Remember when toys were just for fun? Now a stroll through the aisles feels like a product Olympics—rows of fierce opponents lined up trying to outshine and outwow each other. Simply picking out a gift is tricky, when so many of them are boasting various gold and platinum seals as some sort of proof of their superiority over the others. What's the difference? Here, the four most popular toy awards deconstructed.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio
What it is: The New York City–based organization publishes an independent consumer review of children's media. It does not charge entry fees or accept advertisements. Along with doling out its Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Awards, the editors rate new books, videos, software, audio, films, and special-needs products.
Who picks: Mother-daughter child-development experts Joanne and Stephanie Oppenheim run an editorial team that weeds through the scores of toy submissions and judges them on design, educational value, age appropriateness, and values. They send their favorites to "families from all walks of life" for another round of testing, which the editorial team takes into consideration.
Recent winners:
Dr. Toy Awards
What they are: The awards are part of the Dr. Toy's Guide. Funded by the not-for-profit Institute for Childhood Resources, the guide also includes toy-related news and resources. A whopping one hundred new products each year are given the seal.
Who picks: Dr. Toy is Stevanne Auerbach, a former teacher who holds Ph.D.s in child development and child psychology. She judges each toy on quality, price, reliability, fun, and educational relevance.
Recent winners:
Parent's Choice Awards
What they are: Around for a good quarter-century now, the Parent's Choice Awards program is the nation's oldest nonprofit guide to children's media. It has six different types of awards: Gold, Silver, Recommended, Approved, Classic, and Fun Stuff.
Who picks: Members of the Parents' Choice Foundation (started by author and educator Diana Huss Green in 1978) rate how a product helps a child grow socially, intellectually, emotionally, ethically, and physically. The winners must be free of racial or gender bias and violence.
Recent winners:
Toy of the Year Awards
What they are: Developed by the International Toy Industry in 2000, these awards are sort of like the Oscars and are intended to "salute the success, creativity, and playful spirit of the toy industry." Products are nominated and voted on by insiders and do not undergo any rigorous testing.
Who picks: The T.O.T.Y. Awards Committee is made up of representatives from cross-segments of the toy industry. They oversee the nominating and selection process, and may also submit their own nominations. There is a $50 or $100 entry fee (depending on whether the nominator is a member). The awards honor only one toy in each of 11 different categories.
Recent winners:
