Top Toys is a new company brought to you by Carole Burton. Carole has been testing toys with children for the past twenty five years and has worked with children for many more years than that! Over the past years of working with and for children Carole has made countless contacts and has met a lot of people who share her passion for toys and books. This has given her numerous children to use as testers, with their parents or professional child carers. Until recently, Carole was the manager and editor of the Good Toy Guide, and held that post for 11 years.
Here at Top Toys we review toys and books for their benefits and appeal to children.
The children are the main testers with some help from childcare professionals who observe the children’s response and where appropriate talk to the children about the toys/books and why they like them – this is dependent on the age and ability of the children.
The toys/books are tested by children from a wide range of ages, cultural backgrounds and abilities.
We are happy to accept all toys, but they must reach the British Safety Standards.
We also ask that if you plan to put forward large products for testing please call first to allow arrangements to be made to send the toy directly to the testing location.
The toys/books are tested in group situations or in a variety of homes, over a period of three months.
Top Toys results were most recently published in the Parent Supplement of the Independent Newspaper. This supplement was also distributed at the Baby Show held in London in October 2010. It is planned that the results will be published in the lead up to Christmas, again with the Independent. The results will also be posted on the Top Toys website which will link to each company using our service. Each product will be shown – (images are required) – alongside the review.
A report will be written about every toy and/or book and sent to the appropriate company.
If toys are sent in as part of a range then the report will be about the complete range, but each product will be highlighted within the report.
Top Toys require one sample of each product to be tested, unless it is an activity that can only be used once and then we would ask for two or three products to ensure the activity is thoroughly tested.
We ask that you supply any batteries for toys needing them and that all the accessories are sent in with the toy to ensure that it can be played with properly e.g. furniture and people with a dolls house.
All products should be sent in with completed forms, an image either a jpeg on a disk or a jpeg sent by email and a cheque to cover the administration cost. The cost is £140 per product (no VAT will be payable), and we will accept one range of four products that are closely related and cost less than £25 each. Books will be accepted in ranges in all cases.
There will be Awards presented – Gold and Silver for each category and one overall Award for the toy tested with the highest result.
Once tested the toys will stay with the groups or situations where they have been tested.
There is advertising space available throughout the publication. Prices will vary according to your requirements.
"I believe this is a unique service to good toy manufacturers and book publishers providing an objective assessment of their products as experienced by users – children."
For more information please call Carole on 0795 747 2706, email carole@toptoysltd.com or use complete the form on our contact us page
Toys will be accepted between March 7th and May 26th.
Results will be available in September at the Awards presentation.
Entry forms will be sent out in February by email unless otherwise requested.
Top Toys will be published in October in the Independent Newspaper.