Frequently asked questions

Every year since 2002, the German Children's Software Award TOMMI has honored high-quality digital games and educational offerings for children and made them known to a wider audience. First, a jury of renowned specialist journalists, educators and scientists selects the nominees. Then it is the turn of a children's and youth jury in around 50 libraries in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Children always have the last word in the TOMMI!

In the category TOMMI Kindersoftwarepreis Kita: Best Family Game, Prof. Dr. Stefan Aufenanger from the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz and his team test entries in kindergartens.

As a publisher, you can note participation in this category in the registration form.

The TOMMI focuses on the involvement and participation of children between the ages of eight and 16. On average, between 3,000 and 4,000 girls and boys actively participate in the awards. During the pandemic, around 1600 children were able to participate.

The TOMMI aims to teach children and school classes how to deal critically with computer, educational and console games as well as apps, thus promoting children's media literacy.

The TOMMI strengthens children's understanding of democracy as they deal with other opinions in the test phase and also formulate their arguments in writing.

The idea for the German Children's Software Award TOMMI came about in 2002 and can be traced back to the media expert, journalist and author of books for children and young people Thomas Feibel and his Office for Children's Media. The TOMMI wanted to put a positive spin on the topic of computers and children, since at the time the medium only made it into the media with negative headlines ("killer game" debate).

The TOMMI began with awards for PC games. Later, console games, electronic toys and digital educational offerings were added. A children's jury was initially sought via the ZDF children's and youth program, which tested at home.

Since 2008, the TOMMI has been held in public libraries, as this has enabled many more children to be reached and the project to be accompanied by media education. The TOMMI is the most important award for digital products for children and young people in the German-speaking world and will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2021!

Apps, electronic toys, PC and console games, educational software or products for the special Kindergarten & Preschool prize can be entered. The age limit is USK 12. All products that have been or will be launched on the market within one year and are still available until at least the end of the respective calendar year are eligible to participate.
To ensure a smooth process, we require 20 games or codes per title, as well as the completed ONLINE registration form. The submitted games will remain with the expert jury.

Once a year.
As a rule, the call for games and other digital products for children takes place in June/July. The test phase in the libraries takes place between September and November.

The award ceremony takes place at the end of December in the KiKA media program "Team Timster". The Kita Prize is always awarded at the beginning of the year at the Kita Online Congress.

Children who are between eight and 16 years old and have a good knowledge of computer games can apply to the libraries listed. Entire school classes are also welcome to join the libraries' children's jury.

A list of libraries with contact details can be found here.
Details on registration can be found here.

Publishers of apps, PC and console games as well as electronic toys and digital educational offerings submit their games online here.
A jury of well-known specialist journalists, renowned media educators and education experts select the nominations. Children in around 50 libraries throughout Germany then have their turn. Between 3,000 and 4,000 girls and boys take part every year.
Until 2019, the prize was awarded at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Since 2020, the award ceremony has taken place as part of the "Timster" program on ARD and ZDF's KiKa, both on TV and online.

Public libraries wishing to participate in TOMMI with a children's jury should contact:

German Library Association
Kathrin Hartmann
Coordinator of the Competence Network for Libraries (knb),
Head of Projects and Programs,
Deputy Managing Director
030. 644 98 99 15
hartmann(at)bibliotheksverband.de
www.bibliotheksverband.de
www.bibliotheksportal.de

Public libraries have long been leaders in the education sector when it comes to teaching a wide variety of reading skills. This applies not only to books, but also to electronic media and games. Libraries provide the place, the games and equipment, and above all, competent staff to assist.
In addition, libraries are a democratic institution: Here, children who may not be able to afford computers, consoles or tablets at home gain access to new media. In the library, they learn how to use them competently. School classes regularly participate in TOMMI.
A complete list of participating libraries can be found here.

The TOMMI is published by the FEIBEL.DE office for children's media in Berlin.
Partners of the award are biblioplay, the German Library Association (dbv), Dein Spiegel, Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Familie & Co, the Frankfurt Book Fair, Gaming ohne Grenzen, KiKA, Partner & Söhne and the ZDF children's and youth program.

The TOMMI awards annually in the following categories:

• Apps
• Education
• Electronic toy
• Console games
• PC games
• Youth prize games
• Youth Award Education
• Best family game daycare center