Seeking Top Toys, Good Housekeeping Puts Them to Test

The challenge to find the most popular toys for this holiday season started on a steamy July morning at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute in Hearst’s headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. Dozens of children gathered in testing rooms usually reserved for reviewing washing machines and vacuum cleaners. In a surprisingly quiet space, except for the buzz of toy planes and the occasional chirps of children’s voices, the testers bent over tea sets and sprawled out on their bellies to play with cars as Good Housekeeping employees in white lab coats scribbled notes on manila folders.
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“The question is not ‘Will a toy break?’ ” said Rachel Rothman, technical manager and engineering director for the Good Housekeeping institute, as she studied the children around her. “It’s how it will break.”

For 113 years, Good Housekeeping has been testing and awarding its seal of approval to all kinds of consumer products, from skin creams to dishwashers. For the last six years, that testing has expanded to include toys. The magazine spends all year finding and reviewing toys for children. Then in the December issue, it bestows awards on about two dozen toys and board games that shoppers can buy just in time for the holidays.

The process is integral to Good Housekeeping’s overall business strategy. Like most magazines, Good Housekeeping, part of Hearst Magazines, has been under more pressure than ever to find new sources of revenue. According to data tracked by the magazine analyst John Harrington, Good Housekeeping’s combined revenue from magazine sales and advertising was $531 million in 2012, compared with $573 million in 2011 and $607 million in 2008. Over the last year, the magazine has undergone a redesign and recently replaced its editor in chief.

Now it is returning to its core testing business and focusing heavily on toys to help attract readers and drive revenue.

Simply put, toys equal traffic — on the web. Mimi Crume Sterling, a spokeswoman for Good Housekeeping, said that last November and December, after the awards were featured on NBC’s “Today” show, on Yahoo’s shopping section and across social media, the toy section received the most visits to the website, surpassing categories like household items and cookware.

David Carey, president of Hearst Magazines, said the digital desirability of toy reviews far outweighed the costs of conducting the tests.

“It was among the most consumed in terms of page views when it ran last year,” he said. “These things lead very long lives in our digital product.”

(Roughly half the testers are children of people affiliated with Hearst, proving that in the magazine business, even if you are a preschooler, it helps to know someone).

Good Housekeeping is also trying to derive more revenue from toy testing by licensing its brand to manufacturers. Starting with this year’s awards, companies can pay a one-year licensing fee of $2,500 to $17,500 to feature the magazine’s emblem on their products. Ms. Sterling said that one company signed up for the license the day a segment about its toy aired on the “Today” show. Lisa Guili, general manager of Educational Insights, a toy company based in Los Angeles, said it might place the emblem on the game Shelby’s Snack Shack, which made this year’s list.

“Some seals don’t add value,” Ms. Guili said. “But their seal definitely adds value.”

Toy manufacturers, especially smaller brands with limited advertising budgets, also say the reviews help make sales. Andrea Barthello, co-founder of ThinkFun, a small toy company, said that when its Yackety Smack toy appeared on the list in 2012, sales doubled. After the company learned it had made the list again this year, for its Laser Maze toy, it arranged to have more items in stock because of what Ms. Barthello called the magazine’s “halo effect.”

Utahns send shoeboxes full of toys, supplies for children around the world

Almost 10 million children in need will receive items like these — things they’ve never had before — at Christmastime and throughout 2014, thanks to a charity operation.

Utah volunteers and donors are joining together on a Samaritan’s Purse project called Operation Christmas Child, which organizes efforts in 11 countries to collect and deliver gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world.

Since the project began 20 years ago, more than 103 million boxes have been delivered. About 9.8 million shoeboxes are expected to be collected this year and sent to children in more than 120 different countries.

“I just love everything it represents. It’s just this little shoebox with so much love and hope inside of it. What’s so amazing about it is it’s not only for the child who receives the box, it’s for the family and community as well,” said Kerri Payne, a full-time volunteer who works on church relations for the project.

Individuals and groups can donate shoeboxes filled with about $15 worth of supplies, toys, photos and notes of encouragement for boys and girls ages 2 to 14. Donors are also encouraged to cover the $7 shipping fee for each shoebox.

Donations from families, schools, Eagle Scout projects and community service projects are being collected through Nov. 25 at sites across the United States, including 18 in Utah. Monetary contributions can be made online as well.

“Each year the project grows, but even if we took all 9.8 million shoeboxes just to India, we wouldn’t be able to reach all the kids that are just there. It’s an ongoing thing that every year there are children that these boxes could bless,” said Alison Long, a year-round volunteer for the project for 19 years.
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In this courtesy photo provided by Kim Giebler children in Haiti open up shoeboxes they received this year as part of last years Operation Christmas Child. (Submission date: 11/19/2013)

Long is the area coordinator for northern Utah, and she is collecting boxes this year to send to Panama, Ukraine, Nepal, Mongolia, Philippines, Indonesia and Madagascar. They’ve already collected 5,600 shoeboxes of their 17,500 goal for northern Utah.

The boxes are sent to seven processing centers where the boxes are inspected and then shipped off. National groups in the countries distribute the humanitarian relief to schools, orphanages and places torn apart by war or natural disasters.

“To know that there are people on the other side of the world that care and that are sending them help, assistance and encouragement, it makes them feel like they’re not so alone,” said Kim Giebler, who just returned Sunday from a two-week distribution trip to Haiti.

Giebler said the children were jumping up and down and dancing when she and other volunteers distributed shoeboxes full of gifts to 200 children in a small village on the outskirts of Léogâne. She said they live in plywood, tin homes put together with tarps or canvases, usually only 8 feet by 8 feet with dirt floors.

“We heard from the Samaritan’s Purse people that are there long-term that they’ll see a shoebox in that community six months later, and kids are still carrying them around with all their contents in them because it’s so special,” Giebler said.

Drop-off sites can be found at samaritanspurse.org/occ. There are three in Salt Lake Valley including the Calvary Chapel at 460 W. Century Drive, Salt Lake City; the Calvary Chapel Thrift Store at 3245 W. 7800 South, West Jordan; and Hidden Valley Presbyterian Church at 12883 S. 1300 East, Draper.

Birmingham's The Entertainer crowns new Battroborg champion

Shoppers went head to head with local boxing stars to win limited edition golden Battroborg

Visitors to Birmingham's The Entertainer went toe-to-toe with young boxers from Pat Benson Boxing Academy in the fourth of Tomy's in-store Battroborg events last weekend.




England Junior team boxer Connor Benson and up-and-coming pugilist Connor Goodchild kicked off the latest event, demonstrating their boxing prowess in a head-to-head match of Battroborg on Saturday, November 16th.

In a tournament to win a limited edition golden Battroborg, shoppers then took turns to face the two fifteen year olds.

A new Battroborg champion was crowned when 11 year old Mason Kirkbright stepped into the ring with Goodchild. Kirkbright beat the young boxer to take home the Birmingham title.

James Cokell, Tomy brand manager, said: "Battroborg is promising to be the ‘must have’ boys toy this Christmas - it’s a great mix of family fun and technology.

"We’re really excited to be working with The Entertainer to reach out to consumers by demonstrating the product in full battling action.

"The chance to battle against top boxers to win a limited edition golden Battroborg is proving to be a big hit with kids of all ages.”

Top Toys and games For 4 Season Old Ladies in 2013

Assuming that you need to discover the most sweltering toys for four year old young ladies, there are numerous choices accessible above and past dolls. While Barbie is decent and is still a hit with junior young ladies, there are numerous other incredible toys accessible for Christmas 2013. Continue perusing assuming that you need to catch wind of some the most notorious toys for preschool young ladies in the not so distant future.

Best Toys in 2013 For 4 Year Old Girls

This is an exceptionally speedy look at a percentage of the prominent toys for modest young ladies in 2013.

Pixie Triad Dome Terrarium -For modest young ladies who love pixies, this is set to be a hit. It permits them to develop their own particular arrangement for pixies!

Princess Castle Paper Dolls In-a-Box -This is a playhouse for paper dolls that accompanies the dolls. For a flat value, a young lady in your existence could have hours and hours of fun.

Inchimals -Winner of the Teacher's Choice honor, this is an incredible instructive toy for 4 year old young ladies. They're wooden obstructs with a little thought behind them.

Ladybug Land -This toy won't be for all young ladies, however for those with an inquisitive and exploratory nature, this is set to be a hit. Ladybug Land permits them to watch nature in activity -up close in an encased unit.

Hopscotch Rug -This excellent outside amusement is carried inside with the Hopscotch Rug. It makes clean-up simple and is loads of fun for four year old young ladies.

Purpleicious -If you're searching for a blessing under $15, this is an incredible book that 4 year old young ladies are set to affection having read to them again and again.

Pixie Princess Castle -This is to a greater degree a tent than a stronghold, yet that is not set to prevent young ladies from having a ton of fun inside it.

This is only a modest measure of the numerous extraordinary toys that are accessible for Christmas 2013 -or a special day or any blessing giving event. The point when purchasing for a four year old, you are set to need to realize what they are fascinated by. Then again, provided that you need to stray far from toys dependent upon ton characters, there are numerous alternatives accessible.

Discovering the best toys in 2013 for young ladies won't be stressful assuming that you run into it with the right state of brain. Case in point, attempt to envision what its jump at the chance to be that age and let that instinct guide you to the ideal blessing. With a little steadiness -and fortunes -you're certain to discover the ideal blessing.

Best Developing Toys and games for Mature Children - Legos, K'nex and More

If you are looking for a fun and interesting toy for a mature kid, here is a look at some developing toys and games that will keep the attention of most kid’s age groups 8 to 12.

Lego Places - Lego Places are the most apparent decision for a kid this age. Very few kids don't appreciate developing with Legos and there are a lot of excellent sets out there. If purchasing a designed set, look for one that has 500 items or more. This will provide a kid in this age team a excellent task. The 3 in 1 Designer Places are also a really wise decision. They come with three different programs for developing with the set so the kid will get a lot more usage from them.

One that will do the job is the Lego Designer The apple company Shrub House Set. This set allows you to develop three different houses with the 539 item set: a property, a townhouse residence, and a summer time home. This set sells for $45.

K'nex Places - K'nex Set are also well-known with kids in this age team. There are a lot of really excellent K'nex Places out there but the ones that kids will likely get the most fun are one of the journey designed sets that K'nex provides.

One that is sure to be a hit is the K'nex DoubleShot Curler Rollercoaster. This 1100 item set creates a journey that is over three and 50 percent ft. high. And the double paths will offer extra fun for kids once the set is designed since they can competition the two involved coaster vehicles.

Marble Operates - A stone run set is another excellent developing toy that is excellent for teenagers. My nine season old likes enjoying with our stone run. We have a wood created stone run created by Tedco. It comes with 45 wood created prevent items and 14 glass beads. Its awesome how many different factors can be designed with it. The kids never develop fed up with creating new designs with it and then viewing the glass beads run through it.

This is a look at just a few of the developing toys and games that are excellent for teenagers. There are a lot of excellent choices out there. Building toys and games are so excellent for a kid's growth and can really help their creativeness. They are the toys and games my kids go returning to most and I know we will always get decades of perform out of any developing toy we buy.

Toys for Kids

Toys for youngsters are showcased all through the year yet what are the qualities of a youngster's toy that is prone to advertise especially well and, hence, get efficacious? That being said, kids must like playing with them and they should speak to an extensive variety of kids who have diverse tastes.

Christmas records are records that numerous folks urge their youngsters to compose when Christmas time is approaching. The record is then sent to Santa Claus (Father Christmas). The point when Christmas is approaching its an out of this world thought to urge your kid to get energized concerning the heavenly blessings that they will be accepting. They may as well get a few blessings that were on their Christmas record and they may as well likewise accept a few introduces that they didn't even realize that they may get. These sorts of blessings are reputed to be astonishes or shock presents and could be exceptionally electrifying for your tyke to appropriate on Christmas Day. Every living soul cherishes excellent shocks.

So when Christmas morning comes and the time it now, time for your kids to open their presents, you might as well urge them to clean up the wrapping paper. This pushes exceptional behavior in your youngsters and the effects are a clean play zone which is incredible for your youngsters. Innovative studying toys and recreations all in all are extraordinary for conferring informative data to your youngsters about distinctive parts of the planet. As kids improve, their abilities develop and they pick up more experience.

So wouldn't it be great if we could now check out a couple of the diverse sorts of toys and diversions that you can buy for your youngster or that Santa Claus might leave under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. Assembling blocks are one especially exceptional decision for youngsters. They serve to fabricate cognitive thinking abilities as to fabricating a specific structure. They can additionally advance your youngsters' material abilities otherwise called pragmatic abilities. Co-appointment aptitudes are additionally reinforced by assembling squares. Assuming that the squares are diverse colors then you can additionally ask your youngster to distinguish the diverse colors as they pick them up to play with them. This is an incredible technique for studying diverse aptitudes and improving distinctive sorts of experience in the meantime. As you acquaint your youngsters with new toys they will study new aptitudes and advance considerably more experience. This is the way your kid will improve and develop. It is your occupation as a guardian to furnish your youngsters wills the chances to study. Some television is Ok and this may even give them arguments with their companions assuming that they are mature enough. The mystery here is balance. No single sort of studying ought to be overrepresented or your tyke may get dragged of it. Stir up the studying with diverse inventive studying toys and recreations.

Three Child Toy Places for Entertaining Play

Intuitive play with toys and a grown-up is exceptionally adequate in improving your youngster's cognitive abilities. An adventure of disclosure and fun, this sort of play additionally empowers imagination through investigation under the direction of a guardian. Toys utilized as a part of playing with the youngsters incorporate three child toy sets fit for toddlers from six months to one year. The aforementioned toys likewise require less than fifty dollars on normal.

Nine Activity Blocks from Plan Toys

This set embodies three sets of three hinders that animate a youngster's faculties together. The leading three animate the toddler's feeling of sight with their brilliant colors. The second set of three pieces transforms sounds and animates the tyke's feeling of hearing. The third set of pieces has been composed to make diverse tactile sensations as the kid touches and feels their surfaces. All the aforementioned squares are archived in a convenient cotton pack, which simple for your small one to clutch and drag plus them as they stroll around getting the pieces.

Tip Top Toys Made of Rubber Wood and Fabric

A set with a disclosure roller called Tip Top Triangle holds a turning wheel, a turning barrel, a sliding globule, a flipping disc, a delicate shake frog in a clear pocket, a delicate crease sun, a look a-boo window, and a sheltered reflect. This infant toy set is fit for children of any sex and it’s additionally the ideal blessing for a tyke figuring out how to recognize distinctive shades, textures, and shapes. Made of elastic wood and fabric, the triangular sheets give jokes house of fun exercises with a delicate board and a touch-and-tell ball.

Looking into Noah's Ark through Interactive Play

Made from eco-accommodating materials, this infant toy set includes five toy creatures, incorporating an elephant beanie, a sheep formed clatter, a squeaky toy that resembles a giraffe and an additional that resembles a pig, and a hippo that creases when pressed. All the aforementioned toys are saved in a delightfully composed wooden ark that has look a-boo windows. On highest point of the ark is separable delicate board that additionally pairs as a bed guard for the youngster.

The aforementioned toddler toy sets were produced out of non lethal paints and finishes, and they don't have small parts that can reason unintentional gagging in tots and toddlers. The fabric and strands used to make the delicate toys are hypoallergenic. Ultimately, the aforementioned elastic wood toys are straightforward to perfect with a sodden fabric while the ones made of fabric may be washed with warm water and toddler cleanser.

Support positive collaboration that fortifies holding with your children through imaginative play. Manage them through their disclosure of the planet around them utilizing instructive toddler toys and nurturing items for youngsters with unique needs.