Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Products List - 2006
Dr. Toy warns too much TV dulls brain, creativity, reduces physical agility and health
Dr Toy’s RX for Summer is balance; Check out Dr. Toy’s Vacation Playtime Pointers
Summertime provides a perfect opportunity to unwind, stretch mind and muscles, explore new places, and enjoy a change of pace. This is an important season for children to continue learning, as they play with all their energy.
Children work hard in school and need balanced playtime for healthy development…activity for physical growth, creativity for expanding imagination, and learning to keep minds alert. School requires concentration and energy, so does playtime.
Through play, the work of children, they learn essential skills in every season, but especially so in the summertime. Summertime is best spent away from too much TV and focus on electricity. Time to use circuits for creativity, activity and learning.
A good portion of time should be spent outdoors in age-appropriate play. Outdoor activities can take the form of skating, jump rope, bike riding, swimming, hiking, nature walks, pretend and adventure play, ball throwing, tennis, golf, basketball, and other varied activities that allow for the development of physical skills and the coordination of minds and bodies.
Exercise is more important than ever before. Varied outdoor playtime is important for all children every day. Being safe and having fun outdoors gives an essential balance that complements everything else they’re doing.
Indoor play can involve creative arts like painting, on a flat surface or with large sheets of paper on an easel, or making simple things, like fun cut-ups, cut-out sticker fun like Colorform sets, paper dolls, or engaging in a favorite hobby. Many creative activities can be easily combined with listening to music for added value.
Building projects are always fun and an extension of creative play. Consider some of the construction products suggested below, such as Kapla or Mega Blocks. Other excellent product choices are included to assist you as you select playthings for a very productive and fun filled summer vacation.
Playing helps to support children’s outlook, imagination, and expand interests. They thrive if given a chance to develop stories with puppets and dolls, learn to make things, figure out new puzzles such as “Scramble Squares,” discover the fun of reading different books, playing games, or constructing something new.
A diverse list of suggested products is included here and on drtoy.com to assist you in finding just the right products. Children have plenty of questions; they want to have conversations; and, most of all, they want to play, discover, and explore to their fullest potential.
Here are Dr. Toy’s guidelines for wholesome summer vacation playtime to help you to make the time even more balanced and fun for your child:
- Locate a good variety of challenging products appropriate for age and interests.
- Arrange toys and playthings so they are easy to access and easy to store away.
- Create a variety of interesting and enjoyable activities.
- Be sure to create a good mix of indoor and outdoor play.
- Remind the children that they should drink plenty of water during the summer time to avoid dehydration.
- Children need rest, healthy snacks, safety awareness, instruction, and safe play. For example, children who cannot swim should not use floating devices in the water as these can slip away. Better to learn to float and swim.
- Children should play with age appropriate products and proper supervision to avoid accidents.
- Learning to prepare a simple recipe is practical fun for children including making sandwiches, scrambled eggs, or simple, healthy snacks.
- Encourage children to learn how to make something useful like a craft project, or to learn to assemble a puzzle.
- Express your admiration for each accomplishment. Children thrive when their talents are recognized and nurtured.
- Gather an assortment of creative projects and various materials in a storage box along with easy-to-follow directions. Arrange an assortment of paper, glue, safety scissors, and magazines to easily cut pictures for collage and scrapbooks in an accessible box. Take time to do creative and fun projects with your child.
- Projects that involve planting, making, or learning things have extra value.
Plenty of great play ideas and products are available for all ages, interests, and skills.
The product assortment that follows gives you a number of good suggestions available from many excellent companies.
These are among other recent Dr. Toy’s Award winners.
- Puzzles are fun on travel to engage interest- Scramble Squares Puzzles. Age 3 and up. $8.95 b. dazzle www.b-dazzle.com 800-809-4242
- Learning is easy with word games-Nerdy Wordy Crossword Game Ages 6 and up. $14.99 Creative, fast word game helps build spelling skills while kids have fun!. Briarpatch. www.briarpatch.com 800-232-7427
- Stretch communication with card games- Pooh Tales of Adventure Card Game Ages 3 to 8 $6.99- Card game your child will enjoy playing “what’s different?” and “what’s missing?”characters. Briarpatch. www.briarpatch.com 800-232-7427
- Learn about the world with interactive globe-GeoSafari Talking Globe Ages 8- 12 $79.99 Educational Insights www.educationalinsights.com 800-995-4436
- Puppets are valuable tools for language and emotional development-HARBOR SEAL 3 and up $30 Puppet engaging with workable mouth for added reality, fun and language development. perfect for travel. Folkmanis www.folkmanis.com 510-658-7677
- Building is creative fun with blocks- KAPLA Barrel 200-piece Set Ages 3-12 $66 Excellent creative construction blocks of high-quality wood have lasting value. Young builders will delight at the endless possibilities. KAPLA Toys www.kaplatoys.com 912-944-6296
- Learn more about grammar and newspapers Go to Press!™ A Grammar Game Ages 7 up $ 21.95 Excitement of big-city newspaper captured in game that reinforces grammar as players find and correct errors in headlines. Learning Resources www.learningresources.com 800-222-3909
- Learn about the world with map and game- World Treasure Hunt™ Ages 4 up $36.95. This large map brings in whole world and gets children interested in world geography. Learning Resources www.learningresources.com 800-222-3909
- Creative Learning through Magnetic Play Magnetix™ Jr. Starter Set, Ages 3 and up. $19.99 Fast building trend in construction brings magnetic play to preschoolers. new system builds imagination and enriches problem solving, confidence, early math and science skills. Mega Bloks www.megabloks.com 800-465-6342 MEGA Brands Magnetix safety/recall information
- Build, create and race set is construction challenge- Speed Rally ProBuilder® Summit Turbo Ages 6-12 $14.99- Challenging construction toy your experienced builder will enjoy. Your child has fun building, detailing and styling new race car. Mega Bloks www.megabloks.com 800-465-6342
- Create and enjoy silly fun Creature Mix™ Ages 5-8 $12.99 Creative, easy to assemble product invites your child to use their imagination. MGA Entertainment www.mgae.com 800-222-4685
- Expand language and reading skills Storytime Collection ages 3-8 Price: $15.99 As your child turns pages of books they build early reading skills. MGA Entertainment www.mgae.com 800-222-4685
- Silly fun is a summertime learning activity-Silly Faces Ages 3 and up $9.98 Be first to build silly face as players spin to see the feature to add with easy-to-learn game that encourages giggles with simple rules with large formats, fun graphics and sturdy components. University Games, www.areugame.com 800-471-0641
- Learning comes in different forms Magic Cauldron Ages 5-8 $14.98 Math becomes magical in easy to learn and fun to play game of bubbling cauldrons, wacky ingredients,. Players pick ingredient card, look at sum on the back, guess solution matching addition or subtraction card and be first to fill up cauldron. University Games. www.areugame.com 800-471-0641
- Travel is relaxing with a Tangle Tangle Jr. Ages 3 and up. $1.99 For children (and adults) playing with this toy helps to unwind on trips in the car, plane or anytime. Stimulates your brain as it helps exercise and increase finger dexterity. Tangle Toys www.tangletoys.com 888-829-3808
- Excellent creative product Monkey Magnets Puzzle Box Ages 4-7 $12 6 different monkey magnet puzzle boxes filled with 6 transparent templates and 16 printed pictures.. Pamela Drake/Woodkins www.woodkins.com 800-966-3762
Let's Play!
Company | Item | Type(s) | Ages | Price | Phone |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Company | Item | Type(s) | Ages | Price | Phone |
ALEX | Games To Go | bg tr | 5-8 | 29.99 | 800-666-2539 |
ALEX | Magic Tracer | ac no tr | 5-8 | 11.99 | 800-666-2539 |
Athletic Baby | Athletic Baby Basketball | ae dv | 3 m-36 m | 16.99 | 972-781-6806 |
b. dazzle | Covered Bridges Scramble Square® 9-Piece Puzzle | es no pz tr | 6-12 | 8.95 | 800-809-4242 |
b. dazzle | Fly Fishing Scramble Square® 9-Piece Puzzle | es no pz tr | 6-12 | 8.95 | 800-809-4242 |
b. dazzle | Outer Banks Lighthouses Scramble Square® 9-Piece Puzzle | es no pz tr | 6-12 | 8.95 | 800-809-4242 |
b. dazzle | San Antonio Scramble Square® 9-Piece Puzzle | es no pz tr | 6-12 | 8.95 | 800-809-4242 |
Babalu | FeltTales | cp es tr | 3-5 | 16.95 | 917-968-9876 |
Blue Orange Games | CooCoo the Rocking Clown | co | 3-12 | 19.95 | 415-252-0372 |
Blue Orange Games | Ringgz | bg | 8-12 | 29.95 | 415-252-0372 |
Blue Orange Games | Speedy Eddy | bg | 5-12 | 24.95 | 415-252-0372 |
Breyer Animal Creations/Reeves Intl | Horse Fun Party Pack for Six | ac cp | 6-12 | 50 | 973-633-5090 |
Briarpatch | Sudoku | es tr ts | 7-12 | 19.99 | 800-232-7427 |
Cadaco | Buzztime® Head-on Trivia Challenge | eg | 10-12 | 19.99 | 800-621-5426 |
Carson Dellosa Publishing | Butterflies - Life Cycles Dominoes | bg es pz sc | 5-12 | 9.99 | 800-274-1150 |
Carson Dellosa Publishing | Summer Bridge Activities™ Books | bo es tr ts | 3-5 | 12.95 | 800-274-1150 |
Center Enterprises | Ready 2 Learn Giant Stampers Upper & Lowercase Alphabet Combo | ac cp es ho st | 3-10 | 44.95 | 800-542-2214 |
Chicco USA | Chicco 3D Playground | ae cp es | 3 m-24 m | 59.99 | 877-424-4226 |
Chronicle Books | Camp Kit: Tons of Cool Stuff for a Summer of Fun | ae bo tr ty | 6-12 | 15.95 | 800-722-6657 |
Chronicle Books | Doodles: A Really Giant Coloring & Doodling Book | bo | 2-12 | 18.95 | 800-722-6657 |
Chronicle Books | Scribbles: A Really Giant Drawing and Coloring Book | bo | 2-12 | 18.95 | 800-722-6657 |
Cranium | Cranium Grab & Go Games Hoppity Winks | ge tr | 6-12 | 9.95 | 877-272-6486 |
Cranium | Cranium Grab & Go Games Super Jacks | ge tr | 6-12 | 9.95 | 877-272-6486 |
Cranium | Cranium WonderWorks Picture Studio | cp tr | 6-12 | 9.99 | 877-272-6486 |
Cranium | Cranium WonderWorks Talking Picture Book | bo cp tr | 6-12 | 19.99 | 877-272-6486 |
Discovery Toys | Stargo | bg es op | 6-12 | 18.99 | 800-984-5454 |
Dolly Adventures | Dolly Goes To The Beach | bo do es | 3-12 | 21.95 | 866-363-6559 |
Educational Insights | Kanoodle | pz | 7-12 | 9.99 | 800-995-4436 |
Educational Insights | Let's Pretend Grill-and-Go Camp Stove | cp fp | 3-12 | 29.99 | 800-995-4436 |
Educational Insights | Magic Show! | cp ho | 6-12 | 19.99 | 800-995-4436 |
Educational Insights | PlayFoam | ac cp | 6-12 | 9.99 | 800-995-4436 |
Educational Insights | Space Faces | bg es | 3-12 | 29.99 | 800-995-4436 |
Educational Insights | Trail Mate Outdoor® Adventure Tool | ae cp ho sc | 7-12 | 7.99 | 800-995-4436 |
Elope | Double Cone Princess Pink | ae cp es no pl | 3-10 | 16.99 | 800-553-5673 |
Family Pastimes | Berries, Bugs & Bullfrogs | bg | 3-5 | 8 | 888-267-4414 |
Folkmanis | Elephant Puppet | pl pu tr | 3-5 | 44 | 800-654-8922 |
Folkmanis | Harbor Seal Puppet | cp pl pu tr | 3-12 | 30 | 800-654-8922 |
Folkmanis | Peacock Puppet | pl pu tr | 3-7 | 44 | 800-654-8922 |
Fundex Games | Bubba The Bottom Feeder Game™ | pt | 5-12 | 14.99 | 800-486-9787 |
Fundex Games | Sonic Search™ | pt | 5-12 | 14.95 | 800-486-9787 |
Funrise Toys | Pog | bg ho | 5-12 | 9.99 | 800-882-3808 |
Gamewright | Combo King | ge ty | 8-12 | 14.99 | 800-638-7568 |
Gamewright | Feed the Kitty | ge ty | 4-12 | 11.99 | 800-638-7568 |
Gamewright | Original Little Hands Playing Card Holder | ge ty | 3-12 | 3.99 | 800-638-7568 |
Gamewright | Top Speed | ge ty | 8-12 | 5.99 | 800-638-7568 |
Hooked on Phonics | Hooked on Colors | tr ts dv | 3-5 | 14.99 | 888-605-5055 |
Hooked on Phonics | Hooked on Handwriting | bo cm es | 4-6 | 64.99 | 888-605-5055 |
Hooked on Phonics | Hooked on Numbers | tr ts dv | 3-5 | 14.99 | 888-605-5055 |
Hooked on Phonics | Hooked on Shapes | tr ts dv | 3-5 | 14.99 | 888-605-5055 |
International Playthings | Filo by Quercetti® & SpACo | es tr | 4-12 | 18.99 | 800-631-1272 |
International Playthings | Little Chubbies Assortment by Viking Toys® | tr ts | 1-3 | 1.39 | 800-631-1272 |
International Playthings | Major League Baseball Trivia Card Game | cg tr | 8-12 | 7.99 | 800-631-1272 |
International Playthings | Taggies® Big Soft Blocks by Earlyyears® | pl tr | Birth-3 m | 34.99 | 800-631-1272 |
Kids II, Inc. | Baby Einstein™ Take Along Caterpillar | es pl tr | 3 m-36 m | 14.99 | 800-230-8190 |
Kids II, Inc. | Bright Starts™ Big Catch! Fishing Net™ | ae cp pt tr | 1-3 | 4.99 | 800-230-8190 |
Kids II, Inc. | Bright Starts™ Big Smiles! Activity Camera™ | cp tr | 6 m-36 m | 5.99 | 800-230-8190 |
Kuleana Productions | Hawaiian Lei Making Kit | ac cp es no tr | 5-12 | 14.99 | 866-367-4852 |
Kuleana Productions | My Beautiful Hula Girl-Princess Leilani | cp do es no tr | 4-12 | 24.99 | 866-367-4852 |
la manzana roja | Mom, Dad & ME Apredemos Español | es dv | 2-10 | 18.99 | 817-793-7939 |
Learning Horizons | Great Big, Value, Fun Coloring & Activity | ap bo | 3-5 | 4.99 | 800-532-8876 |
Learning Horizons | Leap Frog ABC Wipe Off Mat | ap es | 3-6 | 3.95 | 800-532-8876 |
Learning Horizons | Leap Frog Addition Wipe Off Mat | ap es | 3-6 | 3.95 | 800-532-8876 |
Learning Horizons | Leap Frog Healthy Foods Wipe Off Mat | ap es | 3-6 | 3.95 | 800-532-8876 |
Learning Horizons | Leap Frog Money Mat | ap es | 3-6 | 3.95 | 800-532-8876 |
Learning Horizons | Super, Big Value, Fun Coloring & Activity | ap bo | 5-6 | 4.99 | 800-532-8876 |
Learning Resources | Go to Press™ A Grammar Game | bg | 7-12 | 21.95 | 800-222-3909 |
Learning Resources | Pretend & Play® Snack Shop | cp fp | 3-12 | 32.95 | 800-222-3909 |
Learning Resources | Smart Splash® Memory Match Clams™ | es pt tr | 2-12 | 15.95 | 800-222-3909 |
Learning Resources | World Treasure Hunt Mat® | ae es tr | 4-12 | 36.95 | 800-222-3909 |
LEGO Systems | Grand Soccer Stadium | ae co cp no tr | 7-12 | 49.99 | 800-453-4652 |
Made By Hands | Make-Your-Own™ Masterpieces | ac cp es tr | 4-12 | 18.99 | 800-839-7369 |
Marcie And Me, Inc. | Fun with Marcie and Me | dv | 1-4 | 14.99 | 781-329-0778 |
Mega Bloks | Building Imaginations™ Small Bag of Maxi™ Blocks | ae co cp es tr | 1-5 | 7.99 | 800-465-6342 |
Mega Bloks |
Magnetix® Magnetic Building Set MEGA Brands Magnetix safety/recall information |
co cp es tr | 6-12 | 9.99 | 800-465-6342 |
Mega Bloks | Tiny'n Tuff® Off-Road Set™ | ae co cp es ts | 1-5 | 14.99 | 800-465-6342 |
MGA Entertainment | Big Fish Lil' Fish | cp es ho tr | 4-12 | 4.99 | 800-222-4685 |
Mindtwister USA | Pentago | bg | 6-12 | 19.95 | 866-604-9220 |
MindWing Concepts | The SGM Fun Pack | cp es | 5-12 | 29.95 | 888-228-9746 |
Out of the Box Publishing | Squint Jr. | bg tr | 6-12 | 16.99 | 800-540-2304 |
Paramount Home Entertainment | Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Chipmunk Adventure | dv | 2-11 | 14.99 | 818-823-6403 |
Paramount Home Entertainment | My Little Pony: The Princess Promenade | dv | 3-6 | 16.99 | 818-823-6403 |
PlaSmart | Swinging Monkeys | ge | 3-5 | 19.99 | 877-289-0730 |
PlaSmart | World Puzzle Map | pz | 3-5 | 69.99 | 877-289-0730 |
Play Visions | Stunt Copter | ae | 6-12 | 12.99 | 800-678-8697 |
Publications International | My First Story Reader | bo es sw tr ty | 6 m-3 y | 19.99 | 800-595-8484 |
Publications International | Travel Time Activity Set™ | bo es tr | 3-6 | 14.99 | 800-595-8484 |
Questar | Toy Castle: Beautiful Ballerina | dv | 3-5 | 14.99 | 800-544-8422 |
RADGames | "Super Add-Ons"™ Version for Monopoly® | ae bg es | 8-12 | 24.95 | 603-924-6446 |
RandomLine | Alphabet SQUIGGLE® on-the-go | es tr | 3-5 | 6.95 | 973-889-8964 |
Rock 'N Learn | Alphabet Exercise | es vt dv | 3-5 | 19.99 | 800-348-8445 |
Scholastic | Animal Genius | eg es sw tr ts | 5-7 | 24.99 | 800-724-4718 |
Scribble Mats! | Scribble Books! Travel Fun-Coloring Adventure Tote Books | ac bo cp es no | 3-12 | 5 | 877-543-3248 |
ThinkFun | Sudoku 5x5 | bg es pz tr | 8-12 | 9.99 | 800-468-1864 |
Universal Music | Bratz "Genie Magic" CD | cd | 6-12 | 15 | 310-865-7812 |
University Games | Do You Sudoku? For Kids Card Game | cg tr | 6-12 | 5.98 | 800-347-4818 |
University Games | Magic Cauldron | es | 5-8 | 14.98 | 800-347-4818 |
VTech Electronics | Write & Learn Letter Pad | eg es sw | 3-12 | 14.99 | 800-521-2010 |
Walter Foster Publishing | 100 Feet of Fun: Drawing Animals | bo cp ho | 6-12 | 12.95 | 800-426-0099 |
Walter Foster Publishing | Fun with Manga | bo cp ho | 8-12 | 14.95 | 800-426-0099 |
WeeCreation LLC | Hip2Hop™ Hopscotch Kit | ae es tr dv | 5-11 | 11.99 | 435-896-5878 |
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 |