This entertaining and informative book--written by Marianne Szymanski, child development and toy expert, and Ellen Neuborne, an award-winning business journalist--is an essential and authoritative guide to toys and play. Based on thirteen years of independent consumer-focused research, Toy Tips offers invaluable advice and practical information about selecting appropriate toys and answers questions such as Why do kids play with toys? What is the true role of toys? Which toys are good and which aren’t? How do toys figure into normal, healthy child development? “Invaluable and specific guidance about how the right toys can help your kids learn, develop, build skills, and have some fun.” --Michele Borba, consultant, educator, and author, Parents Do Make a Difference, Building Moral Intelligence, and No More Misbehavin' “No one is better equipped than Marianne Szymanski to help you make smart choices when purchasing toys for your kids or for the kids in your life.”--Spencer Christian, former host of Szymanski’s guest segments on ABC’s Good Morning America, and author, Is There a Dinosaur in Your Backyard? and many other children’s books “Szymanski’s years of experience and passion for serving children make her a leading voice in the developmental benefits of toys and play.”--From the Foreward by Marvin W. Berkowitz