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DR. TOY KEYNOTES 1st CONFERENCE ON CONSTRUCTION TOYS
Coordinates Toy Companies for Construction Toy Exhibit

Nicosia, CYPUS - (August 10, 2007) – Stevanne Auerbach, PhD, “Dr. Toy” will be a keynote speaker for the first-ever Conference on Construction Toys, which will take place on Saturday, September 15th at the University of Cyprus, an event spearheaded and sponsored by Engino Toy Systems and the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation in association with The Teacher’s Associations.

In addition to addressing the attendees at the international conference, Dr. Toy is leading the arrangement of the First International Construction Products Exhibition, an interactive area and display of many of the world’s top construction toys, as examples of the tremendous benefits that construction toys offer to children as they learn and grow in the classroom and at home. Costas Sisamos, Chief Executive Officer of ENGINO and lead coordinator of the conference project commented, “This is the first time that all construction toy systems will be displayed under one roof, giving the opportunity to both educators and parents, as well as students learning this important discipline are witness to a demonstration of how quality construction play can inspire innovation and creativity.”

The Official Conference's title is "Towards intergrading construction kits in Design and Technology". The Event is co-funded by the Research Promotion Foundation, a Government independent organization that partially funds research projects of innovative character. The funds come from both Government and European Union and are awarded through competitions. ENGINO.NET LTD has been awarded one such project, which involved the design and development of plastic connectors for creating three dimensional frames in the Design and Technology classroom. The University of Cyprus and the Teacher's Association -as research partners are developing the educational support material. The whole project was based on the patents of Engineer and Educator Sisamos.

As the subject of Design and Technology is taught in all levels of education in Cyprus, all parties involved in the establishment of the conference agreed that there are great advantages when incorporating construction sets in the classroom, regardless of the toy brand or ethnicity. “Quality construction play inspires innovation and creativity,” Sisamos said.

The conference is now addressing several topics including the need to communicate effective solutions with teachers in questioning traditional teaching methods and introducing innovative construction sets that are widely available, many of which will be on display as part of the conference’s exhibit. Among the product companyies that are participating in the exhibit all have product that have been recommended by Dr.Toy, including:

  1. Astro-logix Design  www.astro-logix.com
  2. b. dazzle, Inc. - www.b-dazzle.com
  3. Blue Orange Games www.blueorangegames.com
  4. Bridge Street Toys -www.bridgestreettoys.com
  5. BRIO - www.brio.com
  6. Dr. Drew's Toys  www.drdrewsblocks.com
  7. Engino Toy System -  www.engino.net
  8. Fat Brain Toys -  www.fatbraintoys.com
  9. AirBlox -  www.airblox.com
  10. HABA - www.HABAusa.com
  11. Hands On Toys - www.handsontoys.com
  12. Hape International -  www.hapetoys.com
  13. Hexabits - www.hexabits.com
  14. ImagAbili - www.wedgits.com
  15. Infinitoy – www.infinitoy.com
  16. Jonic Distribution –  www.geomag.com
  17. Kapla - www.kaplatoys.com
  18. KNEX - www.knex.com
  19. Learning Materials Workshop – Arcobaleno - www.learningmaterialswork.com
  20. Learning Resources - www.learningresources.com
  21. LEGO Systems - www.mindstorms.com, www.lego.com
  22. Little Tikes/MGA Entertainment - www.litletikes.com
  23. Lockmade - www.konstruktubes.com
  24. Maple Landmark - www.maplelandmark.com
  25. Meccano - www.meccano.com
  26. MEGA Brands - www.megabrandsinc.com
  27. Mic-O-Mic Americas – www.micamericas.com
  28. Mr. McGroovy's - www.mrmcgroovys.com
  29. Museum Tour Catalog – www.museumtour.com
  30. Origin Toys & Games -
  31. OWI - www.owirobot.com
  32. Parents® by Battat - www.parents.com
  33. Plastic Play - www.i-gami.com
  34. Plasticant-Mobilo - www.mobilo.net
  35. Plastwood Industries -www.plastwood.com
  36. Playmobil – Zoo - www.playmobil.com
  37. Playskool/Hasbro Tinker Toy- www.playskool.com
  38. Polydron - www.polydron.com
  39. Poly-M – Starter - www.polym.com
  40. Quadro/Phunzone - www.quadro.com  www.phunzone.com
  41. Quercetti - www.quercetti.com
  42. Rokenbok Toy Company - www.rokenbok.com
  43. Tangle Toys -  www.tangletoys.com
  44. Tinker Minds - www.aerobloks.com
  45. Tree Blocks - www.treeblocks.com
  46. Uncle Goose Toys - www.unclegoose.com
  47. WABA Fun - www.wabafun.com
  48. Zometool - www.zometool.com

Dr. Toy's complete Construction Toys Report is available for reference and download at drtoy.com. The listing report includes every company, product, customer service number, web site link, a full product description of each product with photo, and appropriate age range and MSRP. In addition, Dr. Toy award-winning, on-line magazine, Dr. Toy’s Guide (drtoy.com) features interviews and articles by Dr. Toy, plus hundreds of other Best Products including high to low tech and products for all reasons and seasons. At this time over 4000 products are included on the site with direct links to companies, stores, toy history, parent resources, and much more. A FREE copy of any report is available at drtoy.com or by sending a SASE envelope to Dr. Toy

About ENGINO
ENGINO.NET LTD was established in 2004 in order to commercialize the patented ideas of Costas Sisamos, the designer of ENGINO TOY SYSTEM. After three years of R&D in the field of pedagogical construction play, the basic System was made available in late 2006. The Technology System followed up soon, which incorporates axles, gears, pulleys and other mechanical components. The company is based in Cyprus but it has also set up a UK branch for handling the large UK market directly. Although the product was just recently launched, it already received prestigious awards such as Dr.Toy's 10 BEST and 100 BEST, and is now exported to USA, France, Korea, Norway, UK, Greece and Czech very successfully. The innovation of ENGINO lies in the ability to snap lock at many different positions simultaneously while being able to tackle all dimensions of the 3D space, not being restricted by any angle or length. The System is also fully compatible with wooden dowels of 10x10 mm and is perhaps the first hybrid toy in the world. The patented design of the components leads to very large builds using a very low number of different components and a small quantity of parts.

For additional information about the Conference on Construction Toys, please visit http://www.ucy.ac.cy/

About Dr Toy
Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D., aka “Dr. Toy” has been evaluating and speaking about toys and children’s products for more than 30 years. 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 child care center for federal employees’ children, and developed a federal research program on child care.

Dr. Auerbach is trained in child development, education, child psychology and special education. She is a parent educator, consultant, parent and playful grandparent. She founded the San Francisco International Toy Museum, the first “Hands On” Toy Museum, the first web site on toys (Dr. Toy's Guide: drtoy.com) and is the author of 15 books and hundreds of articles, including her best-selling book, Smart Play/Smart Toys How to Raise a Child with a High P.Q. It is published in many languages and is internationally available in Croatia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Russia, Spain and Thailand.

Dr. Auerbach is director of the non-profit Institute for Childhood Resources in San Francisco. Her awards programs featured on drtoy.com recognize best educationally oriented, developmentally appropriate and skill-building products. Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Products 2007 report on drtoy.com includes company customer service numbers, web site URL, age range, price, and a full description of each product.

In addition, Dr. Toy award-winning, on-line magazine, Dr. Toy’s Guide (drtoy.com) features full color photos of each product, links to manufacturers, interviews and articles by Dr. Toy, plus hundreds of other Best Products including high to low tech and products for all reasons and seasons plus Ask Dr. Toy Feature and much more.

At this time over 4000 products are included on the site with direct links to companies, stores, toy history, and parent teacher and other resources. A FREE copy of the report is available at drtoy.com or by sending a SASE envelope.

Home Copyright 1995 - 2008 Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. San Francisco, CA
This material may not under any circumstance be resold or redistributed for compensation of any kind without prior written permission from the author.
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