Today's Parent reveals Top Toys for 2008

Today’s Parent has revealed their Top Toys for 2008, toys which have been approved by the toughest critics of all – kids.

“This is a good year to be a kid – I’m even trying out my sleuthing skills with 39 Clues.” says Toy Editor Marcia MacQuarrie. And there are so many other exciting new toys like Hot Wheels Trick Tracks, dazzling tech toys like LeapFrog’s Tag and even a few nicely done classic toys. I love that manufacturers are starting to think green – my favourite is the tea set made from recycled milk jugs.”

Not only will the Today’s Parent Top Toys Guide help alleviate the stress of holiday shopping, but it will ease parents’ worries about toy safety. For the second year in a row, Today’s Parent has sent all infant, toddler and preschool toys to the McMaster University Occupational and Environmental Health Laboratory in Hamilton for lead testing. The labs have confirmed that all of our Top Toys for these age groups are lead-free. Today’s Parent is committed to providing our readers with an excellent selection of toys that offer both kid-tested appeal as well as lasting and safe fun.

This year’s Today’s Parent toy-testing program was bigger than ever. Since May, 111 volunteer families in Toronto and Ottawa tested over 1,921 toy and game samples of 415 different products. The feedback and reviews from both kids and parents helped Marcia choose the Top Toys of 2008, including our highlighted WOW toys and the Latest Greatest.

The 2008 Top Toy Guide is available in the November issue of Today’s Parent, currently on newsstands. A full listing, including Latest Greatest, is available online.

2008 Top Toys – WOW is beside the real standouts

Infant & Toddler

• WOW Sunny Stroll (0+, Tiny Love, $30)
• WOW Lights & Action Dollhouse (18m+, Small World Toys, $60)
• WOW Little People Spin n’ Crash Raceway (2+, Fisher-Price, $40)
• Rainforest Peek-a-boo Leaves Musical Mobile (0+, Fisher-Price, $50)
• Laugh & Learn Shop and Learn Walker (9-36m, Fisher-Price, $50)
• 50’s Diner (2+, The Step2Company, $160)
• Nuchi Trains (2+, Little Little Toy Company, $20 for starter set)
• Bug Jug Fill & Spill (6m+, Melissa & Doug, $20)
• Boing, Bobble & Bounce (6m+, Manhattan Toy, $22)

Preschool

• WOW Tag Reading System (4+, LeapFrog, $60; additional books, $15 each)
• WOW Baby Alive Go Bye Bye (3+, Hasbro, $30)
• WOW Hot Wheels Trick Tracks (4+, Mattel, $30 for starter set)
• Tini Puppini (4+, Spin Master, $35)
• Tune In Violin (3+, Small World Toys, $18)
• Creative Projects Table (3+, The Step2 Company, $150)
• Pengoloo (4+, Blue Orange Games, $30)
• Fix the Mix! Sequencing Game Match Up! Concentration Game Letter Crazy!
• Phonics Game (we suggest 3 1/2+, LeapFrog, $25 each)
• Counting Fun Fruit Bowl (3+, Learning Resources, $20)
• Ice Cream Parlor Play Set (3+, Melissa & Doug, $30)

School-Age

• WOW MiYu Magic Stones (6+, Winscott Corp, $7 and up)
• WOW Sticky Mosaics (6+, The Orb Factory, $15)
• Science Stadium (7+, Learning Resources, $30)
• Flip to Win Memory Game (5+, Melissa & Doug, $13)
• Martian Matter Alien Maker (5+, Hasbro, $25)
• Mini Frisbee Golf Set (5+, Wham-O, $30)
• EzyRoller (3+ to 150 lbs., EzyRoller, $100)

Preteen

• WOW Planet Earth DVD Game (8+, Imagination Games, $30)
• Boochie (6+, Gamewright, $35)
• GiftTRAP (we suggest 9+, GiftTRAP Enterprises, $30)
• Air Hogs Zero Gravity RC Micro (8+, Spin Master, $30)
• Yamodo (8+, Idea Storm, $11)
• Style Me Up! Trendy Bead Tattoos (we suggest 10+, Danawares, $10)
• Tiki Topple (10+, Gamewright, $16)
• Uberstix (8+, Uberstix, sets $20 and up)

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