Stevanne Auerbach
Encyclopedia
Stevanne Auerbach also known as Dr. Toy, is an American educator, child development
expert, writer and toyologist. She is known for being a consummate gadfly
of the toy
industry. After more than thirty years in the field of toys, she was named a Wonder Woman of Toys by Playthings Magazine. She is a frequent guest speaker on toys and play
for all ages at industry, professional, and public meetings. She makes several public appearances each year to promote her causes, which include building greater awareness in parents of their essential role as play tutors of their children, and to encourage the enhancement of play value
in toys within the toy industry.
–Smart Toys: How to Raise a Child with a High PQ (Play Quotient), first published in 1998.
Products like toys, games and other items have PV or Play Value attributes, each of which is weighted for its particular value. Dr. Toy selects those attributes that are characteristic of the product being assessed. The sum of the values of the attributes associated with the product is its PV.. For example, if a product such as a specific construction toy possessed 10 attributes, each with an average weight of 7.5, its play value would be 75. As with PQ, the higher the PV the better. Products that are considered stimulators of PQ and have high PV include books, construction toys, dolls, games, puppets, puzzles, transportation toys and many others.
Interestingly, objects and products influence the PQ and stimulate playfulness. There is at least the implication of a feedback loop wherein people who play with objects that have a high play value are more likely to have a high PQ.
While Auerbach does not specifically develop or measure this role of a feedback loop between playing with objects that have a high PQ and developmentally leading to one having a higher PQ, some implied causality seems inescapable. Future studies are possible and warranted. Also, it appears probable that in the individual, additional feedback loops may exist between having high PQ and other desirable personality traits such as intelligence, creativity, imagination, and dexterity.
between 1961-62 for courses in child study, guidance and counseling. She received her MA in special education at George Washington University (1965), and was awarded a Ph.D. in child development from Union Institute (1973).
. At the Department of Education she evaluated Titile I programs
, and was responsible for approving the first grant to Sesame Street
.
As a mother herself of a young daughter, Auerbach organized the first in-house child care center in the headquarters of the Department of Education for the children of employees of the Agency. This center became a widely copied model in other government agency offices
throughout the country. The original center remains in operation.
Her interest in child care led to her participation in several conferences and research programs in the early 1970s. This pursuit culminated in the early-1970s in the publication of a major work, Choosing Child Care, first published in 1973.
in 1989.
These Dr. Toy awards are widely accepted in the toy industry as a badge of special recognition, and are looked to by parents, grandparents and teachers for guidance in choosing toys. The awards have been awarded annually since the early 1990s.
more to support play in stores and in the community.
Child development
Child development stages describe theoretical milestones of child development. Many stage models of development have been proposed, used as working concepts and in some cases asserted as nativist theories....
expert, writer and toyologist. She is known for being a consummate gadfly
Gadfly (social)
A gadfly is a person who upsets the status quo by posing upsetting or novel questions, or just being an irritant. The term has been used to describe many politicians and social commentators....
of the toy
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
industry. After more than thirty years in the field of toys, she was named a Wonder Woman of Toys by Playthings Magazine. She is a frequent guest speaker on toys and play
Play (activity)
Play is a term employed in ethology and psychology to describe to a range of voluntary, intrinsically motivated activities normally associated with pleasure and enjoyment...
for all ages at industry, professional, and public meetings. She makes several public appearances each year to promote her causes, which include building greater awareness in parents of their essential role as play tutors of their children, and to encourage the enhancement of play value
Play value
Play value is the essential value of a toy or game for play.The term is frequently employed in the field of child development and playwork for the assessment of toys, games, equipment and spaces. When they are fun and engaging, playthings and spaces are said to have play value. Those that are...
in toys within the toy industry.
Theory
Auerbach is perhaps best known for her hypothesis regarding "Play Quotient" or "PQ." She uses the term to refer to both a personality trait of individuals and a characteristic of toys, games and other playthings. Her theory is propounded in her book, Dr. Toy's Smart Play–Smart Toys: How to Raise a Child with a High PQ (Play Quotient), first published in 1998.
PQ
PQ is somewhat analogous to the notion of IQ - intelligence quotient. PQ is a number given to the ability of a person to be playful based on the range from not playful to highly playful analogs with creativity, spontaneity, good humor, and other attributes.Products like toys, games and other items have PV or Play Value attributes, each of which is weighted for its particular value. Dr. Toy selects those attributes that are characteristic of the product being assessed. The sum of the values of the attributes associated with the product is its PV.. For example, if a product such as a specific construction toy possessed 10 attributes, each with an average weight of 7.5, its play value would be 75. As with PQ, the higher the PV the better. Products that are considered stimulators of PQ and have high PV include books, construction toys, dolls, games, puppets, puzzles, transportation toys and many others.
Interestingly, objects and products influence the PQ and stimulate playfulness. There is at least the implication of a feedback loop wherein people who play with objects that have a high play value are more likely to have a high PQ.
While Auerbach does not specifically develop or measure this role of a feedback loop between playing with objects that have a high PQ and developmentally leading to one having a higher PQ, some implied causality seems inescapable. Future studies are possible and warranted. Also, it appears probable that in the individual, additional feedback loops may exist between having high PQ and other desirable personality traits such as intelligence, creativity, imagination, and dexterity.
Education
She completed her undergraduate work in education and psychology at Queens College (1960), and also attended the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
between 1961-62 for courses in child study, guidance and counseling. She received her MA in special education at George Washington University (1965), and was awarded a Ph.D. in child development from Union Institute (1973).
Early background
Her early professional background included teaching in New York City, Maryland and the District of Columbia. In the late 1960s she became a staff member of the U.S. Department of Education and later the Office of Economic OpportunityOffice of Economic Opportunity
The Office of Economic Opportunity was the agency responsible for administering most of the War on Poverty programs created as part of United States President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society legislative agenda.- History :...
. At the Department of Education she evaluated Titile I programs
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act , is a United States federal statute enacted April 11, 1965. It was passed as a part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty" and has been the most far-reaching federal legislation affecting education ever passed by Congress...
, and was responsible for approving the first grant to Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
.
As a mother herself of a young daughter, Auerbach organized the first in-house child care center in the headquarters of the Department of Education for the children of employees of the Agency. This center became a widely copied model in other government agency offices
throughout the country. The original center remains in operation.
Her interest in child care led to her participation in several conferences and research programs in the early 1970s. This pursuit culminated in the early-1970s in the publication of a major work, Choosing Child Care, first published in 1973.
Toy museum
Auerbach was also founder and director of the San Francisco International Toy Museum which she operated from 1986 to 1990 at the historic Cannery http://www.delmontesquare.com/ overlooking San Francisco's waterfront. It was a hands-on, children's museum where children could learn about the history of toys, and were able to play with and test out new toys and other products. Unfortunately, it was forced to close due to lack of funding following the Loma Prieta earthquakeLoma Prieta earthquake
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Earthquake, was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. local time...
in 1989.
Articles and books
During her career which has spanned more than four decades she has produced scores of articles for a wide variety of publications and given innumerable interviews for radio and television journalists and for print publications and online web sites. She is often interviewed around the holiday season for her opinion on the best toys by various media outlets, local, national and international. She has also written more than a dozen books.Awards program
Auerbach is well known in the toy industry for her annual award programs which include:- Best Green Toys
- Best Classic Toys
- Best Vacation Toys
- 100 Best Toys
These Dr. Toy awards are widely accepted in the toy industry as a badge of special recognition, and are looked to by parents, grandparents and teachers for guidance in choosing toys. The awards have been awarded annually since the early 1990s.
Web site
Her website, Dr. Toy's Guide, is the oldest site on the Internet focusing exclusively on the evaluation of toys and resources for consumers. All of her awards and more can be found on it.Recent activities
In recent years she has worked to make changes in the toy industry by producing with a committee a code of ethics. She has emphasized that products should not be copied by others, because doing so undermines the creativity and originality of others. She has also promoted ethics and standards in the toy industry and that it is essential for toys to meet safety standards and to be properly packaged. She also has tried to encourage the toy industry to domore to support play in stores and in the community.
External links
- Dr. Toy's Guide http://www.drtoy.com