Dr. Toy Announces "Best Picks Children's Products for 2009"
More Smart Toys for Back to School, After-School and HolidayGifts
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - (December 15, 2009) - "Dr. Toy's Best Picks Children's Products 2009" awards list announced today is now available to parents, teachers and others in the online magazine, Dr. Toy's Guide www.drtoy.com.
"Dr. Toy's Best Picks Children's Products" Awards Program 2009 was developed by noted play and 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, stimulating new toys and products for children.
"As a childhood specialist for over 40 years," says Dr. Toy, Director of the Institute for Childhood Resources, founded in San Francisco in 1975, "I have seen the continuous, essential need for more year-round resources for consumers to identify and choose the most appropriate, safe and engaging learning and developmental 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 easily accessed information." The site was the first on-line resource to evaluate toys and children's products.
The report, "Dr. Toy's 100 Best Picks Children's Products for 2009", is being released according to Dr. Toy to "encourage parents and teachers to focus on the value of play as essential to the learning process."
She adds, "Smart play products selected from excellent companies across the U.S.A., Canada and other countries provide children with exciting new developmentally appropriate tools to help them do better in school, and also provide more constructive activities after school."
Dr. Auerbach believes "parents and grandparents need help to gain a head start locating new, diversified products that children will enjoy while increasing skills, enhance instruction and expand imagination." The products balanced among large and small companies, range from low to high tech for "hours of active, creative, educational, and stimulating fun."
"Children learn best through play," says Dr. Auerbach, "and these smart new toys and products encourage children to maximize their potentials."
"This is a good time to 'take stock' and do an inventory of what your child is playing with, what is not used and what they need next in their development." adds Dr. Toy." Dr. Toy's Guide offers excellent ideas for choosing new products for use in learning, after school play and the holidays ahead."
"Dr. Toy's Best Picks " were carefully chosen from among thousands that she has reviewed at toy fairs, catalogs, and through many other sources, and by using extensive criteria she has developed over many years. Among the criteria used are: 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.
Dr. Toy selects special categories including: Ten Best Toys, Best Active Products, Audio/Video Tapes/CDs/DVDs, Creative Products, Educational Products, Games, Socially Responsible Products, CD-ROM's/High Tech Products.
Winning products are manufactured by new, small and large companies from around the world including: b. dazzle, bluedominoes, Better Indeed, Carson-Dellosa, CelebriDucks, Chicco, Circle Out Games, Corolle Dolls, Creativity for Kids, Discovery Post, Educational Insights, Educational Publications, Edupress, Elmer's Products, Express Yourself Baby!, Fisher-Price, FloraCraft, Flying Pig, FoxMindGames, GameWhys, Gamewright, Hallmark, Haydenburri Lane, I Can Do That! Games, Juice Box Heroes, K'NEX, KIDdesigns, Kubit2me, Leap Frog, Learning Journey, Learning Materials Workshop, Little Tikes, Master Communications, MEGA Brands, Mentor Interactive, MGA Entertainment, myWallaby, Patch Products, Plasticant-Mobilo, Playroom Entertainment, Pressman Toys, Publications International, Puzzled, RandomLine, Rock 'N Learn, Roylco, Science WizTM, ScreenLife, SepToys, Shidonni, Smith & Tinker, Smithsonian Folkways, Song Wizard Records, Sunya® Math Games, Tailten Games & Puzzles, Tame Tiger, TechnoSource, Think Fun, Uncle Skunkle, University Games, Vermont Teddy Tear, Vivid Imaginations®, Wild Republic, Your Baby Can, Zillio, Zoobies and many others.
Dr. Toy's annual report includes company customer service numbers, web site URL, age range, price, and full description of each product and more. 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 currently available "Best Classic" and "Best Vacation" products. At this time over 4,000 products are included plus links direct to companies, toy stores online, toy history, "Ask Dr. Toy" feature, parent resources and much more.
Dr. Auerbach is the only Ph.D. 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 education, child psychology, child development, and special education. She is a parent educator, consultant, parent and grandparent.
Obtain an easy access free copy of "Dr. Toy's Best Picks Children's Products 2009" at www.drtoy.comDr. Toys Guide.
Additional Points:
· Dr. Toy's Guide provides many useful sites and resources on play, toys and parenting.
· Dr. Toy presents newest products to parents and teachers around the world. Dr. Toy throughout the year writes, speaks and shares insights about the importance of learning through her book, Smart Play/Smart Toys. She contributes all toys to the U.S Marines Toys for Tots, and presents product and guidance information at selected events and on line on www.drtoy.comand on other sites.
· Dr. Toy is the author of Dr. Toy's Smart Play/Smart Toys to provide useful tools to parents to enhance their child's P.Q (Play Quotient). The book, published in China, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, and Thailand will soon be available in Egypt and Turkey.
· Interviews with and about Dr. Toy have appeared in newspapers, magazines, radio and TV across the country, in Canada, Germany, Japan, Spain and around the world.
Alphabetical Listing of Award Winning Companies
|
|
DR. TOY'S BEST PICKS FOR NEWCHILDREN'S PRODUCTS 2009
Selected by Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D.(Dr. Toy) |
|
#
|
Company
|
Product Type |
Age |
Price |
CustSrv# |
www. |
|
1. |
b. dazzle |
Buffalos Scramble Squares BG ES PZTR |
4-12 |
$8.95 |
800-809-4242 |
b-dazzle.com |
|
2. |
b. dazzle |
Cowboys & Cowgirls Scramble BG ES PZTR |
4-12 |
$8.95 |
800-809-4242 |
b-dazzle.com |
|
3. |
b. dazzle |
Rooster Scramble Squares BG ES NO PZ TR |
4-12 |
$8.95 |
800-809-4242 |
b-dazzle.com |
|
4. |
Better Indeed |
Family Matters BG SR TY |
9-12 |
$19.99 |
203-292-6280 |
familymattersgame.com |
|
5. |
bluedominoes |
Safe ArtTMActivity Dough AC CP ES SR GN |
2-7 |
$14.99 |
858-759-7435 |
bluedominoes.com |
|
6. |
Carson-Dellosa |
Big Book-Hidden Pictures & More! BOES |
4-7 |
$12.99 |
800-321-0943 |
carsondellosa.com |
|
7. |
Carson-Dellosa |
Pirates' Gold BG ES |
7-12 |
$14.99 |
800-321-0943 |
carsondellosa.com |
|
8. |
Carson-Dellosa |
Where Do I Live? BG ES |
4-7 |
$14.99 |
800-321-0943 |
carsondellosa.com |
|
9. |
CelebriDucks |
Mr. Green 100%Recycled Rubber GN NO OP SR |
1mo-12yr |
$11.99 |
415-456-3452 |
celebriducks.com |
|
10. |
Chicco |
Billy FunWheels OP TS TY |
2-4 |
$39.99 |
877-424-4226 |
chiccousa.com |
|
11. |
Circle Out Games |
Circle Out! AE CG CP ES NO PZ TR |
8-12 |
$9.99 |
801-360-0673 |
circleoutgames.com |
|
12. |
Corolle Dolls |
Nourrisson CP FP SR TY |
2-6 |
$75.00 |
800-668-4846 |
corolle.com |
|
13. |
Creativity for Kids |
Make Your Own Animal Puppets AC CP FP |
3-5 |
$17.99 |
800-311-8684 |
creativityforkids.com |
|
14. |
Creativity for Kids |
Planets- Solar System Mobile AC CP SC |
8-12 |
$29.99 |
800-311-8684 |
creativityforkids.com |
|
15. |
Discovery Post |
Dinosaur Magnet Board CP ES FP SC TR TY |
6-10 |
$29.95 |
860-516-4867 |
discoverypost.com |
|
16. |
Discovery Post |
Fairy Magnet Board CP ES FP TR TY |
6-10 |
$29.95 |
860-516-4867 |
discoverypost.com |
|
17. |
DuneCraft |
Outer Space Explorer CP ES GN SC SR TY |
4-12 |
$14.99 |
800-306-4168 |
dunecraft.com |
|
18. |
Educational Insights |
Blurt! BG ES GE |
7-12 |
$29.99 |
800-995-4436 |
educationalinsights.com |
|
19. |
Educational Insights |
Ticks Tacks Toes BG ES GE |
6-12 |
$24.99 |
800-995-4436 |
educationalinsights.com |
|
20. |
Educational Publ. |
ASurprise in the Mail BOCP ES SR |
12-36 mos |
$7.99 |
800-872-5030 |
earlystartchild.com |
|
21 |
Educational Publ. |
Pizza Friday BOCP ES SR |
12-36 mos |
$7.99 |
800-872-5030 |
earlystartchild.com |
|
22. |
Edupress |
Brain Blasters Vocabulary Practice Cards ES |
7-12 |
$9.99 |
800-835-7978 |
edupressinc.com |
|
23. |
Edupress |
Guided ReadingQuestion Cards ES |
8-12 |
$8.99 |
800-835-7978 |
edupressinc.com |
|
24. |
Edupress |
Word Family Fiesta! BG ES |
6-8 |
$21.95 |
800-835-7978 |
edupressinc.com |
|
25. |
Elmer's Products |
Dotza El Grande AC |
5-8 |
$19.99 |
888-435-6377 |
colorloco.com |
|
26. |
Elmer's Products |
Magnificent Manicure Kit SC |
8-11 |
$19.99 |
888-435-6377 |
scientificexplorer.com |
|
27. |
Elmer's Products |
Sprayza Color El Grande AC |
5-8 |
$19.99 |
888-435-6377 |
colorloco.com |
|
28. |
Express Yourself Baby! |
Look Who's Signing ES DV |
1mo-8 yr |
$14.99 |
856-297-4033 |
expressyourselfbaby.com |
|
29. |
Fisher-Price |
Trio Basic Tub Set CO CP TY |
3-6 |
$29.99 |
800-432-5437 |
fisher-price.com |
|
30. |
FloraCraft |
Make It: Fun® Project Bricks AC CP ES FP |
10-12 |
$14.99 |
800-253-0409 |
floracraft.com/projectbricks |
|
31. |
Flying Pig Games |
Jukem Football Card Game CG ES TR |
8-12 |
$19.99 |
513-421-2111 |
Jukemfootball.com |
|
32. |
FoxMind Games |
Meta-Forms BG ES PZ |
6-12 |
$19.99 |
866-369-6463 |
foxmind.com |
|
33. |
GameWhys |
IceCap CG CP ES SR TYGN |
9-12 |
$12.95 |
650-843-1536 |
gamewhys.com |
|
34. |
Gamewright |
Funny Business CP ES GE |
12-12 |
$27.99 |
800-638-7568 |
gamewright.com |
|
35. |
Hallmark |
Don't Break the Chain CG CP ES |
6-12 |
$12.95 |
800-425-5627 |
hallmark.com |
|
36. |
Hallmark |
Pizza 31 CG ES |
6-12 |
$12.95 |
800-425-5627 |
hallmark.com |
|
37. |
Haydenburri Lane |
Rascals & Routines BOES FP PU SR TR |
3-5 |
$24.95 |
510-339-8559 |
haydenburrilane.com |
|
38 |
I Can Do That! |
One Fish Two Fish BG ES |
3-8 |
$16.99 |
206-686-9686 |
icandothatgames.com |
|
39. |
I Can Do That! |
Busytown Eye Found It! BG CP |
3-8 |
$16.99 |
206-686-9686 |
icandothatgames.com |
|
40. |
Juice Box Heroes |
"No Sugar Added" CD ML |
3-8 |
$15.00 |
415-203-3415 |
juiceboxheroes.com |
|
41. |
KIDdesigns |
Barbie Hugn' Heal Pet Dr. FP PL TY |
3-6 |
$29.99 |
888-867-8697 |
kiddesigns.com |
|
42. |
K'NEX |
Dinosaurs 20 Model Bldg Set CO CP TY |
5-12 |
$20.99 |
800-543-5639 |
knex.com |
|
43. |
Kubit2me |
Now You're Talkin' Edition ES GE SR |
10-12 |
$19.99 |
888-686-7748 |
kubit2me.com |
|
44. |
LeapFrog |
My Pal Scout ES ML SW TR TY |
6 mo-4 yr |
$19.99 |
800-701-5327 |
leapfrog.com |
|
45. |
Learning Journey |
Techno Gears Raceway CO CP ES TY |
8-12 |
$69.99 |
877-839-3969 |
thelearningjourney.com |
|
46. |
Learning Materials |
Color and Form Blocks AC CO CP ES SC SR |
2-6 |
$35.00 |
800-693-7164 |
learningmaterialswork.com |
|
47. |
Little Tikes |
Apple Grove Pals Farm Playset CP FP TY |
18 mos-4 |
$34.99 |
800-748-2204 |
littletikes.com |
|
48. |
Master Comm |
Families of Mexico DV |
5-11 |
$29.95 |
800-765-5885 |
cultureforkids.com |
|
49. |
MEGA Brands |
Streetz City Pursuit CO CP FP TY |
6-12 |
$39.99 |
800-465-6342 |
megabrands.com |
|
50. |
MentorInteractive |
My Virtual Tutor: Reading CP EG ES VG |
3-8 |
$29.99 |
720-565-0334 |
myvirtualtutorgame.com |
|
51 |
MGAEntertainment |
Moxie Girlz Art-titudeDoll AC CP DO FP TY |
6-12 |
$19.99 |
818-357-3659 |
mgae.com |
|
52. |
myWallaby Ltd |
myWallaby Agile Doll Bag AS CP DO TR |
3-10 |
$49.99 |
212-214-0347 |
mywallaby.com |
|
53. |
Patch Products |
Now What? AE BG CP ES |
8-12 |
$20.00 |
800-524-4263 |
patchproducts.com |
|
54. |
Patch Products |
Pass the Pup AE CP ES GE ML PL |
3-5 |
$25.00 |
800-524-4263 |
patchproducts.com |
|
55. |
Plasticant-Mobilo |
120-pc Kindergarten Group Set CO CP ES TY |
3-8 |
$30.50 |
800-323-3040 |
mobilo.net |
|
56. |
Playroom Ent. |
Trading Faces CG ES SR |
6-8 |
$10.00 |
866-999-9654 |
playrooment.com |
|
57. |
Pressman Toy |
Chimp & Zee's Pesky Pirates BG ES |
3-5 |
$15.00 |
800-800-0298 |
pressmantoy.com |
|
58. |
Publications Intl |
Digital Camera Book AE BOCP EG ML TR |
3-5 |
$19.99 |
800-595-8484 |
pilbooks.com |
|
59. |
Publications Intl |
Guitar Sound Book AE BOCP EG ES ML TR |
3-5 |
$16.99 |
800-595-8484 |
pilbooks.com |
|
60. |
Publications Intl |
My First Laptop AE BOCP EG ES HO ML TR |
3-5 |
$16.99 |
800-595-8484 |
pilbooks.com |
|
61. |
Puzzled |
Wooden 3D Puzzle-Alphabet Tree ES GN PZTY |
3-5 |
$20.00 |
818-665-6533 |
puzzled1.com |
|
62. |
RandomLine |
SQUIGGLE On-the-Move AC CP ES TR |
6-12 |
$8.99 |
888-234-3729 |
randomline.com |
|
63. |
Rock'N Learn |
Life Science DVD ES SC DV |
8-12 |
$19.99 |
800-348-8445 |
rocknlearn.com |
|
64. |
Roylco |
Masterpiece Crayon Kit AC CP |
3-12 |
$24.99 |
800-362-8656 |
roylco.com |
|
65. |
Science WizTM |
Chemistry Plus SC |
8-12 |
$19.98 |
510-222-2638 |
sciencewiz.com |
|
66. |
Science WizTM |
Chess: Once A Pawn A-Time BG |
8-12 |
$19.98 |
510-222-2638 |
sciencewiz.com |
|
67. |
ScreenLife |
Crayola Undersea Adventures AC ES DV |
3-7 |
$19.99 |
866-383-4263 |
screenlifegames.com |
|
68. |
SepToys |
SepToys Design Blocks CO CP ESNO TY |
4- |
$29.99 |
631-871-2599 |
septoys.com |
|
69. |
Shidonni |
Shidonni CP ES GE PL |
5-12 |
$5.95 |
|
www2.shidonni.com |
|
70. |
Smith & Tinker |
Nanovor CP EG SW TS TY |
7-12 |
$9.95 |
425-641-3376 |
nanovor.com |
|
71. |
Smithsonian Folkways |
Go Waggaloo CD ML TR |
3-5 |
$11.98 |
888-365-5929 |
folkways.si.edu |
|
72. |
Song Wizard Records |
Teaspoon at a Time CD ML |
5-10 |
$14.98 |
626-441-4714 |
songwizard.com |
|
73. |
Sunya®Math Games |
Building Sharp Minds in Math BOCG ES SR |
7-12 |
$34.95 |
330-545-5000 |
sunyamath.com |
|
74 |
Swingset Press |
Acting Out! AE BG CP ES FP SR TY |
9-12 |
$10.00 |
866-999-9654 |
swingsetpress.com |
|
75. |
Tailten Games |
Pluck, The Peacock BG ES HO TY |
6-8 |
$24.95 |
203-292-6280 |
tailtengames.com |
|
76. |
Tame Tiger |
Word Frenzy Card Game AE CG CP TR |
10-12 |
$14.99 |
866-367-1343 |
frenzycardgames.com |
|
77. |
Techno Source |
PrintiesTM Design Studio AC CP PL |
6-12 |
$19.99 |
212-725-4500 |
technosourceusa.com |
|
78. |
ThinkFun |
Chocolate Fix BG ES |
8-12 |
$19.99 |
800-468-1864 |
thinkfun.com |
|
79. |
ThinkFun |
Clever Castle BG ES |
5-7 |
$19.99 |
800-468-1864 |
thinkfun.com |
|
80. |
ThinkFun |
Hoppers Jr. BG ES |
5-7 |
$19.99 |
800-468-1864 |
thinkfun.com |
|
81. |
ThinkFun |
S'Match ES GE |
3-5 |
$19.99 |
800-468-1864 |
thinkfun.com |
|
82. |
Uncle Skunkle |
Bambooga® |
9-12 |
$29.00 |
503-608-7581 |
uncleskunkle.com |
|
83. |
University Games |
Sort It Out! Card Game in a Tin BG CG TR |
8-12 |
$9.99 |
800-471-0641 |
areyougame.com |
|
84. |
University Games |
Super WHY ABC Letter Game BG ES |
3-5 |
$17.99 |
800-471-0641 |
areyougame.com |
|
85. |
VermontTeddy Bear |
Soft Floppy Bear CP FP PL |
1mo-12yr |
$39.95 |
800-988-8277 |
vermontteddybear.com |
|
86. |
Vivid Imaginations® |
AniMagicTM: Honey PonyTM DO EL FP NO PL |
3-8 |
$49.99 |
201-797-3305 |
AniMagicToys.com |
|
87. |
Wild Republic |
Mongo Grinders NO SR TY GN |
6-8 |
$7.99 |
800-800-9678 |
wildrepublic.com |
|
88. |
Wild Republic |
Wee Lil Keepers DO FP NO TY |
3-5 |
$7.99 |
800-800-9678 |
wildrepublic.com |
|
89. |
Wild Republic |
WOWs (Googly Glow-Eyed Plush) NO PLSR |
3-5 |
$10.00 |
800-800-9678 |
wildrepublic.com |
|
90. |
Your Baby Can |
6 Mini-Sliding Books BOES |
0-36 mos |
$25.95 |
888-732-3888 |
yourbabycan.com |
|
91. |
Your Baby Can |
Lift-a-Flap Books BOES |
0-5 yrs |
$11.95 |
888-732-3888 |
yourbabycan.com |
|
92. |
Your Baby Can |
Spanish, French, Italian, German BO ES DV |
2-7 |
$39.95 |
888-732-3888 |
yourbabycan.com |
|
93. |
Zillio |
Zillio 2D Playground BG ES |
4-12 |
$24.95 |
650-260-2276 |
zilliogames.com |
|
94. |
Zoobies |
Very Hungry Caterpillar BO GN PL TR TY |
0-12 |
$45.00 |
888-966-2438 |
zoobies.com |
AC = arts and crafts
AE = active
AS = accessories, decorations, furniture
BG = board game
BO = book
CG = card game
CO = construction
CP = creative product
DO = doll
DV = DVD
EG = electronic game
EL = electronic product
ES = educational skills
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