Chicago – VTech (www.vtechkids.com), a world leader in age-appropriate and developmental stage-based electronic learning products for children, today announced three products were honored as top toys of the year by Parents® and FamilyFun®, cornerstone publications of the Meredith Corporation. The Kidizoom® Smartwatch and Smart Shots Sports Center™ were named “Best Toys of the Year” by Parents magazine, while the Record & Learn KidiStudio™ was recognized as a top 10 Toy of the Year (T.O.Y.) by FamilyFun magazine. All three products are featured in the November issues of the publications.
The Kidizoom Smartwatch, the world’s first smartwatch for kids, includes engaging features such as a built-in camera, video and fun photo effects. The Smart Shots Sports Center, a 2-in-1 toy with a twist, combines technology with classic play patterns to keep little ones engaged as they learn numbers, shapes, music and more. And the Record & Learn KidiStudio is the ultimate learning toy for kids to develop and foster a lifetime of music appreciation.
“We are thrilled to be recognized by such trusted parenting resources as Parents and FamilyFun,” said William To, President, VTech Electronics North America. “As a leader of innovative toys, we strive to create educational and engaging content that parents and kids both love and have grown to expect from our brand. These honors are a testament to that commitment.”
“Parents and FamilyFun toy testers play with hundreds of toys to narrow the list down to our top picks and nobody is better qualified to weigh in on what toys are the most fun, silly, creative, and inventive than kids themselves,” said Dana Points , Content Director of Meredith Parents Network. “VTech’s highly engaging Smart Shots Sports Center was coveted by our youngest testers, while the Record & Learn KidiStudio and the Smartwatch were a hit with the older children.”
VTech’s award-winning toys include:
Kidizoom® Smartwatch (www.vtechkids.com/kidizoomsmartwatch): The interactive Kidizoom Smartwatch lets kids capture photos, add photo effects, record videos and play built-in games for learning fun on the go. Complete with an easy-to-use 1.4″ color touch screen, as well as more than 50 digital and analog clock displays, the multi-functional Kidizoom Smartwatch is perfect for kids learning to tell time. It boasts a rechargeable battery, alarm clock, timer, stopwatch, voice recorder with five voice changing effects and parental game controls. Made just for kids, the Kidizoom Smartwatch features a durable design to withstand drops and bumps and is splash and sweat proof. The Kidizoom Smartwatch is PC and MAC compatible for uploading photos, videos and recorded voice files and offers access to VTech’s Learning Lodge® app store, where parents can download even more games and watch displays to extend the learning fun. Available in four vibrant colors: blue, pink, white and green. (Ages 4 years and up, MSRP: US$59.99)
Smart Shots Sports Center™ (www.vtechkids.com/smartshots): Parents can cheer on their little sports stars with the Smart Shots Sports Center. The electronic sports center features a soccer goal and basketball hoop for a fun 2-in-1 experience. Kick the soccer ball into the net to hear fun sounds or toss the basketball into the hoop and the magic sensor will count the number of baskets scored, up to ten. Three buttons introduce shapes, numbers, opposites, sing-along songs and more. Turn the gears or flip the page to hear fun phrases and sounds. The sports center also features a light-up screen that plays a variety of fun animations and shows numbers, shapes and letters to reinforce learning. (Ages 12-36 months, MSRP: US$39.99)
Record & Learn KidiStudio™(www.vtechkids.com/kidistudio): The Record & Learn KidiStudio lets kids perform like a rock star! Kids can explore a variety of musical instruments, adjust the tempo and sing-along to the music while recording a musical masterpiece to share with family and friends. The light-up keyboard lets them follow the lights and learn to play their favorite melodies. Kids can choose an instrument and use the keyboard to play that instrument’s different sounds, or press the cymbal or tap along on the drum to add a beat to the song. They can even pretend to be a DJ with the turntable sound effect and speed up or slow down the tempo to match their style. Sing along to 20 melodies in Rock, Hip Hop, Jazz and Techno styles with a real voice-changing microphone. (Ages 3-6 years, MSRP: US$39.99)
VTech works closely with a panel of children’s learning specialists on the development of its infant and preschool learning products. Each one of the Expert Panel members specializes in developmental or educational fields for children from birth through nine years of age. VTech and the Expert Panel collaborate to ensure their products and content deliver the best learning experience possible for every child at every stage of development. To learn more about VTech’s Expert Panel, go to www.vtechkids.com/parenting.
Each child grows at a different pace mentally, emotionally and physically, and has different needs as they grow through various life stages. Insight from these developmental and education experts allows VTech to provide parents with guidelines and recommendations to help them make informed choices. VTech delivers an expansive selection of toys that are appropriate for their child’s particular age and stage and to accompany them as they continue to grow and reach new developmental milestones. These recommendations have been compiled into a Milestones resource, which can be found at www.vtechkids.com/milestones.
For more information about the complete VTech product range, please visit www.vtechkids.com.
About VTech
VTech is a world leader in age-appropriate and developmental stage-based electronic learning products for children. As a pioneer in the learning toy category, VTech develops high-quality, innovative educational products that enrich children’s development and make learning fun. With a rich, almost 35 year history, VTech has not only established itself as a learning authority but also consistently remains at the forefront of innovation with multiple award-winning products such as the InnoTab® MAX, its first children’s learning tablet with Android™ learning content, Kidizoom® Smartwatch, the first smartwatch for kids, InnoTab® 3S, MobiGo®, V.Reader® and V.Smile®. The Learning Lodge®, VTech’s comprehensive app store, features a robust library of more than 800 educational and entertaining games, e-Books, music and videos with engaging age-appropriate content across the widest variety of curricula, with content expanding to offer even more titles. The company also has a broad range of award-winning infant and preschool products available in 24 different languages worldwide, with more than 100 new products introduced every year. In order to further strengthen VTech’s position as a learning authority, the company’s Expert Panel, with esteemed experts in reading, language arts, science, math and child development, consult on new product introductions and Learning Lodge content.
VTech Electronics North America, LLC is based in Arlington Heights, Illinois . VTech Electronics Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with distribution globally. VTech is the global leader in electronic learning products from infancy to preschool.
For more information on VTech’s additional product lines, visit www.VTechKids.com, www.facebook.com/VTechtoys on Facebook or follow @VTechToys on Twitter.
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About FamilyFun Magazine
Reaching an audience of more than 4 million, FamilyFun magazine gives parents ideas and inspiration needed to create unforgettable family moments. Part of Meredith Corporation’s Parents Network of brands, FamilyFun is a trusted expert on family cooking, vacations, celebrations, play, creative projects, and learning — the full spectrum of fun that enriches the precious time families share. Written for parents with children 3 to 12, FamilyFun is unique in the marketplace, delivering real ideas for — and from — real families.
