Completely updated "Smart Play Smart Toys" gives parents and teachers new advice on using playtime for learning development. Educational Insights has partnered with renowned toy expert and child development specialist Dr. Stevanne Auerbach, better known as "Dr. Toy," to publish the newly revised and updated book title Dr. Toy’s Smart Play Smart Toys: How to Raise a Child with a High PQ.  This comprehensive guide helps parents select the best toys and games for developing “Play Quotient” (PQ), the extent to which a child plays. “Many people think play is trivial, but it isn't,” said Dr. Toy.  “Play is vital for the developing mind because it allows children to extend their imagination, resourcefulness, social interaction, problem-solving skills and resilience." The book helps parents navigate the thousands of toy and play options available, offers tips on how to evaluate toy safety, and provides 160 activities that enhance PQ.  In addition, it identifies gender-specific and age-appropriate toys, important craft supplies for playtime and hundreds of ways to make play a life-long and nurturing experience.

Professional Reviews
• Dr. Stevanne Auerbach really understands children
Dr. Stevanne Auerbach really understands children, play and toys. This book is a wonderful resource for parents, teachers and everyone who works and plays with children.

Michael B. Rothenberg, MD.
Professor Emeritus
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics University of Washington, School of Medicine Co-author, Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care (1985, 1992)

I'm delighted to know that Dr. Toy’s Smart Play/Smart Toys will be available to guide parents.
I'm delighted to know that Dr. Toy’s Smart Play/Smart Toys will be available to guide parents. It is filled with informed wisdom, inexpensive suggestions and ideas for a lot of fun Enjoy!
Dorothy W. Hewes, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Department of Child and Family Development
San Diego State University

A terrific help for parents & teachers in picking playthings.
Play is the work of the young. Through play, children grow -- physically, emotionally and cognitively. "Dr. Toy," Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D., helps readers to find the toys and playthings that will best advance this growth. This comprehensive book demonstrates a deep understanding of the different needs children have at every phase of their development and provides specific guidelines for choosing toys, computer software, musical instruments and a host of other items children can play with.

Sally Wendkos Olds, coauthor, "A Child's World: Infancy through Adolescence" and "The Complete Book of Breastfeeding."

Sally Wendkos Olds, coauthor, "A Child's World: Infancy through Adolescence" and "The Complete Book of Breastfeeding."

• I'm delighted to know that Dr. Toy’s Smart Play/Smart Toys will be available to guide parents. It is filled with informed wisdom, inexpensive suggestions and ideas for a lot of fun Enjoy!
Dorothy W. Hewes, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Department of Child and Family Development
San Diego State University

• Play truly is the work of childhood. Stevanne Auerbach (Dr. Toy) offers both practical advice and subtle insights for parents on how they can help their children make the most of play without spending a lot of money. This is really useful stuff!
Lawrence Kutner, Ph.D.
Child Behavior Columnist
Parent’s Magazine

• Play, especially active, creative, and educational play, helps children develop such basic social and academic skills as concentration, problem solving, communication, and cooperation. Factors such as safety, durability, flexibility, and age appropriateness complicate the challenge parents’ face in choosing the right toys for their children at the right time. Auerbach applies her scientific but not preachy expertise to that challenge. She relies as much on common sense and parenting insight as on scholarly research to suggest toys ranging from brooms and plastic cups to books and watercolors to amuse, stimulate, and activate children. Individual chapters describe developmental progress from infancy through age 12, advising age-appropriate toys and products as well as items for children with special needs. For backup to the book, Auerbach, familiar to many for her syndicated column, "Dr. Toy," maintains a Web site for toy evaluation.

Kathryn Carpenter
Booklist ALA

• This book could save your child’s childhood. Even though Smart Play/Smart Toys is written by someone who calls herself Dr. Toy, the book is much more about smart parenting than it is about toys. Yes, the book has a great deal to tell us about toys. But it's really not for parents who are looking for things to keep their kids occupied, busy, out of what remains of their parental hair. Toys, in Dr. Toy's remarkably informed view, are tools for good parenting. The right toy is the one that helps the parent connect to their children, and vice versa. In many ways, this is a great book for grandparents, because it takes the perspective of a grandparent to realize how incredibly valuable it can be to take the time play with your children - for the growth of the parent as well as the child.

Bernard DeKoven
Dr. Fun

• A terrific help for parents & teachers in picking playthings. Play is the work of the young. Through play, children grow -- physically, emotionally and cognitively. "Dr. Toy," Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D., helps readers to find the toys and playthings that will best advance this growth. This comprehensive book demonstrates a deep understanding of the different needs children have at every phase of their development and provides specific guidelines for choosing toys, computer software, musical instruments and a host of other items children can play with.

Sally Wendkos Olds, coauthor, "A Child's World: Infancy through Adolescence" and "The Complete Book of Breastfeeding."

• Dr. Stevanne Auerbach’s new book, “Dr. Toy’s Smart Play Smart Toys: How to Raise a Child with a High PQ* (Play Quotient)” is an ideal gift for a new parent or one with older kids who’s interested in expanding their child’s interests and play opportunities. What Dr. Toy has created is a simple, easy-to-follow guide for selecting age-appropriate toys or play opportunities for your child or grandchild that addresses specific needs of children at different stages of their development. Dr. Toy is not some “ivory tower” sort of child psychologist whose experience is learned from books. She is practical, down-to-earth, and a seasoned mother and grandmother. She explains, in lay terms, the role of play in developing a well rounded, resilient child. She helps parents understand a child’s developmental stages and what’s needed at each one: how to direct a child’s play into new areas; how to use toys wisely; how to purchase smartly; and why playing together helps strengthen relationships between parent and child. I loved this book and recommend it for all parents, especially new ones. The book is available at toy stores or online at www.educationalinsights.com or www.drtoy.com.
Ranny Levy - Founder and President
Coalition for Quality Children's Media
KIDS FIRST! Film and Video Festival
http://www.kidsfirst.org

• "This book helps parents navigate the thousands of toy and play options
available, offers tips on how to play from baby to older children, evaluate toy safety, and provides 160 activities that enhance PQ. In addition, it identifies gender-specific and age-appropriate toys, important supplies for playtime and hundreds of ways to make play a life-long and nurturing experience for the whole family. More than anything else, it's written by Dr. Toy, my mentor. She is selfless in her dedication in bringing the best possible educational strategies to kids and their parents through play with toys. She is totally amazing!" ~

Jodie Lynn, author of Mommy-CEO, revised edition, CEO, of Parent to
Parent Adding Wisdom Award and columnist, www.ParentToParent.com.

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