TECH FOR TOTS.Byline: JoAnn E.B. Yerem Correspondent It looks like a high-tech holiday ahead. Technology in toys has been evolving for years, but this season seems extraordinary in its electronic offerings for all age groups - from Power Touch Baby for children as young as 6 months, to V-Smile video gaming video gaming n. 1. Gambling by means of interactive games of chance played on a video screen. 2. The playing of video games. for 3-year-olds, to Robosapien for much older children. ``Technology continues to grow because the fact of the matter is that you have 3-year-olds on the computer and other kids walking around with iPods or MP3 players. The basic toys still work - but manufacturers need to reach for more innovation,'' said Jim Silver, co-publisher of Toy Wishes magazine. ``Some of these items are really, really good. They take patterns like watching TV or playing video games See video game console. and make them educational.'' Children - and parents - demand greater sophistication so·phis·ti·cate v. so·phis·ti·cat·ed, so·phis·ti·cat·ing, so·phis·ti·cates v.tr. 1. To cause to become less natural, especially to make less naive and more worldly. 2. each year. Take the perennial favorite, the Elmo talking doll. Each year Elmo shows us something new - one year the chicken dance, another the limbo. This year Elmo dances and sings ``E-L-M-O'' much like the famous ``YMCA'' song. ``Even the most simple items like an E-L-M-O, a stuffed toy stuffed toy stuff n → Stofftier nt for a child - do you want something that just sits there or do you want something that does something, that comes alive?'' said Silver. Child development expert Stevanne Auerbach, aka Dr. Toy, recommends choosing electronic toys that have appropriate features for your child's age and abilities. ``Young children need human interaction, time with loving adults who read, talk and play with them. They need real experiences,'' said Auerbach. ``High-tech works best for older children who have had plenty of other non-high-tech experiences.'' Silver seconds the need to find age-appropriate toys. ``I can't tell you how many parents tell me, 'I know this says 5 and above, but my child is smarter.' It has nothing to do with intelligence. It might have to do with eye-hand coordination or parts too small for younger children.'' Above all, Silver and Auerbach stress choosing toys that meet your child's needs and wishes. ``I always say, the hot toy is not the right toy unless it meets your child's interest,'' Silver says. ``Know your child's interests.'' To help with your holiday shopping, we reviewed some of the best toys manufacturers had to offer this season. We gave them to children (and their parents) to test. These are the toys that held children's interests and we believe will give gift-givers the most for their money. E-L-M-O Ages 18 months and up Fisher-Price $29.99 The dancing Elmo line shows no sign of slowing. This year, the little red furry monster from Sesame Street Sesame Street is an American educational children's television series for preschoolers and is a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. asks kids to spell out E-L-M-O just like the '70s dance song ``YMCA YMCA in full Young Men's Christian Association Nonsectarian, nonpolitical Christian lay movement that aims to develop high standards of Christian character among its members. .'' Toddlers love to sing and dance along with Elmo. If he tips over, Elmo politely asks for ``a little help here,'' and thanks his young friend for setting him upright. KidzMouse Keys Ages 2-10 KidzMouse $29.99 Designed for little hands, this colorful computer keyboard is smaller than the standard adult-size version and sports fewer keys - 67 vs. 104 - keeping only those that kids need. Built-in software prevents key stuttering stuttering or stammering, speech disorder marked by hesitation and inability to enunciate consonants without spasmodic repetition. Known technically as dysphemia, it has sometimes been attributed to an underlying personality disorder. - only one character appears on the monitor no matter how long you hold down a letter key. Installation was easy and you can keep your adult keyboard connected to the computer. Requires Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP. Works on a PC with a USB adapter Refers to some type of network or communications controller that plugs into the computer via the USB port. It may refer to an Ethernet adapter, Bluetooth adapter or serial or parallel port adapter. or with the included PS/2 adapter. Story Reader Ages 3-8 Publications International $24.99 ($9.99 for additional books) The Story Reader is a portable electronic storybook sto·ry·book n. A book containing a collection of stories, usually for children. adj. Occurring in or resembling the style or content of a storybook: storybook characters; a storybook romance. reader. Children turn the pages and a narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. reads the book to them - no buttons or stylus required. Even the youngest child can easily use this toy. Sing-along books with a microphone are available also (for $24.99). InteracTV Ages 3 and up Fisher-Price $39.99 ($14.99 for additional DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. software titles) This DVD-based learning system is easy for children to use - and easy for parents to set up. Insert the disc into your DVD player A stand-alone device that plays DVDs. It contains a DVD drive and the electronics to decode the digital video. The device may play only manufactured DVDs, or it may be able to play DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs. DVD players are cabled to a TV or home theater system for display. and a short tutorial sets up the controller for future use. No wires required. The controller allows children to answer questions by pressing corresponding images on activity cards. Children can interact with characters from ``Dora the Explorer Dora the Explorer is an animated television series that is carried on the Nickelodeon cable television network. A pilot episode for the series aired in 1999, and Dora the Explorer became a regular series in 2000. ,'' ``Blue's Clues Blue's Clues is a children's show about a dog named Blue. It features live action one on one on paper-cutout animation. The series follows a dog named Blue through her everyday life, providing small children with fun and education. The show airs on both Nick Jr. and Noggin. ,'' ``Barney,'' ``Sesame Street'' and other favorite shows. Get Up Clippity Clop Horse Ages 3 to 8 Big Boing Big Boing can refer to:
$24.99 Our testers loved this toy. They had a great time wearing the soft, plush horse-head cap and the slip-on hooves. As a child moves, the cap and hooves make appropriate neighing or clip-clop noises. The children galloped, jumped and whinnied for hours. It was great fun. Parents will appreciate the volume-control and on/off switches. There are also dinosaur and fairy versions available. Bella Dancerella Home Ballet Studio Ages 3 to 8 SpinMaster $29.99 This product provides a ballet barre, slippers, dance mat with foot positions and a follow-along DVD. Girls will love practicing their moves in their own home studio. While it won't replace dance lessons, it's a great toy for the little ballerina in your life. Hero City Rocket Park Ages 3 to 12 Matchbox $39.99 Kids can load cars onto the motorized mo·tor·ize tr.v. mo·tor·ized, mo·tor·iz·ing, mo·tor·iz·es 1. To equip with a motor. 2. To supply with motor-driven vehicles. 3. To provide with automobiles. Ferris wheel Ferris wheel, amusement park ride. It consists of a power-operated wheel that is about 50 ft (15 m) in diameter. It has two rims that are parallel to and equidistant from the shaft about which the wheel rotates. , which will send them on one of two roller coaster tracks, or they can launch a vehicle from the cannon. It's action-packed, and great sound effects make this toy even more fun. Also included is a DVD with two animated Hero City episodes. VideoNow Ages 6 and up Hasbro's Tiger Electronics $64.99 VideoNow Jr. Ages 3 and up Hasbro's Playskool $69.99 This personal video-disc player made its debut last year in black and white. This year's color version is even better, and it has a baby brother (or sister, depending on your family). Small and portable, VideoNow and VideoNow Jr. allow children to watch their favorite shows wherever they go, including ``Jimmy Neutron,'' ``Fairly OddParents,'' ``Dora the Explorer,'' ``Blue's Clues'' and others. Both versions have volume control, contrast control and jacks for headphones Head-mounted speakers. Headphones have a strap that rests on top of the head, positioning a pair of speakers over both ears. For listening to music or monitoring live performances and audio tracks, both left and right channels are required. . Carrying cases are also available ($10.99). PlayItNow Ages 8 and up Hasbro $29.99 Hasbro's ``Now'' line is expanding with PlayItNow. This digital audio recorder A digital audio recorder is a device or software for recording digital audio. Most modern computers are capable of this, and various free or low-cost programs have been easily available since the late 1990s. is a much more affordable version of the portable music machines adults are carrying around these days. Kids can record up to 30 minutes of their favorite music and can play games on this device. Our testers found the instructions a little difficult to follow, but once they figured out how to record music, this product was a hit. Big Air Ball Tower Ages 10 and up K'Nex $49.99 to $99.99 Kids and adults need to work together on this one to build around a 5-foot air tube that shoots balls through the obstacle course you create. It's a lot of pieces, but if you have a serious construction artist in your family, this is the toy for him or her. The kit has instructions for the giant tower and, thankfully, a modified version that some children will be able to do on their own. CAPTION(S): 14 photos Photo: (1 -- color) VideoNow (2 -- color) VideoNow Jr. (3 -- color) InteracTV (4 -- color) Get Up Clippity Clop Horse (5 -- color) KidzMouse Keys (6 -- color) Hero City Rocket Park (7 -- color) PlayItNow (8 -- color) Big Air Ball Tower (9 -- 12 -- color) E-L-M-O (13 -- color) Story Reader (14 -- color) Bella Dancerella Home Ballet Studio |
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