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MARCH 2005

From Dr. Toy:
Classic Toys are Never Out of Style

By Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D

Classic toys are always dependable. These long lasting toys “keep on playing” long after the batteries and latest fads are long gone. Where do you turn for a selection that provides a timeless, fun experience that will hold interest? It’s time to turn back the clock!  Look for toys that have remained valued playthings since they were first introduced ten or more years ago. These are the lasting favorites of all children who have played with them. The Best Classic Products included are sure to please children at home and in school.

Construction Fun inside the Creator Tub

This is a useful and practical addition to toy collection. Tub is full of colorful bricks for little builders to engage in constructive open-ended play. The variety allows child to turn whatever is imagined into new models. Pieces can be used over again. The set has 1,000 pieces in a variety of fun colors. Lego is a family-owned and managed company founded in Billund, Denmark by carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen, grandfather of current president. Ole Kirk opened his carpentry shop in 1916. In 1932, he began making wooden toys, including buses, animal toy pulls and piggy banks. In 1934, he selected LEGO¨ for his new toy business. The name LEGO is a contraction of two Danish words “leg” and “godt” meaning “playwell.” Lego means, “I put together” in Latin. Lego produced its first plastic toys, including baby rattles and toy tractors in 1947. Today, LEGO includes more than 3,000 elements. Ages four to twelve. $29.99. Lego Systems 800-453-4652; www.lego.com

Games Challenge Thinking with All-Star Baseball

This fun game of classic baseball allows a child to play the role of Big League manager. Real player stats are translated into unique Player Discs. They are used with a Spinner to reproduce realistic batting performances by favorite baseball players. The game comes complete with 35 player discs, at-bat spinner, base runners and replica stadium with scoreboard and storage unit. Childrens’ imaginations unfold as they engage in educational hands-on play. Cadaco, founded in 1935, is one of America’s oldest independent family-owned game and toy companies. Cadaco game classics include Tripoley¨ Ages eight to twelve. $11.99. Cadaco 800-621-5426 www.cadaco.com

Building Brains Block by Block with Dr. Drew’s Discovery Blocks

These unique, well-produced wooden blocks will keep little ones engaged in creative play. They are perfect and safe for small hands and simple patterns. In larger hands of junior engineers and architects, blocks become fantastic structures and sculptural works of art. Carefully made of kiln dried North American beech wood, they are all the same size. The blocks measure 3” x 1/2” and come in a canvas bag. Little builders are amazed at the structural patterns they can create. They inspire imagination and lead to a world of discovery. Dr. Drew’s Blocks were first introduced in Boston in 1975 as a math manipulative for early childhood education. Developed by Walter F. Drew, Ed.D, the blocks are perfectly simple, natural and beautifully exciting for young children. Ages two to twelve. $59.95. Dr. Drew’s Toys, 321-984-1018; www.drdrewsblocks.com

Creativity Supported by Bristle Blocksª Table

This creative construction product helps children develop imagination and self-confidence. It is a sturdy wooden table that measures twelve inches in height. The tabletop is an interlocking board that child can build on. It comes with 108 interlocking blocks in different shapes, colors and sizes. Children can design and create with ease. This table also features a handy storage bin/drawer that hides under the table where all the pieces can be stored. Table measurements: 17 1Ú4 “x 12 7/8 “W x 12” H. Ages three to twelve. $60.00. Battat 800-847-6144 www.battatco.com.#

Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. Director of the Institute of Childhood Resources, writes Dr. Toy’s Guide (www.drtoy.com) and is author of Smart Play/Smart Toys: How to Raise a Child with a High P.Q. (Play Quotient): Educational Insights.

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