OTTAWA - A peek-a-boo baby play centre, a tumbling top and a reversible costume set are among the top toys for 2010 chosen by the Canadian Toy Testing Council.
Most top toy choices this year are educational as well as fun, says the council's Janet Heatherington.
"Obviously parents want to have toys that will educate kids and engage them, teach them good social values for example," she said.
"The kids, of course, they love just to play. What we found with our award winners this year is it was a great, great combination of educational value and just plain fun."
The battery-operated toy of the year is for babies aged six months to 18 months. It's called Songs 'N Smiles Sillytown and uses stacking blocks and a tumble-down slide.
The multicoloured toy includes eight peek-and-pop action blocks and features over 16 songs and goofy sounds.
For older kids, one of the council's Best Bet awards went to a book that gives children tips on how to make comics, called How To Draw Funny.
Parents also asked that some environmentally friendly toys be tested this year, said Heatherington.
"One of our Best Bet picks is a very standard sand play set," said Heatherington.
"What was interesting about it was it was made from recycled plastic," she said. "And parents are looking for those kinds of toys."
Another Children's Choice award winner also uses sand and water.
Keeping in mind that parents might wonder just how that kind of toy will work with indoor carpets, the council notes that the Sand and Water Transportation Station is "best enjoyed outdoors."
A book for babies called Dance Baby Dance was also announced by the council as one of the top books of the year.
