Holiday 1997
Seal of Approval
Product Testing Report
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Products recognized as winners in this report have been judged by independent parent testers. Submitted products are evaluated on their individual levels of appeal, desirability, sturdiness, interactive stimulation, price and other elements essential in the make-up of a quality product.
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Home - Music Collection
Kids Count Entertainment
This wonderful assortment of upbeat, singable songs is destined for a long run at the top of the play charts in your home or car. Featuring strong vocals, and catchy rhythms, there are some great new that your family will enjoy adding to its holiday repertoire. Our testers told us that the lyrics are smart and carry good messages. The result is a great mix of songs that your whole family will enjoy listening to.
Price: \$12.99 CD \$9.99 Cassette
Suggested Age: Child (All Ages)
Echoes of the Elders
by Christine Normandin
DK Publishing, Inc.
The tales, which have been passed down from generation to generation of Kwakiutl Indians (who live along the Pacific Northwest coast), are rich in imagery and lore. Five of those tales are captured in this beautiful book or Audio CD set. The book features the stories as told by Chief Lelooska, and the CD offers his dramatic readings of stories that include the "Old Owl Witch", "The Boy and the Loon" and more. The stories are not always happy, and the Indian chants are as haunting as they are soulful, but the effect of listening to ancient Indian tales as told by a real Indian chief moved our testers young and old.
Price: \$24.95
Suggested Age: All
A Child's Seasonal Treasury
By Betty Jones
Tricycle Press
This hardcover book is a treasure chest that you will open throughout the year. Featuring a collection of songs, poems, games and crafts, this seasonal treasury will entertain you and your children with creative playtime all year long. Beautifully bound, this book is simple in its form and sweet in its concept with a lot of togetherness time as a result. There are good recipe and craft ideas included here to help you capture all of each season's feelings.
Price: \$22.95
Suggested Age: 4 and Up
Arctic Son
by Jean Craighead George
Hyperion Books for Children
The Eskimos of Alaska live a life that few of us can comprehend. Life in the tundra is as different as can be from the lives many of us lead. This beautifully illustrated book from the award winning author of "Julie of the Wolves" captures the spirit of life in the Arctic and takes us on a journey with the Inupiat Eskimos and one little boy named Luke. This book gives us a rare insight into a very different, very rich culture living in an environment that is harsh and where the sun disappears for months on end.
Price: \$14.95
Suggested Age: All Ages
Tale of Tillie's Dragon
Stribling Productions
Here is a nice, feel good children's video that parents can enjoy together with their kids. The characters, who are drawn with large doe-like eyes, will melt your heart. Tillie, the young heroine, and her dragon were big hits among the girls and our younger boy testers. The adorable twosome have an on-screen chemistry (as much as a drawing can) which allows for further story creation beyond this adventure. The ability of the storyline to entertain without scaring even little viewers won praise from our parents.
Price: \$16.95
Suggested Age: 2 to 10
Annabelle's Wish
Ralph Edwards Films
With the holiday season upon us here is a new video entry that delighted our testers and got them in the mood even before they carved their pumpkins. Parents told us that it is this type of uplifting tale that they look for when choosing a video for their children. Featuring an adorable collection of barnyard animals and their touching story that brings them together, all the right elements are included in this Ralph Edwards production. Good triumphs over evil, and there is an ending that is sure to leave a smile on your face.
Price: \$12.95
Suggested Age: 6 to 11
Reader Rabbit's Toddler
The Learning Company, Inc.
Are you searching for a good introductory software title for your little one? Are those little toddler fingers longing to grab hold of the mouse on the desktop and start playing with the toy all the big people play with? Then make your first stop at Reader Rabbit's house where your child will find loads of fun activities that are easy to use and provide tons of great feedback. There are easy "mousing" activities to help them get accustomed to the movement and reactions of the mouse. There are songs and characters to sing along with and lots more that add up to hours of age appropriate fun.
Price: \$29.95
Suggested Age: 18 mos. to 3 yrs.
IBM Brings You Crayola Magic 3D Coloring Book
IBM
This very basic computerized coloring program produced some very high-end results making even the toddler set in the testing centers very pleased and proud of their work. Branded with the familiar Yellow and Green Crayola colors, your children are invited to fill in a variety of coloring book like pages. Before them is an opened box of crayons from which they can choose basic colors (no, Burnt Sienna is not here). There are texture fills and a scrapbook to keep their creations. What makes the final product look so good is the use of 3D modeling with each picture making the pictures appear to have depth and therefore much more of an impact, which everyone enjoyed.
Price: \$29.95
Suggested Age: 3 and Up
Reader Rabbit's Kindergarten
The Learning Company, Inc.
The bright, colorful presentation of basic early learning concepts from the award-winning Reader Rabbit Team is yet another feather in this production team's cap. The software teaches a wide variety of subjects including numbers, concepts such as near and far, small and large and the like and a whole lot more for the early stages of learning. The interface is friendly and appealing. The music and voices are brilliantly done. There is a search and find game that kept the children engaged and on track. The simple, easy-to-follow story plot produced a determined desire to complete the task at hand, which is to help build a campfire.
Price: \$29.95
Suggested Age: 4 to 6
Big Thinkers - Kindergarten
Humongous Entertainment
Humongous Entertainment really did their homework with the Big Thinkers series. Here is a software program that zeros in on the age and grade level and offers a stimulating, educational experience. Reinforcing what is being taught at the grade level, our testers found the games and activities to be entertaining and lively. The terrific use of brightly colored graphics and sounds enhanced the experience as well. Priced right and packaged with an appealing design that gave parents plenty of insight into the contents of the software, our testers thought quite a lot of Big Thinkers.
Price: \$29.95
Suggested Age: Grades Kindergarten through 1st
Big Thinkers - 1st Grade
Humongous Entertainment
Our first grade testers really enjoyed playing with Big Thinkers. They told us how much fun they were having with all the games and activities. Parents on the other hand liked the program's ability to educate. They noted the superb animations and the self-explanatory nature of the program that allowed children to explore and control the environment easily. The kids felt that the lead characters, Ben and Becky, seemed to be playing right alongside them, making them feel like they were with friends. The parents thought that the educational content in this CD was first rate and kids said it all seems like a game! What does it all mean? This is a great program!
Price: \$29.95
Suggested Age: Grades K through 1st
IBM Brings You Crayola Magic Wardrobe
IBM
The power of multimedia and this Magic Wardrobe software program transports children to another era to explore fashions and the lives of women in history. In our testing center it was mostly girls that were attracted to this program, this was not surprising considering that the main marketing point of the program is it's ability to make paper dolls. However, the multi-level learning technique employed here allowed children to really delve into a period of our past. The explorative eras in this program included Elizabethan England, Ancient Egypt, American Hippies and more. Beyond reading text or looking at pictures, giving kids the ability to create fashions from the period really helped to bring the subject to life.
Price: \$29.95
Suggested Age: 6 to 12
The American Girls Premiere
The Learning Company, Inc.
The name recognition of American Girls is so powerful among the school-age female testers that the rush to use this CD-ROM program was nothing short of incredible. Branching out from a successful line of dolls, clothes, magazines and books, the American Girls, come to life on stage in plays your child creates. By selecting sets, characters, music, lighting, scripts and recording the actors voices, the role of director is handed over to your child in a powerful multimedia application. The realization of a complete play or even a full scene takes a tremendous amount of work and patience, something our younger testers had problems with. With the right amount of persistence, mixed together with a dash of enthusiasm the results will be a play that your child can be very proud of.
Price: \$34.99
Suggested Age: 7 to 12
Triazzle Bundle
DaMert Company
Two former Seal of Approval winning products are now bundled together in one terrific package, so it should be no surprise to see yet another Seal awarded now to the Triazzle Bundle. This superb, brain-bending puzzle has a variety of levels to enjoy. The CD-ROM is a lush, beautiful journey to the forest where nestled among the chirping sounds of nature and its creatures you will loose sleep trying to solve the demanding puzzle. It's all so well done (both the board puzzle and the CD-ROM), that for the price we know you will receive both your money's worth and a good time to boot.
Price: \$19.99
Suggested Age: 8 and Up
ClarisWorks for Kids
Claris Corporation
Claris Works has successfully taken their intuitive all-in-one productivity program and added just the right ingredients to make it a recommended best buy according to our product testers. There is word processing, spreadsheets (that make great pie-charts), databases and more. Everything is presented in such a kid-friendly manner that in no time we found children organizing files, writing letters and even designing web pages with easy to use templates and hot buttons. This software is a great program to arm your children with when you want to teach them the productive possibilities that the computer provides.
Price: \$49.00
Suggested Age: Grades Kindergarten through 5th
Encarta Encyclopedia 98 Deluxe
Microsoft
Still the champ, despite some very heavy competition in the field of multimedia encyclopedias, Encarta has continued to make impressive strides in the production of a research tool that really delivers the goods. No matter what topic you are exploring chances are Encarta will provide you with sufficient background or insight into a subject. The interface is appealing and enticing, urging the user to explore deeper and deeper into subjects that our parent testers appreciated. The enhancements include exceptional and almost seamless integration with the Internet, making the content even more fresh and current.
Price: \$79.95
Suggested Age: 10 and Up
Until you get your hands on this multimedia globe you won't believe what is in store for you. We can write about it all day, but until you sit yourself in front of the screen and go soaring down the Pacific Coast in beautifully rendered 3D, you won't believe it. Our testers were amazed at all of the stimulating fun they were having with an atlas. There are movie clips and sound effects from around the world. Detailed road maps from Los Angeles to Laos and much more. In fact, much more than any of our testers expected. If you love maps, if you dig geography, if you ever wondered where in the world Timbuktu was, check out the Encarta Virtual Globe.
Price: \$54.95
Suggested Age: 9 to 12
Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
The Learning Company, Inc.
Upgrading encyclopedias is a huge task, not only to keep up with the new information but also keeping pace with the innovations in multimedia that are being released each day. Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia for 1998 has all the latest and greatest gadgets and gizmos to make you go "wow" while you search for information, do research or just browse for no good reason. Loads of pictures, videos, charts and more makes the idea of thumbing through book volumes seem truly archaic. Is this a good thing? Our parents told us that as they watched their children navigate through the wealth of tools available including instant internet access and related web links, it made them wish this type of technology was around when they were cramming for tests and writing term papers.
Price: \$64.95
Suggested Age: 10 to Adult
Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register
Learning Resources, Inc.
Playing store has never been so much fun. That's what our testers told us and we're sure you'll feel the same way once you set up shop with the Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register. The name tells you what you get, a large key solar powered calculator with a large LCD display. Underneath there is a spring latched cash drawer filled with play (manufacturer supplied) or real (parent supplied) money depending on your preferences. The unit is slightly overpriced according to our parent evaluators, however, most found the design, and functionality to be superb and worth the investment.
Price: \$49.95
Suggested Age: 3 And Up
Phonics Box Set
Rock 'N Learn, Inc.
Phonics has taken an interesting course on its way through the educational process. Embraced by some yet rejected by others over the years it has fallen back into favor by many educators and school systems. Using sounds to teach reading has a proven track record and our parent testers, for the most part, felt that their children responded well to the technique. Rock 'N Learn, who for years have been producing teaching tapes on everything from multiplication tables to dinosaurs, have created a complete boxed set that uses phonics books, lessons and music together to aid the teaching process. Our parents felt that the support that this set offered was a helpful teaching tool for their kids.
Price: \$29.95
Suggested Age: 6 and Up
Headstart Computer
Tiger Electronics, Inc.
If we were evaluating on design alone the Headstart Computer would win hands down. The molded plastic case is a picture of streamlined efficiency. However there is much more than good looks to this portable game/computer device. Here is a wonderful travel toy that teaches, entertains and amuses young elementary school aged children. The self-contained unit has a mouse device that makes it feel more like a computer but what it really is, is an advanced quiz kit. Children can play games, solve puzzles and test their wits on a toy that looks like a laptop. Parents felt the price was right, the retractable mouse cord was a big plus and they told us their kids liked using the raised keys.
Price: \$50.00
Suggested Age: 5 to 8
Pooh's 100 Acre Wood
Tiger Electronics, Inc.
So appealing was this adorable toddler toy from Tiger that we had to limit access time in the testing centers. Ingeniously designed with all the Pooh characters and featuring a wealth of play options, toddlers were captivated from the moment they set eyes on the colorful electronic play set. Each button, musical key or clock hand triggers a voice response either identifying the selection of asking the child to provide an answer. The construction is terrific and the voice module is clear and easy to understand.
Price: \$49.95
Suggested Age: 2 and Up
Revv 'n Roar Mechanics Workshop
Little Tikes
When parents consider the purchase of large toy with a steep price tag they will look for play value, versatility and long life. It's a tall order but the Revv 'n Roar Mechanics Workshop serves it all up superbly. This workshop provides loads of imaginative play opportunities from hammering to building and more. There are deep storage wells for easy clean up. Our little testers loved the revving sounds and the removable/movable flashlight. The solidly molded plastic set is easily assembled with well-illustrated instructions. Parents were particularly thrilled that the workbench could be transformed into a desk, giving it an exceptionally longer lifespan.
Price: \$144.99
Suggested Age: 2 and Up
I Know My ABC's
Frank Schaffer Publications
This colorful, bright floor puzzle features an ingenious design that was both attractive and appealing to our testers. The circle shape puzzle is well made with sturdy pieces that will withstand a considerable amount of handling. Kids loved the bold graphics that feature pictures of the standard A for Apple, Z for Zebra. Parents found that using a circle design helped kids as they learned their letters in order. One note, you will need lots of empty floor space before you begin.
Price: \$16.95
Suggested Age: 3 and Up
Koosh Jr. Easy Catch Glove
OddzOn Products, Inc.
If your little one has dreams of making the Big Leagues, if he or she longs to play catch with Dad or a sibling but doesn't quite have the strength to manipulate a leather baseball mitt, then the Easy Catch glove is for them. The name says it all. By giving the child a well-formed pocket within the fabric glove to cradle the incoming ball the Easy Catch Glove is truly easy. The glove comes with one of those fuzzy rubber Koosh balls making it even easier to start catching and lobbing balls. The deep pocket is very forgiving and if the child is even in the vicinity of the ball it will collapse around the Koosh and the resulting proud grin will light up the room.
Price: \$13.00
Suggested Age: 3 to 6
FELTKids Interactive Storybook - Goldilocks & the 3 Bears
Learning Curve
Here is a wonderful use of the imaginative strength of feltboard play. All the characters from one of childhood's most endearing and enduring stories are here. Papa and Mama Bear, Baby Bear and of course the lost little Goldilocks who needs to learn some house manners. Whether playing alone, with a parent or in a classroom setting the use of these felt pieces allows for story development and creativity. The book format allows for quick clean up and easy reuse.
Price: \$24.99
Suggested Age: 3 to 8
Kid Classics Alphabet Soup Puzzle Collection
Learning Curve
These beautifully crafted wood puzzles will take you back in time with their graphic representation of another era. The puzzle's construction also hearkens back to yesteryear with a great old-fashioned look and feel to each and every piece. Parents told us that they knew that they were playing with a puzzle that was of the highest quality. Learning Curve also features a superb bonus to its puzzle owners, a free replacement parts policy. Now if you loose a piece of a favorite puzzle it's just a phone call away. Think our parents liked that? You betcha!
Price: \$10.99 each
Suggested Age: 5 and Up
Light Wars
Tiger Electronics, Inc.
Fun for two, a blast for four, this electronic reflex game is a thrilling toy that will get plenty of playtime in your home. The challenge of attempting to react in time to the sequence of flashing lights will get your heart pumping and your fingers dancing. The construction is sturdy and the sound effects contribute to the super charged atmosphere created from the moment you turn Light Wars on. The game also has a great ability to engage children over a very wide age range, a point that our testers found very appealing indeed.
Price: \$24.99&
Suggested Age: 5 and Up
Medieval Castle
Frank Schaffer Publications
Here is a great floor sized puzzle with large pieces and a very intriguing peek behind a castle's walls. The sturdy cardboard pieces withstood two months of testing by children who really got a kick out of the different exposed areas of the stone castle. Whether it was the dungeon, the main dining hall or outside at the jousting court its fun seeing this slice of medieval life come together as a finished product. The 100-piece puzzle is just enough to be challenging without being frustrating or taking too long to complete.
Price: \$14.95
Suggested Age: 5 and Up
Rubik's Eclipse
OddzOn Products, Inc.
"Elegant simplicity" is how one mother described this traveling game that will entertain and challenge players young and old. The Othello-like object of the game has an appeal that allows two players to trade wits for hours. Easy to learn yet difficult to master, anyone can be a competitive player in just a couple of tries. The games are short but from the time you place your first piece until the objective is achieved, you will be using your wits to their fullest.
Price: \$10.00
Suggested Age: 8 and Up
Robotix Desert Rover
Learning Curve
Here is a motorized kit that your children can assemble easily, with almost no adult help. Kids liked that, but they loved seeing the results of their work, a moving, crawling machine, rumbling across the testing room floor. The Desert Rover is a mechanized machine that moves forward or back with strong deliberate steps. The kits comes with well illustrated instructions that give even parents with two left thumbs, the step by step method needed to get the Rover built and moving. The price is right to make Robotix a gift giving hit.
Price: \$29.99
Suggested Age: 7 and Up
Paper Bag Puppet Kit
Roylco, Inc.
Here is a perfect example of how low priced games, toys and activity kits can be inexpensive and still deliver a what they promise, FUN! Kids had lots of fun with this puppet-making project kit. Filled with plenty of ideas and materials your child will have a blast, first creating and then performing with their hand-made masterpieces. There is no puppet theater included, but the back of the couch worked well enough for our testers.
Price: \$8.99
Suggested Age: 4 and Up
Crayola Adjustable Floor Easel
Binney & Smith
The sturdy, timeless design of the Crayola Adjustable Floor Easel gathered strong scores from our parent testers. They told us that they believed having an easel around for their children would allow them to express their artistic creativity. Sized right for preschoolers and up, this easel puts all of the budding artist's tools right at their fingertips. There are deep wells for paint, markers, chalk whatever. There are multiple surfaces for paper painting, wipe off markers and chalk drawing. This easel comes complete with the tools of the trade including the paint, markers, a ruler, paper and more. Parents loved the removable paint wells for easy clean up and of course the plastic drop cloth!
Price: \$39.99
Suggested Age: 3 and Up
Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Maker
YES! Entertainment Corp.
We had so much delicious fun with this terrific ice cream maker that we're ready to set up shop for ourselves! You provide the ice, salt and cream, and the rest is included. This stylishly designed unit is made of sturdy plastic with all the tools you'll need to open up shop. There is a toppings crusher/sprinkler, a scoop, even taster spoons. The relatively small portions invite sharing and taste testing which our parents thought added to the fun. The ice cream? It was delicious.
Price: \$24.99
Suggested Age: 5 and Up
Bake Cookies
ALEX/Panline USA, Inc.
Prepare to loosen your belt a notch or two, when your child discovers the fun of baking cookies. They will become cookie baking crazy when they discover all of the fun they can have with dough, sugar and some other ingredients. Our testers enjoyed making the delicious and creative cookies that we all discovered that the fun really was in the making not the eating. The full alphabet cookie cutter set, which is included, helps to make this creative approach to the art of cookie baking a real winner.
Price: \$17.00
Suggested Age: 7 and Up
Flower Press Kit
ALEX/Panline USA, Inc.
OK so we didn't have too many boys stopping by this project area to press flowers. We tried, but even if they wanted to it would have been pretty hard to nudge the girls out of the way. Our female testers were crowded around this kit almost around the clock. There is no debate among our testers that little girls love pressing flowers and seeing the volume of results it is easy to see why. The press is easy to use, and features a compact design. There are also great ideas and tips included in the kit that you can start creating once the flowers have dried. At only \$13.00 our parents felt this represented a big value.
Price: \$13.00
Suggested Age: 7 and Up
Forever Together Album
ALEX/Panline USA, Inc.
Creating special memory books has found a new life recently with parents and here is a kit that lets children design and create personalized scrapbooks of their own. Parents told us that this was a great birthday gift idea for fostering and strengthening childhood friendships. Together children can create albums with stickers, photos, notes and more. By creating these memory books children forge strong bonds with their friends. It was wonderful watching and hearing our testers tell us of their friends and what they would like to do with their albums to celebrate their special relationships.
Price: \$17.00
Suggested Age: 7 and Up
Metal Molder Die Cast Factory
Toymax, Inc.
Some of our parents told us that when they saw the box for the Metal Molder and envisioned their children pouring molten metal they were a little gun shy. Then they told us that their fears were diminished when they got a chance to use the Die Cast Factory together with their kids. The easy to use kit provided everything they needed to make fantastic figures that looked so good everyone who made one was showing them off and coming back for more. The design of the kit allows for safe use and watching the metal pellets melt into a molten pourable liquid is "way cool". There are four molds provided in the starter kit, the wizard and motorcycle were the runaway favorites.
Price: \$29.95
Suggested Age: 8 and Up
Precious Metals Boutique
Toymax, Inc.
While certainly less attractive to the male testers in the centers than the Metal Die Cast factory, the Precious Metals Boutique was a clear favorite among the girls in the testing centers. Using the metal melting technique of turning small pellets into a liquid, which in turn could be poured into rubber molds, our testers were making wonderful shiny jewelry in no time, all the time. Once they got going it was hard to stop our young jewelry makers. There are several molds and each can be decorated and attached to rings, necklaces and more. Parents told us that they expected their girls to be setting shop within hours of getting this kit home.
Price: \$29.95
Suggested Age: 8 and Up
Our Amazing Volcanoes
Educational Design, Inc.
If your child has shown an interest in natural phenomenon, especially the awesome power of volcanoes, then this educational activity kit is for you. It will really help both of you to better understand what makes a mountain blow its top. The kit comes with a superb instructional booklet that not only gives well written instructions for creating your own working volcano model, but excellent insights into the different parts of a volcanic eruption, the forces at work and the effects of an eruption. The painting kit, the labels which identify the parts of the mountain and of course the various types of eruptions that really explode from the summit of your man-made mountain gave our testers quite a bang for their buck.
Price: \$15.00
Suggested Age: 8 and Up
GEARS! GEARS! GEARS!
Learning Resources, Inc.
Understanding gears and turning ratios is something that eludes most of us. Learning Resources' unique toy set brings gears to life in this colorful play set that teaches in the best possible way, with real hands on experiments. This free form building set allows children to see the cause and effect of each placed piece. The activity guide helps out as a very good starting point for projects. In the testing centers we watched as gradually the concept went off like a light bulb and they were almost immediately building larger and more elaborate contraptions with gears turning in a rainbow swirl of colors. This is a very satisfying building toy that you and your children can enjoy together.
Price: \$44.95
Suggested Age: 7 and Up
VTech Little Smart Alphabet Desk with Phonics
VTech
For your little learner, mastering the alphabet is one of the most satisfying accomplishments. The Little Smart Alphabet Desk scored high marks for its ability to not only reinforce the identification of all of the letters in the alphabet but also the phonic representation of each letter which are sounded out clearly and distinctly by a friendly voice chip. The handle is sized right for taking the Desk in the car or over to a friend's house, and the raised letter shapes doubly reinforce the identification of the ABC's.
Price: \$39.99
Suggested Age: 2 1/2 to 6
Talkabout Plus 2-Way Radio
Motorola
If this is the future of two-way radio communications, then sign us up for the new millennium. Motorola has improved on their award winning Sport radios with an even smaller sized, powerhouse of a walkie-talkie. These sturdy radios provide exceptional range and clarity overwhelming our testers with their ease of use. Designed with the new frequencies set aside by the FCC for family use, the Talkabout is a must for skiers, campers, hikers, you name it. Several testers told us how their soccer coaches were using them to communicate across the field during games, coordinating player positioning and substitutions. The possibilities are endless as were the rave reviews about Talkabout Plus Radios.
Price: \$179.00
Suggested Age: All Ages
Microsoft Actimates Early Learning System
Microsoft
"The Big Purple Guy is back!" This incredible animated, talking Barney doll was an enormous hit with all of our testers young and old. Brilliantly designed, this soft, perfectly rendered Barney comes alive at your child's touch. Barney sings songs, plays games and captivates his mostly toddler audience at a level we had to see to believe. Children were hugging, talking to and playing with the Barney Actimate with such rapt attention that it became a show unto itself at the testing centers. As Barney's arms and head move along with the song or activity you will marvel at the positive, happy effect he has on your child.
Price: \$109.95
Suggested Age: 2 to 5
Giga Pets
Tiger Electronics, Inc.
If you haven't heard of these electronic pets that turn your children into full-time "baby" sitters, you must have been hiding under a rock. They are everywhere and as we found out in our testing centers, this is for a good reason. Kids absolutely love them. There is something remarkable that comes over a child when they get a pet, albeit one comprised of small LCD lights, and they assume control over their lives. Children who forget to brush their own teeth, feed, bathe and walk their adopted dependents with fervent devotion. It's remarkable to see and Tiger's entry, the Giga Pet, offers cute animals and a colorfully designed case, making it a winner.
Price: \$9.99 to \$12.99
Suggested Age: 5 and Up
game.com
Tiger Electronics, Inc.
Kids were very intrigued with this slickly designed electronic game system which offers a variety of rather simple black and white games. At the outset we thought that perhaps kids today expect dazzling lights, sounds and colors as a matter of course, but what we learned was that if the content is well presented and challenging enough to hold their attention, like game.com does, you can have a winner. Kids quietly took their pen-like pointer in hand and spent hours playing trivia, lights out and more.
Price: \$69.95 plus \$19.95 to \$29.95 for additional cartridges
Suggested Age: 8 and Up
So Smart!
The Baby School Company, Inc.
Evaluating a video that is produced to entertain infants is a complicated process. There is no script designed to capture the viewer, and there are no clues from the young audience except for rapt attention. So does this video make children smarter, enhance their cognitive abilities, increase their mental powers? We can't tell you, get back to us in a few years. But, we can tell you that the rhythmic use of music, shapes and colors did grab the attention of many of the youngest of our testers. They even cooed and smiled at familiar objects such as a face. Parents were impressed by how stimulated their children appeared to be while watching the video. Again, does it do what it says, "enhance intellectual development"? You be the judge.
Price: \$14.95
Suggested Age: 6 mos. And Up
VTech Little Smart Talk'n Lights Radio
VTech
This compact, adorable toy from VTech had our baby and toddler testers giggling with delight. Their eyes lit up in response to the flashing lights and animal sounds. The solid plastic construction fits easily in their hands and the large buttons were easy to manipulate. This electronic toy does what it promises on its packaging, which our testers found to be unique and noteworthy. Another favorite feature was the automatic shutoff after an idle period. Good product, packaging and price add up to a winning product.
Price: \$14.99
Suggested Age: 6 mos. to 36 mos.
Common Sense Parenting Book & Audio Tape
Boys Town Press
When it comes to reading advice about parenting, what we've discovered is that parents like to be spoken to in a direct, common sense manner. No need to use flowery or high-browed language, just give me some tips and I'll take it from there. Like the name implies, this book and the like-titled audiotape delivers the goods. Common sense tips and good ideas presented an easy to read and listen to format. Parents mentioned that they really liked the written exercises which serve to help reinforce what you've learned. Here is a logical and sensible approach to parenting, featuring good examples that our parents gave thumbs up to.
Price: \$14.95 each
Let's Go Potty!
Parenting Resources, Inc.
Here is a training video for parents facing the challenge of getting their little one to use the potty. Using clear step-by-step instructions, this production offers easy-to-follow advice that keeps a positive tone and leaves parents feeling upbeat about the task at hand. The system is well laid out and offers ideas that parents told us they believed would be helpful. Testers who have already been through potty training also told us that they wish they had a guide like this one when they were starting the process.
Price: \$19.95
The Nanny Training Program
Interactive Family Management, Inc.
Whether you are an employer or and employee you will really appreciate the tips and tools provided in this superbly presented program. There are exceptionally clear instructions to make the hiring and training of a caregiver a less frightening experience. You will each have a better working relationship. Open communication is the key here and by structuring the day to day details with your old nanny or a new one, you can then relate your family's wishes and desires more effectively. There is a videotape, software program to help you personalize your approach, and well written support materials.
Price: \$49.95
The Parent's Journal National Radio Program
Livy Morris Productions
Our testers had the opportunity to listen to several taped versions of this live parenting broadcast and found the content, approach and style all to be first rate. As a radio show goes this one is extremely user-friendly, offering up superb guests, good tips and suggestions, and a very engaging host. You'll have to search for it on your local radio dial if in fact it's in your area at all, but if you tune in we feel you'll come away entertained and even educated.
SurfWatch
SurfWatch
What we heard over and over from our parents who used SurfWatch was that they really liked the Internet for all that it provides but the threat of "what's out there" remained in the back of their minds constantly. We want to protect our children from images and content that they are not ready to understand or comprehend, and while we don't want to condone censorship we do want to have control at least in our own homes. That being the case, parents felt that SurfWatch was a good tool. Not that parents felt ready to let them relax completely, "There will always be things slipping through the crack" one mother told us, but it is a start.
Price: \$29.95
Or, for more information about The Seal of Approval or The National Parenting Center call: 1-800-753-6667
EOM