Tech Toys…I’m sold!!
Nothing can replace games, dolls, actions figures, but I have to tell you that I am embracing technology of all sorts, even though it still confuses me and I can’t figure it all out (shhh, don’t tell anyone I just admitted that).
At first, too much technology was frightening to me, especially when my kids were younger. But here’s what I’ve discovered-
First, they just know what to do. What takes parents hours, days, weeks, to figure out, the kids do (without looking at instructions) in a heartbeat. They have been born in the age of tech.
Next, younger and younger, kids are using technology in the schools. In our high school, all the kids have a laptop and all the teachers use a whiteboard. The notes seamlessly pass to the kids computers, and teachers can zero in on a kid to make sure they are on task and not doodling. In fact my own daughter who is sitting with me while I’m writing this just admitted getting caught last year in a “doodling” moment:)
So of course this will stream into their play lives just as it’s streamed into our own. Look how many toddlers are playing with their parents iPads and iPhones. And look how addicted the adult community is with all of these toys (and you can count me into this number).
But the toys and the tools are truly amazing.
Look at the new LeapPad. This is a tablet for little kids. The right size for their hands, the right amount of strength to take a beating, and full touch screen- just like the grownups! Want to take pictures? video? play with apps? read ebooks?….it’s all right here. It will continue to assess how kids are doing across the board in terms of curriculum, and will report back to parents who want to keep track of their progress.
You will often hear me say, I am not a fan of “watch me toys” which is why I love Lets Rock Elmo! This Elmo has gone above and beyond giggles and tickles that had parents waiting in holiday shopping lines in the past!. He is interactive and fun. Let’s Rock Elmo will have kids singing and playing instruments with him. Place Elmo’s drum under his feet and he will thank you for giving him the drums. Pick up your guitar and Elmo will recognize that you have it so you can both play together. The two of you make up the rock band, and kids will be wowed.
Speaking of how advanced technology has become, forget everything you ever knew about remote control cars when you check out the newLazer Stunt Chasers. These cars are super fast and stunts and chase a laser beam and keep going no matter which way they land.
Lite Sprites is another amazing new technology where kids control the color of Lite-Topia and everyone who is lives there with a wand that can absorb color!
Voice pitch technology in Paper Jamz Pro Mic and the T Pain Mic are 2 others that I love this year. With these mics we can all sound like pop stars… and wait till you see what’s coming.
Every child, every person, needs the basics, and we’ll talk about how important this is in our children’s lives and what is really fun and cool for this year. You are getting a taste of the meshing of using your iPhone or iPad as a remote control…but “you ain’t seen nothing yet”. Next year will continue the trend of merging the tech world with the world of toys.
I love when I see new toy technology and say “WOW!”, like the I did with all those mentioned in this post. But when shopping for your kids’ tech toys this holiday, hers is my tip: have fun looking at the “WOW” technology but be sure to always look for the staying power that will be part of your children’s playtime.
