The National Parenting Center

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Learn more about the Seal of Approval!

About Seal of Approval

Fall 2004

The National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval program is an independent testing procedure whose sole intent is to evaluate a variety of products introduced and marketed to the parent/child consumer market. The testing involves a multi-step process conducted over an eight-week period.

The National Parenting Center gives parents, children, and educators the opportunity to examine a variety of submitted products. The testers are encouraged to play with, build, read about, and judge by the reactions of the children, each product’s quality.

Participants fill out questionnaires for each product they test. Evaluated are each product’s level of desirability, quality, sturdiness, interactivity, packaging, stimulation, engagement, and other ingredients essential in the make-up of a quality product. Test results are based on both statistical averaging and comments received from the parent/testers.

The Seal of Approval program is designed to continue the efforts of The National Parenting Center, which was chartered in 1989 to help create better informed parents as they tackle the challenges and enjoy the many rewards of parenting.

The National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval recognition does not imply or guarantee the safety of products listed.

A MESSAGE

From TNPC'S President

Dear Parents,

During this unprecedented time of pain, uncertainty, fear and anxiety we are all struggling to find some normalcy, some sanity, somewhere we can feel safe. We are right there with you and understand everything you are going through as we are all in this together.

HOW IT WORKS

A Seal of Approval review involves a multi-step process conducted over an eight-week period.

Parents and children, experience and review submitted products and services either already released or coming to market.

Participants fill out questionnaires for each product or service they test. They score based on 13 levels of criteria including quality, appeal, design, price, packaging, directions, desirability, stimulation, replay factor and more. Results are based on both statistical averaging and comments received by testers.

There are three testing periods each year:

Report Period

SPRING '22

FALL ‘22

HOLIDAY ‘22

Testing Begins

February 15th

June 1st

September 1st

Submission Deadline

March 11th

June 24th

September 23rd

Testing Ends

April 24th

July 31st

October 30th

Report Issued

May 10th

August 17th

November 16th

Each submission must be accompanied by a $295 product testing fee (we offer multiple submission discounts). This fee covers the cost of testing, nothing more. It is non-refundable and has no bearing on the result of the testing. Additionally, we require three samples of the product or access codes for online submissions.

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Multiple submission discount table

1
$ 295
2
$ 575
3
$ 840
4
$ 1,095
5
$ 1,330
6
$ 1,550
7
$ 1,755
8
$ 1,950
9
$ 2,125
10
$ 2,285
11
$ 2,435
12
$ 2,585
13
$ 2,635
14
$ 2,815
15
$ 2,965

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