The National Parenting Center

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Learn more about the Seal of Approval!

About Seal of Approval

Holiday 2021

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,

Welcome to the 2021 Holiday Seal of Approval report. We hope that you’ll find the reviews of the newest Seal of Approval winners helpful as you plan your holiday season of gift-giving and sharing. Our parent testers have unearthed and shared their views on some truly terrific products, including some in the burgeoning new frontier of Virtual Reality. Don’t forget to check out past winners from the Spring and Fall reports as well as past years. We share all of this with you because it’s what we do and what we love doing, so much so that in this our 32nd year, we decided to put a new coat of paint on our brand and our website. We hope you like it, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts.
This report always marks the end of another year. As we near the end of 2021, we feel the familiar urge to look back at the year that was. Ugh, do we have to? After the brutal year the whole world suffered through in 2020, you’d have to excuse most of us for thinking that 2021 was going to be better. Uh, no. How could that possibly be?
COVID, Inflation, Drought, Insurrection, Climate Catastrophe, Polarization, Fires, Gun Violence, Q-Anon, did we mention COVID? Sigh.
That’s not to say there weren’t bright spots. There were and as usual, they show themselves when we take a moment, pull back from the global or national view of the world, and instead focus on what is most precious, our families. During these challenging times, families grew tighter knit. Sure, sometimes that caused some friction, but overall, we heard from thousands of parents about how the extra time they spent with their kids helped them gain a greater understanding not only about how they tick but also how the dynamics of their family create the foundation of their lives. So enjoy the holidays, and be sure to enjoy the special warmth that the season brings.
All my best,
David Katzner

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 Testing Begins Submission Deadline Testing Ends Report Issued
SPRING ’23 February 15th March 10th April 24th May 10th
FALL ’23 June 1st June 24th July 31st August 16th
HOLIDAY ’23 September 1st September 22nd October 30th November 15th

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 online stores including Amazon, Walmart, and Target. Amazon features Seal winners on product pages.

* Each report is featured on TNPC’s website 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

To submit a product click here.

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 Testing Begins Submission Deadline Testing Ends Report Issued
SPRING ’23 February 15th March 10th April 24th May 10th
FALL ’23 June 1st June 23rd July 31st August 16th
HOLIDAY ’23 September 1st September 22nd October 30th November 15th

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

To submit a product click here.

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

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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