What our Scores mean:

The numeric scores of 1-5 in the toy ratings indicate how strong a particiular skill is used during play. A score of 5 indicates the highest score and a score of 1 is the lowest. However, keep in mind not all toys utilize the same skills so do not use this as a key to evaluate the toy overall. The Toy Tips rating score is a bettter indication of this. Click on any skill for a complete explanation of what that skill means. Products are ONLY listed on toytips.com if it surpasses our strict standards of durability, ease of use, sensibility and value to the consumer.

Toy Tips® Rating
The Toy Tips Rating is a combination of our researchers' observation of enjoyment and development skills. Each researcher uses an original survey written by psychologists so results are accurate, independent and academic. The total score is weighted and calculated into a 1-5 rating scale and Toy Tips only reports the toys with the highest ratings of 5, 4 and 3. These observations are independent of the fun score, which is determined by the children who actually test the toys.

Fun Score
 This "Fun" rating is solely based on subjective evaluations and interviews with the actual children testing the toy. The children "score" each toy on a rating scale of 1-5 and we only publish toys that have a "FUN" score of 3, 4 or 5. If a toy does not score high on the fun scale, there is a reasonably good chance a child will not learn from the play experience. These scores are reported by the thousands of children we test toys with. NOTE: The fun score for toys in the infant and toddler category are based on our researcher's observation since the children are too young to speak.

Motor Movement
These skills can be fine or gross motor skills. Fine motor skills prepare children for coloring, buttoning, zippering, and other daily tasks. Gross motor skills are needed for a sense of balance and muscle tone. Look for toys that allow your children to run, throw, crawl, and climb.

Thinking Skills
Encourages logic, imagination, concentration and creativity. Enhances intellectual thinking, deductive reasoning and cognitive development.

Character Development
Skills that facilitate a child to do their best, share, work with others and to be responsible. Honesty, integrety, telling the truth, doing the right thing all contribute to teaching children skills they can use later in life.

Social Interaction
Promotes interaction with other children and family members or encourages a child to voice an opinion. Enhances participation, group activties, and seeking new friendships.