Rock
'N Jam DJ Drums
Kids II
Does your child dance to his or her own beat? Does the percussion section of a band encourage imitative responses? If so, then you'll want to place them in front of this really fun toy. In no time they will be pounding away on the very responsive, light-up pads. Each action by your child elicits a sound, whether a snare, a note or even the very popular DJ scratching sound. The base is sturdy as is the whole toy; of course it has to be considering that it's intentionally designed to take a pounding.
Recommended Ages: 1 and Up Retail Price: $19.99
Mix
& Match Animals
Mega Bloks, Inc.
Here is a great playset to throw into your baby bag before going anywhere you will be waiting. This cute building play set is perfect for little hands and offers plenty of options for imaginative animal play. There are jungle animals and trees to complete the setting. Best of all everything fits back into a plastic carrying case for quick clean up.
Recommended Ages: 1 to 5 Retail Price: $9.99
Rock
'N Jam Piano
Kids II
If your child has a musical nature, if he or she smiles at the sounds of melody and rhythm, then you'll want to give them toys that encourage that special feeling. You'll find that this very sturdy and well designed toy offers a surprisingly true instrument sound, and plenty of responsive actions including light-up, colorful buttons. The size is perfect for placing on a high-chair tray.
Recommended Ages: 1 and Up Retail Price: $19.99
Tiny
N' Tuff R.C. Racer
Mega Bloks, Inc.
This combination construction, remote control car set is going to be one of the coolest toys your little one has ever seen. Start with the base, snap on an assortment of body parts in the color and shape of your choosing and then off you go. Your child will quickly master the two-button remote control unit and before you know it he or she will be zipping it through the house, around furniture and under your legs.
Recommended Ages: 2 to 6 Retail Price: $14.99
Maggie
Raggies Backpack Clip
Zapf Creations
Maggie Raggies makes a return appearance on our Seal winners list, this time in a smaller, more portable version. Each doll has a clip attachment which allows children to bring their friend with them to school or on travels. Mom's told us that they would be clipping Maggie Raggie to their children's sleep over bags. Maggie and her friends feature an absolutely adorable look that parents and kids are instantly attracted to.
Recommended Ages: 2 and Up Retail Price: $7.99
Maggie
Raggies Boo Boo Buddies
Zapf Creations
Children really perked up when given a Maggie Raggie Boo Boo Buddy to comfort them after sustaining a little Oww-ie. The adorable design of the Maggie Raggie kids combined with the inserted cold pack pouch felt like a hug of comfort. Parents were confident that they would be using Boo Boo Buddies regularly in their homes.
Recommended Ages: 2 and Up Retail Price: $9.99
My
First Baby Annabell Doll
Zapf Creations
When you toddler decides its time to adopt a doll, whether its to sleep with, care for, or as is often the case, to carry with them absolutely everywhere, you want to find one that is well made and just right. Here is a doll that is cute as a button, huggable, designed with a wonderfully life-like weight and feel and just the right size for toddlers. Annabell's outfit is adorably sweet and for a price of less than $20, you really can't go wrong.
Recommended Ages: 2 and Up Retail Price: $19.99
Giant
Rainbow Roller
ALEX
In a throwback of sorts to the day when toys were made of wood, here is a real standout. The Giant Rainbow Roller is a wonderful cause and effect toy. Children watch balls or the cool pivoting cars, which come with the set, zoom down the switchback track completely and delightfully captivated. This is a repetitive play toy that managed to hold children's attention much longer than expected.
Recommended Ages: 3 and up Retail Price: $30.00
Wedgits
To Go
ImagAbility, Inc.
A few years ago, when we first saw Wedgits, we were impressed at the simple yet elegant design of this free formed, geometric building toy. Now these wonderful Wedgits shapes are available in a new playset that gives added versatility, portability and fun. The carrying case is a great addition and the new pieces, called eXPANsions, add a nice variety of building options. The core magic of Wedgits remains and we cannot recommend it enough.
Recommended Ages: 3 and Up Retail Price: $39.95
Mega
Play Giant Adventure Castle
Mega Bloks, Inc.
Is your child wearing your couch out play-acting make-believe scenarios where they are knights in shining armor? Here is a great big fantasy prop that can give your furniture a break and enhance the pretend play experience. Parents felt that the large sized set was sturdy and would serve as the backdrop for many hours of role playing. Putting the playset together is a snap with interlocking connectors. The medieval castle is beautifully designed for your king or queen's next adventure.
Recommended Ages: 3 and Up Retail Price: $79.99
Care
Bears Sing-Along Friends
Play Along
Is it just us or have Care Bears been around forever? Whether or not we are witnessing a resurgence, a comeback or a full blown phenomenon, we don't know, but our little girl testers went nuts for these singing Care Bears. The novel appeal here is the fact that these bears come to life not only with your child, but with other Care Bears. There are three different songs and your Care Bear will bop their head along to the rhythm while they sing and our testers loved singing along with their sweet voices.. These Care Bears come in seven different models and it really is a sight to see them all dancing and singing together.
Recommended Ages: 3 and Up Retail Price: $19.99
Kid
K'NEX Rovin' Rollers
K'NEX Industries, Inc.
Long a favorite of our testers and our staff, K'NEX has reinvented the way we build toys with their unique and wonderful interlocking building system. Given the size of traditional K'NEX pieces, younger children have been left out of the fun. No longer is that the case. K'NEX has chunked up the rods and connectors so that little hands can build big things. Our testers loved the design, including the fun new pieces like google eyes and wheels, the clear instructions and the price. The carrying case is nice but could be slightly bigger to fit all the pieces.
Recommended Ages: 3 to 7 Retail Price: $19.99
My
Own Home
Mega Bloks, Inc.
There's nothing kids love more than playing house, especially playing Mom and Dad. It's usually good for a few insightful peeks at how your kids view you. Now they can take this game into a great setting that is more like a stage prop, and a big stage at that. Together with your help, children can build just about anything they imagine, from a country cottage to a suburban ranch house. All you have to do is sit back and take it all in. You'll probably want to have the video camera charged.
Recommended Ages: 3 and Up Retail Price: $79.99
Noah,
the Creature Teacher
JazzToys, Ltd.
The biblical story of Noah and his Ark, along with his heroic work to save all the animal species of the world from a cataclysmic flood is the setting for this very unique multi-level game. You'll find an assortment of animal figures and playing cards with the pictures and names of animals in different languages. Young testers learned names of animals they didn't know, but the best part was when they played Go Fish. The twist here is that they are feeling around blindly inside the ark using only their fingers to match the animals they are searching for.
Recommended Ages: 3 to 8 Retail Price: $49.99
Gears!
Gears! Gears! Dizzy Fun Land Building Set
Learning Resources
After playing with this latest Gears! Gears! Gears! toy the consensus among our testers is the "Dizzy" should be "Dazzling". The colorful gears that come in a variety of unique shapes and sizes come together in a spinning, whirring commotion of dazzling fun. The gears which include a merry-go-round, a Ferris wheel and a roller coaster, are just part of the fun and a perfect payoff. The best part is that you'll have a wonderful time building this set together with your child.
Recommended Ages: 4 and Up Retail Price: $36.95
Magic
Attic
Marian, LLC
Testers who came into our centers familiar with the Magic Attic book series really flipped over these beautiful dolls but newcomers were also impressed. The Magic Attic dolls come in five characters models and are made with very high quality doll clothing. You find a book included in the package along with a child size key necklace so that they can explore the world of the magic attic together.
Recommended Ages: 5 to 12 Retail Price: $74.00
Probuilder
Racing Rig
Mega Bloks, Inc.
When you're riding down the highway and you see a huge truck with the logo of a racing team, wouldn't you just love to peek inside? If that's what you and your kids think, then you are going to love this very impressive building kit. Replicating your rig for F1 and Cart racing, your child can build not only the transport truck but the race car inside. There are two model projects with different difficulty levels. Everything you'd expect is here including a removable rig shell, storage compartments, and down ramp to wheel your car out and to the starting line.
Recommended Ages: 7 and Up Retail Price: $49.99
Rippin'
Rocket Roller Coaster
K'NEX Industries, Inc.
The K'Nex line of super construction sets has a new winner. Riding the roller coaster frenzy that continues to sweep the nation, this set has all the scream inducing twists and turns you would want. There is a gut-wrenching G loop and a terrifying vertical drop that really delighted our testers. The battery powered recharging stations keep the action going at a fast and furious pace. As always the real fun comes in the construction, which is a fun family or together time activity.
Recommended Ages: 10 and Up Retail Price: $89.99
For more information about The Seal of Approval or The National
Parenting Center
call: 1-800-753-6667
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Last Update: November 12, 2003