PRESS RELEASE
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Dr. Toy Announces 100 Best Children’s Products of 2009 |
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Your Guide to Finding the Best Toys and Children’s Products By Stevanne Auerbach , PhD /Dr. Toy™ SAN FRANCISCO, CA – (October 12, 2009) - As a natural, on–going part of our work as parents, teachers, early childhood specialists, and others involved with children at home or elsewhere, we observe children at play. With our own eyes we see what works…and what doesn’t hold up under tough testing – the normal barrage of active, inquisitive, and resourceful babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and older children. This guide is offered to complement your observations and to help you in selecting the right products to enhance play and learning.
We make buying decisions based on lasting play value and product applicability to children’s active, creative, and educational experiences. We can depend on the durability and versatility of such items as blocks, construction toys, games, puppets, and transportation toys. They stimulate the imagination, engage the player, have value, and hold up over time. We want to apply these standards to all the choices we make. We often hear consumers describe their experience of making a purchase, but shortly after giving little Sally or Sammy the product it falls apart – a frustrating and expensive process. Products that do not meet safety standards can be dangerous and can cause harm to children. We want to avoid these problems and always strive for excellence. I spend a great deal of time reviewing a large quantity of products created by myriad manufacturers and designers. I make sure my selections match the criteria for excellence. Certainly, age grading, name recognition, company dependability, versatility of design, and place of purchase are factors to obtain the right product. Another aspect you can depend on is a warranty. Rising costs for products require us to be wise consumers and to get extra lasting value. Certainly durable products, properly designed, and developmentally correct are worth the money. Children’s positive reactions are worth the extra effort. I utilize a complicated set of objective and subjective criteria to evaluate toys and other products. Some questions to ask are:
Dr. Toy is pleased to have the opportunity to share her years of play and toy experiences with consumers to assist them in the selection process. This timely report features information about l00 wonderful new toys and other products from large and small companies. The toys and products selected meet my high standards for design, durability, price, quality, safety, and value. Dr. Toy reminds parents and teachers, “Let’s not forget that “play is children’s work” and should be respected and understood by all adults. We should be thinking: “What products or “tools for play” can we obtain to provide wholesome experiences for children and provide plenty of positive play interactions.” Dr Toy ’s Smart Play/Smart Toys: How to Raise a Child with a High P.Q. (Play Quotient) was written for new parents and others who care about children, and is available in toy, bookstores or on line. Dr Toy invites consumers to take the time to describe play and product experiences and ask questions about toys and products. Following are examples of award-winning toys and products and the companies that make them grouped in categories of “smart” play. Active Play – Carrera (Disney), Exploramania (Exploracise Gymathitics), Gamewright (Ring–O–Flamingo), KaZAM (Bikes), Kimbo (Smart Fitness Workout DVD ), Leaping Legs (Up Down & All Around), MEGA Brands (Play N’ Go Table), Note to Health (Get Me Goin’), Play This Way (U–Play Mat), Sprig Toys (Dino Adventure Rig Playset). Construction Play – K’NEX (Sesame St. Brownstone Bldg Set), UberStix/Patch (ÜberStix PirateShip), Learning Materials Workshop ( Torno Torno ), Citiblocs (Wooden Blocks), Laser Pegs (Capriola).. Creativity & Art – ALEX (My Art Case ), Creativity for Kids (FingerPrints Finger Painting Set), Delta No. America (Bubber Bucket), Educational Insights (Foamfetti), Fun & Function (My Favorite Travel Kit ), MagnaPlay(MagnaKase Activity Case), Pipperoos (Sea Play Creative Drama Kit ), Schoenhut Piano (Piano Pals), Toysmith (Butterfly Kaleidoscope), UberStix/Patch (ÜberStix PirateShip). Creativity & Music – First Wave (Come Dance), Kids at Our House (and a Happy New Year), Master Communications (Animal Stories), Music Together (Music Together® Lullabies), New Hope Records ( America ), Rock ‘N Learn (Addition & Subtraction Rap), Sandman Records (Meltdown), Sprout Recordings (American Heroes), Swinxs (Swinxs). Technology – Swinxs (Swinxs ), Sabi (ItzaBitza Computer Game), Knowledge Adventure (JumpStart Pet Rescue for Wii), Learning Resources (Funny Phone), Goldberger Co. (Comfort Kids™ Belly Brites), Comfy® (Easy PC), Funrise Toys ( Tonka Strong Arm), Drumwell (GeoSafari World), Chicco (Talking Vacation Car). Language/Learning/Math & Reading Readiness – Math Tutor (Young Minds–Numbers & Counting), Rock ‘N Learn (Addition & Subtraction Rap), DreamBox Learning (DreamBox Learning K–2 Math), aha!Chinese (Let’s Go Guang!), Brain Party (MathMosisMania Game), Edupress (Science Lab Earth Science Game), Elmer’s Products (Mythbusters Weird Water World), Int’l Playthings (Wild Science Ant–O–Sphere), OWI (6 in 1 Educational Solar Kit), Precision Math (Spoils of Civilization), Risas y Sonrisas (Spanish Program for Kids), Your Baby Can (Your Baby Can Read! Deluxe Kit ), Zillio ( Zillio Mini Mountain ), Jeezle Pete ’s (Triviathon), Kid 2020(Money Matters), Smarterville (Learn to Read). Puzzles & Logical Thinking Games – b. dazzle (Salmon Scramble Squares® Puzzle), Blue Orange Games (YAMSLAM), Cadaco (QuadDoku), Carson–Dellosa (Color & Shapes Robot Race), Creativity Hub (Rory’s Story Cubes®), Game Whys (Paradice), Hallmark (Play With Your Food), I Can Do That! ( Dr. Seuss Stretchy ABC Game), Peaceable Kingdom (Fish Stix Game), Playroom Entertainment (Ligretto), Pressman Toy (Rummikub Kids Edition), Twin Sisters (Alphabet Train Floor Puzzle). Social & Dramatic Play – Pipperoos (Sea Play Creative Drama Kit ), Wild Republic (Morphs), Folkmanis (Pack Rat Puppet), Green Toys (Recycle Truck), Granza (Adorable Kinders Rag Doll). Socially Responsible Products – b. dazzle (Salmon Scramble Squares), Baby Genius® (Baby Genius Pet Care Center), Black Belt Goals (Goal Bands Game), Bright Spots Games (Thoughts and Feelings), Charlie’s Playhouse (Giant TimeLine), Green Toys (Recycling Truck), Innovative Toys (ScareMeNots), Kubit2me (Lil’ Scholars Edition), Mindlogic (Consensus® Jr. Ed.), Moody Bands (Moody Bands). Ten Best Toys – BuckleyBoo (BuckleyLion), Chicco (Talking Vacation Car), Drumwell (GeoSafari World), Folkmanis (Pack Rat Puppet), Funrise Toys (Tonka Strong Arm), Granza (Adorable Kinders Rag Doll), Learning Journey (Cash Cow), Learning Materials Workshop (Torno Torno), Twin Sisters (Alphabet Train Floor Puzzle), Wild Republic (Morphs). And many more wonderful smart toys and children’s products including Corwin (Hands–On Learning!), Emotes by Everglow (Bubba Plush), EOSGAME (Leaves), Ezyroller (EzyRoller), Idea Storm Products (Yamodo Partytime), Ideopolis (Alphabotz Cards), O Yeah Toys (Amflipian), Tangle Creations (Learning with Tangle Brain Tools), and others. Interviews regarding the recommended best smart toys and play products can be arranged through Walsh Public Relations at 203-292-6280 or by e-mail to greg@walshpr.com. Listing of Award Winning Companies and Products by Category
*Product information updated regularly on www.drtoy.com Interviews for Dr. Toy can be arranged with |
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