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Our testers have been busy at work since the new toys started arriving for 2012. Wondering how the new LEGO FRIENDS did with our testers?  Or what kind of games you can bring home to build your child's ability to problem solve?  What kind of toys match your toddler's new mobility?  Which science toys are worth your child's time?  We have it covered.

Click here to see our ratings/reviews.  Stephanie shared the top toys for spring with the TODAY Show's Savannah Guthrie on April 24th.

Click here to read Stephanie's Behind the Scenes blog.

Stephanie shared the top trends from Toy Fair 2012 with Al Roker on the TODAY Show this morning.  Also be sure to follow Stephanie's blog as the toys start arriving as well as updates on Facebook, our Twitter feed and Instagram (toyportfolio).  

If you missed the segment, you can watch it here.

Hot toys are a big part of the news cycle this time of year. They tend to be toys that have been heavily promoted. The hype often leads to shortages and then more news stories! So if you find yourself with one of these toys on your child's holiday wish list, you may want to buy yours earlier rather than later. You'll see that Elmo is back and Star Wars LEGO holds the top spot in construction toys--they are joined by a flying shark, monsters, and interactive dancing toys.

Click here to see our list.

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The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2011 Platinum Award winners were announced on the Today Show on September 27th.  Watch Stephanie here.

 

We're delighted to announce the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Awards for 2011. (Click here to see complete list of award winners.) We congratulate the toy companies and their designers for producing award-winning products that engaged and entertained our toy testers. As always, we thank our dedicated family testers (all over the country) who take our process to heart.  Once we have looked at toys in terms of whether they work, are fun, and are developmentally appropriate - the toys are then sent out to families for their feedback. These families join us in our mission: to take the guesswork out of finding quality playthings that will entertain your kids. With budgets tighter than ever, we know that no one wants to bring home a toy that is a waste of time or money.  For those of you just discovering us, you should know that we do not take fees from toy companies. This has allowed us to be able to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly in toyland.  You can click on the 2011 Award Page to view all of our winners including Platinum, Gold, Blue Chip and SNAP (Special Needs Adaptable Product) Awards.  

  - All our best, Joanne & Stephanie

Stephanie was on NBC's Weekend Today Show on August 7th to discuss the Breast Milk Doll. Read her blog to get the scoop on this latest media-hyped toy.

We love this time of year!  Your kids pull on last summer's play clothes--and they soon discover how much they have grown.  During the course of the year, you'll also notice that the "growing up" goes way beyond the notch on the family growth chart.  A year older also means that they'll approach play differently.  Your now sure-footed toddler is ready to just go, go, go. Your four year old can now play a game that would have been frustrating and tear-producing just a year ago.  Your five year old who enjoyed pretend play with his whole body may now have a new found fascination in miniature play figures.   Here are some of our new favorite toys that promote active play.  Click here to read the article. You can also watch Stephanie with MSNBC's Tamron Hall on NBC's TODAY SHOW from June 17th by clicking on the video below... 

 

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Are you finding that your child is having trouble with math? science? geography? reading? sticking with a task? How to help without causing conflict in your house can be tricky. The key is to remind your child that learning can be fun - and give them opportunities to be successful learners in more playful settings.  Stephanie was on NBC's TODAY Show on April 6th to discuss some of the toyportfolio.com's top  solutions with Ann Curry. Click here to read the article. Watch the Segment, by clicking here.  

Watch Stephanie's bird calling (right before the segment).

The good news is that there are great toys this year for every budget. Our Platinum and Gold Award list is chock full of construction sets, props for pretend, dolls, games, remote control vehicles (and bugs) and craft kits.  If you missed Stephanie's segment on NBC's TODAY Show, you can watch it here.  To read about the products featured in the segment, click here. Of course this is only a small selection of our award winners--please be sure to take a look at all of our winners for 2010!  For a behind the scenes look at the segment, read Stephanie's blog.

Watch Stephanie's segment by clicking here. She shared the toyportfolio.com's picks for the Best High Tech Toys for 2010 with Al Roker. This year's recommended list includes video cameras, bugs, and a red eyed snake!  Click here to see the toyportfolio.com's list of Best High Tech Toys of 2010. You can also read Stephanie's behind the scenes at the Today Show blog by clicking here.

Stephanie shared some of the early front runners for top toys of 2010 on NBC's TODAY Show on Friday, March 5th.  Click here to watch the segment. After attending the American International Toy Fair in New York last month, the toyportfolio.com kicks into gear for a new season of toy testing with their testers throughout the country. As the toys start rolling in, we'll be posting reviews as we go- rather than making consumers wait until the end of the year.  Toys that receive an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award during the Spring and Summer, will be nominated for the year-end Platinum Awards.  Read Stephanie's blog for a preview of some promising toys.