Welcome
The Talking Tots Toy Awards panel will be looking for toys that excel in developing skills in the following categories: Communication, Motor Skills, Creativity, Social Skills and Pre-literacy
At Talking Tots, we understand how children learn and how to nurture this through play. The Talking Tots Toy Awards have been designed to help parents and carers find great toys that spark children’s imaginations and encourage them to make new discoveries.
All the toys included in the Talking Tots Toy Awards have been reviewed by our panel of child development experts.
To be considered for an award, a toy must be available in the UK (either in retail stores or online) in December 2009, and be suitable for children aged 5 or under.
The Talking Tots Toy Awards panel will be looking for toys that excel in developing skills in the following categories:
- Communication: toys that promote language skills, nurturing social confidence.
- Motor Skills: toys that develop fine and gross motor skills, helping young children become more confident and co-ordinated.
- Creativity: toys that encourage children to explore colour, texture, shape and form.
- Social Skills: toys that allow children to mimic the world around them and develop imagination.
- Pre-literacy: toys that introduce children to words, sounds, rhymes and rhythm in an age-appropriate way, helping to build the skills that will be required for subsequent reading and writing.
Talking Tots Toy Awards 2009 – The Winners!
We are thrilled to announce the Winners of our 2009 Toy Awards.
The Talking Tots Awards judges selected a Winner and a Highly Commended toy from an impressive shortlist in each category. Below are our winners:
Communication:
Winner: Storyshaping set
Storyshaping supports children in creating and rehearsing stories orally. It is a great way to develop story structure and story language through talk.
Storyshapes serve as prompts and visual reminders of the key elements of story stucture. The collaborative approach is supportive and inclusive. All ideas are valued equally and children have real ownership as authors of their story. Supports the EYFS principles and commitments. One blue bag, five story symbols, a million stories!
www.storyshapes.com
Highly Commended: Bamba’s First Comforts Baby Signing Kit
The latest innovation in Baby Signing suitable for all babies from 6 months. This box contains 6 beautifully crafted items to help with first words and gestures.
www.babysignfactory.com
Creativity:
Winner: PlayMais
PlayMais is a fun, creative natural modelling material, which is made from cornstarch and natural food colourings. It’s 100% biodegradable and the blocks can be stuck together by just using a little water. Each PlayMais set is supplied with a plastic biodegradable knife, and because PlayMais is so flexible, the creative possibilities are endless.
www.johnlewis.com
Highly Commended: KidsArt PaintBall
The Pritt KidsArt PaintBall is washable water paint in a convenient roll-on dispenser, which creates distinctive drawing results. It is ready-to-use. No brushes, water or mixing trays are needed.
www.prittworld.com
Motor Skills:
Winner: Janod Magnetic 3D Wooden Rocket Puzzle
This wooden magnetic aeroplane is a fantastic, sturdy and robust toy for little hands to get to grips with, and is educational too. It also includes a little spinning propeller to guide the aeroplane as it performs stunts in the sky. You really can’t go wrong with this toy – it’s fantastic!
www.littlenuttreetoys.co.uk
Highly Commended: Mini Micro Scooter
Developed with the help of Swiss medical experts the Mini Micro scooter gives toddlers independence whilst helping to develop their critical balance and co-ordination skills. It is light weight and portable. It comes apart in two pieces and will fit easily on top of a buggy or in the corner of a cafe.
www.micro-scooters.co.uk
Pre-literacy:
Winner: Fridge Phonics
Not only are these letters magnetic but they also talk and sing. Children can play with letters as they would any magnetic letters, but place a letter in the reader and you hear its name, sound or a fun phonics song.
www.brightminds.co.uk
Highly Commended: Tag reading system
A clever Tag Reader pen & story system that brings books to life. Engages children from a young age to make reading a rich & fulfilling experience. Also available is the Activity Storybook Disney Princess: Adventures Under the Sea. Read and swim along with Ariel and Flounder as they explore a sunken boat loaded with treasures! After the story, play levelled learning activities with Cinderella and Jasmine that help build vocabulary and reading comprehension.
www.leapfrog.com
www.disney.co.uk
Social Skills:
Winner: Rose Petal Cottage
This beautiful fabric cottage and an additional range of creative accessories allow girls to create a house of their dreams. The sets work just like the real thing, with opening doors, taps that turn and an ironing board that folds away.
All of the materials and finishes are of the highest quality, including details such as fabric walls and a pretty lace trim. When not in use, the two halves of Rose Petal Cottage can be fitted inside each other for easy storage.
www.worldsapart.com
Highly Commended: Pretend & Play Bakery Set