The Twelfth Annual Goddard School Preschooler-Approved Toy Test Names Melissa & Doug® Take-along Town The Winning Educational Toy Of 2019

Toy test winner

To promote the concept of play-based learning for all children, GSI will purchase and donate 100 units of Melissa & Doug® Take-Along Town to Toys for Tots, a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve dedicated to bringing joy to children in need by providing holiday gifts every year.

Established in 2008, the Goddard School Preschooler-Approved Toy Test provides an opportunity for preschoolers, teachers and early childhood education experts across the United States to test the most innovative educational toys on the market. Each year, The Goddard School Toy Test Committee evaluates dozens of submissions from the leading toy manufacturers across the globe. The top 25 educational toys that support child-initiated play and collaboration, among other criteria, proceed to the next round where preschoolers from 50 Goddard School locations, nationwide, are given to students from six weeks to six years old to play with and critique.

The children and their teachers work together to provide insights on their favorites, which are compiled into a list of the top 10 educational toys. The top 10 are then put to a public vote to determine the winning toy of the year.

The top 10 educational toys for 2019 were named as follows in the order their suggested age range:

• Playmonster - Oibo, Set of 3 Primary Colors (Suggested Age Range: 0+ months);

• Manhattan Toy Company - Wimmer-Ferguson, Stim Mobile To Go Travel Toy (Suggested Age Range: 3-12 months);

• Mattel, Inc. - Fisher-Price, Linkimals Smooth Moves Sloth (Suggested Age Range: 9+ months);

• Leapfrog - Learn and Groove Dancing Panda (Suggested Age Range: 9+ months);

• VTECH - Latches & Doors Busy Board (Suggested Age Range: 12-36 months);

Top educational toys

• Leapfrog - Leapbuilders ABC Smart House (Suggested Age Range: 18+ months);

• Leapfrog - Smart Sizzlin’ BBQ Grill (Suggested Age Range: 2+ years);

• Melissa & Doug - Take-Along Town (Suggested Age Range: 3+ years);

• Playmonster - Orangutwang (Suggested Age Range: 4+ years);

• **Quercetti - Peg Brite (**Suggested Age Range: 4+ years).

“We are proud to celebrate the twelfth year of our Preschooler-Approved Toy Test. Play-based learning has always been an important part of our curriculum as it allows children the freedom to have fun while discovering and exploring the world and their interests” says Dr. Craig Bach, Vice President of Education at GSI. “It has also been proven to be an effective way for children to develop communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking skills necessary for social and academic success early on and later in life.”

Learning for fun. Learning for life.® The Goddard School uses the most current academically endorsed methods to ensure that children have fun while learning the skills they need for long-term success in school and in life.

The Goddard School’s Educational Advisory Board is comprised of acknowledged experts in various fields of early childhood education and contributes to the development of The Goddard School’s F.L.EX.

® Learning Program (Fun Learning Experience), which helps children explore and discover their interests in a safe, nurturing environment. Goddard Systems, Inc., the corporate headquarters of The Goddard School, earned AdvancED Corporation Accreditation and Middle States Corporate Accreditation for creating policies, programs and standards that help franchised locations meet high standards in early learning, child development and childcare.