If you’re wondering what the founder of Bugaboo is up to these days, the answer may surprise you. I bumped into Eduard Zanen at Toy Fair this year, where he was promoting a new toy concept that he is developing in the Netherlands. Swinxs aims to be an unvideo game - an interactive gaming console [...]
Archive for the ‘Multimedia’ Category
Yo Gabba Gabba
Monday, February 4th, 2008Last week, the Boston Globe ran an article about the cross-generational appeal of a new show on Nick Jr. called Yo Gabba Gabba. I like to think I’m on the cutting edge of things like this, so I was surprised I’d never heard of it. I made a mental note to check it out, and [...]
Funkey Town
Wednesday, September 26th, 2007The latest entry into the virtual-toy-that’s-also-really-a-toy category is about to hit the market. Funkeys are quirky little vinyl creatures who come to life on your PC. Unlike Webkinz and other similar products, Funkeys is not web-based. It actually comes with a CD-ROM for your Windows PC, and a large Funkey docking station that plugs into [...]
Hyperinteractivity
Monday, February 12th, 2007Lately, it seems like everyone is talking about Webkinz. These stuffed virtual pets are all the rage among middle school kids all over the country (if you’ve never heard of them, read my previous entry about them here). So it’s not really a surprise that their success is spawning at least a handful of eager [...]
Abby Cadabby Joins Sesame Street
Monday, August 14th, 2006There’s a new muppet on Sesame Street, and naturally there’s an uproar to herald her arrival. Abby Cadabby is the first female muppet to join the cast in 13 years, and unlike any of the other muppets on the show, Abby is a girly girl. She’s pink with fluffy pigtails, dainty fairy wings and a [...]
A real, live virtual stuffed pet
Monday, July 24th, 2006In 1975, the Pet Rock was the hottest holiday item on the shelves. For just $4, you got a rock, a carrying case and a training manual. Yes, a rock. Americans snapped up more than 1,000,000 of these geological novelties in just a few months. Next, in November of 1996 Bandai launched the first edition [...]
My backyard friends: The Backyardigans
Wednesday, June 28th, 2006If you haven’t heard of them already, chances are you will soon. The Backyardigans are slowly taking the preschool world by storm, and for good reason. I’m not a big fan of putting my kids in front of the TV, but my 4-year old seems to really need the downtime every now and then, so [...]
My new favorite CD
Tuesday, May 16th, 2006It was Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music where Ralph Covert (Ralph’s World) got his start, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that this institution is an apparent clearinghouse for exceptional children’s music talent. But their newest CD, Wiggleworms Love You is possibly the best album for children I’ve ever encountered (sorry, Ralph). With [...]
By Hook or by Book?
Sunday, March 19th, 2006If you have ever listened to the radio, chances are you’ve heard the advertisements for Hooked On Phonics. For me, it was right up there with the See Clearly Method in the category of questionably miraculous products. But armed with passionate testimonials from parents and a memorable toll free number, Hooked On Phonics has enjoyed [...]
A magical DVD concept
Tuesday, December 6th, 2005Philosophically, many parents differ when it comes to babies and TV. I have friends on both sides of the issue, and I’ve always taken a middle-of-the-road stance myself. When I was a stay-at-home mom, having a half-hour to check my e-mail, cook dinner or read a magazine was a wonderful luxury, and if Baby Einstein [...]
