About Dr. Toy

About Dr. Toy:

Dr. Stevanne Auerbach, known as "Dr. Toy," is an expert in play, toys, children's products, education, parent education, child development, child advocacy, child psychology, child care and special education.

She is a frequent speaker, consultant and spokesperson. She selects and evaluates the newest and best toys and other products for the annual feature " Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products " and provides
other programs and resources year round.

Dr. Toy frequently appears in the media. Interviews have been on The Today Show, The Donahue Show, Hour Magazine and many other talk shows on radio and TV throughout the country including "Good Morning Texas." She contributes articles, features, interviews and quotes in newspapers and magazines including The New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, USA Today, The Boston Globe, Miami Herald,Chicago Tribune, Kiplinger Magazine, U.S. News and World Report, Working Mother, Ms., Parents, Parenting, Child, Parenting Publications of America, Money Magazine and more.

Born in New York City, Dr. Auerbach attended Queens College, and was a teacher in New York City, Maryland and the District of Columbia. In Washington, D.C., she worked as the Education Coordinator of Arena Stage's first, "Theatre in Education" program. Later, as a staff member of the US Department of Education and the Office of Economic Opportunity, she was responsible for evaluating Title 1 programs, approved the first grant to "Sesame Street", organized the first in-house child care center for employee's children (still operating as a model for government child care), was the government representative and planner on the Day Care Forum of the 1970 White House Conference on Children, and developed a $2.5 million National Research and Development Program on Child Care at the Office of Economic Opportunity.

After completing an MA at George Washington University and a Ph.D. at the Union Institute, she focused on writing, consulting and speaking with emphasis on family issues. Her newest book, Dr. Toy's Smart Play: How to Raise a Child with a High P.Q. (Play Quotient) published by St. Martin's Press, Griffin Trade Paper, 1998, focuses on the importance of play and the selection of the most appropriate playthings from baby to older children. Among her other published books, The Toy Chest( Lyle Stuart) is the most comprehensive review of the history, industry and selection of toys. Her book, Keys to Choosing Child Care (Barron's Educational Services) the first guide of its kind for parents (1973) was recently revised. Her book, The Whole Child: A Sourcebook (Putnam/Perigee) provided information and resources on parenting. Two tapes, " Tips on Toys " and " Tips on Choosing Child Care " have been produced.

A consultant to toy companies and designers, she has also been a spokesperson for Viewmaster, Milton Bradley, and Duracell's National Toy Survey.

Dr. Auerbach was the founder/director of the innovative San Francisco International Toy Museum located from 1996-1990 in the historic Cannery in Fisherman's Wharf (the October, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake forced the museum to close). This was the first museum where children could see both the history of toys and play with and test new toys and other products. During the three years it was open, more than 100,000 visitors from all over the world came to enjoy the unique Toy Museum.

Dr. Auerbach provides workshops on parenting issues at the workplace and in communities. Presentations have included Levi Strauss, Pacific Bell, UCSF, Department of Social Services, Federal Reserve Bank and in schools throughout the country. She presents resources for teachers at NAEYC, and for state and local groups throughout the country. In 1992, she produced the Bay Area Education Celebration in two sites in San Francisco and Marin County. Exhibitors focused on life-time learning included SEGA, Kaiser Permanente, Industry Education Council of California, The Bay Guardian, KQED, School Districts of S.F. and Marin, Encyclopedia Britannica, Discovery Toys, Golden Gate University and others.

She is a long time member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), Women in Toys (WIT), American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), National Speakers Association (NSA), National and California Press Women, American Humanist Association (Humanist Counselor), American Personnel and Guidance Association (lifetime member).

Dr. Stevanne Auerbach is the Director of the Institute for Childhood Resources, in San Francisco, CA, founded in 1975. Dr. Auerbach produces a syndicated column, Dr. Toy, for King Features Syndicate distributed to 1,500 newspapers nationwide. Her monthly on-line magazine, Dr. Toy's Guide, presents Dr. Toy's awards for the best educational, developmentally appropriate toys and children's products and other features. You can find it on-line at: http://drtoy.com

Contact:

Dr. Stevanne Auerbach / Dr. Toy
268 Bush Street
San Francisco, California 94104

e-mail:

800-551-8697
510-540-0171 (fax)

[ By Age Group | By Company | News and Useful Information | Net Links ]

Web Work: Web Weavers