San Francisco, CA

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, June 20, 2012

Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Children's Products Winners

2012 Award Report Now Available on the Internet

Assists Children to Play and Learn at Home and Away on Vacation

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The report of winning toys for Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Children's Products for Summer 2012 is now available to parents, teachers and others interested in play and toys on Dr. Toy's Guide 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 valued 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 more than 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 and now the site is newly updated. 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.

About Dr Toy

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 regarding the recommended best smart toys and play products can be arranged through

Greg Walsh, Walsh PR (203-242-6280) greg@walshpr.com

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Award Winning Companies and Products

Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Children's Products 2012 (www.drtoy.com)



# Company Product type Age Price CustSrv# www



1. Adora Playtime Rolling Back Pack AE CP DO TR HM 0-12 mos $29.95 800-779-5335 charismabrands.com

2. Allied Products Barnyard Fun Jigsaw Puzzle BG ES HO PZ SR 3-5 $11.95 816-241-8080 springbok-puzzles.com

3. American Doll Room American Doll Room DH OT 3-12 $89.00 855-483-6537 americandollroom.com

4. b. dazzle Ice Cream Scramble Squares® CP ES PZ CT 4-12 $8.95 800-809-4242 b-dazzle.com

5. b. dazzle Seashells Scramble Squares® CP ES PZ GN 4-12 $8.95 800-809-4242 b-dazzle.com

6. Be Inc Gross-Abulary BG ES GE SC 6-12 $24.95 416-709-3937 grossabulary.com

7. Bereb Enterprises CampAntics™ BG ES GE MA 5-11 $29.95 416-473-3394 campantics.com

8. Bigjigs Toy Bigjigs Railway Station Set CO FP HO TS TY 3-6 $89.95 954-249-5730 bigjigstoys.us

9. Blue Orange Chef Cuckoo CG CP GE TR TY 7-12 $14.99 415-252-0372 blueorangegames.com

10. Blue Orange Flapz AE CP GE SR 7-12 $7.99 415-252-0372 blueorangegames.com

11. Blue Orange Shrimp Cocktail CG GE TR TY 7-12 $14.99 415-252-0372 blueorangegames.com

12. Blue Orange Speedeebee CG ES GE TR TY 8-12 $14.99 415-252-0372 blueorangegames.com

13. BrainFood Learning Fascinating World of Insects ES SC DV IN 2-12 $14.99 425-466-6992 brainfoodlearning.com

14. BrainFood Learning Fascinating World of Mammals ES SC DV IN 2-12 $14.99 425-466-6992 brainfoodlearning.com

15. Brand Café Kwizniac Trivia Countdown CG ES PZ TR TY 12-12 $19.99 416-585-9395 kwizniac.com

16. Carrera Fire Fighter Watergun R/C AE HO OP OT TY 6-12 $99.99 609-409-8510 carrera-toys.com

17. Chicco Charge & Drive Vehicles AE CP OP TS TY 12 mos-5 $24.99 877-424-4226 chiccousa.com

18. Choose Friendship Friendship Bracelet Maker Trav. AC ES TR TY 6-11 $16.99 866-693-2648 choosefriendship.com

19. Creative Teaching Super Sight Word Search CP ES GE TR TY 4-6 $4.49 800-287-8879 creativeteaching.com

20. Devrian Innovations Rainforest Friends BG ES TR UN 3-12 $6.99 908-810-1111 devrianinnovations.com

21. Diggin Active Skootcase AE EQ OP TS TY 3-5 $69.99 888-388-8835 digginactive.com

22. Everything Happy Chase the Happy Dog Blankie CP NO PL TR UN 0 mos-12 $54.00 440-545-2368 everythinghappy.com

23. Find It! Games On The Farm™ ES GE SR TR TY 8-12 $23.00 877-346-3482 finditgames.com

24. Folkmanis Little Puppets CP ES PL PU TY 3-12 $13.00 800-654-8922 folkmanis.com

25. Folkmanis Nibbling Mouse Puppet CP ES PL PU TY 3-12 $14.00 800-654-8922 folkmanis.com

26. Folkmanis Patchwork Rabbit Puppet CP ES PL PU TY 3-12 $34.00 800-654-8922 folkmanis.com

27. Folkmanis Piglet Puppet CP ES PL PU TY 3-12 $28.00 800-654-8922 folkmanis.com

28. Fun and Function Yoga Deck for Kids on the Ball AE CG CP TR TY 3-12 $15.99 800-231-6329 funandfunction.com

29. Galison Publishing Princess Flip & Draw AC CP FP OT 4-10 $8.00 800-670-7441 galison.com

30. Gamewright Elephant's Trunk BG GE TY 4-12 $14.99 800-638-7568 gamewright.com

31. Gamewright FitzIt CG CP ES GE 10-12 $9.99 800-638-7568 gamewright.com

32. Gamewright Scallywags CG CP ES FP MA 8-12 $15.99 800-638-7568 gamewright.com

33. Gamewright Zip Zap CG ES GE MA 6-12 $10.99 800-638-7568 gamewright.com

34. GeoPalz GeoPalz Pedometer AE EG IN SR UN 5-100 $25.00 877-546-4803 geopalz.com

35. Gibout Toys Gibout Big Blocks CP ES PL PZ UN 0 mos-8 $23.99 888-929-8697 gibouttoys.com

36. Grandpa Beck's Games Cover Your A$$ets™ CG ES SR UN MA 8-12 $11.99 206-498-1959 grandpabecksgames.com

37. Grandpa Beck's Games Grandpa Beck's Golf CG ES SR UN MA 8-12 $11.99 206-498-1959 grandpabecksgames.com

38. Harvest Time Abundant Harvest for Kids BG ES SR CT 5-12 $29.95 877-786-4278 harvesttimepartners.com

39. Innovation First Int'l HEXBUG Spider ES SC TR TY 8-12 $24.99 903-453-0858 hexbug.com

40. Jada Toys Cutie Pops CP DO FP TY UN 4-7 $19.99 626-810-8382 jadatoys.com

41. Jay at Play CuddleUppets PL PU TR TY UN 3-12 $19.99 212-679-3022 cuddleuppets.com

42. JumpSport iBounce Kids Trampoline EQ OT TY 24 mos-6 $129.95 877-507-1399 jumpsport.com

43. Kids Preferred TrayKit AC CP TR TY 0-3 $30.00 866-763-8869 kidspreferred.com

44. Learning Resources Froggy Feeding Fun ES GE TY 3-7 $21.99 800-333-8281 learningresources.com

45. Liqui-Mark Crayo-Craze Crayon Wheel AC CP TR TY UN 3-12 $1.99 800-486-9005 liquimark.com

46. Little Laura Music Birthday Surprise ES ML SR CT 2-7 $2.99 510-724-0818 littlelauramusic.com

47. Mindtwister Fandooble CP GE OT UN 6-12 $14.95 866-604-9220 mindtwisterusa.com

48. Mindtwister Skateboard Madness BG ES GE SR 8-12 $29.95 866-604-9220 mindtwisterusa.com

49. MoeFamilyFun Pitch It! CP GE NO UN 12-12 $19.95 314-578-2755 pitchitgame.com

50. NSI Int'l Nickelodeon's Floam AC CP TY 6-12 $5.99 888-425-9113 nsi-intonline.com/

51. NSI Int'l Nickelodeon Gak AC CP TY 6-12 $5.99 888-425-9113 nsi-intonline.com/

52. okiedog ltd Snoodles PL TY 6 mos-4 $24.99 201-245-4304 okiedog.com

53. OWI Rechargeable Solar Transformers AE CO ES OP 10-12 $26.95 310-515-1900 owirobot.com

54. OWI Salt Water Fuel Cell Monster Truck CO ES SC TY 10-12 $25.95 310-515-1900 owirobot.com

55. Patch Products Farkle Flip CG GE 8-12 $6.99 800-524-4263 patchproducts.com

56. Plum EduPlum STEM Novelty ES NO SC UN MA 12-12 $14.95 215-909-7586 penduplum.com

57. Plum O'Plum Bobblehead STEM Swing ES NO SC UN MA 12-12 $39.95 215-909-7586 penduplum.com

58. QuickSmart Easy Fold 3-in-1 Play Yard EQ TR UN 1-12 mos $239.99 855-438-6827 quicksmartgo.com

59. Rock 'N Learn Letter Sounds DVD ES MM DV 4-7 $19.99 800-348-8445 rocknlearn.com

60. Sakar Int'l Disney AppClix AC CP EG FP MM 5-12 $79.00 800-637-1090 sakar.com

61. ScienceAndMath.com Amazing Science! ES MM SC DV 7-12 $19.95 877-628-4383 scienceandmath.com

62. Smart Picks My Plate Food Bingo BG ES SC UN MA 9-12 $39.95 216.226.6173 smartpicks.com

63. Snake Oil Snake Oil CG GE 12-12 $19.99 612-834-6332 s-s-snakeoil.com

64. Spin Master Air Hogs 1:24th R/C NASCAR AE HO OP TS TY 5-12 $29.99 800-622-8339 spinmaster.com

65. Spin Master Air Hogs Jet Set AE HO OP TS TY 8-12 $29.99 800-622-8339 spinmaster.com

66. Spin Master NASCAR Diecast Collection AE HO OP TS TY 3-12 $4.99 800-622-8339 spinmaster.com

67. Spin Master Squishy Baff AC AE CP OP TY 5-12 $9.99 800-622-8339 spinmaster.com

68. Techno Source Glow Crazy™ Doodle Dome™ AC AE CP TR TY 3-12 $19.99 212-929-5200 technosourceusa.com

69. ThinkFun Mini Mouth ES GE PZ 8-12 $7.99 703-549-4999 thinkfun.com

70. ThinkFun Path Words Jr. BG ES PZ 6-12 $19.99 703-549-4999 thinkfun.com

71. Wm. K. Walthers Champions Speedway Fold 'n' Go Race Case GE HO TY 4-10 $59.99 800-487-2467 walthers.com

72. World of EPI Beautiful Brianna CP DO SR CT 3-5 $15.00 619-392-1932 positivelyperfectdolls.com

73. Wowopolis Sound It! CG ES GE 6-12 $9.99 888-840-7815 wowopolis.com

74. Zombie State Games Scavengers BG CG ES MA 10-12 $24.99 206-310-1188 zombiestategames.com

Key:

ac = arts and crafts

ae = active

bg = board game

cg = card game

co = construction

cp = creative product

ct = cultural

dh = doll house

do = doll

dv = DVD

eg = electronic game

eq = equipment

es = educational skill

fp = fantasy play

ge = game

gn = green

hm = home made

ho = hobby

in = internet/web

ma = math

ml = musical

mm = multimedia

no = novelty

op = outdoor play

ot = other

pl = plush

pu = puppet

pz = puzzle

sc = science

sr = socially responsible

tr = travel

ts = transportation

ty = toy

un = unique

Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. /Dr.Toy

Consultant/Author/Speaker

Dr Toy's Guide

San Francisco, CA

510-540-0111