TDmonthly Magazine

TDmonthly's 2009 Holiday Gift Guide
December 2005 | Vol. IV - No. 12
OR
Advanced Search

Advertisement:

Article Tools:
Supplier of the Month:Innov-X Systems
Suppliers in the category of "General Toys"
Shop for Toy Products in the category of "General Toys"

Homeschooling Moms Rate Toys

Five Moms Judge the Effectiveness of Six Science Toys

By Alison Marek
December 2005

To view the full article, click here: Tween Girls Go Scientific

Products:
  1. Respond! by JAX LTD. INC. (ToyShow)
  2. Our Amazing Earthquakes by POOF-SLINKY INC. (ToyDirectory)
  3. Energy Wiz by NORMAN & GLOBUS INC.
  4. Weather Station by SMARTLAB TOYS
  5. Sam’s Science Adventures Pond Investigation Kit by TREASURE BOX PRESS LLC (ToyDirectory)
  6. Electric & Magnetic Combo Kit by HUNTAR COMPANY INC. (ToyDirectory)
Homeschooling Moms' Roundtable Questions Product
1 2 3 4 5 6
How appealing is the packaging? 6
8.6
 9.4
 9.2
 9.2
 9.2
How likely would you be to buy this product in a store, based on packaging alone?
5.4
 8.2
 8.8
 8.2
 6
8.6
Once the product is open, how appealing are its contents?
6.8
 7.2
 9
8
8
6.4
How easy are the instructions to understand … for Mom?
7.8
 7.6
 9.4
 10
9.4
 9.6
How easy are the instructions to understand … for kids?
6.4
 6.8
 9.2
 8.8
 8.6
 9.2
How satisfied were you with the amount of time it took to set up or prepare the toy?
9.4
 4.2
 9
8
8.2
 9.6
How excited were the kids about the prospect of using this toy?
8.8
 9.2
 9
8.4
 9
9.4
How involved were the kids when getting ready to play with the toy?
8.6
 7
9.2
 8
9
9
How interested in the toy were the children once play began?
9.8
 4.8
9
6
9
9
How much fun did your kids think it was to play? 9.8
 3.2
 8.6
 5.6
 9
7.8
How much did they think they learned while playing with the toy?
7.4
 3.2
 8.6
 6.6 9.2
 6.8
How much did you think they learned while playing with the toy?
7.6
 5
8.6
 8
9.4
 6.4
Is this toy an appropriate addition to a homeschool curriculum?
7.4
 4.6
 10
7.6 10
7.4
Is this toy an appropriate learning tool outside of the classroom?
8.4 3
10
8.4 9.2
7.8
Knowing what you now know about the toy, how likely would you be to buy it for your children or recommend it to other parents?
9.2
3.2
9.6
7.4
 9.2
 8.2
Knowing what they now know about the toy, how likely would your children be to buy it, request it or recommend it to other children?
9.6
2.2
8.8
5.4
 9
4.8
AVERAGE SCORE OVERALL
7.7
 5.5
 8.6
 7.1
 8.8
 8




Catalog Request Form

 Read what more than 400 retailers have told TDmonthly about toys since 2005 in Toy-Store Owners Talk to TDmonthly.

Alison MarekWriter's Bio: ALISON MAREK is a writer/artist/filmmaker whose work has been published by Fairchild Publications and DC Comics (Piranha Press), among others. Her short films have played in festivals around the world and have been broadcast on Showtime and other cable networks. She recently completed a short comedy sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, titled "The Three-Body Solution." For the past four years, Alison has been documenting the specialty toy industry with a series of articles and videos for TDmonthly Magazine.  Read more articles by this author


Reader's Comments


What do you think? Tell us.

Name

Comment


This security feature helps prevent automated programs from posting inappropriate comments.

Please enter the security code in the text box before you press "submit".

Code Image - Please contact webmaster if you have problems seeing this image code Load New Code
If you encounter any problems with this feature, please email us questions or comments.
Powered by Web Wiz CAPTCHA v 2.01 Copyright ©2005-2006 www.webwizcaptcha.com

Popular Stories

Request Information





•Watch This! Toys On the Loose
•December Peeks
•New Toys for the Holidays and Beyond
•Hollywood ToyBoy: Where Did the Year Go?
•PVC Toy Scare: Manufacturing Danger
•Donate School Supplies to New Orleans
•Songs from the Neighborhood Gets Grammy Nomination
•One to Watch This Holiday Season
•Santa’s Babies
•Santa Gets Smarter
•Take It Outside for the Holidays
•Home Video for the Holidays
•Infant and Toddler Products Are Tough to Outsell
•The World in a Pocket
•The Electronic Revolution Captures Kids’ Attention
•Tween Scene: Arts & Crafts Kits for the Holidays
•Construction Toys Zoom
•Games Win for the Holidays
•Kids Want Their Plush to Go
•Specialty Teddy Bears No Longer Bank Breakers
•Toy Knight Jousting Match
•Guys Grab Dolls for the Holidays
•Making Toys Makes for Double-Duty Fun
•Paper Money: Origami Goes Mainstream
•Models Put It All Together
•Magical Therapy
•The Magic Is in the Deck
•Magic Set Comparison: The Kids Decide
•The Doctor May Be In
•Automoblox Is One Happy Customer
•Let’s Put on a Show
•The Waiting Is the Hardest Part
•Slaying the Patent Troll
•Designing Toys for Tomorrow
•Toddlers Meet the Letters
•Teddy Bear Stuffers Stay Strong but Cuddly
•Secrets of Success
•Traveling With Lewis and Clark
•Brand New World Takes Fresh Approach
•Eagle Magic Stands Test of Time
•Learning Express CEO Educates on Franchise Model
•The Double-e Sisters and ee publishing
•Tween Girls Go Scientific
•Homeschooling Moms Rate Toys
•December Toys in the Hand: TDmonthly’s Expert Mom
•TDmonthly's Toy Fair 2006 Preview
•TDmonthly's Top 10 Most Wanted Last Minute Gifts for Boys
•TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Quick Gifts for Girls
•TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Stocking Stuffers
•DVD Board Games: More Than Just a Passing Fad?
•Video-On-Demand Changes Advertiser Focus
•Pretend Play Caters to Kidult Crowd

Back to TDmonthly's front page

Advertisement:

Advertise on TDmonthly


Recent Products

Power Rangers RPM Racing Performance Cycle & Figure
By BANDAI AMERICA INC.
» More Information

Ben 10 Alien Creation Challenge
By BANDAI AMERICA INC.
» More Information

Omni Tech Figures™ Ryan Sheckler Action Figure
By ACTION SPORTS TOYS
» More Information


Related Articles
·Notable and New Toys by Category — Specialty Only
(11/1/2009)
·Notable and New Toys by Category — All
(11/1/2009)
·Sharks Show Up on Holiday Videos
(11/1/2009)
·June Toys in the Hand: TDmonthly’s Expert Mom
(6/1/2006)
·July Toys in the Hand: TDmonthly’s Expert Mom
(7/1/2006)
·Homeschoolers Are Fashionable
(7/1/2006)

Advertisement:


TDmonthly ToyShow Preview


Magazine Home   Toy Fair Highlights   Contact TDmonthly  Toy Gallery   Advertise Here 
Editorial Calendar   Events & Trade Shows   Media Kit   Request Product Information   PlayZak®

Look up Manufacturers at ToyDirectory.com®

Search

Subscribe - TDmonthly e-Newsletter

Disclaimer  Privacy Policy  Career Opportunities  Feedback
Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use.
Copyright © 2009 TDmonthly®, a division of TOYDIRECTORY.com®, Inc.