Chicago – VTech (www.vtechkids.com), a world leader in age-appropriate and developmental stage-based electronic learning products for children, today announced four of its products were recognized by the preeminent consumer publication for toys, the Toy Insider™, as hot toys of the season.
“We are thrilled to have so many products selected as part of the Toy Insider’s list of the hottest spring and summer toys,” said William To, President, VTech Electronics North America. “Our inclusion demonstrates our commitment to providing toys that allow children to have fun while learning and stimulate their senses at every age and every stage of development.”
Four products geared for infants and toddlers – Busy Learners Activity Cube™, Monkey Band Music Center™, Sort & Go Helicopter™ and Roll & Surprise Animal Train™ – were featured in the Toy Insider’s Spring Edition, assisting gift givers in selecting the best and hottest toys for the outdoor and travel season. Each product was recognized in multiple categories, including Travel Toys & Games, Physical/Active Toys and Nature & Educational Toys.
“VTech’s commitment to developing quality, educational products for young children shines through these new innovations,” said Laurie Schacht, Toy Insider Mom. “Our testers were enamored with the versatile range of new infant and preschool toys that are packed with play value and will delight little ones.”
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 9 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.
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 guide, which can be found at www.vtechkids.com/milestones.
Entering its ninth year, the Toy Insider is made up of a panel of industry experts that review hundreds of products throughout the year. As parents first and toy experts second, the team reviews each product to evaluate product features and overall value, narrowing their selections to the best of the best.
VTech’s award winners include:
Busy Learners Activity Cube: Exploration and fun is around every corner with the Busy Learners Activity Cube. Featuring five sides to explore, this play cube attracts baby’s attention and encourages imaginative play with music, light-up buttons, colors and more. Shape and animal buttons introduce animal names, animal sounds and shapes. Press and slide musical instrument buttons introduce instrument names, sounds and colors. Sliding, spinning blocks promote interaction and fine motor skill development. This interactive cube also plays fun sounds when it’s moved. Plays 25 sing-along songs and melodies. (MSRP:US$17.99, ages 6-36 months)
Monkey Band Music Center: Children will jam and learn with the Monkey Band Music Center as they press light-up piano keys and tap the drum to hear an array of instruments. Animal friends on piano keys introduce themselves, sing songs and teach instrument names on this fun music toy. The adorable monkey encourages interaction with two sing-along songs and 10 playful melodies that keep the learning beat going. (MSRP:US$13.99, ages 6-36 months)
Sort & Go Helicopter: Fly into learning fun with the Sort & Go Helicopter. Little ones will discover shapes and animals as they play with the shape sorter pieces and hear sounds that encourage play. Press the up/down and stop/go buttons to learn about opposites. Push or pull the helicopter to hear playful phrases and melodies. Watch their imaginations take off with the fun toy helicopter design and two spinning propellers. The sky’s the limit! (MSRP:US$14.99, ages 12-36 months)
Roll & Surprise Animal Train: Choo, choo! Here comes the Roll & Surprise Animal Train with loads of learning excitement! Little ones will enjoy peek-a-boo fun and develop fine motor skills through turn, slide and press activities. Animal friends introduce animal names, animal sounds and colors. This educational toy also rewards curiosity and teaches cause and effect with pop-up surprises and 55 songs, melodies, sounds, and phrases. The train is ready to go, all aboard! (MSRP:US$15.99, 6-36 months)
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 award-winning products such as the InnoTab®3S Wi-Fi Learning Tablet, one of the first children’s learning-based tablets with Wi-Fi, MobiGo®, V.Reader®and V.Smile®. The Learning Lodge™, VTech’s comprehensive app store, features a robust library of more than 650 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 Limited is headquartered in Hong Kong with distribution globally. VTech is the largest supplier of ELPs from infancy to preschool in the US and Western Europe.
For more information on VTech’s additional product lines, visit www.VTechKids.com, www.facebook.com/VTechtoys on Facebook or follow @VTechToys on Twitter.
About The Toy Insider
The Toy Insider™ is THE SOURCE for the hottest toys and gifts throughout the year. Entering its ninth year, the Toy Insider panel is made up of toy industry experts, led by industry veterans Jonathan Samet, co-publisher of The Toy Insider and publisher of The Toy Book, the leading trade publication for the toy industry;Jackie Breyer, editor-in-chief of The Toy Insider and The Toy Book; and Laurie Schacht, Toy Insider Mom, co-publisher of The Toy Insider, contributing toy editor for Woman’s Day and Grandparents.com, and the trusted resource for parents, grandparents and consumers when it comes to toys and gifts for families. To learn more, visit ToyInsider.com.
