Top Headlines For Today

: The American International Toy Fair is underway in New York and observers are seeing even more of an emphasis on tech tor the younger set then was apparent over the holidays. From MarketWatch: “Part of the strategy is to make kids enamored of their toys and brands at an earlier age; part of it is a response to parents who want play time to also build cognitive and other skills. But another key element is to create must-have items for which parents are willing to pay a premium.”
But there’s also an awareness that today’s kids, for the most part, have a far earlier acquaintance with computers, gadgets and multimedia. My 5 year-old niece has been using my cell phone camera for months and both she and her sister, newly turned 10, routinely use various cell phones to play games or watch video. I think their 6-year-old cousin is physically attached to his Gameboy and their 3-year-old cousin is no stranger to a mouse. As “Toy Guy” Chris Byrne told MKTW: “Today’s kids understand computers and the technology from the get-go. It’s part of their world; it’s like the air. They don’t question it; it’s just there.”

Tots tech examples via MKTW:
– Mattel’s Kidtronics Digital Song & Story Player and Kid-tough Digital Camera.

– LeapFrog’s LeapsterTV console for 3+; Little Leaps Grow-with-Me Learning System for 3-.

AP, a plethora of iPod-related products, including:

– an iPod-enabled rocking chair, Baby Einstein

– SpongeBob speakers for an iPod, Emerson Radio’s Nickelodeon line.

– Petz (rabbit, pig, frog, cat) hooked to an iPod move and light up to the music, MGA.

– Musical instruments for iPod jamming, Blue Box.

Why the iEmphasis? Isaac Larian, chief executive of MGA Entertainment Inc., explained the fixation to AP: ”The iPod is the No. 1 toy. My view is why fight them? Why not join them?”

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