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Written by Steveanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (Dr. Toy)
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This guide is offered to complement your observations and to help you in selecting the right products to enhance play and learning.
10 Best Toys
2. 10 Best Educational Products
- aha!Chinese Let's Go Guang! BO CG ES ML TR DV 2 to 8 - $49.95US; 415-272-7618; www.ahachinese.com
- Brain Party MathMosisMania Game BG ES 6 to 12 - $29.95US; 877-220-6284; www.mathmosis.com
- Edupress Science Lab Earth Science Game BG ES SC 7 to 10 - $21.95US; 800-835-7978; www.edupressinc.com
- Elmer's Products Mythbusters Weird Water World SC 9 to 11; $19.99US; 888-435-6377; www.scientificexplorer.com
- Int'l Playthings Wild Science Ant-O-Sphere ES SC TY 6 to 12; $49.99US; 800-445-8347; www.intplay.com
- OWI 6 in 1 Educational Solar Kit CO CP SC 10 to 12; $19.95US; 800-638-1694; www.owirobot.com
- Precision Math Spoils of Civilization BG ES 9 to 12 - $24.99US; 516-457-6258; www.themerbs.com
- Risas y Sonrisas Spanish Program for Kids BO ES SW DV 6 to12; $45US; 888-777-0776; www.spanishforkids.com
- Your Baby Can Your Baby Can Read! Deluxe Kit BO CD DV - 0 mos. to 5; $199.95US; 888-732-3888; www.yourbabycan.com
- Zillio Zillio Mini Mountain BG ES TY 4 to 12 - $99.95US; 650-323-6136; www.zilliogames.com
3. 10 Best High Tech Products
- Capriola Laser PegsTM CO CP PZ SC 7 to 12 - $37.95US; 866-432-3735; www.laserpegs.com
- Cepia Zhu Zhu Pets AE CO CP FP PL TY 4 to12 - $7.99US; 800-225-9319; www.cepiallc.com
- Corolle Dolls Bebe Tresor DO FP SR TY 2 to 6 - $70US; 800-668-4846; www.corolle.com
- Inspiration Software Kidspiration® ES SW 4 to12 - $69US; 800-877-4292; www.inspiration.com
- KIDdesigns Transformers Autobot Laptop EG ES TR TS 5 to8 - $29.99US; 888-867-8697; www.kiddesigns.com
- LeapFrog Tag Junior BO ES SW TY 2 to 4 - $34.99US; 800-701-5327; www.leapfrog.com
- MGA BFC Ink, 18" Doll AC CP DO ES FP TY 6 to12 - $39.99US; 888-222-4685; www.mgae.com
- Mind Candy Moshi Monsters CP ES FP PZ TY VG 7 to 12 - $5.95US; 888-311-9576; www.moshimonsters.com
- Publications Intl 100 Sounds Book AE BO CG ML TR TY 3 to 5 - $14.99US; 800-595-8484; www.pilbooks.com
- ScreenLife Ice Age: The DVDGame BG ES DV 6 to12 - $19.99US; 866-383-4263; www.screenlifegames.com
4. 10 Best Socially Responsible Products
- b. dazzle Salmon Scramble Squares BG CG PZ TR 4 to 12 - $8.95US; 800-809-4242; www.b-dazzle.com
- Baby Genius® Baby Genius Pet Care Center AE CP ES FP ML TY 2 to 5 - $18US; 646-354-4510; www.babygenius.com
- Black Belt Goals Goal Bands Game AE BO CP EQES OP SR 4 to 12 - $5US; 845-729-7335; www.GoalBandsGame.com
- Bright Spots Games Thoughts and Feelings CG CP ES 6 to 12 - $19.95US; 888-301-8880; www.brightspotsgames.com
- Charlie's Playhouse Giant TimeLine AE SC GN 4 to 10 - $49.99US; 401-301-0711; www.charliesplayhouse.com
- Green Toys Inc. Recycling Truck OP TS GN 3 to 9 - $24.99US; 415-839-9971; www.greentoys.com
- Innovative Toys ScareMeNots PL TY 3 to10 - $24.99; 978-835-7030; www.scaremenot.com
- Kubit2me Lil' Scholars Edition ES GE SR 3 to 6; $19.99US; 888-686-7748; www.kubit2me.com
- Mindlogic Consensus® Jr. Ed. BG CP ES SR TR 7 to 12; $24.95US; 888-601-7387; www.mindlogicinc.com
- Moody Bands Moody Bands CP ES NO SR TR TY 5 to 12 - $12.99US; 503-380-5166; www.moodybands.com
5. 10 Best Games
6. Best 10 Audio/Video Tape/CDs/DVDs
- First Wave Come Dance AE AT CD SC SR TR 2 to 6 - $12.99US; 917-620-2422; www.thefirstwave.com
- Kids at Our House... and a Happy New Year CD 4 to12 - $15.95US; 877-986-6286; www.dannyandkim.com
- Master Comm Animal Stories (BookBox Series) ES DV 3 to 6 - $24.95US; 800-765-5885; www.cultureforkids.com
- Math Tutor DVD Young Minds-Numbers & Counting ES DV 0 to 3 - $19.99 US; 877-628-4383; www.mathtutordvd.com
- Music Together Music Together® Lullabies CD 0 to 6 - $14.95US; 800-728-2692; www.musictogether.com
- New Hope Records America CD ML SR 2 to 12; $14.98US; 516-466-6040; www.bobbysusser.com
- Rock 'N Learn Addition & Subtraction Rap DVD ES DV 6 to12 - $19.99US; 800-348-8445; www.rocknlearn.com
- Sandman Records Meltdown CD ML SR TR 4 to12 - $12.98US; 805-565-5524; www.sandmanrecords.com
- Sprout Recordings American Heroes #3 CD CP ES ML SR TR 6 to 12; $13.98US; 800-577-7688; www.jonsprout.com
- Swinxs Swinxs AE CG CP EG SR SW TR TY 4 to10 - $150US; 415-989-9803; www.swinxs.com
7. Best 10 Creative Products
8. Best 10 Active Products
- Carrera Disney CARSAE ES HO TY 8 to12 - $89.99US; 609-409-8510; www.carrera-toys.com
- Exploramania® Exploracise® Gymathtics AE DV 5 to12 - $24.99US; 877-503-9756; www.exploramania.com
- Gamewright Ring-O-Flamingo ES 6 to 12 - $25.99US; 800-638-7568; www.gamewright.com
- KaZAM Bikes Kazam AE EQ OP SR TY 2 to 6 - $99.95US; 757-217-8309; www.kazambikes.com
- Kimbo Smart Fitness Workout DVD AE ES ML DV 4 to 9 - $19.95US; 800-631-2187; www.kimboed.com
- K'NEX Sesame St. Brownstone Bldg Set CO CP TY 2 to 12 - $19.99 800-543-5639; www.knex.com
- Leaping Legs Up Down & All Around AE CP ML DV 2 to6 - $19.95US; 860-530-1574; www.leapinglegs.com
- MEGA Brands Play N' Go Table AE CO ES TR TY 1 to 3 - $39.99US; 800-465-6342; www.megabrands.com
- Note to Health Get Me Goin' AE CD CP ML NO SC SR GN 6 to 8 - $19.95US; 917-497-4248; www.notetohealth.com
- Play This Way U-Play Mat CP ES TY 1 to 5 - $49US; 888-400-5740; www.playthisway.com
20 Best Additional Products of 100 Best
RANK:
1 = Top 10 Best Toys
2 = Top 10 Educational Products
3 = Top 10 High Tech Products
4 = Top 10 Socially Responsible Products
5 = Top 10 Games
6 = Top 10 Best Audio/Video Tapes/CDs/DVDs
7 = Top 10 Best Creative Products
8 = Top 10 Best Active Product
KEY:
ac = arts & craft
ae = active
at = audio tape
bg = board game
bo= book
cd = CD
cg = card game
co = construction
cp = creative
do = doll
dv = DVD
eg = electronic game
eq = equipment
es = educational skills
ge = game
gn = green
ho = hobby
ml = musical
no = novelty
op = outdoor play
pl = plush
pu = puppetp
z = puzzle
sc = science
sr = socially responsible
sw = software
tr = travel product
ts = transportation
ty = toy
vg = video game Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D., known as "Dr. Toy," is an expert in play, children's products, education, child development, child advocacy, childcare and special education. She is the author of 15 books and is a frequent speaker and writer on toys and children's products. She selects and evaluates the newest and best toys and other products for the annual feature Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products and provides other programs and resources year round through her popular website www.drtoy.com. Her book, Smart Play, Smart Toys How to Raise a Child With a High PQ (Play Quotient) is an internationally recognized reference, published in dozens of languages.
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