The Rainbow Toy Awards are in their TENTH year! Look out for some added fun this year…
Our entry period is now open – so plesae get in touch.
Read More
Here’s our Rainbow Awards round up from earlier today…
The 2017 Rainbow Awards are as follows:
OVERALL CHAMPION
Discovery Create and Paint Easel
By: Plum Products
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £199.00
Awards Category: Outdoor Toys
WINNER
Discovery Create and Paint Easel
By: Plum Products
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £199.00
HIGHLY COMMENDED
5 in 1 Stroll and Grow trike
By: Vtech Electronics
Age: 9m – 6years
RRP: £109
Award Category: Arts & Crafts
WINNER
Spiralite
By: John Adams Leisure
Age: 5 years+
RRP: £21.99
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Original Shrinkles Bumper Box
By: Keycraft Ltd
Age: 4-11
RRP: £10.00
Award Category: Games & Puzzles – The Young Ones
WINNER
LinkIt Card Game
By: Pikykwiky Ltd
Age: 6 years+
RRP: £12.95
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Giggle Wiggle
By: John Adams Leisure
Age: 4 years+
RRP: £24.99
Award Category: Games & Puzzles – Older Children and Adults
WINNER
Staccups
By: University Games
Age: 8 years+
RRP: £19.99
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Rory’s Story Cubes: Fantasia
By: Esdevium Games
Age: 6 years+
RRP: £9.99
Award Category: Educational Toys
WINNER
Times Table Tray
By: BigJigs Toys
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £11.49
HIGHLY COMMENDED
LinkIt Card Game
By: Pikykwiky Ltd
Age: 6 years+
RRP: £12.95
Award Category: Imaginative Play
WINNER
Pharaoh’s Pyramid
By: Playmobil
Age: 6-12
RRP: £59.99
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Goopy Slime
By: H Grossman Ltd
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £2.99
Award Category: Wheeled Toys
WINNER
ANKI Overdrive: Fast and Furious
By: ANKI
Age: 8 years+
RRP: £169.99
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Ice Cream Truck
By: Diamont Toys/ AMAV Ltd
Age: 6 years+
RRP: £29.99
Award Category: Soft Toys
WINNER
Unicorn Soft Toy
By: H Grossman Ltd
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £19.99
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Bush Baby World Shimmies Bush Babies Princess Melina Soft Toy
By: Golden Bear Toys
Age: 5-9
RRP: £19.99
Award Category: PreSchool Toys
WINNER
Wooden Workbench and Tools
By: Aldi
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £34.99
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Medieval Train Set
By: BigJigs Rail
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £42.99
Award Category: Construction Toys
WINNER
The Shape Kids Toys and Books
By: The Shape Kids Ltd
Age: 3 – 6
RRP: £10
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Mayka Tape – The Original Building Block Tape
By: Zuru
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £14.99
Award Category: Electronic Toys
WINNER
Chase Me Casey
By: VTech Electronics
Age: 9m-36m
RRP: £37.99
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Cozmo
By: ANKI
Age: 8 years+
RRP: £199.99
Read MoreThis year the Overall Champion was a product we thought looked absolutely delightful. The testers loved it! It’s a toy that takes us all into the great outdoors and let’s children use their imagination. Here is what the testers said about it.
“Lovely and sturdy, it’ll last for years, all the children love it!”
“We love anything ‘back to nature’ so this is a hit, the addition of the windchimes further stimulates the senses.”
“I can’t believe it’s so well made for this price.”
…and our overall 2017 champion is…
OVERALL CHAMPION
Discovery Create and Paint Easel
By: Plum Products
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £199.00
Children will be inspired by nature as they play together, create and paint in the garden and engage with the great outdoors. The painting screen is easy wipe clean so children can paint then wash off for another day. The easel contains plant holders and a windchime.
More information at: www.plumplay.co.uk
Available from: John Lewis
Buy now from – ELC
Read MoreAlways a wide variety in this section, who knows what electronic toy will be thought of next. Let’s see what our testers think this year.
WINNER
Chase Me Casey
By: VTech Electronics
Age: 9m-36m
RRP: £37.99
Chase Me Casey skates across the floor encouraging your child to dance and chase. Sensors detect when your child is near making Casey respond accordingly with sounds and motion. Five buttons help teach letters and numbers, with two modes of play.
More information at: www.vtech.co.uk
Available from: Amazon
Buy now from – www.amazon.co.uk
What the testers said “I’ve never heard my child giggle so much, she adored Casey and laughed and laughed as they chased around on the laminate floor together. ”
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Cozmo
By: ANKI
Age: 8 years+
RRP: £199.99
Charming robot with a mischievous side. Use the Cozmo app to guide him to do tricks and games, introduce yourself and he will always recognise you. Use the games to unlock updates and make Cozmo even more fun!
More information at: www.anki.com
Available from: Amazon
Buy now from – www.amazon.co.uk
What the testers said “We had so much fun with Cozmo. He was really easy to set up, thank goodness! Play value was good, and he kept the kids entertained all day, in fact they went back again and again!”
Construction toys are all about making and creating, then creating all over again! Our testers do love to create mini masterpieces…
WINNER
The Shape Kids Toys and Books
By: The Shape Kids Ltd
Age: 3 – 6
RRP: £10
Four wooden magnetic characters standing around 20cm high. Can be built and rebuilt in different hilarious ways, encouraging imagination and hand eye coordination.
More information at: www.shapekids.co.nz
Available from: www.shapekids.co.nz
Buy now from – www.shapekids.co.nz
What the testers said “Hard wearing and easy for little fingers to put together. My boy was very excited to get started.”
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Mayka Tape – The Original Building Block Tape
By: Zuru
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £14.99
Transform any surface into a base for toy building blocks. Build around corners and up walls to ‘Mayka’ 3D world! Can be cut, stuck and used again and again.
More information at: www.maykaworld.com
Available from: Smyths Toys
Buy now from – https://www.smythstoys.com/
What the testers said “We love the fact Mayka Tape offers a new dimension to our LEGO sets. We loved the colours, width and length options.”
PreSchool Toys should include an element of learning along with being lots of fun, so let’s see who has won in this category.
WINNER
Wooden Workbench and Tools
By: Aldi
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £34.99
The perfect wooden toy to ignite a child’s imagination. Encouraging role play, all the accessories can be used in a variety of ways to mimic various scenarios.
More information at: www.aldi.co.uk
Available from: Aldi
Buy now from – www.aldi.co.uk
What the testers said “Wooden toys are just the epitome of traditional play. We all thought the play value of this toy was amazing in relation to the price. ”
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Medieval Train Set
By: BigJigs Rail
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £42.99
Transport treasure around the wooden track to the castle. Train your knight ready for battle and the king and queen preside. The use the Pillory to give the baddies a good telling off!
More information at: http://www.bigjigstoys.co.uk/p/medieval-train-set
Available from: Amazon
Buy now from – https://www.amazon.co.uk/
What the testers said “So much to do, my child said ‘This is the best toy ever’ – and they did really enjoy it.”
The plush (or soft toy) category oozed cuteness every year, everyone wants to test this category!
WINNER
Unicorn Soft Toy
By: H Grossman Ltd
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £19.99
A 60cm unicorn is a magical ty for any child this Christmas. It’s a super soft special friend available in standing or seated versions.
More information at: www.ozbozz.co.uk
Available from: Smyths Toys
Buy now from – www.amazon.co.uk
What the testers said “My daughter is currently unicorn crazy, so was super excited to test this. When she saw it was so large, her eyes nearly popped right out!”
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Bush Baby World Shimmies Bush Babies Princess Melina Soft Toy
By: Golden Bear Toys
Age: 5-9
RRP: £19.99
Princess Melina is the head of the Shimmies Bush Babies from Bush Baby World. You can wiggle her ears and move her eyes then watch her come alive in your hands. Made from soft cuddly fabrics, sparkly detailing and fun accessories.
More information at: www.goldenbeartoys.com
Available from: Argos
Buy now from – www.argos.co.uk
What the testers said “We found the Princess Melina quite different and a joy to watch our girls play with her. They enjoyed the movement and interaction.”
Read More