The National Parenting Center

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Learn more about the Seal of Approval!

About Seal of Approval

Holiday 2016

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,

OK, it’s over. We survived (well kinda) the most ridiculous election in American history (and that’s really saying something). While most of the country is dealing with “What comes next?” life does in fact go on and so in that spirit we are pleased to announce our 2016 Holiday Seal of Approval Report

Our amazing parent testers persevered and stayed away from social media and breathless media reports long enough to turn out in big numbers to test and evaluate new products and services vying for your attention on store shelves and online this holiday shopping season.

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 '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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