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

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Best New Games and Puzzles in 2018:

Temperatures are dropping, and some of the fun is moving indoors. So here are our favourite new games and puzzles to cuddle up with after a busy day playing in the snow. ...

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Holidays 2017 Toy Guide:

Snow is in the air and holiday shopping is in full swing. If you’ve a tot on your shopping list, check out these 2017 testing family favourites for a quick and easy shopping guide through the toy aisles. ...

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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

Klutz Stencil Art (2013 Edition)

"I liked creating the scenes that were already in the book, like the outdoor scene or underwater scene, you just fill it in with the stamps..."

-Madeline (F8 years)

Sticky Mosaics Sparkle Ups Cupcakes

"I like making cupcake stickers.  The jewels are very pretty.  I gave some to my friends and my sister.</p>"

-Mackenzie (F4 years)

Imaginext® DC Super Friends™ Batcave

"This is a really cool toy Mum; I like that the gun really shoots!"

-Matthew (M5 years)

Imaginista™ D.I.Y. Tie Dye

"I love love love my tie-dye bag. It was super easy to dye it in the [ziplock] bag, and kind of fun to squirt the dye in and mush the shirt..."

-Victoria (F10 years)

Character Sports™ Talk to Me Basketball Set

"This toy did not get played with a lot and when it did it was only for a second...the novelty wore off very quickly. Mostly this toy was..."

-Megan

Primary Science Color Mixing Set

"I used food coloring since I had some already in the home but the non-staining colored bath tablets would have been the better option. F3..."

-Sandra

Smack it! Card Game

"My kids (F4 and M6) both enjoy playing this game. It was very easy for them to learn. The box says it's for ages 6+, but I think it's..."

-Wendy

BARBIE® VIDEO GIRL™ DOLL

"The video concept is great. Ease of use of the video with the computer is wonderful. I would give that a 9. Picture quality is pretty good..."

-Bruno

NEWEST ARTICLES

Best New Games and Puzzles in 2018

Temperatures are dropping, and some of the fun is moving indoors. So here are our favourite new games and puzzles to cuddle up with after a busy day playing in the snow. ...

Holidays 2017 Toy Guide

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The Best New Brain Teasers for 2017

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The patio chairs are packed away and evening fun has moved indoors. So, grab a game and cozy up to the kitchen table. Here are a few our new favourites this year. ...

ARTICLES

Best New Games and Puzzles in 2018

Holidays 2017 Toy Guide

Holidays 2017: Last Minute Gifts and Stuffers

The Best New Brain Teasers for 2017

2017 Board Games: The Best & Newest of the Year

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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.