About: Sherry Y. Artemenko, Speech-Language Pathologist, has worked with children for over 30 years, in the schools and private practice, building language skills through play. Since early language proficiency correlates with later performance in school—reading, writing, and critical thinking—and influences emotional, cognitive and social growth, choosing the best toys and books is critical to practice and develop these skills.
Parents continuously ask Sherry for recommendations which prompted this award. Her unique reviews from an expert’s perspective, provide tips on how to use the product for maximum language building. Recently a public relations representative commented on Sherry’s review of her client’s toy, “As always, your reviews look great! You are always teaching us new ways that our company’s products can promote language skills and engage little ones in learning!”
Learn more about the PAL Award: Click here
Submission Process
PAL’s selection process is unique in that Sherry heads the toy testing teams of parents, educators and kids, based on her expertise working, helping and playing with kids and families.
There is no submission fee.
Submission Form, Click here
Send one submission form per product along with one sample of your new product (released within the last 18 months) to:
PAL Award
Sherry Artemenko
888 Flintlock Road
Southport, CT 06890
Playonwords.com will review noteworthy products, publishing reviews on it’s website throughout the year and make a selection of the top toys, games and books to receive the PAL award, to be announced throughout the current calendar year. Samples are not returned and not all products that have been submitted will be reviewed or receive awards. Playonwords.com gives samples to toy tester families and charities that serve mothers and children in need. Due to the large number of products we review, feedback is not provided to companies .
Criteria
The PAL award recognizes outstanding children’s products that by design, content, quality, and character, engender play that advances language and appeal to all children for lasting play value. This may include products that are helpful to children with special needs, but to win a PAL Award the toy, game or book must be exciting and engaging to the general population of typically developing children.
Winners are selected on the basis of exceptional representation of the following criteria as described at the Scribd link below:
Hi
first of all, congrats for this wonderful site!
I’d like to know if you think my digital ebooks and games fit into the category to apply for your award.
you can see them here http://www.ingles360.net
or you can visit my blog http://www.ingles360.blogspot.com
thanks in advance
Ana
Hi Ana,
It looks like you have some wonderful products. I don’t review e-books yet, but bound books, yes. You can submit a book for a possible PAL Award by filling out a Submission form and sending a sample.
Hi Sherry,
First, I want to thank you for all the information you share and for your efforts on behalf of children! I am a newly published author and if you’d like to review my books, I’d be very happy to hear from you!
http://www.playabilitytoysblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/march-toy-of-month-story.html
FUN WITH ABBY & ALYSSA is a series of interactive books designed to introduce the preschooler and early reader to sign language. The thematic series of six books make connections between everyday signed words and activities that most young children experience: zoo animals, colors, breakfast, family, school and bedtime.
Best regards,
“Grandpa Don”