DR. TOY'S BEST VACATION PRODUCTS
2000
Selected by Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (Dr. Toy
)

Summer is a great time to explore many different activities at home, either indoors or outdoors. And it is also a grand time to explore nature in any of its forms.

The products Dr. Toy has selected provide children with experiences to help them learn during the summertime. There are great products to take along and use on a trip, and to explore once you arrive at your destination. There are products that will give children child plenty of things to do if you're staying at home.

Summertime should be about fun and learning, testing limits and learning new skills. These products provide children with creative activities. They will stimulate them with a whole range of new skills. Learning during the summer can include getting a jump start on skills like learning phonics, reading new books, playing math or strategy games. as well as having fun from all kinds of great activities.

There is something for everyone in this vast array of products. All of the companies selected have provided their best possible offerings. This summer will be about fun, exploration, and gaining new confidence.

We would like to hear from you about the experiences your child has with any of these products. We expect they will provide fun and learning, relaxation and stimulation, and a chance to test out all aspects of your child's abilities. HAVE A GREAT TIME!

Tell Dr. Toy about any questions you have about play and toys. Thanks for telling others you learned about these products from Dr. Toy's Award winners.

Note: The individual entries are still undergoing final revisions. Any missing images will be available as soon as possible


Key to Type:

ac=Arts & Crafts ae=Active at=Audio bg=Board Game
bo=Book cd=CD-ROM co=Construction Toy cp=Creative Product
cr=Computer-related dh=Dollhouse do=Doll eq=Equipment
es=Educational Skills Product fp=Fantasy Play ho=Hobby ml=Musical
mm=Multimedia no=Novelty op=Outdoor Play pl=Plush Toy
pu=Puppet pz=Puzzle sr=Social Responsibility sw=Software
tr=Travel ts=Transportation ty=Toy vt=Video Tape


COMPANY NAME ITEM Price Ages Phone
Action Products Logiblocs Room Alarm Pack co cp es $24.95 7-12 yr 800-772-2846
Action Products Ultimate Saturn 5 Rocket es ts $44.95 6-12 yr 800-772-2846
Ajjava Sense-ation! bg $29.95 6-12 yr 225-819-1991
Amerigames International Quick Chess bg es tr $9.99 6-12 yr 800-344-4241
Anchor Bay Baby Songs Animals vt $12.98 1-6 yr 800-745-1145
Artsy Awesome Girls Doll do $14.99 3-8 yr 888-972-7879
Artsy Awesome Girls Scrapbook Fun ac $7.99 6-12 yr 888-972-7879
Artsy Beads 'n Love ac $9.99 8-12 yr 888-972-7879
Baby Buzz'r International Baby Buzz'r no ts tr $19.95 3 mo-3 yr 801-495-2229
Baby Einstein Company Baby Shakespeare bk vt $19.95 1-4 yr 800-793-1454
Baby Einstein Company Baby Webster es $8.98 1-4 yr 800-793-1454
Basic Fun Burple no tr $10.00 6-12 yr 215-364-1665
BeanStar Entertainment Princess Bean's Messy World at cd $14.98 4-9 yr 800-246-9225
Biggwood Community Puzzle ac cp pz $10.00 3-12 yr 800-652-3760
Binney & Smith Crayola Activity Tote ac es tr $14.99 3-8 yr 800-272-9652
Binney & Smith Crayola Wonder Fun Desk ac es tr $16.99 3-8 yr 800-272-9652
Bioviva Betting on Nature cg es $9.95 6-12 yr 508-740-3075
Bioviva Families in Nature cg es $9.95 6-12 yr 508-740-3075
Bioviva Nature Keeps You Guessing cg es $9.95 6-12 yr 508-740-3075
Briarpatch Jump Start Card Game es ge $5.99 3-5 yr 800-232-7427
BRIO Builder System-Space Discovery Set co es $48.00 3-7 yr 888-274-6869
Cadaco Print Shop ac $14.99 5-7 yr 800-621-5426
Chicco Maxi Blocks co $24.99 1-4 yr 877-424-4226
Chicco Smile It's a Real Camera ho $18.99 4-7 yr 877-424-4226
Chicco Travel Sketch es $12.99 3-5 yr 877-424-4226
Classic Game Where Are We? USA bg es $19.95 6-12 yr 860-875-9166
Competitive Edge Mutual Mania bg es $29.99 11 - 12 yr 888-327-6460
Creative Teaching Press Brain Builders es ts $9.98 4-9 yr 800-287-8879
Cultural Concepts Diversity Works ge es tr $15.95 8-12 yr 800-497-8221
DaMert GoGetter 2 bk es pz ts $15.00 6-9 yr 800-231-3722
Discovery Toys Fire Hose Hero cp es $19.99 5-9 yr 800-426-4777
Discovery Toys Glider Rider es ts $9.99 6-9 yr 800-426-4777
Dream Green 1-2-3 Oy! es tr $9.95 6-12 yr 888-438-4263
Earth Lore I Dig Treasures Mysteries of Egypt ac es $24.99 6-12 yr 800-440-2630
Edmark Space Academy GX-I sw $19.95 6-12 yr 800-691-2986
Educational Design Slippery Slimes Fun Lab es $4.95 8-12 yr 800-221-9372
Edufun Eduplates Mixed-Up Barnyard at bk es cp $16.95 4-7 yr 877-733-8386
Elemen of Periodica Elemen of Periodica at bg bk cd es cp $4.99 6-12 yr 925-200-7802
Emerald City Graphics Baby Dazzle es vt $19.95 1-12 mo 913-789-8251
Exploratorium Brain Explorer bk $15.95 9-12 yr 415-561-0372
Exploratorium Outrageous Ooze es $15.95 8-12 yr 415-561-0372
Exploratorium Science Explorer bk $12.95 6-9 yr 415-561-0372
Exploratorium Science Explorer Out & About bk $12.95 6-9 yr 415-561-0372
Exploratorium Sparks & Zaps es $15.95 8-12 yr 415-561-0372
Fotowear Color & Wear ac cp no $19.99 3-7 yr 570-296-4709
Frank Schaffer Publications Games on the Go bk $5.95 3-5 yr 800-421-5533
Frank Schaffer Publications Match and Learn Tray Puzzles pz $7.95 3-5 yr 800-421-5533
Future Boomers Beth Manners' Magic French at cd es tr $9.98 2-6 yr 800-743-6244
Games for All Reasons Finish Lines bg $29.95 12 up 781-648-2029
Gamewright Kitty Corners bg $11.99 5-8 yr 800-638-7568
GCDC Marketing E*Writer Computerized Disc eq es no op $14.95 6-12 yr 800-477-6677
Harrisville Designs Lap Loom ac $39.95 7-12 yr 800-338-9415
Hasbro Munch 'n Slurp Teletubbies pl $24.99 18 mo-3 yr 800-752-9755
Hasbro Talking Light-Up Dragon Tales pl $19.99 2-5 yr 800-752-9755
Hooray! Huggy Sport Bat and Balls op $14.99 2-5 yr 212-989-3660
Hooray! Huggy Sport Ringtoss op $14.99 2-5 yr 212-989-3660
Horace Hopper's Musical Adventures Horace Hopper's Musical Adventures es cd pu cp $39.99 3-5 yr 888-291-4174
Hot Off the Press Disney Character Collection Craft Foam Treasure Book ac bk $9.99 6-12 yr 800-227-9595
Hot Off the Press Disney Scrapbooking for Kids Series ac bk $9.99 6-12 yr 800-227-9595
Hot Off the Press Mickey & Friends Pom Pom Treasure Book ac bk $9.99 6-12 yr 800-227-9595
Hot Off the Press Winnie the Pooh Cardmaking Treasure Book ac bk $9.99 6-12 yr 800-227-9595
Ideas that Play Entertainment Buddy Brush and the Painted Playhouse ac cd-rom cp eq es pz sw $24.95 3-5 yr 877-682-2122
Innovative Kids Amazing Game Board Book bg bk es tr no $19.99 6-9 yr 800-722-6657
Innovative Kids Discover the USA bk es no pz $14.99 7-12 yr 800-722-6657
Innovative Kids Groovy Tube Book Sea Splash! bg bk es $16.99 5-12 yr 800-722-6657
Innovative Kids Peel & Sparkle Starry Skies ac bk es no $14.99 6-9 yr 800-722-6657
Interactive Learning Group Video Buddy es vt $59.95 3-6 yr 612-820-0600
JAKKS Pacific Flash & Splash Fishin tr $7.99 12 mo-2 yr 800-545-2557
Jon Nix Foamania ac cp es pz tr ts $4.99 4-12 yr 888-295-0878
Judy/Instructo Fun Foam Puzzles-Under the Sea pz $9.95 3-5 yr 800-421-5533
Judy/Instructo Smart Squares-Numbers 1 to 24 pz $7.95 5-7 yr 800-421-5533
Judy/Instructo Whose Baby Are You? ge $6.95 3-5 yr 800-421-5533
Kid Concoctions Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions ac bk cp es ho $14.95 6-12 yr 800-348-5890
Kid Games Cyberail no $11.99 7-9 yr 888-543-4263
Kids II Fold N' Go Play Gym tr $34.99 1-12 mo 770-751-0442
Kids II Teething Keys tr $4.99 1-12 mo 770-751-0442
Learning Curve Lamaze Match & Play Jungle pz tr $19.99 12-36 mo 800-704-8697
Learning Resources America the Beautiful es tr $9.95 8 -12 yr 888-800-7893
Learning Resources Famous USA Landmarks es tr $9.95 8 -12 yr 888-800-7893
Lee Middleton Dolls Baby Carrier / Car Seat / Cuddle Pack eq 28 / 28 /16 3-5 yr 800-242-3285
Lee Middleton Dolls Cuddle Me-Girl My Own Baby do $124.00 3-5 yr 800-242-3285
Lee Middleton Dolls Small Wonder Play Baby do $49.95 3-5 yr 800-242-3285
Lego Dino Research Compound co cp es ho no $79.99 8-12 yr 860-763-6758
Lego Media Legoland PC CD-ROM sw $24.95 6-12 yr 800-453-4652
Lego Mindstorm Droid Developer Kit co $99.00 9-12 yr 800-363-2140
Let's Learn Hopscotch Play Mat es ts tr $24.95 3-8 yr 800-675-0090
Ludico Toys Truck No. 1 co ts $89.95 3-5 yr 800-583-4267
Milton Bradley/Hasbro Risk 'n Roll 2000 bg $14.99 6-12 yr 888-836-7025
Monterey Soundworks Adventures of Tom Sawyer at $16.95 6-12 yr 800-424-2593
Monterey Soundworks Alice's Adventures at $16.95 6-12 yr 800-424-2593
Monterey Soundworks Cinderella at $16.95 3-5 yr 800-424-2593
Munchkin/Embryonics Mozart for Toddlers at $12.98 15 mo-3 yr / 1- 3 yr 800-344-2229
Munchkin/Embryonics Mozart Magic Cube es $34.95 2-4 yr 800-344-2229
Munchkin/Embryonics Mozart Magic Flute es $7.95 1-4 yr 800-344-2229
Munchkin/Embryonics My First Flash Cube es $19.95 1-5 yr 800-344-2229
Munchkin/Embryonics Video Soup Nature Babies vt $12.98 15 mo-3 yr / 1- 3 yr 800-344-2229
Munchkin/Embryonics Wombsong Serenades at $12.98 15 mo-3 yr / 1- 3 yr 800-344-2229
Neurosmith Music Blocks cp eq es ts $19.99 2-7 yr 800-220-3669
New Englander Crafts Keepsake Holder Kits ac cp $15.00 8-10 yr 805-987-8085
North American Bear Muffy Stuff Plus Backpack eq tr $22.00 3-8 yr 800-682-3427
Omnicor Wikki Stix Take-Along tr $12.95 3-12 yr 800-869-4554
Out of the Box Publishing Apples to Apples Junior ge $15.95 7-12 yr 608-244-3575
OWI Amphibious Solar Vehicle es tr cr $39.95 10-12 yr 800-638-1694
Pixel Park Bears cd sw $22.00 3-8 yr 0064-359-1577
Playmore Whales bg $23.95 7-12 yr 877-426-3757
PTI Sports Tonka Diesel Bike Horn ty $9.99 3-5 yr 800-515-0074
Ravensburger USA Buggo bg es $14.95 5-7 yr 800-886-1236
Ravensburger USA Number Detective bg es $19.95 4-8 yr 800-886-1236
Rock 'N Learn Phonics Double Video Set vt $24.99 6-9 yr 800-348-8445
Rose Art Craftastic-Bean Bag Bears ac es $14.99 6-8 yr 800-447-2151
Rose Art Curious George Board Game bg es $12.99 4-9 yr 800-447-2151
Rose Art Lego Creater Game bg co es $15.99 7-12 yr 800-447-2151
Roylco Bug Rubbings Art Kit ac cp es $9.99 5-10 yr 800-362-8656
Rumpus Bag of Noise pl $15.00 2-3 yr 888-786-7871
Rumpus Big Fish Little Fish pl $19.99 2-3 yr 888-786-7871
Rumpus Freddy Fetch pl $24.99 3-5 yr 888-786-7871
Sassy Itsy Bitsy Insect Inn ty $12.99 6 mo-3 yr 800-323-6336
Scholastic Entertainment Emily Elizabeth Dress-Up Doll do es ts $24.99 3-5 yr 800-724-6527
Selu Spirit Neonates do $89.95 3-5 yr 877-877-3671
Simply Storytelling Tell It Again and Again at es tr $10.00 3-5 yr 877-417-8679
Smart Picks Food Pyramid Bingo bg $24.95 8-12 yr 888-712-3144
Smartees Vicky the Veterinarian bk do $19.99 6-12 yr 800-484-2626
Stak-Its Toy Co. Stak-Its Collector co cp es pz $1.99 3-12 yr 877-782-5487
Stoffle Enterprises Lift the Lid Together bk cp es pu $34.95 3-5 yr 800-638-7568
Story Teller Can Do Book bo cp es tr $19.95 2-5 yr 800-801-6860
Swingset Press My People Stuff Directory ac bk es no $14.95 8-12 yr 888-543-9366
T.J. Whitneys Toys Wooden Marbles and Blocks co es $49.95 4-9 yr 250-995-0055
Taurus Toy Block-N-Roll co es $29.95 6-12 yr 877-262-2565
Team Concepts ComQuest Junior eq es tr $24.99 3-5 yr 800-486-0898
Think of It! Go-Go Hoop tr $9.99 5-8 yr 888-844-6566
Tiny Love/Maya Group On the Go Musical Mobile es $19.95 birth-5 mo 800-846-9568
Tiny Love/Maya Group Stroller Playset es $17.95 6-18 mo 800-846-9568
Tiny Love/Maya Group Take Along Arch es $17.95 birth-10 mo 800-846-9568
Tutti Bambini Snuggle Pets ac cp pl ty $14.99 5-12 yr 800-937-7578
Twooth Timer Company Twooth Timer es $9.99 3-12 yr 214-522-8596
U.S. Game Systems Pez Card Game ge $10.00 6-12 yr 800-544-2637
Uniset/International Playthings USA Map Activity Set cp es tr $8.00 3-8 yr 800-445-8347
Vtech Little Smart Hugs 'n Twinkles pl tr ts $9.99 3 mo-3 yr 800-521-2010
Vtech Little Smart Muttzarts es pl ts $14.99 birth-3 yr 800-521-2010
Vtech Master Pad XL eq es sw tr $79.99 8-12 yr 800-521-2010
Vtech Mouse Play Deluxe es $29.99 4-6 yr 800-521-2010
Vtech Mr. Squawky Talky cp eq es pl $34.99 3-6 yr 800-521-2010
Vtech Non-Stop Girl eq es sw tr $39.99 6-9 yr 800-521-2010
Vtech Phusion cp eq es sw pz $119.99 9-12 yr 800-521-2010
Vtech Smart Wave PC eq es sw tr $19.99 4-8 yr 800-521-2010
World Class Learning Materials Little Architect Master Builder Intermediate Set co cp $49.50 6-12 yr 800-638-6470
Wrebbit Color 'n Roll Coloring Desk cp tr $9.95 4-10 yr 800-973-2248

Key to Type:

ac=Arts & Crafts ae=Active at=Audio Tape bg=Board Game
bo=Book cd=CD-ROM co=Construction Toy cp=Creative Product
cr=Computer-related dh=Dollhouse do=Doll eq=Equipment
es=Educational Skills Product fp=Fantasy Play ho=Hobby ml=Musical
mm=Multimedia no=Novelty op=Outdoor Play pl=Plush Toy
pu=Puppet pz=Puzzle sr=Social Responsibility sw=Software
tr=Travel ts=Transportation ty=Toy vt=Video Tape


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