Parents' Choice Awards Call for Entries

FAQs

Product Entries

What types of media can I enter for Awards consideration?
Product categories in the Parents' Choice Awards program include: audio recordings, books (fiction and non-fiction), toys, games, computer software, magazines, television programs, home videos, dvd, video games, websites and mobile applications. We evaluate, review and award the best products produced for children, from infants to young adults.
What products are eligible for an award?
Eligibility dates for each product category are listed on individual entry forms. Parents’ Choice accepts products designed for infants through young adult. Toy or game prototypes are not eligible for submission; nor are Beta versions of software or videogames. F & G’s are acceptable.

Deadlines & Notification

What happens if I miss the entry deadline?
Any product submission that is received AFTER the deadline will automatically be rolled over to the next Parents' Choice Awards cycle. Exceptions or deadline extensions will not be granted.
How will I be notified if I win an Award?
Parents' Choice emails notification letters to all Awards entrants, both to winners and non-winners.

Judging & Award Levels

What are the judging criteria used by Parents' Choice?
General Criteria include excellent production values, universal human values, appeal to children, age appropriateness.
The Parents’ Choice Awards committees look for products that entertain and teach with flair, stimulate imagination and inspire creativity. Judges are interested in how a product helps a child grow in many ways: socially, intellectually, emotionally, ethically, physically. Products must be free of racial or gender bias. Above all, products must not extol violence.

More specific criteria may vary depending on the product category; these details are listed on the Awards entry forms.
Who judges the Parents' Choice Awards?
We use experts from all around the country: parents, teachers, librarians, pediatricians, psychologists, media critics and other professionals who are closely involved in the lives of children.
Can you tell me what the evaluators and judges said about my product?
Parents' Choice does not release evaluation information to entrants. This policy ensures that evaluators and judges will always feel free to give their honest opinions about the products they test.

What are the different levels of Parents' Choice commendation and what do they mean?

	The Parents' Choice Gold Awards are given to those books, toys, games, videos, software, magazines, audio recordings, and television programs that are judged as the highest quality, most appealing products in their genre. Criteria for judgments include the highest production standards, universal human values and a unique, individual quality that pushes the product a notch above others.
	The Parents' Choice Silver Honors are given to excellent products that, like the Gold Award winners, are designed to entertain and help children develop universally ethical attitudes, and rigorous standards and skills. Silver Honors come in a high second with one or more evaluating groups. Silver Honors are highly prized-like the Gold Awards-for production and human values.
	The Parents' Choice Recommended Seal indicates that our committees found the product distinguished enough to give it a notch above our "Approval" rating. In other words, this commendation implies our approval and, even beyond that, our thorough recommendation for reasons of production, appeal and fulfillment of its clear intent.
	The Parents' Choice Approved Seals are given on the basis of the production, entertainment and human values they exemplify. A Parents' Choice Approved seal indicates a wholesome product that helps children enjoy developing physical, emotional, social or academic skills.
	The Parents' Choice Classic Award is given to material that meets the criteria for our Gold Award and that, for at least five years, has maintained its original excellence. The Classic Award indicates the product, program or experience has stood the test of time.
	The Parents' Choice FunStuff Award was created in response to requests for PCF to identify value priced age-appropriate products such as kits for making a keepsake for Grandma, party games, or birthday party gifts that won’t break the bank - nonviolent products that may not be "educational" but are well produced and fun.

Can I resubmit my product if I don't win an award?
No, products that are NOT awarded a level of commendation are not eligible to be resubmitted.

Use of the Parents' Choice Seals

Can I use the Parents' Choice Seal in descriptions (advertisement, press releases, etc.) of my winning product?
There are specific guidelines for the legal use of the Parents' Choice Award images, whether in advertising or to place on the packaging. A licensing fee is associated with the use of the Parents' Choice Award seals, which are trademarked property of Parents' Choice Foundation. To request the Seals Use Guidelines and Seals Order Form, please direct an email to: seals@parents-choice.org. Please include your name, company, product, year and level of commendation, and your fax number. The Guidelines also include approved wording that you may use, without charge, in descriptions of your winning product.

If you have additional questions, please contact awards@parents-choice.org