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Classic Toys Go Digital
March 14, 2012
No matter how long the night, the day is sure to come.
-African Proverb
-African Proverb
“We know that kids are going to play with technology, with iPhones and iPads and Android devices,” said Chuck Scothon, senior vice president for marketing for Mattel’s North America division. “Our job is to not necessarily avoid that, but if you can’t fix it, feature it.”
John Frascotti, Hasbro’s chief marketing officer: “While parents might want certain things, kids enjoy their mobile devices. This allows parents not to have that confrontation with kids.”
John Alteio, director of toys and games for Amazon: “Kids like to play with the gadgets that they see their parents using, so I think it makes sense for toy makers to find a way to freshen up."
Laura Phillips, senior vice president for toys at Wal-Mart: “The future of play is trending towards a seamless integration between a physical toy and digital add-ons. This innovation is extremely important to keeping kids engaged and keeping toys more relevant.”
Lutz Muller, a toy analyst for Klosters Trading: “iPhones and iPads, while extremely popular, are still very limited in real numbers — they’re expensive, they’re adult products, and yes, kids take them and use them, but you have to ask yourself just how far they will go."
Facing the Challenge DVDs
Facing the Challenge is an instructional, interactive DVD set for teachers working with young children with challenging behaviors. The program includes over two hours of training and documentary video designed to help teachers learn how to prevent children’s use of difficult behaviors and how to develop intervention strategies to work with children who use challenging behaviors to meet their needs.
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Comments (4)
Displaying All 4 CommentsUnited States
Kids need real, whole-body play experiences- not virtual ones. Use of the body develops the brain. We need 3-dimensional experiences to develop motor skills, visual perceptual skills, social skills, communication skills, etc., etc., etc... I hate to see any more virtual experiences being promoted as an acceptable alternative to play that includes toys and 3-dimensional objects, play with other children (or parents), and physical play (running, jumping, ball play, climbing, riding, swinging, etc...). Time spent engaging in REAL (not virtual) experiences is irreplaceable. There is no substitute... it's absolutey crucial for brain development- not optional if we want healthy, intelligent children to grow up and be healthy, intelligent adults.
United States
"At all cost avoid that confrontation with your child"- Hasbro market person don't try to teach them the value of working through a confrontation- each side taking a turn, coming to a compromise-
Nat's Day Care
Philadelphia, PA, United States
Call me old-fashion. I still like group games. I realize that digital is the thing for now, but I wonder if the digital toys that are coming out today require more than one player. The ones that I have seen in the store only require one player. This does not lead to socialization, which is something that today's children are severely lacking.
Sacramento State University
Sacramento, CA, United States
Just another example of corporate America using children to make money!If this NY Times artcle does not disturb you, you are not paying attanention! I urge you to look into the "Consuming Kids" publications and see how the toy companies take advantage of children and families despite all the research that shows children are better off with physcially interactive activities and those that support interactions with other humans...not machines or devices.
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