Good Housekeeping reveals 2012's best toys
The Glow Crazy Doodle Dome, $20, is a tent with walls that can be drawn on with a green light wand. Credit: AP via Good Housekeeping
Not all the testers for Good Housekeeping's annual Best Toys list wear lab coats. Some are barely out of diapers.
For its 2012 list, engineers reviewed hundreds of toys for safety and educational merits. But the true test comes from 140 kids, ages 3 to 13, who play with the top 135 new toys at the magazine's product-testing laboratory in Manhattan.
There are more price-conscious choices under $25 to choose from this year, according to the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, along with toys that teach, including robotics for very young children and sophisticated art projects and models for older kids. Others fall into the category of back-to-basics, abandoning tech in favor of more open-ended play.
"Parents can feel confident that our winners are safe, fun and encourage creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills," said Rosemary Ellis, editor-in-chief of Good Housekeeping.
The winners of Good Housekeeping's 2012 Best Toy Awards are revealed in the December issue, which hit newsstands Tuesday:
