Kids

Despite the bad press that gaming often gets, there is increasing evidence that it can have positive effects. We've already seen studies suggesting that video games improve decision making and put players in a more relaxed frame of mind, now there's more good news for parents whose offspring are video game junkies. Research out of Michigan State University suggests that 12 year olds who play video games tend to be more creative ... and the more they play the more creative they are. Read More

It's only been a few short years since kids who wanted to mimic grown ups and tap away on a laptop had to resign themselves to a bulky imitation from the likes of V-Tech. Nowadays, youngsters are able to get their hands on something a little more convincing - whether it's a fully-fledged, ruggedized laptop or a child-friendly tablet. Toshiba has just revealed a good example of a notebook created with kids in mind. Designed in collaboration with Best Buy, the new Satellite L735D 13.3-inch notebook sports a new easy-clean keyboard, runs on Windows 7, features a 320GB HDD and includes applications aimed at making surfing the web safer for kids. Read More

Feeling reluctant to hand that shiny new iPad over to junior? The VINCI Tab might be the answer - it's an Android 2.3-based 7-inch tablet with a tempered-glass display and soft edges that's been designed specifically for children of up to four years. The device is relatively well spec'd with a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU and 512MB of RAM, offers a range of built-in apps and games for kids and is fully wireless-disabled, with no 3G and WiFi on-board ... which will help keep kids safe from inappropriate content and your wallet safe from unexpected data charges. Read More

A toddler on a leash – no matter how many times they see it, some people find the sight of a small child wearing a harness and tether just somehow wrong. It’s understandable why some parents do use leashes, however, as many tykes have a nasty habit of wandering off into the mall, park or woods as soon as mom or dad’s back is turned. There are GPS-based alternatives such as the Wherify Child Tracking System (which appears to now be discontinued), although they require the parent to access the internet or use their mobile phone. The Mommy I’m Here CL305 child locator, however, will instantly let you know where your kid went via an audible alarm. Read More

Teens may not be poor drivers by their very nature, but they are inexperienced drivers, and as such they may not even be aware of the fact that they’re speeding, paying insufficient attention to the road, or driving like complete maniacs. A parent or other experienced driver can advise them when they’re riding shotgun, but sooner or later, they’ve got to be allowed out on their own. The tiwi, a new device unveiled at CES this month, is intended to act as an electronic version of that ride-along parent – it makes teen drivers aware of their transgressions when they’re driving alone. Read More

I know parents who refuse to buy cheap, plastic toys for their children. They prefer products that are natural, eco-friendly and non-toxic. The Hut-Hut Kids rocking stool is all that and then some – it’s a solid-wood rocking horse made from FSC-certified wood and it’s not only functional, it stands alone as a beautifully designed piece of furniture. Read More

Parents take note! Sneaky brothers and sisters beware! Soon your every move can be captured by a new kids' toy from Wild Planet. The Spy Video TRAKR is billed as the first app-enabled, programmable remote-controlled vehicle that transmits color video, audio and data, and allows kids to create, download and share custom programs. Read More

Traveling with children is never an easy task. Balancing a kid on one hip while dragging around your carry-on luggage can be a tiring backbreaking chore. Sure, you could opt for a trunki if your kids are tired, but what if your kids are tired AND hungry? The Ride On Carry On addresses this problem by attaching to a rolling suitcase to form a chair where your pride and joy can not only be safely carried as you traverse the seemingly endless miles of airport, it also provides a place to sit and play while enduring the long waits that have become standard for airline passengers. Read More

Around the same time we reported that Nickelodeon was teaming up with Mattel to produce an older, “tweenage” version of the Dora the Explorer, an explosion of outrage erupted from parents concerned by the teaser silhouette which had many thinking Dora was to become a “sexed up” version of her former self. They need not have worried, as the recently unveiled “Dora Links” doll recreates the much loved kids icon as an “age appropriate” interactive doll that connects to a computer via USB and offers an educational and fun experience both on and offline. Read More