Best Socially Responsible Toy
Products
by Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D., (Dr. Toy)
Children greatly benefit when you provide toys and products
that offer them the opportunity to learn more about social
issues and community. These products will help your child to
learn more about caring about environment, animals, and themselves.
Children gain from understanding about the world around them.
Action Products International: Space Voyagers AstroSquad Astronaut
Figures, $9.99,
5--12 , 800-772-2846, www.apii.com, marketing@apii.com.
This incredibly detailed Action
Figure pays tribute to the heroic Apollo astronauts. This
figure stands 5” tall
and features 15 points of articulation. The Lunar Explorer
comes with plenty of accessories including removable helmet
with flip-up visor, Apollo’s backpack with three dimensional
hoses, a camera, sampling claw, soil scoop, moon rock and a
scale model of the Ultraviolet Observatory camera on its tripod.
This product will help your child develop their imagination
as they go on their own adventures in space. There are other
figures in this line including Shuttle Mission Specialist and
International Space Station. Children love the mysteries of
space exploration and science and this is a great product for
encouraging their learning.
Ivy Hill Bunch: Saddy and Gladdy, $26.00, 3--12 yrs, 866-892-5795,
www.saddyandgladdy.com, lynn@saddyandgladdy.com.
This new interactive doll and book
is a great way to help your child discover that they have
a choice as to how they react to life’s challenges. The adorable doll Haddy has
a sad face on one side and when turned around, a happy face
appears. This product consists of a 14” plush reversible
doll with a pink-jersey dress on one side and denim jumper
with a yellow T-shirt on the other. A 20-page color illustrated
soft-cover book is also included that comes conveniently packed
in a reusable full sized zippered backpack. Parents can use
this product to help guide their children to turn negative
situations into positive ones. This is a wonderful product
that will enhance the communication between you and your child.#
Stevanne Auerbach,
PhD is a San Francisco based consultant on toys and play.
She is author of Dr. Toy’s Smart Play
(Educational Insights) and Dr Toy’s Guide (www.drtoy.com)
