Star Wars Game Saga Edition
(Tiger Electronics $49.99 Score:) Plug the training droid into your TV and players with wireless light saber are ready to become Jedi warriors. Testers had an aerobic workout swinging the light saber and ridding the galaxy of droids and other evildoers! We don’t usually review zap-it games, but this is more fantasy than war, and multi-generational—may even get parents up and on their feet! May the Force be with you. 8 & up. (888) 836-7025.

Age: Later School Years. Award Year: 2006.

Cosmic Catch
(Hasbro $24.99 Score:) A great game for the whole family! Everyone wears a different colored band on their hands and the ball then identifies each player by passing it around once. Our favorite game mode is much like Simon Says—the ball calls out the color that it should be passed to next. If you make a mistake, the game is over. There are more challenging games, in which you have to break the “code” the ball has in mind. 7 & up, but will also be enjoyed by older siblings and family members. 2–6 players. (888) 836-7025.

Age: Early School Years,Later School Years. Award Year: 2007.

Speed Stacks
(Play Along $39.99 Score:) This is a game that has caught on in gym classes in middle schools and high schools across the country. It's a great way to build eye-hand coordination as well as concentration. The idea is to stack and unstack the cups in the shortest amount of time. Fun and active - and great for the age that usually just wants to plug into their video games.

Age: Early School Years,Later School Years. Award Year: .

Restoration Hardware Badminton Set
(Restoration Hardware $69 Score:) Badminton is always a crowd pleaser for backyard summer fun- especially if you have a multi-generational crowd. This set includes the net (poles), 4 racquets, 6 feather birdies, rules (always good!) and it all zips up into a canvas bag.

Age: Later School Years. Award Year: 2008.

Pottery Barn Kids Water Balloon Toss
(Pottery Barn Kids $29 Score:) You're either a water balloon family or you're not. If water balloons are your thing, check out this new Water Balloon Toss game from Pottery Barn Kids. The banner comes with four different holes (of varying sizes) for kids (and adults) to try their hand at. The concept here is to throw the water balloons at the canvas, not at each other-- no guarantees! The banner comes with some rope for hanging purposes.

Age: Early School Years,Later School Years. Award Year: 2008.

Alex Sack Racing
(Alex $19.99 Score:) Maybe it's all our years going to camp, but nothing screams summer to us as much as sack racing. Can you say color war? Of course we were so excited when these new versions came into the office. Each pack comes with two (there are four different animal motifs to select from). The first question was to see if a grown up can use them -- unless you are really really tall--they'll work just fine which makes this a great family party activity for the whole family.

Age: Preschool,Later School Years. Award Year: 2008.

HearthSong Great Big Outdoor Playball
(HearthSong $59.98 Score:) When they say BIG, they really mean it. This ball is 52" in diameter! We highly recommend that you buy the electric pump they sell ($29.98) if you don't already have a pump. Each chamber of the blue and green ball must be inflated separately. The ball will be enjoyed by early school aged kids. EDITORS NOTE: Because the ball has two openings that a child can climb into (it was the first thing everyone wanted to do)--this toy requires complete supervision. The company has submitted our safety verification form. Note, we did not test this independently in a lab.

Age: Early School Years,Later School Years. Award Year: 2008.