Review: VTech’s New V.Reader
Written on Jul 6, 2010 by RuthJS and filed under Featured, VTech
VTech® describes it’s new V.Reader™ as an “animated e-book system.” In my opinion, it’s like a kiddie Kindle and has taken e-readers for kids to a new level. Designed for children 3-7, it’s both easy to use and fun. Add to that the fact that it was a hit with our reviewers, and I think [...]
PeeWee PC Announces Shipment of PeeWee Kit
Written on Apr 13, 2010 by RuthJS and filed under News, PeeWee, PeeWee PC
Rather than spending money on a “computer-like” toy for your preschool or elementary school student that the child will just outgrow, PeeWee has created software that transforms any computer into an age-appropriate device for children.
Parent-Focused
Designed specifically for low-cost notebook computers, the PeeWee Kit software saves parents the time spent downloading child-specific programs, setting access controls, [...]
Fisher-Price Announces New Pre-K iPod Games
Written on Mar 29, 2010 by RuthJS and filed under News
Fisher-Price™ has announced three new iPhone apps, the first of their kind, geared toward, yes, you guessed it, preschoolers.
Let’s face it, cell phones are the new car keys, and many parents allow their 2-5 year olds to play with their phones while waiting at the doctor’s office or while grocery shopping. Knowing this, Fisher-Price™ has [...]
Fisher-Price Announces Photo Sharing on Facebook
Written on Mar 26, 2010 by RuthJS and filed under Fisher Price, News
Fisher-Price has announced “Moments to Share,” a new Facebook tool that allows parents to create a dynamic timeline capturing milestones in the lives of their children and families. Parents can upload photos and videos to “Moments to Share” much like they already to do Facebook. Then, they can add dates, locations, captions and stories about [...]
Review: OLLO Construction Kits
Written on Mar 15, 2010 by RuthJS and filed under Reviews, Robotis
Some of the coolest toys I found at Toy Fair were the OLLO construction kits. They resemble a cross between an Erector® set and K’nex® with some LEGO® mixed in for good measure. Currently, there are just three sets available in the USA at three levels of sophistication and at three price points. [...]
Toy Fair 2010: Off the Beaten Path, Technology-wise
Written on Mar 2, 2010 by RuthJS and filed under News
One of the really cool things about Toy Fair is that along side the big toy manufacturing conglomerates like Mattel, Fisher Price, Hasbro, VTech, and Lego, you also get to see small mom and pop shops, toys that are waiting to be picked up for manufacturing, and items sold overseas looking for a market share in the US. Here’s where I found some of the coolest items.
Toy Fair 2010: Hot Tech Toy Trends
Written on Feb 19, 2010 by RuthJS and filed under News
Toy fair is every kid’s dream: acres of every kind of toy imaginable surrounded by product specialists anxious for you to stop at their booth and try their offerings. Oh yeah, and did I mention that almost every booth had free candy? Too bad for the little guys that you have to be over 18 to even enter the show. Fortunately, I met the age requirement and got to play with a whole host of new toys and new takes on old toys. Here are some highlights of what I saw.
Ekomini Interactive Piggy Bank Review
Written on Feb 7, 2010 by Brian and filed under Reviews
We’ve seen innovation in many places, some expected, some not. The new Ekomini interactive piggy bank isn’t one we were expecting to see. The principle is simple, engage kids with a piggy bank that connects to the computer and opens an online universe that teaches saving and basic personal economics.
Review: Jazwares MP3 Player (Ben 10 Echo Echo)
Written on Jan 27, 2010 by Brian and filed under Jazwares, Reviews
Jazwares has created an great-looking MP3 player around the Ben 10 Echo Echo character. The 1GB player features a lot of great things like an LCD display and speaker to give kids a relatively robust portable music experience.
Kid Computer Announces Kids Cybernet Station
Written on Jan 19, 2010 by Charles Jefferies and filed under News
Kid Computer today announced its Kids Cybernet Station, an all-in-one child/student-friendly workstation. The workstations feature Intel processors, Windows 7, touch-screen monitor, and a variety of pre-loaded software. Setup is advertised to be simple – unpack, plug in the power, keyboard, and mouse and push the power button. Windows 7 has parental controls that let parents control what their children can use, which websites they can visit, during what times they can use the computer, and more.
Review: LEGO Stop Animation Video Camera
Written on Jan 14, 2010 by RuthJS and filed under Lego, Reviews
LEGO has lent its formidable brand and style to Digital Blue, a leader in photo and video equipment for kids. The result: one cool video camera! The LEGO Stop Animation Video Camera records videos, takes still shots, and (coolest of all) makes stop animation movies. I love it, my testers love it, but it’s not without its quirks. Still, it would be hard to find a cuter video camera with a wider appeal.