PRESS RELEASE 
PRESS RELEASE
Attendees Receive Free Appointments with Dr. Toy at Play Therapy Conference
Hollywood , CA – ( Oct. 5, 2007 ) – The DOCTOR IS IN! Stevanne Auerbach , PhD, also known as Dr. Toy, will be available to field questions and offer free educational tips on toy play therapy for attendees of The Annual Association for Play Therapists National Conference, which takes place at Oct 9-14 in Hollywood
Dr. Toy, a leading advocate of the benefits of child development through interactive play and international best-selling author of Smart Play Smart Toys: How to Raise a Child with a High PQ (Play Quotient), will be on hand throughout the National Conference for attendees to discuss the latest product development uses and play therapy techniques.
As part of the interactive product demonstration area, Booth #44 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, where all of the activities, lectures, classes and seminars are held, Dr. Toy will lead discussions and practical application for different play techniques and types of products used for play therapy.
“I’m so happy to be participating in the Play Therapy Conference. This will be a great opportunity to demonstrate to so many teachers and therapists the beneficial practice of using toys and fun to help child development efforts,” Dr. Toy explained. “The use of practical products and the latest product innovations enhance the experience for the child and the parent, teacher or care provider. There are so many good products on the market that can be extremely useful to aiding a child’s emotional, gross motor, motor planning and social development. It is so important for teachers and parents to be knowledgeable about the products that they could have on hand that can engage the child and help him or her learn and connect, while having fun too.”
Dr. Toy will be offering demonstrations of several traditional and new products, many of which are featured in the newly released Dr. Toy Best Products 2007 Guide that is available in its entirety in the online magazine, Dr. Toy's Guide, at http://www.drtoy.com. Among the products will be fantastic, silly and lifelike puppets from Folkmanis, logic and memory puzzles from b. dazzle and Educational Insights, the Newton 's Apples game from Briarpatch, and wonderful new construction products from MEGA brands. At the booth, all attendees can enter to win a twice a day drawing for an assortment of therapeutic toys.
“I want the educators and therapists at Play Therapy to be messengers to every area of the world that play, especially play with the assistance of toys, like puppets, books and construction products, can help children express emotions and creativity that they may not otherwise be able to express,” Dr. Toy continued. “If parents can learn how to encourage interaction, they can notice the things that elicit positive responses and help children to be emotionally, as well as developmentally, healthy.”
About The Association for Play Therapy National Conference
Since 1984, the Play Therapy Conference has become a major international multi-disciplinary event for mental health professionals wishing to earn continuing education credit for licensure or credentialing, network with popular authors, speakers, and vendors, and enjoy extra-curricular activities with peers. This year interested therapists can earn up to 40 hours of continuing education credit for licensing, play therapy credentialing, and general practice purposes. For additional information, visit www.a4pt.org
About Play Therapy Association (APT)
APT provides support to professionals working in the field of play therapy –where trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development. The Association for Play Therapy is a national professional society promotes the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists. It sponsors and supports programs, services, and related activities that promote the Public understanding and appreciation of play and play therapy; Effective practice of play therapy through research, education and training, and support; Recognition, incorporation, and preservation of diversity in play and play therapy; and the Development and maintenance of a strong professional organization that satisfies this mission. The Association for Play Therapy is located at 2060 N. Winery, Suite 102 , Fresno , CA 93703 . For additional information, visit www.a4pt.org.
About Dr Toy
Stevanne Auerbach , Ph.D. , aka “ Dr. Toy ” has been evaluating and speaking about toys and children’s products for more than 30 years. She was a teacher, and staff member of the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Economic Opportunity, where she evaluated educational programs, approved the first grant to “Sesame Street,” organized the first in-house child care center for federal employees’ children, and developed a federal research program on child care. Dr. Auerbach is trained in child development, education, child psychology and special education. She is a parent educator, consultant, parent and playful grandparent. She founded the San Francisco International Toy Museum, the first “Hands On” Toy Museum, the first web site on toys (Dr. Toy's Guide: www.drtoy.com) and is the author of 15 books and hundreds of articles, including her best-selling book, Smart Play/Smart Toys How to Raise a Child with a High P.Q (Play Quotient) . It is published in many languages and is internationally available in Croatia , Greece , India , Indonesia , Israel , Korea , Russia , Spain and Thailand . Dr. Auerbach is director of the non-profit Institute for Childhood Resources in San Francisco . Her awards programs featured on www.drtoy.com recognize best educationally oriented, developmentally appropriate and skill-building products. Dr. Toy 's Best Products 2007 report on www.drtoy.com includes company customer service numbers, web site URL, age range, price, and a full description of each product. In addition, Dr. Toy award-winning, on-line magazine, Dr. Toy’s Guide (www.drtoy.com) features full color photos of each product, links to manufacturers, interviews and articles by Dr. Toy, plus hundreds of other Best Products including high to low tech and products for all reasons and seasons plus Ask Dr. Toy Feature and much more. At this time over 4000 products are included on the site with direct links to companies, stores, toy history, and parent teacher and other resources. A FREE copy of the report is available at www.drtoy.com