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Upper West Side Youngsters Test The Latest Toys

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A group of students in Manhattan is being tested for hours, but all the students have to do for the test is play.

As CBS 2's Alex Denis reported, the sixth annual Pre-Schooler Approved Toy Test was under way at the Goddard School, at 2945 Broadway on the Upper West Side. Four-year-olds were asked to play, for hours, with some of the newest toys on the market.

The findings of the test will help determine which of the toys are most effective.

Twenty-five toys are divided up among appropriate age groups – from infants to 5-year-olds. Instructors watch the play sessions, looking to see which toys catch the students' attention, spark conversation, and encourage creativity.

"Based upon the results, over the past six years, manufacturers have actually responded and made some adjustments to their toys," said Goddard School owner Bill Swan.

Some of the newer-styled toys, with their odd shapes and bright colors, kept the group entertained.

"So that's why I think I like those trumpets," said Lucas Brudi-Bilyk, 4, as he played with a colorful Squigz suction cup toy.

But it was the standards – building blocks and even sand – that got the kids talking.

"I'm making the Niagara Falls," said a little girl playing with Kinetic Sand.

"I'm making a pancake," said a little boy playing with the sand.

"I'm making a box for the people that have no house, so when it rains and snows, it doesn't fall on them," said Theodore Bouichou, 4, as he played with CitiBlocs wooden construction toys.

The play session sparked a lot of thoughtful creations, and even gave some confidence.

"I didn't know that I could build stuff like that!" said Gabriel Bailey-Butler, 4, admiring a Frank Lloyd Wright-esque creation he built out of CitiBlocs.

And the kids were quick to teach their new skills to their friends.

"Me and Mia are working on the wheels," a student said.

And after a full day of hard work, the students said they would be more than willing to go through it all again a day later.

"You can build anything you want," a student said.

The results of the study will be published next month, and shared with the participating manufacturers.

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