Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Products - 2009
Dr. Toy’s Rx for Summer: Strive for Balance and Plenty of Fun
Check out Dr. Toy’s Vacation Playtime Pointers
Summertime provides a perfect opportunity to unwind, stretch mind and muscles, explore the backyard and nature, discover new places, and fully enjoy a change of pace. This is an important season for children to continue learning as they play with all their energy and spend more time at play both indoors and out.
Children work hard in school and need balanced playtime for healthy development, including activity for physical growth, creativity for expanding imagination, and learning to keep minds alert. School requires concentration and energy, and so does playtime.
Through play, the “work” of children, they learn essential skills in every season, but especially they benefit from summertime. Summertime is best spent far from the electric circuits of TV and video games. This is perfect weather to use the child’s “natural circuits” for more creativity, activity and learning. It’s the time to explore nature, engage in hobbies, practice music, and exercise the mind with games that are played interacting with others.
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 collages from cut-outs, using stickers like Colorform sets, or paper dolls; or engaging in a favorite hobby. Many creative activities can be easily combined with listening to music for added value and relaxation.
Building projects are always fun and an extension of creative play. Consider some of the construction products suggested by Dr. Toy using a variety of materials. Our web site features many excellent construction products for wider use of this valuable activity that helps to improve eye-hand coordination, problem solving, and cooperation.
A good portion of time should be spent outdoors in age-appropriate play. Outdoor activities can take the form of walking, skating, jumping rope, bike riding, swimming, hiking, walking along nature paths, playing sports like baseball, tennis, golf, basketball, skating and the many other activities that allow for the further development of physical skills and the improvement of coordination of minds and bodies.
Exercise is more important than ever before. Varied outdoor playtime is important for all children of all ages every day. Being safe and having fun outdoors gives an essential balance that complements everything else they’re doing. Playing outdoors brings children into activity that they greatly need for their developing bodies, and helps them in other ways such as keeping physically fit and socializing with their peers.
Many excellent product choices are listed to assist you in selecting playthings for a productive and fun-filled summer vacation. You want to search for the right products when you are planning a vacation so your child has plenty of worthwhile activities while traveling. Create a travel bag for each child filled with fun small things they can enjoy while enroute anywhere and to use at your destination. Pack a jump rope, Frisbee, tapes and books. Being happily engaged reduces the stress and makes the trip and time away more enjoyable.
Playing helps to expand children’s outlook, imagination, and interests. They thrive if given a chance to develop stories with puppets and dolls, figure out new puzzles like the amazing “Scramble Squares,” discover the fun of reading different books, playing games, or constructing something new.
The diverse list of products in our award winning selections include details about age range, categories, and price to assist you in finding just the right products.
Children have plenty of questions to ask you at home and on the road; they want to have conversations; and, most of all, they want to play, discover, and explore to their fullest potential. Take along a map when you travel and let them locate sites en route to your destination so they can more easily follow the path to learning and fun.
Here is Dr. Toy’s checklist Rx for wholesome summer vacation playtime to help parents and grandparents make the time more balanced and fun for the children in their lives:
- Select a good variety of challenging products appropriate for a child’s age and interests.
- Arrange toys and playthings so they are easy to access and easy to store away.
- Plan play activities to be varied, interesting, and enjoyable.
- Take time to do creative and fun projects with your child.
- Visit your local public library so your child continues to read and appreciate the value of books.
- Create a good blend of indoor and outdoor play.
- Remind children that they should drink plenty of water during the summer time to avoid dehydration.
- Make sure all children use sunscreen and keep a hat or cap on their heads.
- Assure children get needed rest, eat healthy snacks, receive safety awareness instruction, and engage in 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 and gain the confidence needed for water play. Check on YMCA or Red Cross Swimming Classes in your area.
- Supervise your children to assure they play with age appropriate products and play safely to avoid accidents.
- Teach children to prepare simple recipes, including making sandwiches, scrambled eggs, or simple, healthy snacks.
- Encourage children to make something useful like a craft project, or to assemble a puzzle.
- Gather an assortment of creative projects and various materials in a storage box along with easy-to-follow directions.
- Keep an assortment of paper, glue, safety scissors, and magazines to easily cut pictures for a collage and scrapbooks in an accessible box.
- Consider projects that involve planting, weeding, and nurturing pets.
- Express your admiration for each accomplishment. Children thrive when their talents are recognized and nurtured.
Plenty of great play ideas and products are available for all ages, interests, and skills. Dr. Toy’s assortment of Summer Products for 2009 gives you good suggestions available from many excellent companies. See my book, Smart Play/Smart Toys for plenty of good and inexpensive ideas to enrich your child’s play and learn summer.
Have a fun summer and let us know what you discover about the importance of play and play products.
Let’s Play!
Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. Dr Toy
Products List
| Image | Company | Item | Type(s) | Ages | Price | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Company | Item | Type(s) | Ages | Price | Phone |
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5°Dimension Int'll | SELECTION Playing Card Game | bg cg es tr | 8-12 | 19.99 | 877.655.5115 |
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Adina's Deck | Adina's Deck | cp es sr dv | 8-13 | 19.99 | 510.390.0569 |
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Agman Games | Reels & Deals | bg cg | 9-12 | 12.95 | |
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ALEX | Learn My Colors! | ac cp es tr ty | 3-5 | 10.99 | 800.666.2539 |
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ALEX | Scribble & Doodle | ac bo cp tr | 4-6 | 9.99 | 800.666.2539 |
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Around the Table™ Games | Youth Series Conversation Games | cg no tr | 7-12 | 7.99 | 314.374.4878 |
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Arts Education IDEAS | My Many Colored Days | ae cp es fp | 1-8 | 29.99 | 203.229.0411 |
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b. dazzle | Black Bears Scramble Squares | bg cg es pz tr | 4-12 | 8.95 | 800.809.4242 |
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b. dazzle | Kites Scramble Squares | bg cg es pz tr | 4-12 | 8.95 | 800.809.4242 |
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b. dazzle | Seahorses Scramble Squares | bg cg es pz tr | 4-12 | 8.95 | 800.809.4242 |
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b. dazzle | Squirrels Scramble Squares | bg cg es pz tr | 4-12 | 8.95 | 800.809.4242 |
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Babalu | FeltTales™ Happy Tails Storyboard | cp fp tr | 3-8 | 19.95 | 877.522.2258 |
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BabyFirstTV | BabyFirstTV's Vocabulary Seeds | es dv | 6 m-3 y | 15.95 | 888.251.2229 |
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Basic Concepts | Treasure of the Lost Pyramid | bg ho ty | 8-12 | 25.00 | +85226249944 |
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BEKA | Activity Table | as cp eq gn | 8-12 | 124.00 | 888.999.2352 |
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BEKA | Wooden Stilts | ae op tr gn | 8-12 | 47.50 | 888.999.2352 |
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Better Indeed | Family Matters | bg cp es fp | 6-12 | 19.99 | 917.822.9449 |
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Blue Orange Games | CHICKYBOOM | bg es gn | 4-8 | 24.99 | 415.252.0372 |
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Blue Orange Games | YAMSLAM | bg es tr | 8-12 | 19.99 | 415.252.0372 |
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Brain Noodles | Generic Kit Assortment | ac co cp ty | 5-12 | 14.95 | 860.416.0012 |
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BuckleyBoo | BuckleyCat | es tr ty | 15 m-4 y | 29.99 | 800.277.5872 |
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Center Enterprises | Creative Paint Rollers Set 1 | ac cp es | 3-12 | 13.99 | 800.542.2214 |
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Citiblocs | 100-pc Wooden Bldg Set | co cp es ty gn | 3-12 | 27.50 | 646.574.1512 |
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CJ Products | My Pillow Pets | fp pl tr | 0-12 | 24.99 | 760.724.7225 |
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Cloud B | Dozy Dolphin On The Go | ml pl tr ty | 0-12 | 22.00 | 888.425.6832 |
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Cloud B | Gentle Giraffe On The Go | ml pl tr ty | 0-12 | 22.00 | 888.425.6832 |
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Cloud B | Sleep Sheep On The Go | ml pl tr ty | 0-12 | 22.00 | 888.425.6832 |
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Corolle | Tidoo Lutin Bright | do fp op sr ty | 18 m-36 m | 40.00 | 800.668.4846 |
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Creativity | Smooshies | ac cp pl ty | 3-5 | 9.99 | 800.727.2727 |
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Critical Thinking | Daily Mind Builders Language Arts | bo es | 10-12 | 16.99 | 800.458.4849 |
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Critical Thinking | Math Analogies Beginning | bo es | 5-7 | 11.99 | 800.458.4849 |
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Discovery Bay Games | LOL™ - The TXT MSG Game | bg no tr | 8-12 | 19.95 | 888.385.2498 |
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DreamBox Learning | DreamBox Learning K-2 Math | eg es sw | 5-7 | 12.95 | 877.451.7845 |
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Education Outdoors | CAMP™ Travel Edi. | bg es tr gn | 4-12 | 19.99 | 231.599.2763 |
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Elmer's Products | Kinder-Ready Travel Scavenger | es tr | 3-5 | 9.99 | 888.435.6377 |
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elope | Wacky Felt Wigs | cs fp no ty | 6-12 | 14.99 | 800.553.5673 |
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Engino.net Ltd | 80 Models Engineering Set | co cp es | 6-12 | 99.00 | +35725821960 |
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Engino.net Ltd | Wood Series Mega Set | co cp es gn | 6-12 | 89.00 | +35725821960 |
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Escapade Direct | Thinkonium | ac cp tr ty | 6-12 | 11.95 | 651.674.8598 |
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Evolving Toys | Constellation Connect! | cg es sc tr | 8-12 | 10.95 | 888.218.7171 |
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Exploramania | Exploracise Gymathtics | ae es sr dv | 5-12 | 24.99 | 877.503.9756 |
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FamilyTimeFun | Gather 'Round Restaurant Game | eg es tr | 5-12 | 24.95 | 877.261.2714 |
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FlasterVenture LLC | Pirate King | bg | 8-12 | 34.99 | |
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Fun & Function | Mad Magnet-Match Game | bg cp es tr | 3-8 | 16.95 | 800.231.8329 |
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Funrise Toys | Gazillion Bubble Rocket | ae op ty | 6-10 | 19.99 | 800.882.3802 |
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Funrise Toys | Tonka P.O.D.S. | ae cp ty | 6-10 | 19.99 | 800.882.3802 |
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Galloping Minds | Numbers, Shapes, Colors Flash Cards | bo es tr | 1-4 | 13.95 | 866.425.5672 |
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Gamewright | Can You See What I See? | cg es ty | 4-8 | 14.99 | 800.638.7568 |
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Gamewright | Polar Derby™ | es ty | 8-12 | 14.99 | 800.638.7568 |
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Gamewright | Say Cheese!™ | es ty | 6-12 | 6.49 | 800.638.7568 |
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Gamewright | This Big!™ | cg es ty | 8-12 | 10.99 | 800.638.7568 |
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Giddy Up! | Dora Color N Carry | ac bo es tr | 3-6 | 6.99 | 734.302.4444 |
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Giddy Up! | Littlest Pet Shop Color Blast Mini | ac bo es tr | 4-8 | 4.99 | 734.302.4444 |
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Giddy Up! | Transformers Animated Water Wow | ac bo es tr | 5-8 | 6.99 | 734.302.4444 |
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Green Toys | EcoSaucer™ Flying Disc | op tr ty gn | 5-12 | 8.99 | 415.839.9971 |
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Griddly Games | NASCAR Racing Game | ae bg ho ty | 9-12 | 29.95 | 604.249.5020 |
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HABA | Ball Track Construction Set | co es ty | 3-10 | 89.99 | 800.468.6873 |
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HABA | Ball Track Roll'n Roll'n Roll | co es ty | 18 m-3 y | 99.99 | 800.468.6873 |
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Hap-Pal Music | Multiplication Mountain | cd es ml | 7-12 | 14.95 | 818.505.8100 |
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Harebrain | WhisperPhone DUET | cp eq es sc | 5-12 | 15.95 | 877.535.4240 |
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Infinitoy | QUIZMO Starter Set | bo eg es tr | 7-12 | 14.99 | 650.558.0933 |
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Infinitoy | ZOOB Traveler 40 | co cp es tr | 6-12 | 17.99 | 650.558.0933 |
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Itty Bitty Toy Co | Madi, the Magical Family | ae do es op | 4-10 | 45.00 | 415.455.8415 |
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Kid Hits Prod. | Kid Hits | at cd | 2-12 | 100.00 | 888.543.4487 |
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Kids Fly Safe | CARES-Child Aviation Restraint System | tr | 1-5 | 74.95 | 800.299.6249 |
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Kids II | Bees & Blooms™ Soft Ball Set | pl tr ty | 3 m-12 m | 12.99 | 800.230.8190 |
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Kids II | Bunch-O-Fun™ | pl tr ty | 0-12 m | 10.99 | 800.230.8190 |
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Kids II | Busy Bee™ Photo Book | bo tr ty | 3 m-24 m | 6.99 | 800.230.8190 |
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Kids Preferred | Color Me Caterpillar | ac cp pl ty | 3-6 | 18.00 | 866.763.8869 |
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Kidzsack | Kidzsack | ac cp tr gn | 4-10 | 21.95 | 978.314.4875 |
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Knightweaver Games | PatchWord | bg cg es | 7-12 | 19.99 | 720 841.9652 |
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Knightweaver Games | Patchwork | bg cg es | 5-12 | 19.99 | 720 841.9652 |
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Knowledge Adventure | Jumpstart.com | eg es sw vg | 3-10 | 7.99 | 800.545.7677 |
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Knowledge Adventure | Mathblaster | eg es sw vg | 5-10 | 19.99 | 800.545.7677 |
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Learning Station | Kid's Country Song & Dance | ae cd ml tr | 3-8 | 15.00 | 800.789.9990 |
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Legacy Interactive | Pet Pals New Leash on Life | eg es sr sw vg | 8-12 | 19.95 | 213.895.7600 |
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Little First Act Discov. | My First Harmonica | cp es ml tr | 18 m-4 y | 7.99 | 888.551.1115 |
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MagnaPlay | Magnetic Activity Travel Set | cp es pz ty | 3-5 | 39.99 | 858.356.9069 |
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MagnaPlay | Magnetic Coloring Travel Set | cp es pz ty | 3-8 | 35.00 | 858.356.9069 |
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Manhattan Toy | Baby-ville Travel Toy | tr ts ty | 6 m-2 y | 22.00 | 800.541.1345 |
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Mary Kaye Music | Music Box | cd cp fp ml | 2-8 | 15.00 | 877.228.2233 |
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MEGA Brands | Play'n Go Farm | co | 1-3 | 19.99 | 800.465.6342 |
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MEGA Brands | Rose Art Paper Talk | ac tr | 3-6 | 14.99 | 800.465.6342 |
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MEGA Brands | Streetz City Pursuit | co fp sc tr | 6-12 | 39.99 | 800.465.6342 |
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MESKO Assoc. | SandSac | ac op tr gn | 2-12 | 16.00 | 914.736.9841 |
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Mind Challenge | aKumulate | bg es | 10-12 | 29.99 | 800.347.4818 |
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Mind Challenge | loKulus | cp es pz tr | 6-12 | 9.99 | 800.347.4818 |
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Mind Fizzle | Mind Fizzle | cg tr ts | 7-12 | 19.99 | 202.607.7182 |
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Mindlogic | Consensus® | bg es sr tr | 11-12 | 24.95 | 888.601.7387 |
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MindWare | Qwirkle Cubes | bg es sr tr | 6-12 | 24.95 | |
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Moody Bands | Moody Bands | no sr tr ty | 5-12 | 12.99 | 503.380.5166 |
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One Smart Cookie | Let's ExploreThe Rainforest | es sc sr dv | 3-10 | 18.95 | 585.202.0655 |
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OOZ&OZ | Morph-O-Scopes Sports Kit | ac ae cp es no sc tr ty | 5-12 | 19.99 | 888.750.3338 |
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Orb Factory | Sticky Mosaics Jewelry Box | ac cp | 5-12 | 14.95 | 800.741.0089 |
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Out of the Box | Backseat Drawing Junior | bg es | 7-12 | 19.99 | 800.540.2304 |
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Picture Keeper | Picture Keeper 4GB | sr sw | 12-12 | 29.99 | 770.373.5567 |
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PlayEntertainment | vdoBug Navigator | eg es sr dv | 4-7 | 39.95 | 866.969.2920 |
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Playmobil | 1.2.3. Playground | cp fp tr | 18 m-4 y | 14.99 | 800.775.8697 |
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Playmobil | Take Along Construction | co fp tr | 4-8 | 59.99 | 800.775.8697 |
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Playroom Ent. | Killer Bunnies Quest | cg es ho ty | 9-12 | 30.00 | 866.999.9654 |
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Playroom Ent. | Pick-A-Paint | cg es ho ty | 6-12 | 10.00 | 866.999.9654 |
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Plushy Feely | Kimochis™ | es fp pl sr | 3-8 | 25.00 | 415.454.4600 |
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Schoenhut Piano | Schoenhut Harp | es ho ml ty | 5-12 | 149.99 | 888.414.2739 |
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Schylling | Flatsy Dolls | do fp tr | 3-8 | 6.99 | 800.541.2929 |
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Scribble Mats! | Scribble Books | ac bo cp tr | 3-7 | 5.00 | 212.545.1611 |
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Shanda Toys | Shanda! | ty | 6 m-8 y | 19.95 | 800.409.2342 |
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Shape the World | Shape the World | bg cp es | 9-12 | 34.95 | 919.961.0020 |
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Smart Picks | Fruit & Veggie Color Bingo | bg es sr tr | 9-12 | 29.95 | |
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Smart Play | Spellable™ | es pz ty | 3-7 | 12.99 | 888.946.4364 |
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Sprig Toys | Sprig Hollow Heli-Scoopter | op tr ty gn | 3-5 | 14.99 | 970.472.0321 |
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Sprig Toys | Sprig Hollow Sand Truck | op tr ty gn | 3-5 | 14.99 | 970.472.0321 |
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Strategic Space | 4th Corner | bg | 9-12 | 14.95 | 917.318.3368 |
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Swingset Press | Acting Out! | ae bg ty | 7-12 | 14.99 | 303.670.0626 |
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Tot Talk | "Explore the World" Placemat | ac es no tr ty | 2-12 | 9.99 | 800.380.3913 |
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Tot Talk | Adventures in Mexico DVD | es ml no tr dv | 2-5 | 19.99 | 800.380.3913 |
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Tot Talk | Kids Games! Placemat | ac bg es ge no tr ty | 5-12 | 9.99 | 800.380.3913 |
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Tot Talk | USA + World Placemat | ac es tr | 2-12 | 9.99 | 800.380.3913 |
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Whistlefritz | Adentro y Afuera (Inside and Out) | es sr dv | 2-7 | 19.99 | 866.944.7859 |
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Wild Planet | Water Babies | do | 3-5 | 13.00 | 800.247.6570 |
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Wild Republic | Mongo Grinders | no tr ty | 4-12 | 6.99 | 800.800.9678 |
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Wild Republic | Morphs | co es sr ty | 4-12 | 15.00 | 800.800.9678 |
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Zillio | Zillio Mini Mountain | bg es ty | 4-12 | 99.95 | 650.260.2276 |
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Zoobies | Bubba the Black Bear | pl tr ts | 0-12 y | 35.00 | 888.966.2438 |
| 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 | GN- Green Product |
| 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 |



























































































































