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18EntroSpring2012seetheneedtodevelopauthenticrelationshipswiththeirchildren.Garygrantedpermissionforhispoemtobeusedandthepositiveresponseconvincedhimtoturnthepoemintoabook.Father-ChildPlaytimeandChildDevelopmentTheVeryBestToyprovidesaclearandhelpfulanswertofatherswhoaskthemselvesx1cWhatcanIdotoentertainmychildrenx1dIntheageofFacebookiPodscellphonesandotherdevicesthatcreatespacebetweenchildrenandtheirparentsthatisnomeanfeat.Andinlightofrecentreportssuchinteractionisveryimportantforchilddevelopment.ApublicationbytheCenterontheSocialandEmotionalFoundationsforEarlyLearningoffersnewinsightsonhowfathersimpactchildrenx19ssocial-emotionaldevelopment.Thereportrevealshowthebondbetweenfatherandchildcanincreasethroughpositiveplayinteractions.AstudybytheFathersandFamiliesResearchProgramattheUniversityofNewcastleinAustraliashowsthatrough-and-tumbleplaybetweenfathersandyoungchildrenisparticu-larlyhelpfulinshapingthebraininpreschoolers.Garyx19sbookhelpsreinforcetheimportantreasonsforfatherstobeengagedintheirchildrenx19slivesanditpresentsideasforcreativeplaytimeactivitiestomakeinteractingwiththeirchildrenamemorablejoyoustime.x1cWhenakidgetstoplaywiththeirDadthatDadistheverybesttoyakidcouldhave.Itcanbeassimpleaspickingthemupandswingingthemaroundorlyingonthefloorwhiletheyclimbaroundyou.Whateveritistheywillbemakingmemoriesthatlastalifetimex1dsaysGary.EssenceWhatistheVeryBestToyDadofCourse.GaryandhisdaughterLisa.Heisverypleasedwiththebookx19sresponse.x1cItx19sanamazingthingwhensomeonetellsmex18Mysonordaughterlovesyourbook.Wereaditeverydayatleastoncex19x1dTheVeryBestToyhasbecomeapopularFatherx19sDaygiftandGaryisgratifiedthatdadsreceivehisbookatbabyshowersx14finallytherex19sagiftfordads.Garymentionsthex1cunbeatablejoyofgettingtoplayandhavefunwithmydaughterasshegrewupx1dsomethinghehopesallfatherscanexperience.GettingtheWordOutAlthoughhispublishingbusinessmeansherarelyhastimetodobooksigningsGaryoncepresentedtomorethanfiftyschoolsinasingledaythroughtheConnect2Texasprogramwhichdeliversliveeducationalprogramsviainteractivevideoconferencingtoschoolchildrenandeducators.GarywillsoonreleaseanebookversionofTheVeryBestToyandcontinuestoadviseparentstojustx1cbetherex1dfortheirkids.x1cIfmybookisabletogetdadstospendalittlemoretimeplayingwiththeirkidsthatwouldbeamissionaccomplished.x1dGaryRinkerisoneoftheluckyoneshex19sbeenatajobhelovesforaquarterofacentury.HeworksonthebusinesssideofMaverickBooksthepublisherofJohnR.Ericksonx19sbestsellingHanktheCowdogseries.Therex19salotofthekidinGarywhichcameinhandywhenhehadadaughterofhisown.Thedevotedfatherenjoyedthespecialbonddevel-opedthroughplaytime.AsyoungLisagrewshebeganclimbingonherfather.Garyrecallsaskingherx1cWhyareyouclimbingonmeDoIlooklikeatreex1dInfactfromLisax19spointofviewhewashertree.BeforeheknewitGarywassittingatthekitchentablescratchingoutapoemtodescribewhathehadjustrealizedhehaddevelopedintohisdaughterx19sx1ctoy.x1dThepoemcaptureshowx14throughachildx19simaginationx14adadbecomesaslideaswingahorseatrampolineandmore.TheVeryBestToyAfewyearsagopopularevangelistJoshMcDowellwasthefeaturedspeakeratalocalrevival.x1cThelastnightoftherevivalx1dGaryrecallsx1cIhandedhimacopyofmypoemwithonlyenoughtimetosayitwassomethingIwantedtosharewithhim.AcoupleofmonthslaterIgotanemailfromMr.McDowellx19sofficerequestingpermissiontousex18TheVeryBestToyx19insomeofhisseminars.x1dTheemailwentontosayx1cJoshthinksthatyourpoemwillreallyhelptoencouragefathersandhewouldlovetoshareitwiththem.x1dInhisx1cRelationshipsThatTransformx1dseminarMcDowellfocusesonhelpingparentsWhenitx19scoldoutsideWestayinside.DadsitsinhischairAndmakesagreatslide.SorememberthebestthingForalittlegirlorboyIstoplaywiththeirDad.Heistheverybesttoy.GaryRinkeristheVicePresidentofMaverickBooksInc.whichrecentlycameoutwithBook58intheHanktheCowdogseries.Infactthisseriesofhumorouschildrenx19smysterynovelshassoldmorethaneightmillionbooksandaudiossince1982.TheVeryBestToywonaMomsChoiceAwardandax1cBestBooks2011x1dAwardfromUSABookNews.GarylivesinTexaswithhiswifeKimdaughterLisaandsonsDavidandKevin.