Clinton News-Record, 1987-12-02, Page 471,500 toys tested by toy council
BY LOU -ANN DE BRUYN
A collection of plastic food has been
named the toy of the year by the Cana-
dian Toy Testing Council.
The announcement, made November 23
in Ottawa, says the Fun With Food play
food assortment by Fisher-Price won the
council's top honors for its realistic
design, simplicity, price and play value.
This is the first year the collection of
food, condiments, serving pieces and
storage containers was tested by the in-
dependent non-profit council. This year,
the council tested about 1,500 toys for its
annual report, The Toy Report, which
has been on newstands since mid-
October.
At a cost of $5 to $10 per set, the Fun
With Food Play food assortment proves
that toys don't need to be expensive to be
fun.
In The Toy Report, the council gave the
food assortment, suitable for ages 2 to 8,
three stars (top mark) because, "With
this realistic -looking food, young cooks
can serve you breakfast in bed or whip
up a dinner to suit your elegant.
tastebuds. The child -sized portions of
food are familiar favorites with
youngsters — hotdogs, hamburgers, and
drumsticks to name a few — and look
good enough to eat (in fact, they withs-
tand the inevitable chewing very well).
Each meal selection is sold as a set that
provides enough for one or two to play
and includes accessories such as serving
pieces, condiments, and storage con-
tainers. Having several sets increases
Hints from the Canadian Council..
• from page 16.
ding how children played with the toy over
long, unstructured periods of time: These
early methods still form the basis of to-
day's testing by the Council.
Testing by the CTTC gives an accurate
reading of the toy's potential play value;
how it stands up to the wear and tear of
normal play; whether it encourages safe,
appropriate use; and the ways in which it
is used, whether the manufacturer intend-
ed it to be used in that manner or not.
For today's parents, choosing toys for
their children is nothing short of difficult.
Choices are made more difficult by the
wide selection of toys, the aggressive
advertising of toys on television, and the
replacement of the single toy by the "toy
line" (a collection of toys such as Cabbage
Patch Dolls, Cabbage Patch clothes, Cab-
bage Patch high chair, etc.).
This is where the Toy Report, produced
annually in book form by the CTTC, can
help parents select toys both high in quali-
ty and safety.
In its report, the CTTC provides lists of
toys available on the Canadian market.
The toys are categorized and listed in 18
different sections (ranging from baby and
toddler toys to winter play). The CTTC
identifies each product, its manufacturer,
the product's serial number, a broad price
range, a commentary which lists the
strengths and weaknesses of the product,
and a product rating with three stars being
the highest (excellence in design, function,
durabililty and play value).
By reading the information provided in
the report, parents can make choosing
toys they feel are suitable for their
children much simpler.
As you listen to the young couple explain
that this is how they were able to select
toys for children, you begin to wish you too
had read the CTTC's Toy Report.
The Toy Report for 1988, priced at $5.95,
is available in many bookstores and
magazine outlets. It just may save you a
few hours of walking through toy stores
searching for the perfect toy.
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Although the food assortment was judg-
ed the over-all "best bet" by the council,
it also named 11 other groups of toys as
best bets in specific categories:
Back to the basics award: Super Soft
Foam Balls by Hedstrom, retail cost $5 to
$20, suitable for all ages.
Design award: Playskool Duracell
Flashlight, $15, for ages three to six.
Page 17
First friends award: Jammie Pies by
Playskool, $25, for ages six months to
three years.
Junior game award: Pizza Party by
Parker, $15, for ages four to eight.
Adventure toy award: Starcorn by Col-
eco, $5 to $30, for ages five and up.
Pocket toy award: Several woodland
collectibles — Silvanian Families by
Tomy, $5 to $20, for ages four to 10;
Maple Town by Tonka, $5 to $20, for ages
four to 10; and Best Friends by The Bay,
$5 to $20, for ages four to 10.
Construction toy award: ZAKS by Ir-
win, $10 to $40, for ages five and up.
Cuddle award: Roosevelt's Teddy by
Heritage Puppets, $25, for ages three and
up.
Good value award: Felt Art by Amav,
$5, for ages five and up.
Arts and crafts award: Woodh"lke Carv-
ings by Craft House, $12, for ages nine
and up.
Strategy game award: Cathedral by
Mattel, $18, for ages 10 and up.
Although the best bet announcements
are usually made when the Toy Report is
released, council chairman Julie
Creighton said the council delayed the
announcements so that the toy shelves
wouldn't be depleted before Christmas
shopping began.
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