Granny Ranny's Coming Attractions

As a natural, on–going part of our work as parents, teachers, early childhood specialists, and others involved with children at home or elsewhere, Dr. Toy observes children at play. With her own eyes she sees what works…and what doesn’t hold up under tough testing – the normal barrage of active, inquisitive, and resourceful babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and older children. This guide is offered to complement your observations and to help you in selecting the right products to enhance play and learning.

We make buying decisions based on lasting play value and product applicability to children’s active, creative, and educational experiences. We can depend on the durability and versatility of such items as blocks, construction toys, games, puppets, and transportation toys. They stimulate the imagination, engage the player, have value, and hold up over time. We want to apply these standards to all the choices we make. We often hear consumers describe their experience of making a purchase, but shortly after giving little Sally or Sammy the product it falls apart – a frustrating and expensive process. Products that do not meet safety standards can be dangerous and can cause harm to children. We want to avoid these problems and always strive for excellence. Dr. Toy spends a great deal of time reviewing a large quantity of products created by myriad manufacturers and designers. She makes sure her selections match the criteria for excellence.

Certainly age grading, name recognition, company dependability, versatility of design, and place of purchase are factors to obtain the right product. Another aspect is a warranty. Rising costs for products require us to be wise consumers and to get extra lasting value. Certainly durable products, properly designed, and developmentally correct are worth the money. Children’s positive reactions are worth the extra effort. Dr. Toy utilizes a complicated set of objective and subjective criteria to evaluate toys and other products. Some questions she asks are:

·         Is this product worth the price?
·         Does it have lasting play value?
·         Is it appropriate?
·         Is it fun?
·         Does it meet safety standards?

Dr. Toy is pleased to have the opportunity to share her years of play and toy experiences with consumers to assist them in the selection process. This timely report features information about l00 wonderful new toys and products from large and small companies. The toys and products selected meet her high standards for design, durability, price, quality, safety, and value.

Dr. Toy reminds parents and teachers, “Let’s not forget that “play is children’s work” and should be respected and understood by all adults. We should be thinking: “What products or “tools for play” can we obtain to provide wholesome experiences for children and provide plenty of positive play interactions.”

Following are examples of award-winning toys and products and the companies that make them grouped in selected categories of “smart” play. You can find more products by assigned codes that designate types of products.

Active Play – Carrera (Police Chase), GeoPalz (Kids Pedometer), Hallmark Cards (Interactive Story Book/Buddy), Hap-Pal Music (Learning in Two Languages), Int’l Playthings (Shop’n Cart), Maranda Enterprises (Rollors), Monkey Business (E-Z Bat) ,MGA (Cozy Shopping Cart), Music Together (Family Favorites® 2), North American Bear, (Pet Doctor), One World Futbol Project (e World Futbol), Patch Products (3D Sneaky Singin’ Sea Creatures), Rubbabu (2Skoolbus), Tangle Creations (Hairy Tangle Jr), Tot Talk (Let’s Play Soccer Placemat).

Construction Play – Big Voorah Productions (Staccabees), Bloco Toys (Velociraptor & Pterosaur), Innovation First Labs (HEXBUG Nano Habitat Set), K’NEX (Light-Up Ferris Wheel), LEGO Systems (Minotaurus), WABA Fun (Superstructs Custom Kit), Yoshiritsu Co (LaQ Imaginal Hamacron). 

Creativity & Art — Center Enterprises (Paint & Clay Texture Rollers), Cra-Z-Art (Electra Doodle), Creativity for Kids (Create Your Own 3 Bitty Books), Eye Think (Strobotop LightPhase Animator), Fundamentally Kids® (My Wrap®), Giddy Up! (Fuzzoodles Fluffy Friends), Goldberger Co. (Zip-ity Princess), Hallmark Cards (Interactive Story Book/Buddy), Jade’s ToyBox (Moody Foodie Mini Box), Spin Master (Moon Dough Barnyard),VELCRO KIDS® (Royal Princess Castle Playset), Wikki Stix (Wikki Stix for Rainy Day), Wooky Entertainment (Block Crayon). 

Creativity & Music – Abligio Books (Best Multiplication Songs EVER!), ATP Electronics (Sesame Street Video USB), Exploramania® (Exploracise® Gymathtics), Hap-Pal Music (Learning in Two Languages), Juno Company (Day the Music Stopped), Little Pim (Spanish Deluxe Gift Set), Look Out World (New York Adventure Kit), Maestro Classics (Tortoise and the Hare CD), Music Together (Family Favorites® 2), PBS Home Video (Dinosaurs in the Snow), Rock ‘N Learn (Phonics Vol. 1 & 2), Smithsonian Folkways (Sunny Day), TMT Global (Teach Me Tiger Value Pac), Whistlefritz (Cha, Cha, Cha). 

Technology –ATP Electronics (Sesame Street Video USB), Cepia (ZhuZhu Pet Wild Bunch), Chicco (Magic Window Talking Farm), Eye Think (Strobotop Light Phase Animator), Ganz (Webkinz Jr.), GoLearn Toys (TimeBuddy), Hallmark Cards (Interactive Story Book/Buddy), Inspiration Software (Kidspiration 3), Learning Journey (ABC Melody Maker), Publications Int’l (Record a Story), WowWee (Paper Jamz). 

Language/Learning/Math & Reading Readiness — Brainy Baby (Natura Nativa Learning), MediaBright Spots Games (Feelings in the Wild-Bingo), Bright Starts (Activi-Tree), Creativity for Kids (Create Own 3 Bitty Books), Discovery Toys (Story Stacker), Fun & Function (Guess What I Feel?), GoLearn Toys (TimeBuddy), Grasshopper Kits (Grasshopper Preschool Prep Kit), HABA (Domino Zippy Scooters), Hap-Pal Music (Learning in Two Languages), Playmates Toys, Inc. (Hearts for Hearts Girls), Jade’s ToyBox (Moody Foodie Mini Box), Learning Journey (ABC Melody Maker), Learning Resources (Gingerbread Shape Sorter), Little Pim (Spanish Deluxe Gift Set), North American Bear (Pet Doctor), Paradigm Devices (Word Wheels), PBS Home Video (Dinosaurs in the Snow), Pearson (Stay-on-Track Packs), Plushy Feely (Kimochis-Toys w/Feelings Inside®), Publications Intl (Record a Story), Rock ‘N Learn (Phonics Vol. 1 & 2), Rubbabu (2Skoolbus), Sandvik Innovations (Jump into Numbers), Schoenhut Piano (Dog Piano), Smart Play (Easy Translator), Teach My Toddler(Teach My Preschooler) Tier Toys (Animal Stackers Barn Yard) Tot Talk(Let’s Play Soccer Placemat)Twisterz Toys (Alphabet Matcher),  Whistlefritz (Cha, Cha, Cha) Wild Republic (Audubon Birds – Babies). 

Puzzles & Logical Thinking Games – b. dazzle (Dragonflies Scramble Squares®), Idea Storm Products (Yamodo! Good to Go! Themes), Wonder Chess (WonderElla), Griddly Games (Chronicles of the Mind), Purrfect Games & Puzzles (Architectural Collection), Patch Products (3D Sneaky Singin’ Sea Creatures), Gorgeous Products (Boikido Geometric Stacking Puzzle). 

Social & Dramatic Play –ALEX (Talk of the Farm), Cepia (ZhuZhu Pet Wild Bunch), Corolle Dolls (Lou), Dandelion (Organic Toddler Doll), Discovery Toys (Story Stacker), Dream Big Toy Co (Go! Go! Sports Girls), Gamewright (Sounds Like a Plan), Goldberger Co. (Zip-ity Princess), Hallmark Cards (Interactive Story Book/Buddy), Playmates Toys, Inc. (Hearts for Hearts Girls), Int’l Playthings (Shop’n Cart), Jade’s ToyBox (Moody Foodie Mini Box), LEGO Systems (Minotaurus), Little Pim (Spanish Deluxe Gift Set), North American Bear (Pet Doctor), Plushy Feely (Kimochis-Toys w/Feelings Inside®), Rubbabu (2Skoolbus), Safari (Fairy Fantasy Tea Set), Tier Toys (Animal Stackers Barn Yard), Velcro Kids® (Royal Princess Castle Playset), Wild Republic (Audubon Birds – Babies), WowToyz (Deluxe Classic Train Set). 

Socially Responsible Products – Gestalt Institute of New Orleans (T’was the Night Before the Storm), Brainy Baby (Natura Nativa Learning Media), Bright Spots Games (Feelings in the Wild-Bingo), Corolle Dolls (Lou), Dandelion (Organic Toddler Doll), Dream Big Toy (Go! Go! Sports Girls), Free Spirit Pub. (Going Blue), Gorgeous Products (Boikido Geometric Stacking Puzzle), HABA (Domino Zippy Scooters), Playmates Toys, Inc. (Hearts for Hearts Girls), Jade’s ToyBox (Moody Foodie Mini Box), Kabongo (GoGo Kabongo), North American Bear (Pet Doctor), One World Futbol Project (One World Futbol), Plushy Feely (Kimochis-Toys w/Feelings Inside®), Publications Intl (Record a Story), Rubbabu (2Skoolbus), Stickey Cup (Stickey Cup), Tier Toys (Animal Stackers Barn Yard).

Ten Best Toys – ALEX (Talk of the Farm), Bloco Toys (Velociraptor & Pterosaur), Bright Starts (Activi-Tree), Discovery Toys (Story Stacker), Goldberger Co. (Zip-ity Princess), MGA (Cozy Shopping Cart), Monkey Business (E-Z Bat), Rubbabu (2Skoolbus), Schoenhut Piano (Dog Piano), WowToyz (Deluxe Classic Train Set). 

For a complete list of Dr. Toy’s 2010 Best 100 Children’s Products, go to http://www.drtoy.com/awards/2010-100-Best-Childrens-Products-Awards.php

Girl Scouts of the USA, along with the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, and The Creative Coalition, believe every child deserves to live in an environment that fosters confidence and character. We recognize that as children’s media use continues to increase, all youth would benefit from experiencing healthy and positive messages about girls and women.

“Watch What You Watch” hopes to build awareness about the need to pay attention not to just what kids watch, but how they watch it. Now more than ever, tools such as media literacy, public education and career exploration can be invaluable to young people. “Watch What You Watch” offers a clearinghouse of resources and tools that girls, parents, communities, and the media industry can use to help young people encounter and use media content that inspires, empowers, and engages.

Girl Scouts Promoting Healthy Media Images

Girl Scouts is the premier leadership organization for girls and a leading authority on their healthy growth and development. As the leading voice for girls, we are committed to addressing the issues important to girls, such as self-esteem and body image. Positive media messages could foster higher self-esteem and a positive body image for girls, while highlighting healthy relationships and strong role models. To improve girls’ lives, Girl Scouts is raising awareness about the importance of promoting positive messages about girls and women.

“Watch What You Watch” also connects you to research, programs, and policies Girl Scouts is developing to elevate the importance of healthy media images. Our innovative research sheds light on the impact media can have on girls’ body images, relationships, and overall health. The soon to be released program, It’s Your Story- Tell It!, will create opportunities for girls to improve their self confidence and media literacy skills. The Girl Scout Advocacy Network offers a forum to take action on this topic.

Disney Online, part of the Disney Interactive Media Group, today debuts a second season of “The Possibility Shop” (www.Family.com/PossibilityShop), an original web series produced by The Jim Henson Company.  The site, which can be accessed through Disney Family.com, will be updated every two to three weeks with content designed to inspire the imagination of the entire family through creative projects, activities and games.  The Clorox Company returns as the exclusive sponsor for all 20 webisodes in season two of “The Possibility Shop.” 

Building on the success of its first season, season two of “The Possibility Shop” features creator and host Courtney Watkins engaging directly with moms as they discover their own “how to, can do” attitude on projects that will surprise, intrigue and delight their families and themselves. The second season will run through August 2011 with webisodes focusing on finding whimsy in the every day, as well as fun, out-of-the-box ideas for celebrating holidays, the change of seasons, and more.  New to season two, each webisode will also feature one of Courtney Watkins’ ‘Bright Ideas,’ a quick and easy family activity related to that webisode’s content that will also feature products from The Clorox Company. 

“We are excited to debut a second season of ‘The Possibility Shop’ with the goal of reaching  and engaging an even broader audience of moms, building on the success of the first season,” said Emily Smith, vice president, Disney Online Mom and Family Portfolio.  “Moms specifically, will benefit from the useful and creative advice the show offers for finding fun in their everyday lives.”

“We’re known for fostering imagination at The Jim Henson Company and Courtney Watkins’ irreverence, whimsy and ability to inspire creativity make her a perfect partner in bringing ‘The Possibility Shop’ to DisneyFamily.com,” said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company, the licensor for all merchandising and licensing for the property.

“Whether it’s designing and building a haunted house, offering instructions for a make-your-own board game, jump starting a conversation or finding ways to carry the spirit of the holidays throughout the entire year, season two of ‘The Possibility Shop’ is going to energize parents and kids alike to pursue the infinite possibilities for every day creative adventures,” stated Courtney Watkins.

Season two kicks off with Courtney stepping outside the shop and into the real world as she visits a real family experiencing a creative conundrum.  Courtney assists the family with fantastic ideas on how to refuel the imagination and spark creative adventures.  Future episodes from both inside The Possibility Shop and out in the world will highlight creative ideas for themes and holidays such as Halloween, Winter Wonderland, Father’s Day and Summer Fun!

About Courtney Watkins – Teacher, author, artist, mom, TV personality and creative guru, Courtney Watkins is at the center of “The Possibility Shop.” Courtney faces creative challenges, introduces new ideas, demonstrates how-to-techniques, seeks answers to befuddling questions and all the while unearths the “Aha!” moments hidden in a child’s every day.  Revealing creative ideas for art, games, conversations, experiments, inventions, decorations and explorations, Courtney energizes viewers to pursue limitless fun, on-your-own, at-home activities.

PBS announced today the launch of its PBS KIDS GO! Digital Citizenship Initiative to help kids and parents navigate today’s digital landscape.  The initiative features a suite of new resources for kids and parents, among them a new interactive, online game Webonauts Internet Academy designed to teach kids about online privacy, how to deal with bullying and how to distinguish credible sources online.  The Webonauts Internet Academy is available free on PBSKIDSGO.org/webonauts.  Parents can find helpful supporting information on PBSPARENTS.org, including tips for kids’ internet use from Common Sense Media.

“PBSKIDS.org and PBSKIDSGO.org are often the first internet experiences for young children, attracting close to 10 million unique visitors monthly. Like learning to ride a bicycle, the first adventures should be carefully monitored by parents and assisted with training wheels before a child is ready to ride solo,” said Lesli Rotenberg, SVP, Children’s Media, PBS. “The PBS KIDS GO! Digital Citizenship Initiative provides the tools and support parents and kids need to feel confident they are ready to explore their online independence.”

Support for younger computer users is more important than ever as online media consumption for youth continues to rise. According to a January 2010 report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, the top online activities for 8-18 year-olds include social networking, playing games and visiting video sites such as YouTube.  Seventy four percent of all 7th-12th graders say they have a profile on a social networking site. The PBS KIDS GO! Digital Citizenship Initiative will arm children with web knowledge before they become immersed in it as tweens and teens.

“Parents everywhere are struggling to navigate the sea change in their children’s media consumption.  Instead of challenging families to flip the switch off, initiatives like this are critical to support parents with resources that help them understand what they can expect from media and, in turn, guide their kids to become savvy users of media,” said Erin Reilly, Research Director for Project New Media Literacies at USC’s Annenberg School for Communications & Journalism and academic advisor to the Webonauts Internet Academy.

“Through this partnership with PBS KIDS GO!, we have an even greater opportunity to reach both kids and parents and empower them to embrace the skills they need to make safe, responsible, and respectful decisions in today’s 24/7 digital world,” said James Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media.

Privacy Priorities

A Wall Street Journal investigative report published earlier this month found many children’s websites install more tracking technologies on personal computers than some of the top websites for adults.  The report brings to light how sites for youngsters can track age, tastes, hobbies, shopping habits, race, likelihood to post comments and general location. It notes that privacy practices vary widely, tasking parents and other caregivers to decode sites’ privacy policies.

PBSKIDS.org fared well in the report.  “Protecting the privacy of children visiting PBSKIDS.org and PBSKIDSGO.org is of utmost importance to PBS,” commented Rotenberg.  “Since launching PBSKIDS.org in 1997, PBS has been a leader in online safety for children, strictly adhering to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and to our own high standards.”

Resources for Kids and Parents

In the Webonauts Internet Academy, children play through a series of 12 missions adhering to the Webonauts’ motto:  “Observe, Respect, Contribute.”  Each mission helps children understand critical online safety issues, such as the importance of protecting passwords and maintaining privacy settings.  Other missions teach how to differentiate between credible and non-credible sources of information and how to react to bullying.

When all missions are completed, children become full-fledged Webonauts and earn their Webonauts Internet Academy Certificate, which they can proudly display in their virtual room at the Webonauts Internet Academy or print out to display at home.

Related to the launch of the Webonauts Internet Academy, PBS will offer free discussion guides and other online and printable resources to help parents and educators foster a discussion about online safety and good digital citizenship with children.  These materials will be available for free on PBSPARENTS.org.

Barbie fans will love Barbie in a Fashion Fairytale. Join Barbie in a colorful, modern-day fairytale filled with fashion, friends and fun! Barbie and her dog Sequin jet off to visit her aunt’s amazing fashion house in Paris, and much to her surprise, it’s about to be shut down forever. After she discovers three enchanting Fairies with sparkle-magic powers, Barbie comes up with a brilliant idea to save the business. She even inspires Alice, a shy fashion designer, and together they create a dazzling runway fashion show. Barbie shows that magic happens when you believe in yourself. DVD. 90 min.; Ages 5-8.