Designed for preschoolers, this really is a cooperative game that can only be played by working together to lift the blocks in a stack. The players are trying to beat the Stack Smasher ( a cardboard playing piece shaped like a hand) as it moves around the board. In one game there are challenge cards that require kids to bark or sing or do other actions on their turn. Again, they do this together. There are three games for preschoolers to play with two lifting rods. In one game they use the skinny end og the rod; in the other game they use a sponged tip to lift the blocks and add to the stack. The maker has also included directions for a two-year old color sorting game that little siblings can play. So many games for preschoolers are hard for beginners deal with, especially the winning and losing part. Here the game is played against the board instead of each other as they learn about taking turns and working together to beat the silly old stack smasher. 3-5

Age: . Award Year: . Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Just in time for outdoor fun, bright colors of sidewalk chalk for hopscotch games or sidewalk art shows. Colors include purple mountains majesty, granny smith apple green, orange, violet red, sepia, blue green and more. Really a new way to make their mark and it is labeled as washable. Comes in a big 48-piece pack or 24 or 12 pack. 4 & up.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

One of a series of science kits for preschoolers. This one uses things found in the kitchen to make a volcano explosion, slime, crystals, fungus and more. The items in the kit include plastic test tubes, mini-volcano form, a small tank for making slime and other props. Best of all there is a wonderful step-by-step experiment book that will walk you through all these together activities. In the past, most of these experiments were more typically done with kindegarten, 1st and 2nd graders. That said, there is nothing in this kit that preschoolers will not enjoy trying. Clearly, this is not a solo toy, but rather a chance to explore together. They have also done a Bubble Science Kit and Rainbow Science. These are available at PBS Kids site and the Scholastic site. As of this writing they were not elsewhere. Marked for 3+, we think they make more sense with 5+.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013.

Give the big white pull a tug and Blossom will play Brahm's Lullaby. She's all pink in contrasting textures of silky plush. She has satin lined floppy ears and all stitched features. A good choice for multiple kinds of sensory feedback. The music does not play for an extended period. Spot clean.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Easy for little hands to grasp, this colorful toy can be used for tracking games with newborns and will be perfect as baby begins to reach out and take hold of things. It is easy to clean, light-weight and fun for passing back and forth when baby gets to that stage, as well. Newborn and up

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Decorate a small 8-inch square canvas bag with the six posh paint tubes loaded with puff paint to apply free hand or use with the stencils supplied. A satisfying craft kit that kids can use when they finish decorating the bag. There is no wrong or right way to do this open-ended craft kit. 4 & up.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

All the makings for three bracelets, three pendants, gems, glitter, a work mat and cords come in this craft kit for true beginners. Aside from the glitter, which will need supervising, the gems shake out of a cleverly-designed container and stick to the pre-adhesived bracelets and necklaces. There is no glue or need for fine motor skills. This makes for nicely finished jewelry that girls will enjoy wearing. Marked for 3 and up. We think this will be a better choice for 4's and 5's, who will still need help with the necklace laces and keeping the glitter from spreading all over.  

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A three-piece fabric play set with lots of textures, patterns and colors to explore. Squeeze the ball and it squeaks, shake the triangle and it jingles, press the a cube and it crinkles. Light enough for baby to hold and pass from one hand to another as he explores the fussy, silky, and bumpy sides of these first soft toys with bits of ribbons and colorful bumps. Use them for little hide and seek games to engage baby's growing awareness of object permanence. Roll the ball for a little game of roly-poly.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Designed by a recent engineering graduate of Stanford, this young science kit is designed to entice girls to play around with easy to build machines with playful appeal. The kit comes with a book that guides the young builder, a pegboard base, 10 axles, blocks, ribbon, a crank, washers, five animal characters and 14 clever ideas for making constructions. It combines fantasy play with basic science all done up in colors girls seem to prefer. Given our need for future engineers and scientists, we think this is an entertaining and engaging toy that will hold their interest. 6 & up.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2013.

Smooth, solid wood vehicle that is stained in part with light and dark greens, this is a handsome little ride-on for beginners. It has two small front wheels for stability and steers left and right with little effort. Low to the ground for young toddlers, it runs on foot power rather than pedals. For tots who are steady on their feet and walking. Built to last and be passed along to cousins or friends. Assembly required along with some patience, a flat-head screwdriver and pliers. They say 12 months and up, but we'd say more like 16-18 months.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.