Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products - 2001
Welcome to Dr. Toy's Guide! To assist you with your gifts giving this holiday and into the new year we have a great selection of new products for you to consider. We have reviewed over two thousand toys and children's products over this past dozen years. It has been exciting and rewarding to see many new and innovative companies emerging, while many new and interesting improvements have been made among many established companies. Our 2001 products range across many different levels.
There is more to choose from today than ever before. It may also seem that way when you seek the right product for your child. By using Dr. Toy's Guide, you will find helpful guidance as you look for that perfect product, the one that will benefit your child the most.
Here are a few suggestions:
- Know your child and his or her interests;
- Understand what she is studying in school and what she needs to learn;
- Expand his interests and help him to develop a well-rounded approach to play;
- Give her new experiences that stimulate and that challenge different abilities;
- Help him develop both sides of the left and right sides of the brain, and help him to think and to be creative;
- Challenge and build her strengths and help her to learn new information.
Play encompasses everything your child does. They need you to play with them. They need to learn simple games, and to have plenty of conversations. They need you to read stories to them, and they need to sing songs, play with puzzles, do crafts, and have fun. Whatever you and your child enjoy doing together is perfect.
Look for creative products to prepare for those times when there is a snow storm or rain fall and children are house-bound. This is the time to bring out those great creative products that have been packed away in storage. Open them on a bad weather day and the storm passes away while children are enjoying something satisfying.
Children can only focus on one toy at a time. Make toys something that you select year round to make their time interesting and challenging. Don't forget the products that help children with their activities, whether they are enjoying active play outdoors, or learning to do yoga or some other kind of physical activity.
Even play with pick-up sticks or marbles is physical and requires dexterity; the smallest activity brings the body into motion. Children like a variety of physical activity, so don't forget to add hula hoops, balls, and a bean bag toss.
Children also need time to play games, to think, to create, to use their imagination, and to learn strategy and how to figure things out. They need time to create, to play with dolls and puppets, and to use their skills.
These are the products we have looked for this year. We were looking for products with the potential to provide your child with learning and joy. During the next year, your child will have an opportunity to play and experience some of these toys directly. Be sure to look at our online review of toy buying services to find an array of different ways to purchase these products.
If you have a question about a toy, then "Ask Dr. Toy." If you have an answer or know of the availability of products, help us by looking at our "Ask Dr. Toy" feature and responding. You'll be fascinated with all of the queries that have come in, and we welcome your help as we find answers for all of these questions.
Search through our site, come back often, and have a fun, playful year!
Please be sure to examine a copy of our new book, Toys for a Lifetime, that highlights over 50 classic toys from the past as well as the toys of the future. And look for our Dr. Toy's Smart Play: How to Raise a Child with a High P.Q.(Play Quotient) to help you with ideas from baby to older children, plus 166 great ideas of ways to have fun with your children. What is most important is to have fun together as a family. Have a wonderful time with your child this holiday (and every day in the new year!).
Let's play!
| Company | Item | Type(s) | Ages | Price | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Item | Type(s) | Ages | Price | Phone |
| Accord Publishing | Lacey O'Neal | bo no sr | 4 - 10 | $15.95 | 888-333-1676 |
| Action Products International | Dinosaur Excavation | ae es fp ty | $19.99 | 5-11 | 877-772-2846 |
| ALEX | Rocking Horse | ae cp fp ho ty | $80.00 | 3-5 | 800-666-2539 |
| Anchor Bay Entertainment | Baby Songs Silly Songs | vt | $12.98 | 0-6 | 847-933-9884 |
| Baby Einstein Company | Baby Dolittle Neighborhood Video | es ml vt | $15.98 | 1-4 | 800-793-1454 |
| Balitono | Paint the Wild: Tic-Tac-Toe | ae cp bg | $15.00 | 6-12 | 609-936-8807 |
| Battat | Phone Station | cp fp sr | $36.00 | 3-5 | 800-822-8828 |
| BEKA | Art Table Set | ac cp es | $151.00 | 3-7 | 888-999-2352 |
| Boppy Company | Boppy 5-in-1 Fun | ae es ty | $45.00 | 1-12 mos | 303-526-2626 |
| Briarpatch | Hello Kitty Best Friends' Game | bg | $19.99 | 6-12 | 800-232-7427 |
| BRIO Corporation | Muck & Bob | ty | $15.00 | 3-5 | 888-274-6869 |
| Cadaco | Wild | cg | $11.99 | 8-12 | 800-621-5426 |
| Center for Creative Play | Time to Sing! | cd cp ml | $16.99 | 0-6 yrs | 800-262-8052 |
| Checkerboard Toys | Fab Fashion Fun Dawn & Friends | do sr | $9.99 | 6-8 | 888-350-3296 |
| Corolle Dolls | Lou | do | $70.00 | 3-5 | 800-668-4846 |
| Creativity for Kids | Mini Windowsill Garden | ac sr | $14.00 | 7-11 | 800-311-8684 |
| Curiosity Kits | Curious Little Ones My Own Band | ae ac cp ml ty | $20.00 | 3-5 | 800-584-5487 |
| Discovery Toys | Time Tutor | es sr tr | $27.99 | 5-10 | 800-426-4777 |
| EDC Publishing | Book of the Seasons | ae ac bo | $16.95 | 6-9 | 800-475-4522 |
| Educational Insights | GeoSafari Laptop | es el | $49.95 | 3-8 | 800-995-4436 |
| Elite Electronics | KidSafe TV | no sr | $24.95 | 3-8 | 888-983-5555 |
| Elope | Astronaut Hat | ae cs cp fp | $19.80 | 6-10 | 800-553-5673 |
| Endless Games | Pop Smarts | bg | $29.99 | 10-12 | 201-386-9465 |
| ETA/Cuisenaire | Magnetic Portfolios | es | $34.95 | 6-12 | 800-445-5985 |
| First Years | Wiggles | ae pl ty | $6.49 | 6 mo-10 yrs | 800-533-6708 |
| Fisher-Price | Play With Letters Desk | cp es el | $29.99 | 3-7 | 800-432-5437 |
| Folkmanis | My First Puppets Soft Book | bo cp es pl pu | $35.00 | 6-36 mos. | 800-654-8922 |
| Gamewright | Claymania | ge | $17.99 | 9-12 | 800-638-7568 |
| Get Real Girl | Get Real Girl | do | $25.00 | 6-12 | 866-474-4747 |
| Golden Books | Golden Pegged Puzzle Books | bo cp es pz sr | $12.99 | 2-4 | 800-558-5972 |
| Great American Puzzle Factory | 3-D Undersea Jigsaw Puzzle | pz | $7.00 | 6-8 | 800-922-1194 |
| Hands On Toys | Wiggly Giggly Plush | ae pl | $18.00 | 6-24 mos | 888-442-6376 |
| Hasbro | Magic Screen Learning Desk | ty | $45.99 | 12-36 mos | 800-752-9755 |
| Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta-Music | Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Chants | cd es ml tr | $15.99 | 5-12 | 888-663-7122 |
| Image Factory | My Best English Vol. 2 Colors | es vt | $16.95 | 12-36 mos | 800-851-7115 |
| Imagination Development Group | Movies in My Mind | ae at bg | $19.95 | 5-7 | 800-546-4440 |
| Inspiration Software | Kidspiration | es sw | $69.00 | grades k-3 | 800-877-4292 |
| International Playthings | Amazing Animal Trivia Game | bg es | $19.99 | 6-8 | 800-445-8347 |
| Kids II | KookaZoo Tunnel Gym | ae es ty | $29.99 | birth-2 | 770-751-0442 |
| Kids' Learning Network | www.KLNlive.com | website | free | 9-12 | 617-542-6500 |
| Kidzup Productions | Toddler Alphabet Sing-Along | at bo cd | $14.99 | 3-5 | 888-321-5437 |
| Kimbo Educational | Castles, Knights & Unicorns | at cd cp fp ml | $14.95 cd | 3-7 | 800-631-2187 |
| Klutz | Klutz Kwiz | es el | $17.95 | 5-10 | 800-737-4123 |
| Knowledge Adventure | Math Blaster: Cross Terrain Challenge | cd-rom sw | $19.99 | 9-12 | 800-545-7677 |
| LeapFrog Enterprises | Imagination Desk | ae ac cp es ml | $44.99 | 3-7 | 800-701-5327 |
| Learning Company | Clue Finders 5th Grade Adventure | cd-rom es fp sw | $29.95 | 9-12 | 319-395-0115 |
| Learning Curve International | Madeline Doll House | cp dh | $150.00 | 2-5 | 800-704-8697 |
| Learning Materials Workshop | BUCO | co cp es ty | $79.00 | 3-8 | 800-693-7164 |
| Learning Resources | Tick, Tac, Tock! Game | bg cp es | $13.95 | 6-8 | 888-800-7893 |
| LEGO Systems | Bob the Builder--Bob and Lofty Meet the Mice | co | $14.99 | 2-6 | 860-763-6606 |
| LGB of America | Cow Starter Set by Toytrain | es fp ho | $220.00 | 8-12 | 800-669-0607 |
| Little Fiddle Company | The Tic Toc Clocks | bo cd | $16.95 | 1-5 | 888-678-5636 |
| Little Tikes | Ready-Step-Go Roller Skates | ae op ty | $14.99 | 1-3 | 800-321-0183 |
| Lucy Hammett Games | Bug Bingo | bg es ty | $14.95 | 3-12 | 888-420-7585 |
| Maas Presentations | Remmy and the BrainTrain | bo cd ml | $16.95 | 4-8 | 607-347-4590 |
| Madacy Kids | Fun with Mommy & Me ae ml vt | $39.98 | 0-5 | 416-756-2800 | |
| Manhattan Toy | Handy Work | pu es cp sr | $10.00 | 3-7 | 800-541-1345 |
| Master Communications | Families of the World Video Series | es sr tr vt | $19.95 | 5-11 | 800-888-9681 |
| McDistribution Plus | McWiz Junior | bg es | $29.99 | 6-12 | 888-691-2849 |
| Mega Bloks | Learning Station | es ty | $34.99 | 18 m-6 y | 800-465-6342 |
| MGA Entertainment | DJ Mixer | cp ml | $49.99 | 6-10 | 800-222-4685 |
| Milton Bradley/Hasbro | Wheels on the Bus | bg el | $19.99 | 3-6 | 888-836-7025 |
| Mongo Toys | SquashBlox Castle Set | ae co cp fp pl ty | $129.95 | 3-7 | 201-792-5451 |
| Munchkin | Sing With Me Magic Cube | ae cp es el ho ml | $39.99 | 2-7 | 800-344-2229 |
| Neurosmith | Sunshine Symphony | ml pl | $49.99 | 0-36 mos | 800-220-3669 |
| Orchard Books | Why Butterflies Go By on Silent Wings | bo sr | $16.95 | 4-10 | 800-242-7737 |
| Original San Francisco Toymakers | Yano | cp ty es | $59.99 | 3-6 | 650-952-7701 |
| OWI | Rockit Robot | co es ho ty | $24.95 | 10-12 | 800-638-1694 |
| Pamela Drake | Woodkins | do es cp | $15.00 | 3-11 | 800-966-3762 |
| Patch Products | Three for All | bg | $25.00 | 10-12 | 800-524-4263 |
| Penguin Putnam Books | Cool Mad Libs | bo es tr | $3.99 | 7-14 | 800-788-6262 |
| Penton Overseas | Learn in Your Car for Kids | at bo cd es tr | $19.95 | 7-12 | 800-748-5804 |
| Peopling.net | Classical Board Game | bg es | $15.00 | 9-12 | 716-662-7794 |
| Poetry Pals | Poetry Pals Learning Center | bo es pz vt cp | $89.95 | 2-7 | 877-463-6896 |
| Pressman Toy | Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Jr. | bg | $24.99 | 8-12 | 800-800-0298 |
| ProDiJeux | WordXchange | bg es | $28.95 | 10-12 | 514-932-4744 |
| Production Associates | We Sign--ABC, Numbers, Colors, Animals, Rhymes | ae es vt | $14.95 | 3-12 | 800-535-8368 |
| Puppet Partners | Petite Performer Puppet & Props | ae cp fp pu | $8.99 pu | 3-12 | 801-544-7899 |
| Quincrafts Corporation | Yarn Critters | ac cp es tr | $12.99 | 7-10 | 800-342-8458 |
| Saskatchewan Internet News | Pentagonia | bg es sr | $20.00 | 8-12 | 306-652-1280 |
| Scholastic | Clifford Learning Activities | cd-rom es sw sr | $19.95 | 4-6 | 800-724-4718 |
| School Zone Interactive | Same or Different | cd-rom es sw | $19.99 | 3-5 | 800-253-0564 |
| Selecta Spielzeug | Millino 1452 | ty | $7.50 | 1-12 mos | 518-273-0726 |
| Skin Vestment | Boo Boo Buddy | no sr | $5.95 | 12 mo-12 yr | 800-346-4655 |
| Sleeveless | Toddler | ae cd cp es ml | $15.99 | 0-4 yrs | 888-606-6874 |
| Small Fry Productions | You Are A Masterpiece | es sr vt | $19.95 | 5-12 | 800-521-5311 |
| Small World Toys | Deluxe Feltland Doll House | ae co cp do dh | $100.00 | 3-5 | 800-421-4153 |
| SmarterKids | Colorations Colored Puffy Paint | ac cp es | $12.99 | 3-5 | 800-293-9314 |
| Spin Master Toys | Incredible Shrinky Dinks | ac cp es ho ty | $29.99 | 6-9 | 800-622-8339 |
| Sport Fun | Spin Driver | ty | $39.99 | 18-36 mos | 800-423-2597 |
| Tangle | Original Tangle with Texture | no ty | $16.00 | 0-12 | 888-829-3808 |
| Team Concepts | Imagination Playmat | el ml ty | $49.99 | 3-24 mos | 800-486-0898 |
| Tiger Electronics | Bob-Builder Build & Learn | es el | $24.99 | 2-4 | 800-844-3733 |
| USAOPOLY | Scrabble Jr Game: Wildlife | bg es | $19.95 | 5-8 | 888-876-7659 |
| VTech Industries | Me-Mo-Mo | es op ty tr | $49.99 | 5-8 | 800-521-2010 |
| Walt Disney Records | Inside-Out Sleep Game | ae at ml | $12.95 cd | 3-12 | 805-969-5654 |
| Warren Industries | Lego Racers | bg | $14.99 | 7-10 | 800-447-2151 |
| Williamson Publishing | Make Your Own Birdhouses | ae bo cp sr | $7.95 | 8-12 | 800-234-8791 |
| Wow Wee | Totally Extreme Rock Climber | ty | $39.99 | 8-12 | 514-344-1250 |
| YOTTOY Productions | Good Night, Mr. Night Toy | cp do fp pl sr | $19.99 | 3-8 | 800-554-1447 |
| Zapf Creation | Rock-A-Bye Chou Chou | do ty | $34.99 | 3-7 | 800-629-9273 |
| AC - Arts & Crafts | AE - Active Toy | AP - Activity Product | AT - Audio Tape |
| BG - Board Game | BO - Book | CD - CD | CE - Children's Entertainment |
| CG - Card Game | CM - CD-ROM | CO - Construction Toy | CP - Creative Product |
| CR - Computer-Related | CS - Costume | DH - Dollhouse | DO - Doll |
| DV - DVD | EG - Electronic Game | EL - Electronic Product | EQ - Equipment |
| ES - Educational Skills Product | FP - Fantasy Play | GE - Game | HO - Hobby |
| ML - Musical | MM - Multimedia | NO - Novelty | OP - Outdoor Play |
| OT - Other | PL - Plush Toy | PT - Pool Toy | PU - Puppet |
| PZ - Puzzle | RS - Rubber Stamp | SC - Science | SR - Socially Responsible |
| ST - Stamps | SW - Software | TR - Travel Item | TS - Transportation |
| TY - Toy | UN - Unique Product | VG - Video Game | VT - Video Tape |
