As Parents and Kids Gear Up for Summer, TimeOut Tot ``Good Behavior'' DVD Wins Dr. Toy ``Best Vacation Products'' Award

SAN MARINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 9, 2004--

Honor Joins Parents' Choice and Dove Foundation Awards, Reinforces Need for Kindergarten Readiness Among Preschoolers and Parents

Just in time for the laid-back learning days of summer, Pausitive Programs LLC (www.timeouttot.com) today announced that its award-winning DVD, "TimeOut Tot: The Behavior Coach," has received the Dr. Toy "Best Vacation Products" Award.

The award recognizes superior products that Dr. Toy -- Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D., of San Francisco -- has selected to provide children with experiences aimed at helping them learn during the summer months. And with TimeOut Tot, children learn kindergarten-ready behavior.

The award is the third this spring for TimeOut Tot, an interactive DVD that teaches children right from wrong. Formally launched in May, the new DVD is already the recipient of a Parents' Choice Award and a Dove Foundation Seal of Approval. The DVD is recommended by parents, pediatricians, teachers and child psychologists.

The TimeOut Tot DVD captivates preschool-age children with fun and entertaining teaching segments that star a friendly squirrel puppet named Tot, made by a Jim Henson puppet-maker. Tot's Teaching TimeOuts are patent-pending "multi-sensory" lessons that help children draw a clear line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. These segments are an effective alternative to the traditional time out, where children are sent off alone to think about what they have done and don't always understand what he or she did wrong.

Tot makes right and wrong easily understood, by visually simulating the appropriate and inappropriate behavior so that children are empowered to choose who they want to be. When they "look in the mirror" and see how unattractive the "misbehavior" is, the choice becomes easy. Tot always reinforces his lessons with self-esteem-building messages, honest words, singable songs, interactive games and simple stories.

"Summertime should be about fun and learning, testing limits and learning new skills," said Auerbach. "Our 'Best Vacation' award-winners provide children with creative activities. They will stimulate them with a whole range of new skills. Learning during the summer can include getting a jump start on skills. This summer will be about fun, exploration, and gaining new confidence. Award-winners will provide fun and learning, relaxation and stimulation, and a chance to test out all aspects of a child's abilities."

"The TimeOut Tot DVD is a great way to prepare preschoolers for kindergarten over the summer," said Ann R. Brazil, founder of Pausitive Programs and creator of TimeOut Tot. "June is the month that moms make summer plans, and Tot should be a part of it. It's important to remind parents that behavior preparations are just as important as academics, and in fact can dramatically affect a student's ability to learn. Vacation is an ideal time to work on such social skills as good listening, taking turns, waiting in line and respecting one another."

The TimeOut Tot DVD meets a need largely ignored by a market flooded with products that focus on classroom performance rather than "playground performance." A recent Pausitive Programs/Synovate survey found that society is putting intellectual pursuits before character development. Other studies show that lack of discipline is a persistent concern among parents and caregivers. According to Fairfield Research, 91 percent of parents think that discipline is less strict now than when they were growing up -- and in a survey reported on CBSNews.com 88 percent of mothers feel that parents today let their kids get away with too much.

Volume 1 of the DVD includes Teaching TimeOut segments on whining, tantrums, pushing, biting, cutting in line and grabbing. Caregivers simply need to select the appropriate lesson for the time out. In addition to the child-focused vignettes, the TimeOut Tot DVD includes Teaching TimeOut segments for caregivers, with proven tips on how to unemotionally manage these misbehaviors.

The TimeOut Tot DVD is available for $19.99 via the company's web site at www.timeouttot.com.

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