FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is CTR’s Mission Statement?  To help parents, librarians and teachers find quality interactive media/technology products for children.
2. What forms of Children’s Technology Review are available? CTR is available as an electronic (PDF) and/or print periodical and a web site with a searchable database (Children’s Technology Finder™). Printed issues are designed to be stored in a custom three-ring binder, and an annual index is provided at the end of the year. We also publish Top 100 Reports for various categories.
3. Who owns Children’s Technology Review? Active Learning Associates, Inc., a privately-held corporation located at 120 Main Street, Flemington, New Jersey, 08822, publishes Children’s Technology Review. Warren Buckleitner is the Editor.
4. What is the correct name? It has changed with the technology. The first issue was printed in 1993 under the masthead Children’s Software Revue. In April 2005, “ & New Media” was added to the title. In 2005, the title was again changed to Children’s Technology Review. The current and formal name is “Children’s Technology Review.”
5. Do you have policies regarding how you handle subscriber information? We do not release subscriber names to outside parties, and we have no interest in doing so. We do use email and/or address information to deliver billing and renewal notices, no more than twice per year. Please see our disclaimer for details and other legal and copyright information.
6. Do you review video games? Absolutely. We review all forms of interactive media of interest to children, ages birth to 15.
7. How long has CTR been around? The first issue of CTR was published October 1993. The review database contains over 10,000 reviews dating back to 1985.
8. How do you avoid conflicts of interest? It is important for our readers to know about all sources of potential bias, and for us to fully disclose them. CTR contains no advertising, and CTR reviewers do not own stock, or serve as advisors or consultants for any company whose products we might review. See our editorial guidelines for more information.
9. What kinds of products do you review? All interactive children’s media, including educational and entertainment CD-ROMs, children’s video games, apps, children’s Internet sites and smart toys (toys with interactive electronic capabilities). As educational psychologists, our expertise is in evaluating the quality of the interaction between the child and the experience.
10. For what ages do you review? From birth to 15 years.
11. Who assigns the ratings? Both children and experienced reviewers using CTR’s evaluation rubric.
12. Why do you charge for access to parts of this site? Since we are not advertisement-driven, our income comes from our subscribers. We believe in providing you with the best, unbiased reviews that are available.
13. What happens to the products you review? We donate all reviewed products to the Mediatech Foundation, a non-profit community technology center located in Flemington, NJ. At Mediatech, new products are tested and circulated. Expensive products, such as cameras or computers, are returned after the review period is over. Mediatech is open to the public. For more information, visit Mediatech’s web site.
14. How can I get Children’s Technology Review? Prices start at $30 for an Electronic Only & Database single user subscription. You can order online and get instant database access or call 800-993-9499 from 9-3 EST. Other subscription options (such as print and site license subscriptions) are also available.

If you have further questions that are not answered here, please email Lisa DellaFave (lisa@childrenstech.com).