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Dr. Toy’s 2011 Best Children’s Vacation Products Winners
Assists Children to Play and Learn at Home and Away on Vacation

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – (June 9, 2011) - The report of winning toys for Dr.Toy’s Best Vacation Children’s Products for Summer 2011 is now available to parents, teachers and others on Dr. Toy ’s Guide at www.drtoy.com. The information is designed to assist children to play and learn at home and while on vacation.

Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Children’s Products Awards were developed by noted child development authority, Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (a.k.a. Dr. Toy), as a service to consumers who desire to purchase safe, affordable, educationally-oriented, and stimulating toys and play products for children for vacation time at home or on the road.

“As a childhood specialist for 40 years,” says Dr. Toy, “I have seen the continuous, essential need for more year-round resources for consumers to identify and choose the most appropriate products for all children.”

Dr. Toy reports that in the years the innovative on-line magazine, Dr. Toy’s Guide, has been available, “thousands of visitors daily from around the world have accessed its information.” It was the first web site to evaluate toys and children’s products. The report is being released, according to Dr. Toy, to “encourage parents and teachers to focus on the value of play during the summer as essential to the overall learning process.”

She adds, “The Best Vacation Products are a balanced selection from large and small, new and established, companies across the U.S.A., Canada, and around the world and will provide children with exciting new learning tools that will help them not only do better in school, but also will provide more constructive activities while traveling or at vacation destinations.”

The award winning products include innovative toys, books, CDs, crafts, DVDs, games, puzzles, and many other play products for children of all ages and interests.

Dr. Toy believes “parents need more help to get a head start locating new, diversified products that children will enjoy as they increase learning skills and expand creativity.” The products range from low to high tech for “hours of constructive, educational, and stimulating fun.”

“Children learn best through play,” says Dr. Auerbach, “and these Best Vacation Products encourage children to maximize their potential and make the most of Smart Play. By making a renewed focus on summertime as a special time for choosing new products for children, parents improve their children’s development. This is a perfect time for parents to ‘take stock’ and do an inventory of what their children are playing with, what is not used, and what they need next in their development.”

Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Children’s Products are carefully chosen, using extensive criteria she has developed over many years, from among hundreds she has reviewed at toy fairs, in catalogs, and through many other sources. The criteria she uses includes: safety, age-appropriateness, design, durability, lasting play value, cultural and ethnic diversity, good transition from home to school, educational value, learning skills, creativity, improvement in the understanding of the community and the world, good value for price, and, naturally, fun.

These are products suitable for babies to older children, include products from hand-crafted to hi-tech, and range in price on the average from $10 to $50. The winning vacation products are affordable, well designed, and reflect the wide range of children’s interests. Complete information about these and other products are included in the full report.

Dr. Toy’s report includes company customer service numbers, web site addresses, age range, price, and a full description of each product. The award-winning, on-line magazine, Dr. Toy’s Guide, features full color photos of each product, links to companies to learn more, interviews with and articles by Dr. Toy, plus hundreds of other Best Products for all reasons and seasons. At this time over 5000 products are included in the Dr. Toy’s Guide with direct links to companies and toy stores on line, plus toy history, parent resources, and much more.

Dr. Auerbach, a long-time resident of San Francisco, originally from New York City, lived in Washington, DC, while working for the Department of Education where she approved the first proposal for “ Sesame Street” and established the first day care center for children of federal employees. In San Francisco, she established the San Francisco International Toy Museum, the world’s first “hands-on” toy museum visited by over 50,000 children. She is the author of 15 books (including The Toy Chest, Toys for a Lifetime, The Whole Child, and Choosing Child Care) and hundreds of articles on toys and play, and is the only Ph.D. in Child Development evaluating toys and children’s products with extensive training, background, and over 40 years of experience evaluating, writing and speaking about toys and children’s products. Dr. Auerbach is trained in child development, education, child psychology and special education. She is an educator, consultant, parent, and playful grandparent. Her book, Dr.Toy’s Smart Play/Smart Toys: How To Raise a Child with a High P.Q. (Play Quotient) published in 12 countries may be obtained through www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and at other book stores.

Additional Points :

  • Dr. Toy’s Guide the first website on toys provides links to many related useful sites and resources for parents, teachers, children, children with special needs, and toy enthusiasts.
  • Dr. Toy’s Smart Play/Smart Toys: How To Raise a Child with a High P Q (Play Quotient) is a unique guide that provides tools to parents to help them enhance their child’s PQ (Play Quotient) -- a concept Dr. Toy originated. The book published in China, Croatia, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Russia, Spain, Thailand, and Turkey, and will soon be available in Egypt, and in other countries.
  • Articles about and by Dr. Toy have appeared in newspapers and magazines across the country, in Canada, and around the world.
Interviews for Dr. Toy can be arranged with
Greg Walsh 203- 292-6280 Greg@walshpr.com
Full information on products at www.drtoy.com

Award Winning Companies and Products (alphabetical)
Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Children’s Products 2011 (www.drtoy.com)

Company

Product Type

Website

3P Learning

Mathletics EG EL ES

www.mathletics.com

ALEX

Flower Flips AC CP NO

www.alextoys.com

ALEX

Ready, Set Stilts! AE OP

www.alextoys.com

Altered Images Des.

My Star Rewards® ES SR TR

www. alteredimagesdesign.com

Anomia

Anomia CG ES

www.anomiapress.com

Ashare Patterson

Slooooks! BG ES TR TS

www.slooooks.com

b. dazzle

Black Bears Scramble Squares® ES PZ TR

www.b-dazzle.com

b. dazzle

Squirrels Scramble Squares® ES PZ TR TY

www.b-dazzle.com

Bananagrams

ZIP-IT BG ES TR TY

www.bananagrams.com

Blue Box Toys

Go with Me Mobile CP ES PL TY

www.bkidsfun.com

Blue Box Toys

Soft Peek-A-Boo Block CP ES HO TY

www.bkidsfun.com

Blue Orange

Tell Tale CP FP TR GN

www.blueorangegames.com

Blue Orange

Trigger AE TR GN

www.blueorangegames.com

Board Book Album

Take Your Pix® Albums AC BO CP ES

www.boardbookalbums.com

Box Creations

Cardboard Play Lands AC CO CP FP

www.boxcreations.com

Bridge Direct

Shoulder Buddies NO TR TY

www.shoulderbuddies.com

Bright Spots Games

Feelings in Bloom Bingo BG ES SR

www.brightspotsgames.com

Cabeau

BlanKid Buddy™ PL TR TS

www.cabeautravel.com

Canson

World of Eric Carle™ AC CP ES GN

www.what-do-you-see.com

Capstone

Duck Goes Potty BO

www.capstonepub.com

Carrera

R/C Spy Control AE ES HO TY

www.Carrera-toys.com

Carson-Dellosa

Guinness World Record Fact Cards ES NO TR

www.carsondellosa.com

Cepia

ZhuZhu Babies™ AE CP FP TY

www.zhuniverse.com

Chicco

Fun Travel Activity Nest AE OP TR

www.chiccousa.com

Chicco

Fun Travel Safari Car ES ML PL TR

www.chiccousa.com

Chicco

Hello Pups Talking Phone ES ML

www.chiccousa.com

Citiblocs

Little Builder Rattle Blocs CO CP ES GN

www.citiblocs.com

ClickN Kids

ClickN Read Phonics EG ES SW IN

www.clicknkids.com

ClickN Kids

ClickN SPELL EG ES SW IN

www.clicknkids.com

ClickN Kids

Looney Tunes ClickN Read Phonics EL ES SW IN

www.clicknkids.com

Cloud B

Slumber Friends PL TY

www.cloudb.com

Creative Teaching

Basic Kids Club BO ES

www. learntoreadkidsclub.com

Creatively Canny

Bug's Adventure Series BO EG ES DV

www.creativelycanny.com

Creativity for Kids

Best Friends Scrapbooks ac cp ho

www.creativityforkids.com

Creativity for Kids

Coloring & ARTivity Book AC CP TR

www.creativityforkids.com

Creativity for Kids

Fuzzy Bead Fun ac cp

www.creativityforkids.com

Critical Thinking

Algebra Word Problems BO ES

www.criticalthinking.com

CrocPond

Rindin the Puffer CR EL

www.crocpond.com

Crorey Creations

My Ribbon Barrette Maker AC CP TR

www.myfbm.com

Daddy O Prods.

Road Trip BG CP ES TR

www.daddyogames.com

DuneCraft

Slick Sand Bucket AE OP SC TY

www.dunecraft.com

Early Lingo

Colors and Shapes-Spanish ES DV

www.earlylingo.com

Educational Insights

Buck , Buck , Moose!™ CG ES TR TY

www. educationalinsights.com

Educational Insights

KaBam™ CG ES TR

www. educationalinsights.com

Faber-Castell

Coloring Gift Set AC CP TR

www.fabercastell.com

Finan Ent.

KLOO Language Games CG ES TR

www.kloogame.com

Find It Games

Find It Games at the Beach NO PZ TR TY

www.finditgames.com

Find It Games

Find It VeggieTales NO PZ TR TY

www.finditgames.com

Full Sail Int'l

Piggyback Rider AE OP TR TS UN

www.thepiggybackrider.com

Fungrins

Piggyback Bandz CP TY

www.piggybackbandz.com

Funrise Toys

Bump-N-Go Bubble Bug AE OP TR TY

www.funrise.com

Funrise Toys

Gazillion Bubble Football AE OP TR TY

www.funrise.com

Games Under Const.

I Built It! Checkers AC BG CP ES

www.ibuiltitgames.com

Games Under Const.

I Built It! Chess AC BG CP ES

www.ibuiltitgames.com

Games Under Const.

Memory Match Tic Tac Toe AC BG CP ES

www.ibuiltitgames.com

Gamewright

City Square Off BG ES

www.gamewright.com

Gamewright

GUBS CG ES FP TR

www.gamewright.com

Gamewright

Joe Name It CG TR

www.gamewright.com

Gamewright

Who Would Win CG CP TR

www.gamewright.com

GeoPalz

Kids Pedmeters AE OP TR TY

www.geopalz.com

GrandCamp Adv.

Shake It Up! AE CP PZ

www.grandcamp.com

HABA

Rainbow Whirls Pegging Game CO CP SR

www.habausa.com

Hurdle Fun

Hurdle Fun AE EQ OP TY

www.hurdlefun.com

Imagination Brands

Doodle Roll AC CR TR TY

www.doodleroll.com

Innovation 1st Labs

Glow in Dark Hexbug CP ES SC TY

www.hexbug.com

Inspiration Software

Inspiration 9 CP ES SW

www.inspiration.com

Inspiration Software

Kidspiration 3 CP ES SW

www.inspiration.com

Int'l Playthings

Calico Critters Caravan Camper DH TR

www.intplay.com

Int'l Playthings

Imaginetics TR

www.intplay.com

Int'l Playthings

Viking City TR

www.intplay.com

Kids II

Click & Giggle Remote EL ES TR TY

www.brightstarts.com

Kleynimals

Kleynimals NO TR TY GN

www.cleankeyanimals.com

KO Sticks

Textraxis® ES PZ

www.tetraxis.com

Laser Pegs Ventures

World of Bugs® CO HO PZ SC

www.laserpegs.com

Learning Resources

Double Duel™ ES TY

www.learningresources.com

Learning Resources

Super Sorting Pie ES TY

www.learningresources.com

LEGO Systems

My First LEGO® Set CO CP ES TR

www.lego.com

Let's Play - Spanish

Gift of Spanish BO CD ES DV

www.letsplayinspanish.com

Little Laura Music

Birthday Surprise BO CD ES ML

www.littlelauramusic.com

Little Pim

German Gift Set Plus ES TY VT DV

www.littlepim.com

Loopers

Loopers Training ES TY

www.looperslaces.com

Meccano/Erector

Easy Box CO

www.erector-sets.com

Meccano/Erector

Space Chaos Fighter Dark Pirate CO

www.erector-sets.com

Meccano/Erector

Space Chaos Fighter Silver Force CO

www.erector-sets.com

Meccano/Erector

Super Construction Case CO

www.erector-sets.com

Moosetache Games

Hike CG CP

www.moosetachegames.com

Morphology

Morphology BG CP

www.morphologygames.com

Mrs. Pinkelmeyer

Mrs. Pinkelmeyer Plush DO ML PL TR

www.mrspinkelmeyer.com

Myrna J. Games

Go Baggie Zebra AC NO TR

www.gobaggie.com

Non-Trivial Quest

Non-Trivial Quest BG ES SR TR

www.non-trivialquest.com

PBS Home Video

Dinosaur Train CP ES TR DV

www.shoppbs.org

PBS Home Video

Super Why! Humpty Dumpty CP ES ML DV

www.shoppbs.org

Periodic Quest™

Periodic Quest™ CG ES NO SC

www.periodicquest.com

Recent Toys

Icosoku ES PZ TR TY

www.recenttoys.com

Recent Toys

Mind Jewel NO PZ TR TY

www.recenttoys.com

RETROPlay

Reverse Charades AE CP GE

www.reverseCcharades.com

RJB3 Games

Albert 's Insomnia CG ES NO TR

www.rjb3games.com

Royal Council

Every Kindness Counts CR ES SR

www.therealtoothfairies.com

Royal Council

TheRealToothFairies.com CP ES SR IN

www.therealtoothfairies.com

Safari Ltd®

Toob "Around the World" ES TY

www.safariltd.com

Scholastic

I SPY Universe PZ TR VG

www.scholastic.com

Shape Games

Bishop Cubes ® CO ES PZ TR

www.bishopcubes.com

Skyrocket Toys

Meon Deluxe Animation Studio AC CO CP EL

www.skyrockettoys.com

Smithsonian Folk.

A Life of Song CD ML

www.folkways.si.edu

Sokikom

Sokikom EG EL ES IN

www.sokikom.com

Spin Master

Air Hogs Pocket Copter HO TR TS TY

www.spinmaster.com

Spin Master

Beat the Parents CG TR TY

www.spinmaster.com

Spin Master

Gomu AC NO TR TY

www.spinmaster.com

Spin Master

Siddeley Cars 2 Glider AE OP TS TY

www.spinmaster.com

Spontuneous Games

Spontuneous® BG CP ML TY

www.spontuneous.com

Spooner

Spooner Board AE

www.spoonerboards.com

Sqwishland

DIY Sqwishland AC CP ES IN

www.sqwishland.com

Sqwishland

Soft'n Squishy Bracelets AC CP ES TY

www.sqwishland.com

Star Kids Products

Wheelchair Tray AS CP EQ TR

www.starkidsproducts.com

Super Duper® Pub.

Funzee ES SW

www.superduperinc.com

Super Duper® Pub.

Jeepers Peepers ES

www.superduperinc.com

Super Duper® Pub.

Lids 'n Lizards ES

www.superduperinc.com

Super Duper® Pub

HearBuilder Following Directions ES SW

www.superduperinc.com

Tangle Creations

Friendship Bracelets CP NO TR TY

www.tanglecreations.com

Toyops

Just Look NO OP SC TY

www.triops.com

uKloo Kids Inc

uKloo Treasure Hunt AE CG ES GE

www.ukloo.com

Uncle Milton

Live Ant Habitat CP NO SC TY

www.unclemilton.com

US Games

Mystic Pyramid EG FP NO TY

www.usgamesinc.com

Wild Republic

Nuts & Bolts AC CO CP SC

www.wildrepublic.com

Yoshiritsu Co

LaQ Hamacron AC CO CP ES

www.roboporium.com

Young Minds

First Jigsaw Puzzle - Square ES PZ GN

www.youngmindsatplay.com

Your Baby Can

My First Library BO ES

www.yourbabycan.com

Zatswho

Soft Photo Recognition Flashcards ES TR

www.zatswho.com

KEY:

AC = arts & craft

AE = active

AS = accessory

AT = audio tape

BG = board game

BO = book

CD = CD

CG = card game

CO = construction

CP = creative

DO = doll

DV = DVD

EG = electronic game

ES = educational

FP = fantasy play

GE = game

GN = green

HO = hobby

ML = musical

NO = novelty

OP = outdoor play

PL = plush

PZ = puzzle

SC = science

SR = socially responsible

SW = software

TR = travel

TS = transportation

TY = toy

VG = video game