Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products - 2002
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 2002 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.
Dr. Toy selects the 10 Best from each of the following categories:
- Best Active Products
- Best Audio/Visual Products
- Best Creative Products
- Best Educational Products
- Best Games
- Best Socially Responsible Products (to help children learn about their environment and themselves)
- Best Software/CD Products
- Best Toys
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 | Barnyard Boogie--Puppet Book | bo cp es ml | $15.95 | 3-8 | 888-333-1676 |
Action Products International | Kidz Workshop EZ Build Projects | ac ho | $9.99 | 8-10 | 800-772-2846 |
Active People | Bilibo | ae cp eq op | $20.00 | 2-7 | 416-481-5407 |
Advanced Brain Technologies | Music for Babies | cd es ml | $15.95 | 0-3 | 888-228-1798 |
ALEX | My First Desk | ac as cp es | $70.00 | 3-5 | 800-666-2539 |
All By Myself | All By Myself "Getting Dressed" | cp es sr vt | $14.95 | 2-5 | 866-408-5437 |
Anchor Bay Entertainment |
Thomas & Friends Salty's Secret & Other Thomas Adventures |
vt | $12.98 | 2-6 | 800-233-3738 |
Anthony Innovations | The Touch Game | bg es | $39.99 | 5-12 | 800-828-7002 |
Atollo Systems | Atollo a120 Building Kit | ac co cp ho ty | $12.99 | 5-10 | 866-428-6556 |
Atori Publishing | Finny Finds Friends in the Forest | bo cd es ml | $18.95 | 3-5 | 570-383-2579 |
b. dazzle | Scramble Squares Puzzles | es no pz sr | $8.95 | 4-12 | 800-809-4242 |
Baby Einstein Company | Baby Beethoven Symphony of Fun | vt | $14.99 | 0-4 | 800-793-1454 |
Baby Gourmet | Spring-Summer Harvest | cd es ml sr vt | $14.98 | 1-48 mos | 800-380-1213 |
Baby Playtime | Playtime for You and Me | es vt | $39.95 | 0-15 mos | 888-205-7529 |
Basic Fun | Clip Crafts | ac no tr | $4.99 | 6-8 | 800-662-3380 |
Battat | Mega Tube Traxx | co ty | $22.50 | 5-10 | 800-822-8828 |
Binney & Smith | Crayola Crayon Maker | ac cp | $29.99 | 8-12 | 800-272-9652 |
Blue Orange Games | Gobblet | bg | $29.95 | 7-12 | 415-572-3885 |
Briarpatch | I Spy Rhyme-A-Thon Game | bg cp es | $24.99 | 8-12 | 800-232-7427 |
Chicco | Chiccoland Tree House | ae cp es tr ty | $39.99 | 1-4 | 877-424-4226 |
Child Smart | Your Tiny Jungle Tot | cp es ml sr vt | $12.95 | 3-36 mos | 877-559-5100 |
Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment | Maggie and the Ferocious Beast | vt | $12.95 | 3-5 | 310-244-4000 |
Cranium | Cariboo | bg es ty | $16.95 | 3-6 | 312-297-7575 |
Design Your Own | Design Your Own Kit | ac ae cp op ty | $19.99 | 8-12 | 800-584-6848 |
Discovery Toys | Air-Musement Park | es no ty | $26.99 | 8-13 | 800-426-4777 |
EDC Publishing | First North Americans Kid Kit | ac bo cp es | $14.95 | 6-10 | 800-475-4522 |
Educational Insights | GeoSafari USA Search | el es | $99.95 | 8-12 | 800-995-4436 |
Elenco Electronics | Electronic Snap Circuits | eg es ho sc | $59.95 | 8-12 | 800-533-2441 |
Endurance Publications | Marcel The Mountain Biker | ae bo fp op sr | $24.95 | 3-7 | 818-706-9812 |
Family Pastimes | There's A Growly in the Garden! | bg | $15.00 | 5-9 | 888-267-4414 |
Fisher-Price | Kasey the Kinderbot | ae eg es sr sw | $64.99 | 3-7 | 800-432-5437 |
Folkmanis | Puppet Theater | cp es fp ty | $80.00 | 3-12 | 800-654-8922 |
Free Spirit Publishing | Hands Are Not For Hitting Board Book | bo es sr | $7.95 | 1.5-3 | 800-735-7323 |
FunZone Company | Record-Your-Voice Book | bo cp es no sr | $29.99 | 3-10 | 888-386-9673 |
Gamewright | Scrambled States of America | ae cg es | $11.99 | 8-12 | 800-638-7568 |
Global Toys | Lena Mercedes Fire Engine | ae fp no op ts | $50.00 | 3-6 | 877-902-8697 |
Gotz Dolls | Aquini Drink & Wet Baby | do | $19.99 | 2-7 | 800-959-3655 |
Hands On Toys | Cosmosphere | ty | $10.00 | 10-48 mos | 888-442-6376 |
Hasbro Games | Electronic Hand Held Boggle | eg | $10.99 | 8-12 | 888-836-7025 |
Hasbro/Playskool | Playskool Air-Tivity Table | ty | $29.99 | 0.75-3 | 800-844-3733 |
Innovative Kids | My First Amazing Game Board Book | bg bo | $19.99 | 3-6 | 203-838-6400 |
International Playthings | Honey Bee Tree | ae | $14.99 | 3-5 | 800-631-1272 |
Irwin Toys | Caillou Sing Along | do | $24.99 | 3-7 | Out of Business |
Just Enough Learning Co. | Just Enough Vocals Kit | bo cd es sr vt | $29.95 | 11-12 | 800-260-5119 |
Kid Galaxy | Bendos Camper | fp op ty | $24.99 | 6-10 | 800-816-1135 |
KIDdesigns, Inc. | Tuff Stuff Stereo CD Player | ae cd fp ho ml | $69.99 | 4-7 | 888-867-8697 |
KidPhD.Inc | That's My Name | vt | $16.99 | 1-24 mos | 800-444-7336 |
Kids Collection |
Kids Collection of Greatest Classics, Vol. 3 |
cd cp ml tr | $14.98 | 0-12 | 978-369-0766 |
Kids II |
My First Lunchbox & My First Toolbox Toy |
ae cp es fp ty | $24.99 | 0.5-3 | 770-751-0442 |
Kimbo Educational | Jump Start Action Songs | ae at cd fp ml | $14.95 | 4-8 | 800-631-2187 |
Klutz | Wraps | es tr | $7.95 | 5-10 | 800-737-4123 |
Knowledge Adventure | JumpStart Advanced Preschool | cm es sw | $29.99 | 2-4 | 800-545-7677 |
LeapFrog | Quantum Pad Learning System | bo eg es sr | $49.99 | 5-12 | 800-701-5327 |
Learning Curve International |
FeltKids FeltHouse & Story Pieces Collection |
fp tr ty | $19.99 | 3-12 | 800-704-8697 |
Learning Horizons | Learn Every Day Preschool | bo es | $14.95 | 3-5 | 800-532-8876 |
Learning Resources | Talking Clever Clock and Workbook | el es | $34.95 | 5-7 | 888-800-7893 |
LEGO Systems | Theatre Stories | co cp es fp ml | $29.99 | 4-8 | 800-233-8756 |
Lionel Trains | Ballyhoo Brothers Circus Train | ho | $299.95 | 8-12 | 586-949-4100 |
Lolo Company | RohSzamBo | bg | $14.95 | 5-10 | 800-760-9930 |
Lucy Hammett Games | Lewis & Clark Bingo | bg es ty | $13.95 | 4-12 | 888-420-7585 |
Maple Landmark Woodcraft | Name Train | cp es sr ts ty | $4.75 | 3-5 | 800-421-4223 |
Master Communications | Families of Russia | es sr vt | $29.95 | 3-12 | 800-765-5885 |
MGA Entertainment | Land-Sea R/C | ae cp op ty | $69.99 | 5-10 | 800-222-4685 |
My Baby and Me Exercise | My Grandbaby and Me | vt | $17.95 | 1-12 mos | 888-741-2229 |
MyStorySong.com |
Winky Wizard--The Birthday Burglar and (Your Child's Name) |
bo cd cp ml sr | $14.99 | 3-7 | 888-800-3150 |
Neurosmith | Musini | ae eg es ml | $59.99 | 3-8 | 800-220-3669 |
New Hope Records | I Need You and You Need Me | at cd es sr | $14.98 | 2-8 | 516-466-6040 |
North Bay Entertainment | Ultimate Baby CD | ae cp es ml sr | $16.99 | 0-3 | 707-224-0364 |
Odyssey Toys | World Stars | cp fp sr ty | $7.95 | 6-8 | 866-869-7639 |
Oregon Scientific | Hot Wheels Accelerator Laptop | eg es | $59.99 | 5-10 | 800-853-8883 |
OWI | Jungle Robot | co es ho ty | $19.95 | 10-12 | 800-638-1694 |
P&M Products USA |
Color Workshop Blopens Magic Color Change Kit |
ac cp | $14.99 | 4-8 | 888-661-9421 |
PAKA Preschool Products | Cubee Tunnels | ae co cp es ho | $30.00 | 0-3 | 800-387-2587 |
Pamela Drake | Woodkins Design Studio | ac cp do fp sr | $18.00 | 7-12 | 800-966-3762 |
Parent's Magazine/Battat | Busy Park Playground | es ty | $49.99 | 1-2 | 800-822-8828 |
PicturePages Partnership |
Bill Cosby's Picture Pages-- Early Learning Readiness Series |
cd es sr sw | $29.95 | 3-5 | 877-877-2887 |
Plastwood Corporation | Geomag | co cp es ho tr | $19.95 | 3-10 | 800-647-9989 |
Playmobil | 3186 - Airport | cp fp sr ts ty | $89.99 | 4-8 | 800-752-9662 |
Playstages Incorporated | Playstages Theater Set | cp es pu ty | $159.99 | 6-12 | 866-646-4546 |
Proverbial Wisdom | Proverbial Wisdom Jr. | bg es | $19.95 | 7-12 | 877-462-7579 |
Quincrafts Corporation | Makit & Bakit Charm Jewelry | ac cp ho no | $5.99 | 8-12 | 800-342-8458 |
R & R Games | Time's Up | ae bg cg | $19.99 | 10-12 | 888-874-3353 |
Redfly | Seven Horses of the Redfly Sacred Circle | bg sr tr | $7.00 | 5-12 | 406-254-7316 |
Rising Stars Toys | Squeeze Me Music Soft Piano | es ml pl ty | $29.95 | 2-5 | 317-566-8778 |
Rock 'N Learn | Beginning Fractions & Decimals Video | es ml vt | $14.99 | 7-10 | 800-348-8445 |
S&S Worldwide | Gee-Perz! Great Projects to Share | ac cp ho ty | $19.99 | 5-10 | 866-386-7799 |
Scholastic Entertainment |
Clifford The Big Red Dog Wooden Shape Sorter |
es tr ts ty | $24.99 | 3-5 | 800-724-6527 |
Sing 2 School | Multiplication Hip-Hop | cd cp es ml | $13.99 | 6-12 | 718-637-6447 |
Small World Toys | It's 2 Cute Ryan's Room | dh | $100.00 | 2-7 | 800-421-4153 |
The First Years | Animal Sounds Pals | pl ty | $5.99 | 1-12 mos | 800-225-0382 |
Tiny Love | Gymini Super Deluxe Lights & Music | ae es ml ty | $59.95 | 0-10 | 888-846-9568 |
Trend Enterprises | Monopoly Activity Books | bo es tr | $3.99 | 4-12 | 800-860-6762 |
Uncle Milton Industries | Star Theater 2 | es op ty | $29.99 | 8-12 | 800-869-7555 |
University Games |
Fun-in-a-Box, The Dr. Seuss Matching Game |
bg es | $15.99 | 4-7 | 800-471-0641 |
VTech Electronics | Knights of Knowledge | es ty | $49.99 | 5-8 | 800-521-2010 |
Walter Foster Publishing | Code Busters | ac bo cp | $14.95 | 8-12 | 800-426-0099 |
Warren Industries | LEGO Creator Deluxe Game | bg | $24.99 | 4-12 | 800-447-2151 |
Young Scientists Club |
Young Scientists Club Science Kits Curriculum |
es | $10.99 | 4-12 | 800-964-1320 |
Zapf Creation | Baby Annabell | do | $49.99 | 3-12 | 877-629-9273 |
Zometool | Zome DNA Kit | co cp es sr ty | $11.95 | 10-12 | 888-966-3386 |
AC - Arts & Crafts | AE - Active Toy | AP - Activity Product | AT - Audio Tape |
BG - Board Game | BO - Book | CD - CD | CE - 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 | 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 |