Submit Products for Review
We welcome submissions of children’s interactive media from any publisher of any size or part of the world. Any commercial product is "fair game" for a review, with no exceptions. CTR considers apps, commercial video games, software, Internet sites, and smart toys for ages birth to 15 years of age. We don’t look at linear media or non-interactive products, and we can’t ensure that we’ll review every product.
There are no fees associated with submitting products. Before you send us products, check to make sure that your title is not already listed in the CTR online review database. You might also want to watch "Working With the Press… Do’s and Don’ts".
There are no fees associated with submitting products. Before you send us products, check to make sure that your title is not already listed in the CTR online review database. You might also want to watch "Working With the Press… Do’s and Don’ts".
What We Pick for Review
The number of children’s apps far outnumbers our ability to provide comprehensive coverage. In determining how to spread our attention, we consider the following factors:
- Suggestions from readers. We tune into our subscribers and take requests.
- "Consumer Risk" – a free product is less likely to be reviewed, simply because you can give it a test to see for yourself. That’s not to say we don’t review all “free” products. We do consider children’s time in this formula. A product with popular characters does increase the chances we’ll have a look.
- Lack of PR resources. We especially look for promising products that might fly under the radar of other review services.
- The first of a series. We try to “nip it in the bud” to point out common errors for a planned series. Perhaps the creator can make changes.
- Newsworthiness. We’ll have a quick look, but determine it doesn’t merit the review time because it lacks something we call “newsworthiness.” For example, if an app is the second or third in a series, and the design doesn’t vary from others, we’ll make a note of the new product in the start of the original product with a date stamp, and move on.
- Does it fill the curriculum grid? We’re always looking for interactive products with learning value; worthy of classroom time and resources.