys you can feel good about putting under the tree.
"They are developmentally appropriately tested," said Shroff. "Our infants test toys that are intended for infants. Our preschoolers, 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds test toys that are intended for them."
The Top 10 Preschooler-Approved Toys are:
• Click Clack Ball™ by The Manhattan Toy Company® (Suggested Age Range: 0+ years)
• Sort and Discover Activity Cube™ by VTech® (Suggested Age Range: 9-36 months)
• Mirari® Pop! Pop! Piano® by Play Monster™ (Suggested Age Range: 12+ months)
• Musical Gator™ by Alex Brands® (Suggested Age Range: 18+ months)
• Newborn Nursery Newborn Baby by Madame Alexander (Suggested Age Range: 2+ years)
• Lauri Tall Stackers™ by Play Monster™ (Suggested Age Range: 2+ years)
• Gearation Board by John Deere (Suggested Age Range: 3+ years)
• Puppy Up™ by Play Monster™ (Suggested Age Range: 3+ years)
• Yeti in My Spaghetti® by Play Monster™ (Suggested Age Range: 4+ years)
• Hexenkuche (Witches Kitchen) by Beleduc USA, Inc. (Suggested Age Range: 4+ years)
From November 1 to November 11, 2016, the public will have the chance to vote and select 2016’s favorite toy of the year at The Goddard School’s website, www.goddardschool.com/toytest. Goddard Systems Inc., the national franchisor of The Goddard School, will purchase and donate 100 of the winning toys to Toys for Tots, a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve that distributes gifts to less fortunate children in an effort to spread holiday cheer.