PRESS RELEASE

DR. TOY'S BEST VACATION PRODUCTS   1999 Selected by Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (Dr. Toy)

Return to Vacation 99 Awards

For Immediate Release: Monday, June 28, 1999

TOP SUMMER TOYS! Dr.Toys New Award Winning Products for Kid's Vacation & Travel Time Now Available.

"What can I do now?" is the familiar wail of kids to their parents after school, on weekends, and all summer long. Dr. Toy responds with her timely, award winning, list of positive and fun products. Dr. Toy's Best Children's Vacation Products for 1999, is the right "RX" for summertime fun for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and older children. Dr. Toy's perfect solution to summertime doldrums is instantly available on the WorldWide Internet (http://drtoy.com) and by mail.

Dr. Toy cautions, "Parents must plan, prepare, and shop ahead for their children's leisure time. Not only pack sunscreen and hats, but take along toys and games to keep your little ones safe while in the car and at your destination." This report presents a careful selection from among hundreds of new, innovative, educational, and fun products from 85 companies.

"These great new products will help all parents to overcome the challenge of finding innovative and interesting things for their kids to do," says Dr. Toy. Dr. Toy's selections helps parents offer a healthy balance of positive activities for travel, skill building, physical development, hobbies, crafts, and year-round creativity.

Dr. Toy has some concerns and suggestions for vacation time:

First, children need to know they will be safe. When parents are away children need to know someone responsible, and they can trust, is available to provide guidance, support and supervision. The person needs to be authorized to act in case of an emergency. The person who cares for children needs be prepared also with a varied supply of interesting, appropriate, and engaging products. Children benefit from a variety of activities that help them grow and learn.

Second, children need interesting things to do whether at home or on travel. They need to explore, have new opportunities, and be challenged. Parents can easily provide products that will help the child learn and have a good time during their leisure time.

Third, children need balance and variety in their play. Parents can obtain an assortment of carefully selected toys, books, software, tapes, puzzles, crafts, physical equipment, art supplies, and other items to help them obtain new information and explore new interests. The right products and activities will help children to discover talents, and find innate abilities without feeling pressured.

Fourth, with summer's heat upon us the need for parent's advance planning and preparation is essential. Dr. Toy suggests that anytime the child travels create a "Play Bag" of play products packed to make the trip more enjoyable for everyone.

Fifth, Dr. Toy suggests plenty of great items to take along in her report of her "Best Vacation Product's" Award. Her many years of experience in the field of child development and toys enables her to provide year-round help to all parents (and teachers) to better evaluate and locate children's products,

Loads of ideas to make summer enjoyable are free and only a few moments away. Dr. Toy's report reduces the time it takes to locate new, developmental, and innovative products designed to help children be happily productive.

Dr. Toy searches for products that are 1. Safe 2. Well-designed 3. Skill building 4. Challenging 5. Reasonable in cost, and 6. fun!

Parents can "surf" Dr. Toy's Guide to obtain plenty of information about hundreds of great products available from large to small companies from all over the world. Parents can receive specific guidance in "Dr. Toy's Rx" containing information on a whole range of subjects of interest to parents, or by sending questions by E-mail.

"The Best Vacation Products"on Dr. Toy's Guide contain photos, product information, company's name, age range, and type of product, price, and customer service phone number. Many companies link with Dr. Toy's Guide direct to their own web site to provide more information.

Parents can write to Dr. Toy for a free copy of the report, and to ask questions about play and toys. Include a SASE # 10 envelope (self addressed stamped) to: The Institute for Childhood Resources, 268 Bush St., San Francisco, CA 94104.

Dr. Auerbach's new book, Dr. Toy's Smart Play: How to Raise a Child with a High P.Q. (Play Quotient) recently published by St. Martin's Press guides parents to understand how best use products from baby to older children plus 166 suggested activities are included. Dr. Toy, weekly column for King Features Syndicate, is distributed to 1,500 newspapers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

To schedule an interview call-Dr. Stevanne Auerbach/Dr. Toy 510-540-0111