Great American Toy Test

Christmas trees have sprouted up in all the major shopping areas, signaling the final countdown to the holiday season. And just in time -- from the toy testers at our bureau on the North Pole -- has come the Great American Toy Test's 'Fab 14' for this year. More Details

GAME TIME: KTVU Consumer Editor Tom Vacar Reports On Best Games Out For Christmas

PLAYTIME IN TOYLAND: Consumer Editor Tom Vacar On The Best Creative Toys This Christmas

RIDE'EM: KTVU Consumer Editor Tom Vacar On This Year's Best Riding Toys

Downloadable Great American Toy Test Brochure

List And Web Addresses Of Toy Test Manufacturers

Educational Toys

Great American Toy Test -- Educational Toys

These toys teach various academic skills: reading, math, science, biology, geography, etc. in a fun way. More Details

Great American Toy Test -- Arts And Crafts

Playtime Toys

Great American Toy Test -- Let's Pretend & Fantasy Toys

Kids use these to role-play, learn social skills (such as sharing and cooperation) or find career interests. This is, by far, the most diverse group of toys with a myriad of themes ranging from nurturing, cooperation to conflict and combat, reality to fantasy. More Details

PLAYTIME IN TOYLAND: Consumer Editor Tom Vacar On The Best Creative Toys This Christmas

Great American Toy Test -- Games And Puzzles

Games and puzzles represent a unique part of the toy world. They are often a link between playmates, parents, grandparents and other family members. Games and puzzles teach thinking as well as social skills, such as strategy, problem solving, competitiveness, cooperation and communication. More Details

GAME TIME: KTVU Consumer Editor Tom Vacar Reports On Best Games Out For Christmas

Great American Toy Test -- Plush Toys, Puppets, Dolls

These toys literally become a child’s friend. It’s that one-on-one relationship that makes these toys so endearing. More Details

Great American Toy Test -- Music And Rhythm

Great American Toy Test -- Sports, Ride-On And Outdoor Toys

Great American Toy Test -- Construction Toys

Great American Toy Test -- Cars, Trucks, Planes And Trains

Safety Testing

Mattel Recalls Magnetic Toys

A consumer research group called Tuesday for warning labels on toys with magnets after more than 4 million Mattel play sets were recalled over injuries to several children who swallowed magnets that fell off. More Details

Mattel Toy Recall Website

Think Safety When Buying Toys

Here are some handy safety tips to keep in mind when you are buying your children's holiday toys. More Details

Annual Public Interest Research Group Toy Safety Survey

The annual Public Interest Research Group survey provides safety guidelines for parents when purchasing toys for small children and provides examples of toys currently on store shelves that may pose potential safety hazards. More Details

2006 Summary of Toy Hazards and Examples Of Potentially Dangerous Toys

Market Place

Sponsor Links

Toy Test Special - Air Times

Tom Vacar's Special Reports -- Nov 20-25 At 8:45 a.m. On Mornings On 2
Toy Test Special -- KTVU Channel 2 -- Dec. 3. -- 5:30 p.m.
Toy Test Special -- Action 36, Cable 6 -- Dec. 17 -- 5:30 p.m.