Category Award News

The Rainbow Toy Awards ceremony for 2013 is almost over and all that remains is to announce our overall champion for 2013.

It’s a toy that scored as near to perfectly as possible, a toy that scored more than every other toy in all of the categories, the testers said about this toy;

“My daughter was delighted”

“This toy is durable, sturdy and easy to set up”

“I will recommend to my friends and family”

“It’s worth its money as it will last a long time and be played with loads!”

OVERALL CHAMPION 2013

Silly Moo

By: John Adams Leisure

For the first time in a hugely full category, when the scores were totalled up, we had a tie, and so let’s see who has made it in the Outdoor toys category…

WINNER

Air Storm Z-Curve Bow

By: Re:Creation

Age: 8 years+

RRP £19.99

If you’re fed up with the splatter gun approach to combat play, it’s time for the Air Storm Z-Curve Bow.  This long range foam archery toy encourages children to develop their concentration skills and accuracy, while its superior firing distance can blast targets up to 40 metres away!

More information from www.airstorm.co.uk

Available from Smyths, Tesco, Toymaster Stores

Buy online here

The testers said “Wow I really love this!” and “My son has taken it to his friends and he’s not been home all afternoon!”

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Extreme Ambush Kit – Ultimate

By: The Great BattleBox Company

Age: 6-13 years

RRP £90.00

Who doesn’t love a good ambush?  A huge amount of fun can be had from this kit, from tracking parents to ambushing friends.  All over the country children are heading outdoors to have fun with the Extreme Ambush Kit. …Complete with catapults and marshmallows to bombard the ‘enemy’!

More information at www.battleboxcompany.co.uk

Available from Not On the High Street and BattleBox

Buy online here

The testers said “I enjoyed the camouflage suit and had fun ambushing my friends when they least expected it” and “All the items in the box are really cool”

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Jumbo Zip-It

By: Bananagrams

Age: 7 years+

RRP £54.99

Jumbo Zip-It is an exhilarating high speed crossword race featuring 24 beautiful wooden lettered 2″ square cubes and coloured scoring zips that come built into the pouch.  It’s perfect for innovative play in the garden or playground.

More information from www.bananagrams.com

Available from Amazon, Winning moves

Buy online here

The testers said “She immediately grasped the concept and loved to play” and “Such a simple game but with so many possibilities for play – excellent!”

Always a popular category with the parents who frequent the Rainbow Toy Awards site.

WINNER

Innotab 3s The WiFI Learning Tablet

By: VTech

Age: 3-9 years

RRP £99.99

All new children’s multi-media tablet that features a 2mp camera, child friendly wi-fi, creative activities, great games, e-books, useful apps and more.  It includes a rechargeable battery pack, kid connect app, plus a bonus game and e-book.  Connect to Learning Lodge wirelessly to download TV shows, music, e-books, apps and more!

More information at www.vtechuk.com

Available at Tesco, Boots, Argos, Amazon

Buy online here

The testers said “The boys loved the different apps, and even their younger sister loved the colouring app” and “They have played with the Innotab daily”

HIGHLY COMMENDED

LeapReader

By: Leapfrog

Age: 4-8 years

RRP £39.99

LeapReader is a revolutionary learn to read and write solution, offering three experiences in one – Learning to read, Learning to write and Learning through listening.  LeapReader reads words and sentences aloud whilst also encouraging children to trace the letters, words and numbers through stroke by stroke audio guidance.

More information from www.leapfrog.co.uk

Available at Amazon, Argos, Toys R Us, John Lewis

Buy online here

The testers said “My little boy soon worked out all the functions and began to play” and “It’s been dropped a few times and still OK!!”

Construction toys help children develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, our winner helps with creativity too!

WINNER

Barbie Build n Play Super Star Stage

By: MegaBloks

Age: 4 years+

RRP £59.99

The two storey super star stage features real concert controls, including flashing lights and music.  There are four catchy songs for Super Star Barbie, Raquelle and Teresa to dance to.  Microphones, guitars, a DJ booth, keyboard and working elevator are all included.

More information from www.barbie.megabloks.com

Available from Argos

Buy online here

The testers said “My five year old loves it and plays everyday, her younger siblings stand and stare in amazement” and “It took a few hours to build it but it was worth it, and daddy helped and enjoyed the quality father/daughter time”

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Makies

By: MakieLab

Age: 6 years+

RRP £99.00

Makies are highly posable 10″action dolls you create and construct yourself at the Makies website or iPad app.  Choose the eyes, nose, mouth and hair – even the width of the smile and shape of the hands.  Each Makie is hand assembled, CE marked and totally unique.

More information at www.makie.me

Available at Selfridges or Makie.me

Buy online here

The testers said “The doll is well built and will last, I think it could be a collectors item”

Many electronic toys make playtime a learning experience as well as fun, and parents enjoy watching their children play.  Our winner has fought off stiff competition in the electronics arena.

WINNER

KidiGo

By: VTech

 Age: 3-9 years+

RRP £49.99

Watch movies and listen to music on the move!  KidiGo is the multi-media player with a 4.3″ LCD colour screen – great for video.  It features a 2gb internal storage, a micro SD slot, headphones and a USB cable. Connect to the VTech learning site to download fresh content.

More information at www.vtechuk.com

Available from Debenhams, Argos, Tesco

Buy online here

The testers said “My little girl loved having access to family photos along with all her music!” and “I felt it was good value for money as it covered so many different areas”

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Attacknids – Combat Creatures

By: Wow! Stuff

Age: 8 years+

RRP £79.99

Attacknids is the ultimate action blasting robot.  Explore terrain like no other remote control wheeled vehicle can, grass, gravel, carpet or snow!  A 360 degree rotating head means corners are no problem.  Children can customise Attacknids with decals or spray.

More information  is at www.combatcreatures.com

Available from Smyths

Buy online here

The testers said “The boys had loads of fun and played for most of the day” and “We lost it one day and found it under my daughters bed, who said it was her new pet spider, we may have to buy her one of her own!”

Read More

WINNER

LOGO Billionaire

By: Drumond Park

Age: 8 years+

RRP £24.99

This new card and cash collecting board game is fun for all the family!  Purchasing well-known brands like Marmite, Persil, Ford, Nivea and Twix to form companies then selling them for a fortune.  But it’s risky – turn up a ‘bust’ card and you lose your business and have to start again.

More information at www.logobillionaire.com

Available from Argos, Hamley’s, The Entertainer and Toys R Us

Buy Online here

The testers said “A great game, I was surprised how many logos my child knew of” and “LOGO Billionaire can be played by adults and children, we like this sort of game for Christmas in our house”

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Boom Boom Balloon

By: Spinmaster

Age: 8 years+

RRP £17.99

The crazy game where you take turns at trying not to pop the balloon.  Roll the die and carefully push in a stick until it clicks.  Watch as the balloon changes shape, in one more click it could pop! It is the ultimate game of anticipation.

More information at www.spinmastergames.com

Available from Argos, Smyths, Toys R Us

Buy online

The testers said “My three boys loved the game and eagerly awaited to see who would pop the balloon!”

After much deliberation the Rainbow Toy Awards team decided to split the Games & Puzzles category into two, it was felt that comparing a game aimed purely at tiny tots with an involved board game that can played by adults and children together was unfair on all entrants and so the category this year is split into:

• The Young Ones
• Eights and Above

The results for Games & Puzzles – The Young Ones are;

WINNER

Silly Moo

By: John Adams Leisure

Age: 3 years+

RRP £24.99

Silly Moo is the udderly funny game where you milk the cow! Pull the udders – will she drop a pint of milk or a cow pat?  When Silly Moo is fully milked her eyes will pop out.

More information is at www.johnadams.co.uk

Available at Amazon, Argos, The Entertainer and Smyths

Buy online here

The testers said “My son’s exact words ‘This is really fun!’, he can’t get enough of it” and “Easy to assemble and very sturdy and durable”

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Jake and the Neverland Pirates – Who Shook Hook?

By: Esdevium Games

Age: 4 years+

RRP £19.99

Captain Hook is snoozing in his hammock, surrounded by all the  treasure he has nabbed from Jake and the Pirate Crew.  By using the sword, fishing pole, tweezers or shovel children can pluck back the missing treasure.  Steady as she goes though – the loot needs to be grabbed before Hook tumbles into the water.  Collect the most treasure to win!

More information at www.esdeviumgames.com

Available from Amazon, Argos, Sainsbury and Smyths

Buy online here

The testers said “This went down a storm in our house!”