Grandma and Grandpa call to ask you for another idea for a birthday present for your child... Your kids are invited to endless birthday parties, and you’re planning a trip and you want to buy somethings to keep the children occupied in the car or airplane.

You’re all out of ideas, but help is on the way from the National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) who have announced their 2006 selections of the best children’s toys, music, DVDs/videos, software and books.

NAPPA is a program of United Parenting Publication, Inc. and is featured in more than 30 local and regional parenting magazines nationwide and on www.Parenthood.com.  NAPPA has been reviewing children's products and media since 1990 and their panel of judges, including educators, authors, psychologists and play specialists, all of whom are parents (and some are grandparents) select high quality products, conveniently categorized by age-appropriateness.

After evaluating over 600 entries, the top 70 products, divided into six categories and four age groups were selected based on a balance of entertainment and considered kid appeal, uniqueness, educational value, age-appropriateness and longevity as kids grow.

“NAPPA-winning products meet the most stringent criteria and are judged by nationally recognized industry experts, educators and advocates in their fields,” says NAPPA spokesperson Barbara Smith Decker. “The NAPPA awards have set the industry standard of excellence for more than 15 years and are a much sought-after honor by manufacturers, recording artists, publishers and product designers.”

For traveling families, our favorites include the Baby Talk: Barnyard Friends (Aurora World), a portable cloth barn with four fur-covered animals that make sounds when they are squeezed, and My First Story Reader (Publications International), a player for read-aloud storybooks, on which there are some buttons for baby to press and interact with the story.  When it's nap time in the car, pop in a copy of Kind of Blue & Pink: Mellow Jazz for Cool Babies and You by Jon Crosse & Friends (Jazz Cat Records) or Snooze Music by Rick Scott (Grand PooBah Music).  Toddlers can play with Folkmanis' Dragon Duo Puppet (with a head at each end)  together with a friend or parent, or listen to a Folk Playground by various artists (Putumayo) or Beethoven's Wig 3: Many More Sing Along Symphonies (Rounder Records).

To read the entire list of the most current winners and make your next shopping spree a breeze, visit nappa.parenthood.com.