Dr. Toy and Wal-Mart Team Up For Holiday ‘07 Smart Toy Buying Tour

San Francisco, CA – (Dec. 2, 2007) - Dr. Toy and Wal-Mart teamed up recently to give parents tips on choosing some of the top toys on kids’ wish lists this holiday season.

Child development expert and author Stevanne Auerbach, PhD, better known as “Dr. Toy,” recently spoke to several morning television news segments and radio stations across the U.S. to give parents the facts on toy trends, toy safety and the best toys for kids this year.

Appearing nationwide via satellite from Atlanta, Dr. Toy shared with America
• This year’s shopping trends
• Buying smart
• What to look for in a quality product
• Choosing toys that kids will love and play with for a long time.
• Easing toy safety concerns
• Finding the best toy for your child
• Choosing classic toys and innovative new items

Wal-Mart launched its Toy Safety Net Program this fall to extend on-going testing efforts, retesting more than 12,000 toys for lead and removable parts. Dr. Toy said, “It is wonderful to be working along side Wal-Mart, who is leading the retail industry and taking action to reassure parents. Our purpose was to not just share efforts being made for toy safety but also to help parents never underestimate the power of play. I’m overjoyed to be able to speak to parents and grandparents about the benefits of toys that encourage physical activity, mental stimulation, education and of course, fun, especially this year.”

About Dr. Toy
Stevanne Auerbach, PhD, aka “Dr. Toy,” has been evaluating and speaking about toys and children’s products for more than 30 years. She is a parent, educator, consultant, and playful grandparent. She was a teacher and staff member of the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Economic Opportunity, where she evaluated educational programs, approved the first grant to “Sesame Street,” organized the first in-house childcare center for federal employees’ children, and developed a federal research program on childcare. She founded the San Francisco International Toy Museum, the first “Hands On” Toy Museum. She is the author of 15 books and hundreds of articles, including her internationally best-selling book, Smart Play/Smart Toys: How to Raise a Child with a High P.Q. She is director of the non-profit Institute for Childhood Resources in San Francisco. The Dr. Toy awards programs featured on www.drtoy.com recognize best educationally-oriented, developmentally-appropriate and skill-building products. Dr. Toy’s Guide (www.drtoy.com) features over 4,000 product reviews, links to manufacturers, interviews and articles by Dr. Toy, plus hundreds of other Best Products, including high-tech and low-tech products for all reasons and seasons.

Wal-Mart for the Holidays
Wal-Mart's every day commitment to its customers is to bring convenience, great products, and a great price to families, so that with those savings they can live better. Wal-Mart saved families more than $2,500 per household last year, and more than $650 per family in the holiday shopping period. That commitment this holiday season is just as strong, with on-going rollbacks on great items and special pricing days for secret items via www.walmart.com/secrets.

This holiday season, Wal-Mart is wrapping its stores in savings, and, in more than 1,500 stores, is converting its Garden Center into a full Christmas Shop. Here, shoppers can experience the sights, sounds, toys, foods, and hottest new holiday items! Every weekend beginning Nov. 3, Wal-Mart Christmas Shops will treat shoppers to demonstrations of the most popular items of the season, and give customers a "taste" of new toys, new foods, and cool electronics before they buy. Plus Santa will be there for the kids, while Mom visits Toyland and other store areas to do her shopping. Kids can also visit a special web site (www.walmart.com/toyland) to create their own "wish list" and help mom, dad and grandma see what THEY really want this holiday season.

Wal-Mart’s Top 12 list fits into the important trends that Dr. Toy agrees promote interactive play, physical activity, and role play – all important to a child’s development. The Wal-Mart’s Top 12 Toys of Christmas are:
1. Kid Tough Digital Camera from Fisher Price (Ages 3 & up) A real digital camera that’s tough enough–and easy enough–for kids to use.
2. Smart Cycle from Fisher Price (Ages 3-6) It’s a stationary bike, a learning center, and an arcade game system—all rolled into one!
3. Air Hogs Havoc Heli by Spinmaster (Ages 8 & up) An amazingly small, infrared, remote control helicopter, the Air Hogs Havoc features a durable EPP foam body and a flashing Blue LED for night flying.
4. Spider-Man 3 Movie Action Figure from Hasbro (Ages 3-7) Both in his classic red and blue gear and now new black costume, Spider-Man will continue to be a hero that saves the day, especially with his new web accessories.
5. Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Doll from Mattel (Ages 18 months & up) Girls will love playing mommy with this sweet baby doll—she’s perfect for your child’s first doll.
6. New Elmo from Fisher Price (Ages 18 months & up) He’s back on the list to tickle your funny bone. Find out why and what’s new.
7. Littlest Pet Shop Paws Off Electronic Diary from Hasbro (Ages 6 & up) Keep all your written secrets locked inside this voice-activated electronic diary!
8. Ripstik Caster Board (Ages 6 & up) A cross between a surfboard and a snowboard on wheels, this high-action new sport is taking the streets by storm!
9. Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader game from Hasbro (Ages 8 & up) Based on the popular game show, this enjoyable diversion features Jeff Foxworthy and five students putting ordinary adults to the test by having them answer real questions from the 5th-grade curriculum.
10. Hannah Montana Fashion Collection from Play Along (Ages 5 & up) Transform the girl-next-door to Pop Princess. Choose from a variety of assortments that come with Hannah Montana doll, a super cute extra outfit, shoes and accessories.
11. Power Tour Electric Guitar by Hasbro (Ages 10 & up) Be the rock star and learn to play six different rock classics. Connect to your MP3 player and strum along, or rock out solo and compose your own anthem.
12. FurReal Squawkers Parrot from Hasbro – (Ages 5-7) Talk about cool! Squawker McCaw is a talkin', squawkin' and totally unpredictable play pal.