Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products - 1996
After reviewing hundreds of children's products this year to select the best for Dr. Toy's awards, we have found expanded diversity and a high quality of the new products. The toys, games and other items I select encourage skill building for all ages. There is an increased interest on the part of many toy companies to support the learning potential of young children.
Among the Best Products award winners are:
- Excellent software and CDs for well-paced learning;
- Well-designed crafts and kits expand creativity;
- Nature products encourage appreciation of the world;
- Innovative games/puzzles help thinking and problem solving;
- Creative videos and audiotapes to exercise imagination, and;
- Many products encourage verbal, artistic and musical skills.
Several products help children better understand disabilities, and to learn to communicate using sign language. Many newly designed soft toys have clever, practical extensions to help young children learn while having fun.
Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products expand communication, emotional, social and creative skills.
Whether your child obtains an innovative set of rubber stamps or learns how to create his or her stamps in an electronic format, these "100 Best Products" can be your child's passport to the new and exciting world of learning.There is a strong link between the child's imagination, learning, and new technology. You will see many long-lasting benefits using these products. Stay tuned to Dr. Toy and
Let's Play!
| Company | Item | Ages | Price | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Item | Ages | Price | Phone |
| 7th Level | Great Word Adventure | 6-9 | $39.99 | 800-884-8863 |
| ABC Feelings | Book/Audio Tape | 2-11 | $16.95 | 800-745-3170 |
| Accord Publishing | Ten Little Dinosaurs | 4-8 | $15.95 | 888-333-1676 |
| Age Appropriate Puzzles | Pic-N-Match | 18mos & up | $12.95 | 800-961-7756 |
| Alex | Vegetable Garden Kit | 7-12 | $17 | 800-666-ALEX |
| All Night Media | Rubber Stamp Poet Jr. | 6-12 | $19.50 | 800-STAMPED |
| Anatex | Peg 'N Lace | 3-6 | $25 | 800-999-9599 |
| Aristoplay | Moneywise Kids | 7-10 | $15 | 800-634-7738 |
| Binary Arts Corporation | Block by Block | 8-12 | $12 | 888-789-9538 |
| Briarpatch | Thomas the Tank Engin Math Game | 3-7 | $18.95 | 800-232-7427 |
| Bricolo 2000 | Puzzart | 7-12 | $22.95 | 514-629-4414 |
| BRIO | Activity Clown | 0-24 mos. | $20 | 888-247-6869 |
| CBS/Fox Video | Dr. Seuss: The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat | 2-8 | $9.98 | 800-800-2FOX |
| Children's Out-of-School Time | Activities Club Hobby Kits | 7-12 | $24.95 | 800-873-5487 |
| College Street Publishing | Not Just for Kids | 3-12 | $4.95tape/$7.95 CD | 800-246-8386 |
| Creative Teaching Press | Let's Take Care of the Earth | 3-7 | $14.98 | 800-444-4287 |
| Creative Wonders/Electronic Arts | ABC World Reference: Wide World of Animals | 10-12 | $39.95 | 415-482-2400 |
| Crescent Creative Products | Sand Magic Bucket | 5-8 | $11.99 | 800-323-9711 |
| Cultural Toys | Faces and Places Puzzles | 1-2 | $7.99 | 800-805-4542 |
| Curiosity Kits | Ultimate Handcrafts | 8-12 | $18 | 800-584-KITS |
| Didax Educational Resources | 3d Geoshapes Exploration Kit | 5-12 | $25.95 | 800-458-0024 |
| Discovery Toys | To the Rescue | 3-6 | $14.98 | 800-426-4777 |
| Disney Interactive | Animated Storybook Toy Story | 3-9 | $34.95 | 800-228-0988 |
| EDC Publishing | Books and Kits | 8-12 | $6 -$15 | 800-475-4522. |
| EDDU Toy Co. | Seesaw Kiddie Counter | 2-6 | $14.95 | 800-686-8697 |
| Edmark | Mighty Math Number Heroes | 8-10 | $39.99 | 800-691-2985 |
| Educational Insights | GeoSafari Talking Globe | 8-12 | $99.95 | 800-995-4436 |
| Educo International | Twinkle Little Star | 2-10 | $59.95 | 800-661-4142 |
| ExploraToy | Deluxe ExploraScope Pro-Series | 8-12 | $29.99 | 800-995-9290 |
| First Years | Magic Color Cups | 9-36 mos. | $5.99 | 800-533-6708 |
| Forte Sports | Bungee Bags | 6-12 | $5.99 | 800-305-9543 |
| Galoob Toys | Double Takes Fire Escape | 5-8 | $19.99 | Out of Business |
| Gamewright | Make It Up! | 3-7 | $16 | 617-924-6006 |
| Great American Puzzle Factory | Slylock Fox Brain Bogglers | 8-12 | $10 | 800-922-1194 |
| Hands On Toys | Oobles | 4-9 | $9.95 | 800-500-4699 |
| Hasbro Interactive Worldwide | Play-Doh Creations | 3-7 | $19.99 | 800-638-6927 |
| Heartsong Communications | Sing 'n Sign for Fun! | 3-10 | $14.95 | 800-648-0755 x7 |
| Hero Arts Creative Rubber Stamps | Ink n' Stamp | 7-12 | $15 | 800-822-4376 |
| Irwin Toy | L'il Makin' Faces | 3-7 | $19.99 | 800-268-1733 |
| K'NEX | Discovery Set | 6-12 | $39.99 | 800-KID-K'NEX |
| Kidpower | Ribbon Dancer Performance Set | 5-12 | $19.95 | 800-545-PLAY |
| Kidsview | Tea Bunnies Fancy Dessert Tea Party | 3-6 | $19.99 | 201-445-2101 |
| Kimbo Educational | People In Our Neighborhood | 4-7 | $10.95 | 800-631-2187 |
| Knowledge Adventure | Jump Start 2nd Grade | 6-8 | $35 | 800-542-4240 |
| Latz Chance Games | Survival or Extinction--The Dinosaur Game | 5-12 | $23.95 | 770-579-6173 |
| LeapFrog | Phonics Bus | 1-1/2-3 | $24.95 | 800-701-5327 |
| Learning Curve Toys | Grip and Grab Rattle | 3-24 mos | $11.99 | 800-704-TOYS |
| Learning Resources | Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register | 3-6 | $49.95 | 800-222-3909 |
| LEGO Systems | Fort Legoredo | 5-12 | $84.99 | 800-233-8756 |
| Living & Learning | Jam Jar Science--Bugs | 6-10 | $9.95 | 800-306-3013 |
| Manhattan Baby | Butterfly Sensory Teether | 0-12 mos. | $8 | 800-541-1345 |
| Manhattan Toy Company | Topper Tiger Playmat | 1-5 | $50 | 800-541-1345 |
| Mattel Infant | Activity Surprise Pooh | 0-18 mos. | $19.99 | 800-524-TOYS |
| Mattel Preschool | Talking Bus Sentence Maker | 1-1/2-5 | $16.99 | 800-524-TOYS |
| Mayte Mouse Productions | Singing Bilingual, Vol. 1 | 3-12 | $12.95 | Out of Business |
| Mindplay | Jo-Jo's Reading Rocket | 4-8. | $69.99 | 800-221-7911 |
| New Toy Classics | AstroJax | 8-12 | $5.95 | 415-673-6382 |
| Nova Design | The Cube Zoo | 4-8 | $15 | 888-318-3600 |
| Orchard Hill Productions | Word Clue Adventures | 5-8 | $14.95 | 800-811-5372 |
| Panasonic Interactive Media | Phonics Adventures with Sing-Along Sam | 4-6 | $39.95 | Out of Business |
| Pastime | Gramma's Surprise: Make a Banner | 5-12 | $29.95 | Out of Business |
| Patch Products | Tutti Frutti | 5-8 | $15 | 800-524-4263 |
| PEP Publishing | Fingerplays and Action Chants: Family and Friends | 2-6 | $14.95 | 800-842-9571 |
| Philips Media | Cybercrafts: Digital Lab | 8-12 | $44.99 | 800-883-3767 |
| PhotoPals of San Diego | Children of the World Travel Club | 6-11 | $29.95 | 800-765-7257 |
| Planet Dexter/Addison Wesley | Calculator Mania! | 8-12 | $12.99 | 800-358-4566 |
| Playskool | Magic Touch Talking Book | 3-6 | $19.99 | 800-PLAYSKL |
| Prospect Marketing Company | Fridge Friend | 3-7 | $11.45 | 413-298-4371 |
| Radio Flyer | Scoot-About | 1-3 | $14.99 | 800-621-7613 |
| Rainbow Village | Colorable Kids - Keisha | 3-8 | $15 | 800-756-3012 |
| Ringling Multimedia | Let's Pretend: Vol 2: Space Is Our Playground | 3-8 | $19.95 | 941-355-2201 |
| Rock 'N Learn | Colors, Shapes and Counting | 2-5 | $21.90 | 800-348-8445 |
| Schylling Associates | TRIOPS | 10-12 | $7.50 | 800-541-2929 |
| Scientific Explorer | Nature Adventures Kits | 7-12 | $19.95 | 800-900-1182 |
| SEGA of America | Scholastic's The Magic School Bus | 4-7 | $39.99 | 800-USA-SEGA |
| Set Enterprises | Set-The Family Game of Visual Perception | 6-10 | $11.95 | 800-351-7765 |
| Shetland Toys | Ice Skating Playboard | 3-7 | $17.95 | 415-358-3700 |
| Smartek Software | Wordsmart | 3-12 | $39.95 | 800-858-9673 |
| Snazaroo | Rainbow Face Painting Kit | 3-12 | $13.99 | 800-451-4040 |
| Sweet Pea | Counting Stories | 2-4 | $25 | 800-830-5032 |
| Tasco Sales | Big Screen Microscope | 8-12 | $81.50 | 305-591-3670 x288 |
| TC Timber | Karambolage | 6-12 | $19.95 | 800-359-1233 |
| Team Concepts | I.Q. Super PC | 8-12 | $79.99 | 800-486-0898 |
| Tiger Electronics | World Book Learning Center | 6-12 | $99.99 | 847-913-8100 |
| Today's Kids | Kids' Schoolhouse | 2-6 | $65 | 800-258-8697 |
| TopLine Toys | You Can't Paint With That | 6-12 | $17 | 800-347-4818 |
| Toshiba America Consumer | Personal Electronic Diary | 10-12 | $39.99 | 800-631-3811 |
| Twin Sisters Productions | I'd Like To Be A Zoologist | 7-9 | $9.98 | 800-248-8946 |
| TYCO Toys | View-Master SuperSketch Projector | 5-7 | $17 | 800-488-8697 |
| U.S. Game | Alice in Wonderland Deck and Book Set | 8-12 | $19.95 | 800-544-2637 |
| Uncle Goose Toys | ABC Blocks | 2-5 | $28 | 888-774-2046 |
| Uncle Milton Industries | Mobile Mania Arts and Crafts Kits | 6-12 | $10 | 818-707-0800 |
| University Games Systems | Magical Maze | 6-12 | $19.95 | 800-347-4818 |
| VTech | Little Smart Talk 'n Tell Phone | 3-6 | $24.99 | 800-521-2010 |
| What's Next Manufacturing | YoYo | 7-12 | $4.99 | 800-458-8635 |
| Wild Planet Toys | Supersonic Ear | 5-12 | $22 | 800-247-6570 |
| Wimmer-Ferguson | Mind-Shapes | 0-24 mos. | $19.95 | 800-541-1345 |
| Windy Hill Productions | Menlo the Frog-A Musical Fairy Tale | 2-7 | $39.95 | Out of Business |
| Wrebbit | Mini Eiffel Tower | 4-12 | $4.99 | 800-973-2248 |
| Yes! Entertainment | Mega Mike | 6-12 | $16.99 | Out of Business |
| a=Active | ac=Arts & Crafts | ap=Activity Product |
| at=Audio Tape | b=Book | bg=Board Game |
| c=Computer-related | cd=CD-ROM | cons=Construction Toy |
| cp=Creative Product | d=Doll | dh=Dollhouse |
| e=Equipment | esp=Educational Skills Product | g=Game |
| h=Hobby | mm=Multimedia | m=Musical |
| nov=Novelty | pl=Plush Toy | pup=Puppet |
| puz=Puzzle | sc=Science | sw=Software |
| t=Toy | trv=Travel | trans=Transportation |
| u=Unique Product | vg=Video Game | vt=Video Tape |
