Stevanne Auerbach

Stevanne Auerbach, PhD, has for the past 40 years been one of the most respected names in the toy industry. Known familiarly as Dr. Toy, she is an expert in child development, education, special education, psychology, parent education, and toys and other children’s products. She selects and evaluates the newest, best, educational, creative, and active toys, games, and other products for her annual awards programs. Dr. Auerbach consults, evaluates, and reviews toys and products for Dr. Toy’s Guide, www.drtoy.com.

Born in New York City, Dr. Auerbach attended Queens College, and was a teacher in New York City, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. After completing an MA at George Washington University, and a PhD at The Union Institute Graduate School, she focused on writing, consulting, and speaking with emphasis on family issues, child development, parenting, play, toys, and childcare.

Dr. Auerbach, a long time childcare advocate, has published more than 15 books, including children’s books and a novel, a collection of poetry, and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. She was a King Syndicated Columnist for five years, and also served as a toy expert for magazines such as Parenting, Family Circle, and Creative Child, and on websites such as Sears Toy Shop, Pearson Education, Club Mom, iparenting, etoys, and many others. She has made many presentations to parents and professionals, been interviewed by many journalists and authors in the USA and overseas, and been interviewed on radio and TV for many years. She lives in the Northern California Bay Area, is married and is a mother and playful grandmother.

Dr. Auerbach worked in Washington, D.C., as a Program Specialist at the U.S. Department of Education, where she approved the first grant for “Sesame Street,” evaluated “Title One Programs,” established the first model childcare center for children of employees working for the federal government, and testified before a Congressional Committee (1969) on behalf of childcare needs among families of federal, state and local workers. Later, at the Office of Economic Opportunity, she planned the National Childcare R & D Program, and coordinated the Day Care Forum at the White House Conference on Children (1970).

Among the books that Dr. Auerbach has written are The Contest (2010), Smart Play Smart Toys (published in USA and 12 other countries), Toys for a Lifetime (1999 ), The Toy Chest (1986), The Whole Child (1980), Choosing Childcare (1976, 1981, 1991, 2009), Child Care: A Comprehensive Guide (1975-1979), Confronting Childcare Crisis (1979), Cross-Cultural Study of Childcare Services (1974), The Alphabet Tree (1985), and Petals (1979).