An Independent Guide to the "Bestest" Kid-Tested Toys

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2017 Summer Toys: Fun in the Sun

Summer break is fast approaching, and while kids love the freedom to run around and play, there's a good chance that at some point, the boredom bug will bite. Here are a few of the cool new summer toys to help you turn their boredom into...

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March Break 2017: Activities for the Week

Next week, no school. So how will you keep your kids busy? Whether they'll be playing at home, or you've traveling hours to fill, here are our suggestions to make fun instead of boredom during their week of free time. ...

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FEATURED TOY

Draw 4: Dig for Dinos!

"Our hands down favorite at home now. The kids (M6 and F9) love trying to gather all their dino pieces so they can then put together their puzzles. Our oldest also enjoys counting everyone's points at the end of the game to determine who won. Great little game!" Sylvie Schnubb

OTHER GREAT TOYS

Klutz Dress Your Own Paper Pups

Dress Your Own Paper Pups earns GOLD ~ "They are SO cute!! I love changing their outfits every day before I go to school." Mia (F7)

BOP IT! Game

BOP IT! Micro Series earns Gold ~ "I have the bigger game, but the small one is better because I take it every where, like school. It is a great recess toy. We all love doing it and seeing who can continue the bop it pattern the longest. Sometimes this game is funner than a computer game because I get to feel my pattern instead of just touching the computer screen." Andrew (M8)

Hot Wheels® Ultimate Garage

Hot Wheels® Ultimate Garage earns a Platinum rating ~ "We have played with lots of garages at lots of kids houses, so I think it is the best of all the garages. It has lots of levels and separate spots - not just lines, there are barriers, so the cars stay in their spot and don't just drive out by themselves if you bump it a bit. It is really cool where the car goes down the ramp and it might get eaten by the shark but not always, that really makes it more fun." Gram (M9

PlushCraft™ Butterfly Pillow

"I like this craft better than the sticker crafts. With the sticker craft it is sometimes hard to get the stickers off the plastic. This is..."

-Kierra (F6 years)

U-Build Connect 4

"It seems that this one was hard to build. The connector pieces keep falling out which is annoying. I like the idea of the blocker. I like..."

-Tia (F12 years)

Meccano Micronoid

"This is way COOL...I loved building this guy. It is fun to create your own monster. I liked that i could work with someone to build it..."

-Andrew (M10)

Klutz My Style Studio (2014)

"I really like being a fashion designer. I like this book better then the Disney villian one i did. klutz is a lot easier and the pictures..."

-camilla (F9 years)

Decorate Your Own Sunnies

"Cute idea for a craft kit to design her own sunglasses. The kit came with lots of bling. The glue didn't stick -we used crazy glue instead...."

-Lisa

Disney•Pixar Cars Dinoco Stunt Show Stunt Set

"Easy and quick set up. Good size track, doesn't take up too much room. It doesn't come apart every time you move it which is also good. In..."

-Sylvie

Order's Up!™

"An easy game for me to play with the kids.  It is easy to set up and we can get started playing right away.  everyone has fun..."

-Choi

MEGA BLOKS FIRST BUILDERS Friendly Farm

"This Megabloks set is a lot of fun for Evan (2). There are enough pieces to build a tall farm or just have some imaginative building, with..."

-Christina

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With all the early snow we're having a delightfully long holiday season this year. Top it all off with some great gifts under the tree. Here are our tester favourites this year. ...

Great Gifts for Any Budget

Looking for a great toy with a small price tags. Here are a few tester favourites this year - all under $25. It's a great list to save for birthday gift ideas next year, too. ...

March Break Activities: Keeping Kids Engaged

March Break is just around the corner – a whole week without school or the usual extra curricular programs. So whether your child needs a few quick boredom busting project ideas, or is taking advantage of the extra free time to start a new...

ARTICLES

2017 Summer Toys: Fun in the Sun

March Break 2017: Activities for the Week

The Best of the Year: 2016 Holiday Award Toys

Great Gifts for Any Budget

March Break Activities: Keeping Kids Engaged

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THE NOISE ON TOYS

The Noise on Toys play testing program is unique, both in giving voice to the kids' perspective on the toys as well as offering readers easy access to the original feedback posted by each family - parent and child comments. TNOT is privately funded to ensure complete editorial independence: manufacturers pay neither an administration fee to participate, nor licensing fees to use earned award logos.