On Your Side Annual Toy Test

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- During the first week of December, First Coast News delivered boxes of new toys to the Brooks Family YMCA on the Southside. The boxes contained enough games to turn the Y's shiny floors into a test lab.

Some of the testers demonstrated patience in the assembly process, while others looked for the most efficient way to open the boxes.

The testers are the children at the Brooks Family YMCA. For one week they played with the toys, banged and pushed them around, while looking for the favorites in this year's On Your Side Toy Test.

Whether it was the Karito Kids World collection of dolls or a board game, while the testers tested, the teachers kept score.

Susie Chapman says, "There were no safety issues. There were some toys with small parts, but we kept those away from the children and made sure the toys were age-appropriate."

After a week, the testers had picked some winners. The Fisher-Price Mickey Motors Raceway was a hit, when it was in one piece.

"It kept coming apart," says Chapman.

The Vtech Kidi Art Studio was also a hit. It brought out the testers' creativity.

They also loved the simple game of Hopscotch.

"Overall, the toys were good," says Chapman.

These are the Top Five Toys in the On Your Side Toy Test and their prices.

1) Fisher Price Mickey Motors Raceway ($50)
2) Vtech Kidi Art Studio ($80)
3) Hasbro Hopscotch Game ($20)
4) Crayola Glow Station ($30)
5) Fisher Price Winnie The Pooh Treehouse ($35)

Edited by: Ken Amaro Consumer Reporter Biography | E-mail | On Your Side | Recalls | Lowest Gas Prices | Tell Ken	Created: 12/19/2008 5:10:02 PM Updated: 12/19/2008 9:26:27 PM Suggest News Tips & Story Leads Submit Video & Pictures