Dr. Toy Tells Tips for Choosing Toys

San Francisco, CA– (Nov. 2, 2007) – S teveanne Auerbach, PhD, better known as Dr. Toy, offers her tips to parents on the ways to find the best toys and other products for your child.

“The process of going to a toy store or finding toys online is challenging and can be overwhelming. There is a lot to know before you shop about how to find the right item that your child can enjoy for a long time,” Dr. Toy explains. “Before you purchase any children's product, examine it, and then ask yourself a few questions.”

Safety: is the toy safe? Are there potential hazards? Is the product too small? Are there sharp edges or loose ties? Is it nontoxic? Will it take rough treatment? Does it meet consumer product safety standards? Is there a warranty?
Fun: Does it entertain the child? Does it amuse, delight, excite?
Age: Grading: Is the product age-appropriate? Does it fit the child's age, skills, and abilities? Will it hold the child’s interest? Will it make the child happy?
Design: Is it easy to use? Does it look good? Does it feel good?
Versatility: Is it versatile? Is there more than one use for the product?
Durability: Will it last a long time? Children play hard and subject their toys to a lot of abuse and wear.
Interesting: Is it enticing? Is it fun to play with? Does it offer an opportunity to learn, and to think? Does it teach about the child’s living environment?
Creativity: Will it expand the child’s creativity? The right products can expand the child’s imagination in art, crafts, hobbies, language, reading, music, movement, and drama.
Usability: Will it frustrate or challenge the child? Does it offer something new to learn, to practice, or try? Will the child know how to use the product? Or, will it be too difficult to use without adult assistance?
Packaging: Does the product match the package and the package match the product? If the toy does not match ads or packaging it can be disappointing. Is age-grading clear? Is the item in the store like the product shown in the print or TV advertisement?
Personal Values: Will it nurture childhood? Does it help the child express emotions, experience concern for others, practice positive social interaction? Does it promote wholesome childhood values? Or are there any violent, sexist, or other negative aspects to the product?
Educational: What will it teach? Does it expand positive self-esteem, values, understanding, and cultural awareness? Does it offer practice in skill-building? Eye-hand coordination? Fine and large motor skills? Communication? Does it educate the child about the environment? The community? The world? History? Computers? Other skills?
Maintenance: Can it be cleaned and reused? If it is not washable, can it be cleaned in some practical way?
Cost: Is it affordable? Does the price match the value received?

If you can justify most of these points to your satisfaction, you’re on the right track.

According to Dr. Toy, parents want to find toys and products that offer a child the opportunity to think, to learn and practice, or try something new and beneficial.

“Some products are perfect for playing games; others are just right for activities such as construction projects, arts and crafts, puzzles, or a family hobby,” Dr. Toy continued, “Having fun together as a family is an important part of a child's play experience. Play is, after all, a time for having fun. Learning is a lot easier and is more enduring when it's fun!

Encourage your child to tell you about the toys and products on a wish list.
Consider getting a fantasy product from the list even if you think it's silly.
Childhood is fleeting. Even if we don't agree about the child’s choice, the child needs to learn to be responsible for decisions made as a consumer. The child is influenced a lot by what their friends are playing with and by what is seen on television.
Make a point of examining the toys and products included on Dr. Toy's extensive list of award-winning products (www.drtoy.com) each one has valuable activity, creativity, or education built in, and your child will benefit.

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. Dr. Auerbach is trained in child development, education, child psychology and special education. She is a parent educator, consultant, parent and playful grandparent. 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. 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. It is published in several languages and is internationally available in China , Germany , Greece , India , Indonesia , Israel , Korea , Russia , Spain and Thailand . She 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 Vacation 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. At this time over 4000 products are included on the site with direct links to companies, stores, toy history, parent resources, and much more. A FREE copy of the report is available at www.drtoy.com or by sending a SASE envelope to Dr. Toy.