Important Advisory:

We are now requiring companies to provide us with documentation that their products have been tested by an independent lab for phthalates and lead.
Please click here for submission requirements for new products. However, as we are not a lab, we will not be independently verifying those results. Also, with the exception of the 2008 Platinum Toy Awards, toys submitted for review prior to January 2008 were not tested for lead.

Instructions for submitting product to the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio for review.

Contact the Toyportfolio @ (212) 598-0502 or by email at Webmaster@Toyportfolio.com.

Copyright 1995-2008. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio - All Rights Reserved. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Blue Chip Award are Registered Trademarks of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio.

If you're going to have a backyard full of kids, it's a good idea to have some activities and products that will keep the engaged. For small children, that often means a pretend setting like the Five Alarm Fun Center from Step2. School aged children also like to be play "host" so involve them with serving snacks or lemonade from the Push Cart from Alex. Having some equipment for active games is also a great way to bring generations together! Below are our top picks of the season.

( Stuff Design $$25$ ) We really wish that we had had one of these when we were younger! These fabric discs are about two feet wide and have a foam outer core that doesn't hurt as much as a regular frisbee if you miss! Great for multi-generational play. 6 & up. Age: Early School Years, Late School Years. Phone: (888) 946-7464. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2004

( Crayola $$14.99$ ) Have your own sidewalk art show with this four-color paint kit. "Colors not as vibrant as on the box, but the kids had a great time. I had to fight with the kids to get them to stop and get ready for bed!" 5 & up. Also fun, Crayola Window FX ($3.99 1?2) Remember using glass wax with stencils for holiday decorations? Here's a much more colorful and easy-to-use update that comes right off with water. 4 & up. Age: Early School Years, Late School Years. Phone: (800) 272-9652. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2004

( Critter Leg Stilts $$-20$ ) We love the look of these wooden stilts that come in three different sizes (48", 64", & 82"). They come in different animal designs and again take some time to get the hang of but are fun for older kids, teens, and even adults. Age: Late School Years, Tweens, Teens, Adults. Phone: (423) 743-0104. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2004

( Franklin$$14.99$ ) Our testers liked the sports theme of these classic 18" ball hoppers. Comes either as a basketball, baseball or soccer ball. Parents also liked the fact that they comes with their own air pump. Activity Tip: Use these hopping balls for races across the lawn but be sure to give everyone a prize for playing. Age: Early School Years. Phone: (800) 225-8647. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2003

( Alex $$130$ ) Think Lower East Side push cart vendor meets Crate and Barrel and that's what you have with this attractive cart that can be used as a pretend setting for playing store or selling lemonade. Comes with a chalk board so that you can advertise specials or write your menu down. Lots of play power for 3-8s. Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Phone: 800-666-ALEX. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2003

( Little Kids $$7.99$ ) Bubbles are always a big hit with kids (and adults) of all ages. Whether you're two and chasing after them or 12 and making four foot bubbles, this is a crowd pleaser. This kit comes with a oversized foldable purple wand that has rainbow colored plastic links around a nylon rope. The company says the rope is the secret to the success of the bubbles because the fabric of the rope absorbs more bubble solution. Whatever the explanation, we found it was relatively easy to use after some experimenting. Also comes with a small bottle of concentrated bubble solution that you need to mix with warm water before you start. The bottle says you should let the solution set for 24 hours but we tested it and it really worked well right away. Concentrate will make 16 ozs. of solution. We found that the bubbles were not as juicy and as easy to make with premade solution. Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Phone: (800) 545-5437. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2004