The National Parenting Center

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Learn more about the Seal of Approval!

About Seal of Approval

Holiday 2014

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,

The leaves have turned, the campaign flyers have stopped cluttering our mailboxes and the Halloween decorations are put away (though the candy may take a while longer to disappear). What does all that mean? It’s time to get down to the business of our annual end of year Holiday Bonanza.  Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years, there is hardly a day to breathe.  Our testers did their Holiday reviewing early so that you can create your holiday lists guided by the peer-to-peer reviews of our parent testers.  Informed shoppers are the one’s that don’t get trampled rushing after the “hot” toy, but can find the gifts that will really resonate and be most appreciated long after we turn the page to 2015.

The winners represent not only products that met with the approval of our discerning testers, but also the companies who have worked hard to create products that are deserving of your attention.

It takes a tremendous amount of work to produce something and bring it to market, but it takes an even deeper level of commitment to make sure it connects with parents and their children. It is because of that that we put submissions in front of parents throughout the year to recognize and celebrate those who have brought their best to produce the best.

All the best from everyone at The National Parenting Center,

David Katzner
President

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 '23

FALL ‘22

HOLIDAY ‘22

Testing Begins

February 15th

June 1st

September 1st

Submission Deadline

March 10th

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.

FYI about the Seal of Approval

* Winners of the Seal will be announced in a media release which is distributed to over 4700 media outlets including Facebook, Mommy bloggers and TV station websites.

* The report is forwarded to buyers at over 350 major retail and on-line stores including Amazon, Walmart and Target. Amazon features Seal winners on product pages.

* Each report is featured at TNPC’s web site as well as TNPC’s Twitter & Instagram accounts and Facebook Page.

* Links to company websites and a license to utilize the trademarked Seal of Approval artwork on marketing, packaging and web design are available exclusively to Seal winners for additional fees.

* Submitting a product does not secure or guarantee being awarded a Seal of Approval

Submit

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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