Dr. Toy, Institute for Childhood Resources, has announced the 100 Best Children’s Products of 2012. The toys and products, selected from both small and large companies, meet the highest standards for design, durability, price, quality, safety and value. Dr. Toy, Dr. Toy, also known as Stevanne Auerbach, PhD, 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. Auerbach, an established speaker, consultant and author, is trained in child psychology, education, special education and child development. Dr. Auerbach earned the title Dr. Toy on her assignment with Creative Playthings (1968), where she developed its first education marketing program. She approved the first grant for the Children’s Television Workshop, “Sesame Street,” when she worked for the Commissioner of Education, where she reviewed reading programs throughout the country. Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products of 2012 are:
Ten Best Active Products – Chicco (4-in-1 Ride On Car), First Act (WrapStar Mic), FirstBike Int’l (FirstBIKE), GeoPalz (GeoPalz Pedometer), Kinderfeets (Kinderfeets), OgoSport (OgoSport RAQ), Razor USA (Razor® FlashRider™), Sbyke (P-20 Rear-Steering Scooter), Smiletime Toys (Inflatable Pirate Ship), System Ent. (RingStix).
Ten Best Audio/Video Tapes/CDs – Brainetics (Brainetics), BrainFood Learning (Fascinating World of Birds), BrillKids Int’l (Little Musician Basic), Little Pim (Spanish Intro Gift Set with Book), Master Comm (Worlds Together Series), Moey’s Music Party (Princess Revolution!), Music Together (She Sells Sea Shells), New Hope Records (WO!), ScienceAndMath.com (Amazing Science! Vol. DVD), Steps4Kids (Steps4Kids to Draw).
Ten Best Building Products – AroundSquare (Deconstruction Blocks), Bridge Street Toys (Hydrodynamic Deluxe Building Set), Citiblocs (CTBIN500C), K’NEX (K’NEX Classics 50 Model Building Set), LaQ USA (LaQ Dinosaur World T-REX), Laser Pegs Ventures (Laser Pegs The Dragon), LEGO Systems (Friends Olivia’s House), MEGA Brands (Build ’n Learn 1-2-3 Count!), Smart Blocks (Smarcks Smart Blocks), Thinkplay/Morphun (Starter Tub)
Ten Best Children’s Products – Ann Williams Group (Loopdedoo), Buckle Toy (Buddy the Backpack), Dress Up America (Black Fire Fighter Kids Costume), Gryphon House (Budding Builder), Innovation First (HEXBUG Warriors Battle Stadium), Klutz (Coin Blaster), Monkeying Around (Greatest Dot-to-Dot Adventure Book 1), Schoenhut Piano (My First Piano II), SeatPets (SeatPets®), Smart Trike (Smart Trike 4-in-1 Dream).
Ten Best Creative Products – ALEX (Ceramic Bead Sticker Party), Blue Orange (Tell Tale Fairy Tale), Colorforms/Univ. Games (Tinga Tinga Tales Create-A-Creature Game), Creativity for Kids (Stunt Squadron), Hero Arts Rubber Stamps (Ink ‘n’ Stamp Animal Prints), Kiwi Crate (Kiwi Crate), Red Hen (Kaleidograph), Tech 4 Kids (3D Magic Magna Color), Wowopolis (Colorgami Craft & Activity Kits), WowToyz (E-Z Crafts™ Paint-A-Bank Kits).
Ten Best Educational Educational Products – Creative Foundry Games (KerFlip!), Exploramania® (Exploracise® Multiplication Football), Learning Journey (Match It! Mathematics Memory), Learning Resources (Multiplication Master Electronic Flash Card™), LittleBits Toys (littleBits Starter Kit), MathTwister (MathTwister), Peaceable Kingdom (Cooperative Preschool Skills-Builder Game), Shainsware (Notebook w/100 Elements), Style Paige (Shallie Starter), Whistlefritz (Cha, Cha, Cha).
Ten Best Games – Bag-O-Loot (Bag-O-Loot Junior), Edupress (That’s Baloney Games), Flying Rabbit Enterprises (Baffle!), Game Chef (Rollick!), Gamewright (Big Fat Tomato Game), Hutter Trade (Talat), Indie Boards & Cards (Flash Point: Fire Rescue), Patch Products (You’re Invited Game), Strikerz Gamez (STRIKERZ Soccer Card Game), ThinkFun (Distraction™).
Ten Best High Technology Products – Bandai America (Omnitrix Touch), Diggin Active (Wobble Deck Extreme), Ganz (Amazing World), LeapFrog (LeapPad2), MGA (iTikes Map), Pixel Ent. (GlobalGame Changers [book app]), Scholastic (Storia), Small World Toys (Haute Couture Fashion Studio), SmartLab Toys (DJ Rock Dock), VTech (MobiGo® 2).
Socially Responsible Products – b. dazzle (Black Capped Chickadees Scramble Squares), Discover w/Dr. Cool (Shark Teeth Excavation Kit!), DuneCraft (Butterfly/Bird Mixture Seed Bombs), Easy Daysies (Easy Daysies Every Day Starter Kit), Metamorphic Toys (Mythical Creatures Silly Signs), Mudpuppy (Fruits & Veggies Wooden Magnetic Set), My1story (My1story Book Collection), Rubbabu (Shape Sorter Bus), Tiny Green Bee (Crunch a Color Conversation Starters), University Games (Very Hungry Caterpillar Match & Munch Game).
Ten Best Toys– 4D Cityscape (4D Time Puzzle), B. toys by Battat (Symphony in B. by B. toys), Build-A-Bear Workshop (Marine Midnight Teddy), Fisher-Price (Servin’ Surprises Cook ‘n Serve Kitchen & Table), Gibout Toys (Gibout Big Blocks), Jada Toys (Cutie Pops), Make It Mine (MIM Doll & Accessories), Ohio Art (Limited Edition Etch A Sketch), Sassy (Loopy Ball), World of EPI (Diva Abrielle)