Interview
Cyber Radio
July 21, 1999
Cyber Radio:
Oh Cyberfans this is friendly Pinetree and Tommatsu. You're listening to Cyberradio CYBERRADIO.COM. We hope you're enjoying your day out there in the Cyberverse. This is net value, our consumer reports kind of show where we're doing a lot of fun things and speaking of fun - it doesn't get more fun than toys.
We are very proud and very honored to have Dr. Toy, Stevanne Auerbach on the line. Good morning.
Dr. Auerbach:
Good morning!
Cyber Radio:
And thank you for joining us today.
Dr. Auerbach:
Oh, it's a pleasure. I'm delighted. What could be more fun than talking about toys. (in response to technical difficulty in studio) When you play you've got to be spontaneous. You've got to be ready to do anything at any time, that's part of playing.
Cyber Radio:
We're nothing if not spontaneous.
Dr. Auerbach:
Exactly.
Cyber Radio:
We're definitely spontaneous.
Dr. Auerbach:
That's what play is all about.
Cyber Radio:
How are you this morning?
Dr. Auerbach:
I'm great. I'm in San Francisco.T he sky's a little gray, but we're having fun.
Cyber Radio:
We are having an adventure. Tell us a little bit about your background, and particularly how you became involved with toys, and how they relate to children and their development.
Dr. Auerbach:
I've always been interested in toys. I have a background in education and psychology and child development. I've always observed children playing. How adults play with children is very important. This is important for parents, grandparents, and others and how they interact with children. About 30 years ago I started evaluating toys and I've been doing it every since. Our work gives us a great opportunity to help parents find good products. We were the first on the Internet to have a web site on toys--drtoy.com. If anyone's listening who has an interest in toys and has not looked at our website I invite you to come and visit.
Cyber Radio:
You talked about not only children playing, but how adults play with children. What are some different ways that adults interact with children? Do fathers interacts with kids differently than mothers do?
Dr. Auerbach:
Absolutely. Children need to play alone and they need to play with their friends, with Mom, with Dad, with brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and so on - Each person interacts with the child in different ways. Children learn to play as they interact with each person. That is PQ - the Play Quotient, the ability to play alone, with others and to use your imagination, be spontaneous and to have fun. You know one of the greatest things parents can do is read to their children every day. Certainly introducing them to the computer and to the world of the Internet is all part of play. There's so much that children can learn through play.
The book I wrote, Dr. Toy's Smart Play guides parents to play with their children and help to increase their child's PQ. If you look at our website you will find in Ask DR. Toy a wide range of questions about play that we are trying to answer. Also there's more about Dr. Toy. More about the book. Our site has my evaluations of more than a thousand toys and children's products from low tech to high tech, and that involve all kinds of ways that parents can play with their children. These items include games, puzzles, books, arts and crafts, dolls, software and interactive products.
We include a whole range of products that are fun - and help children learn. That's the important aspect of what we do. We try to help parents and teachers find products that help children gain skills. They cover the whole range of everything children are interested in from baby to age 12 and beyond.
Cyber Radio:
Now let me ask you about PQ and Play Quotient, I guess that's something that you developed on your own. Have you found any relationship to a child's PQ and a child's IQ.
Dr. Auerbach:
Yes, but its different. The ability to play is really very much related to the child's spontaneity. You don't have to be a gifted child or a genius to have fun playing so in that sense it's not exactly the same. The ability to play -its like a diverse garden-- look at all the different ways children learn and all the different skills.
Some children learn through sounds, some children learn through doing with their hands, some children learn through repeated practice.There's lots of different ways children can play. The ability to play, the ability to say, make up stories, is not necessarily because you're gifted , or because you have a high IQ. It's because you have more opportunity to use toys.
Do your parents encourage you to play with puppet? Play strategy games? The more you play, the more playful you are. This is true for adults too. So many of us who are at the computer so much, we need more time to play-We all need to get away from the computer, to have fun, relax and enjoy ourselves. I hope people will remember this is important-- playing is not just for children, it's for all of us.
Cyber Radio:
Now let me ask you something else about kids and the way they play. I think most of us realize that boys and girls play differently once they get to a certain age but what about when they're very small and toddlers? Have you noticed any differences in the way like a boy toddler plays versus the way a girl toddler would play.
Dr. Auerbach:
Yes, children do vary, very early. There are differences. They have different proclivities towards certain products that they're more interested in. But boys and girls when they're very young enjoy nurturing experiences. They will play with dolls and with housekeeping products and be equally interested. Maybe a little bit later on they get more interested in separateness. Boys tend to be a little more aggressive than girls do when they're playing. Girls are oriented towards language, using dolls and pretend activities that are nurturing. You can observe differences.
Cyber Radio:
Do you feel the influences of boys' and girls' toys like, let's say the old GI Joe type figures versus the Barbie figures, does that start separating the thought processes - Oh, this is a guy type of thing, Oh, this is a girl type of thing.
Dr. Auerbach:
It's dependent on what parents introduce to their the children. Little boys need to play with Teddy bears and nurture baby dolls as well, especially if they're going to have a younger brother or sister. It's a very good way to relate to a baby by holding a baby doll. But as they get older they start to make choices. They relate to different kinds of toys and start to play a little bit differently. You notice these changes around 4. This is related to going to preschool and nursery school. Children affect each other. In preschool programs they very often begin to learn about other ways to play, new ways to play. It's very important for them to get experiences and exposure to all kinds of toys.
Cyber Radio:
What would you say to a parent who particularly may have a son who's like, Yeah, I don't know if I want my son playing with dolls or Teddy bears.
Dr. Auerbach:
Very young child, like a toddler or preschoolers need nurturing just as much. They need to be able to have a doll, or a Teddy bear to relate to. In fact GI Joe was really the first boy's doll, a very patriotic item to play with after World War II. In fact, my next book, Toys for a Lifetime, includes GI Joe and Barbie and about 60 other classics like Slinky, Etch-A-Sketch and Colorforms. All kinds of products that have been in our repertoire in America over many years. Toys reflect our society. You can see a lot of changes that have gone on in toys. Today there's more high-tech toys than ever before. Boys and girls need a great variety of experiences, not to separate them.
Cyber Radio:
What are your feelings about the high-tech toys, particularly the, like the video games that are so popular with like the Sony Play Station and Nintendo 64. Do those type of toys, do you see any sort of, I don't know, developmental or educational value to them.
Dr. Auerbach:
Well, it depends on the subject matter. I've been looking at these products from the earliest PacMan to all of the latest developments. I'm very much concerned about the extent to which so many of these video games have so much violence in the subject matter. I don't feel this is in the best interest of children's development. It is not valuable to have gratuitous violence.products. Children need to learn about flying, how to build, how things work, the inside of engines -Many of these games could help them. They need to think, grow, develop and gain skills.
So much of this technology needs to be focused at what our society can benefit from. I can't really reconcile the whole notion of more violence even if it's more technical. I think we really need to look at the subject matter.
I look for products that help children develop skills that will help them in their future. I mean there's so many issues that would be so interesting for children to learn about that could be dealt with in the high-tech way. I think that's the challenge for the designers to use this technology in ways to really help them.
A software product I evaluated by Panasonic called ";Make A Map". Used video games type technology to help children understand geography. Your child could drive around the community and find directions. Technology was used in a really creative way. that's what I look for.
Cyber Radio:
Well cool. We have to take a little music break here so you're watching and listening to Cyberradio - CYBERRADIOTV.COM. If you have any questions go ahead and E-mail us at NETVALUE @ Cyberradiotv.com or ICQ us, it's a message at 43091931.
We're talking with Dr. Toy about Play Quotient, the PQ of people - boy, mine must be really off the scale, but we'll find out in a minute. We'll be right back.
Dr. Auerbach:
It will be fun to see if anybody has questions and wants to write or call in. You have ICQ also
Cyber Radio:
People will be able to send in an instant message.Is there anything in particular that you would like to cover that we haven't covered?
Dr. Auerbach:
Well I'd love to talk about the web site and some of the features.
Cyber Radio:
Want to also talk about you rated the top toys for the summer.
Dr. Auerbach:
Yes.
Cyber Radio:
I want to get into that.
Dr. Auerbach:
Right. Traveling with kids.
Cyber Radio:
Do you mind if we also talk about things like Furbies?&
Dr. Auerbach:
Oh not at all. This subject of play and toys covers everything. Absolutely. You talk about anything you want to....
Cyber Radio:
It might be just an interesting thing I want to ask. Do you find that there's a slight difference in some ethnicities and play time and things. For example, I know like a lot of my nieces and nephews and a lot of my Asian friends' kids, or more specifically the Japanese ones, all like electronics, gadgets, gizmos that type of thing. Whereas a lot of my other friends are into - the ones who are like from the South, will tend to make more like the race cars and sports stuff
Dr. Auerbach:
Right. Very much reflected by what the kids are exposed to and what parents introduce them to, what their friends are playing with. I mean Tomagachi is from Japan and swept across the country as a fad two years ago. It was phenomenal. All the kids wanted them because they get interested in these things.
Cyber Radio:
Including my nieces and nephews are calling me over HERE to get them to send over there!
Dr. Auerbach:
Right. They probably also wanted you to babysit with their pet when they went to school?
Cyber Radio:
Oh no, they don't want me to babysit. Having me as a babysitter they kind of draw the line at that point. NO! You're not taking care of my Tomagachi. Because I wouldn't give it up. I did that.
Dr. Auerbach:
Oh, that's it. Okay.
Cyber Radio:
I was always more of a&lately it's been like, I've looked over nostalgically of the old transformers I used to have - before they became transformers - and all the fun things. But Furby. I don't know. As a playmate, kind of scary.
Dr. Auerbach:
I know. And the Amazing Amy.
Cyber Radio:
Sorry? (What is it?)
Dr. Auerbach:
You know about Amazing Amy? She has 10,000 words programmed into her and then they get her out of the box she starts demanding attention right away. It's a very interesting phenomenon of what they're putting on to kids. A 7-year-old is not exactly ready for that kind of thing..
Cyber Radio:
I don't even think the 20-year-olds are ready for that.
Dr. Auerbach:
Right. What I wanted to say the topic of play is perfect to talk about during the summer but also important going back to school and later for the holidays. We should plan some time in October/November when people are starting to think about toys and by then my new book, Toys for a Lifetime will be out.
Cyber Radio:
Okay
Dr. Auerbach:
Yeah, that will be fun. This technology is amazing. This conversation goes everywhere, doesn't it?
Cyber Radio:
Yes, these are OUR toys. Some of the guys in the other room will let us play with some of the toys! Adrian's staring at me going "nah-nah-nah-nah-nah." You do that I'm not bringing those Hot Wheels.
Dr. Auerbach:
I have that in my book, Dr. Toy's Smart Play. To remember back to your own toys as a child. What you remember playing with? Everybody's got memories of these things. It's really amazing that no matter what age you are, you remember back to those earlier days of experiences with toys so they really stay with you for a long time.
Cyber Radio:
I long for them often.
Dr. Auerbach:
I remember my first toy was two rocks, I think it created something called fire.
Cyber Radio:
Oh really!
Dr. Auerbach:
Of course that was with Oog. Those guys in the next cave were having problems with those dinosaurs. Anyway...
Cyber Radio:
The first toy I remember was like an Etch-A-Sketch. Or maybe they were building logs?
Dr. Auerbach:
Lincoln logs. Well both are in my new book, Toys for a Lifetime. Has anybody sent any questions yet?
Cyber Radio:
The problem is we only have one computer in the office here with us right now. In between all our music we're putting up web cam type kinds of things or picture so unfortunately the computer's being used at the moment.
Dr. Auerbach:
It seems busier than ever and The Internet has caused it.
Cyber Radio:
Exactly.
Dr. Auerbach:
Well, things are so immediate. I mean I'm getting queries from all over the world every day. I mean it's astounding. It's brought the entire world into my lap. It's really amazing. If you look at our questions that we get on "Ask Dr. Toy" it's a huge range of questions that people have about everything imaginable about playing and toys. It's just astounding. People have so many different interests and want information on so many aspects. It covers everything you could possibly imagine.
Cyber Radio:
I haven't had a chance to read the book to tell you the truth. Do you have a general opinion about the quote unquote "war toy deals" like lasers or guns or those plastic knives.
Dr. Auerbach:
Oh sure, I do. Very much so. I'm not very happy about any of that stuff. I don't anything that promotes violence is really productive for kids to play with. I'm much more interested in them playing with things that really help them to develop.
Cyber Radio:
It's harder and harder to find kids who want to play cowboys and Indians nowadays.
Dr. Auerbach:
Right. But you find...I think the technology's changing the way kids play. You know it's definitely much more interesting to them to play with the computers than to get into more interesting things, I think.
Cyber Radio:
Hey-ho surfers we're back. This IS CyberradioTV - CYBERRADIOTV.COM - ee-I ee-I O. Just kidding. Anyway, got to stick around Adrian, I'm working on it, it's getting there.
We are talking with Dr. Toy. This is Net Value, the consumer report show, we're talking about toys.
Dr. Auerbach:
Hi! Great to be here with you and have a playful morning.
Cyber Radio:
The middle of the work week, hey, we've got to have some fun around here. So during the break we were kind of talking a little about, I was wondering about Furbies a bit. That seems to be this new interactive thing. I keep thinking people who have Furbies aren't interacting as much with other people as... So are they having as much fun playing with Furbies or would they have more fun with more people?
Dr. Auerbach:
There's so many choices available today. You start putting chips into a teddy bear...ten years ago it was Teddy Ruxpin. Then the teddy can move, talk and do things that certainly interacting with each other and so on. I think these products are innovative and interesting.The world's wide open to new innovation in toys. I think chips are getting smaller.You can do so much more with chips than ever before. There are toys interacting with each other. Lego Mind Storms are an example. There's a product by Neurosmith - musical blocks - that are fabulous. There's products by a company called Leapfrog that helps kids learn how to speak with phonics and how to develop communication skills and math. They're using chips and technology in V-tech, Team concepts and others.
A lot of companies are really doing some interesting and innovative processes. Plus there's a lot of incredible software available today. Children have so much available to them. When you talk about individualized instruction or children really finding their interests expanding. You know the world is available to them at their fingertips with the Internet. It's a very ok into the future as we look to the new millennium,and the types of toys children will be playing with.
When you're traveling with children, you should always have art supplies,audio tapes,books and things that they can do in the car or on the plane so the trip is more interesting. There are a lot of hand-held games by Milton-Bradley.It is fun for kids to use Colorforms. Everything doesn't have to be high-tech. You know crayons and paper are still great, finger paints, balloons and hula hoops. Yo-yo's are absolutely fabulous.
Cyber Radio:
And they're coming back.
Dr. Auerbach:
And they're coming back. Thank goodness for that. They build eye hand coordination and are great fun. We have link on our website to theYo-Yo Times and to yo-yo companies like Duncan and What's Next.
We have three programs a year which I'll just tell you about our web site quickly. We have the Best Vacation Products which are up there now from baby to older children. They're over almost 200 toys and products that are reviewed, evaluated by Dr. Toy and get the seal of approval. We have classic program with products that have been around for 10 years or more. These are playthings that you remember playing with as children and that your parents played with as children and they're still around and kids are enjoying. You can have a lot of fun with jacks, jump ropes and so on.
You don't have to have a lot of money to have a good time with toys. We have the end of the year program, the summer time I'm evaluating product from now through the end of the summer, the annual Best 100 Products for the Year. In this program are categories that cover toys and everything from low to high-tech.
We're looking for suggestions for products that people have found that they like and we want to know what does not work well. They can write to us to Dr. Toy @drtoy.com. We have an Ask Dr. Toy section with questions that people post with all types of issues. We've got Dr. Toy's Tips on Toys in many languages. If anyone looks at that and has a language they can translate the tips into we could be most appreciative of it and I will send them an autographed copy of my new book, Dr. Toy's Smart Play for taking the time to help us with that.
Dr. Toy's Tips are in Spanish, French, German, Danish and other languages.I'm looking for all languages because toys really are world-wide. Children play everywhere and of course we want more adults and parents to think about the importance of play and encouraging children to play in all the different ways that they do - active, educational, creative, physical play - and using their imagination and expanding their creativity. Children need help in these ways. Provide a home and a school that encourages creativity and you are laying the foundation for a more creative society. That's what "Play Quotient" is all about, helping children learn, play and be creative..
Cyber Radio:
Let me ask you, you mentioned one of the things up on the site right now is the Best Summer Toys and one of the ones you mentioned was actually one that was featured on a different program that we have here, the Music Blocks but I'm curious...
Dr. Auerbach:
Oh, NeuroSmith. Right.
Cyber Radio:
Right. What would you say, or maybe are the three or four top toys for kids this summer.
Dr. Auerbach:
Well, you know, it's an interesting question. I don't pick just those few products because children are so different., Every child, you know, plays as they wish to with a variety of thins. Let's look at the array and you decide what works best for your child. Let us know and we will add your comments to the products on line. Thanks for having me on your program now, Let's play!
* End of interview *
