Hi-Tech Toys for the Holidays Featured on SiriusXM

<strong>LeapPad II (Leapfrog)</strong><br />
2012 is clearly the year of the tablet, and many of us share our iPads, iPhones, and Android devices with younger hands. But there is always a risk. Will it get dropped? Will all your contacts suddenly be erased, or an email of gibberish sent to everyone in your address book. Will your child suddenly be out on the web seeing things that are inappropriate. The LeapPad 2 is the answer. It looks a lot like Mom and Dad's touch devices, but it is specifically designed for kids. With over 300 available programs written with kids in mind it combines various ways kids learn. There are drill and review titles, but also creativity titles including an art program that is open ended and lots of fun. Now sporting video as well as still capabilities, the LeapPad 2 is a true multi-purpose gadget. Not just a toy, this is a platform. Though most apps cost more than typical iPad games, they tend to be deeper in terms of educational value while still maintaining a sense of 'play'. Ages 3-9.

<strong>Tag World Map Puzzle (19.99)</strong><br />
Tag from Leapfrog has been a favorite of mine since it launched. Looking like a fat pen, it doesn't write; it only reads! When used in with specially encoded books and other products from Leapfrog, the tag can read aloud. It can also be used to play learning games. New this year is the Tag World Map Puzzle for kids 4-8. You put the large pieces of the world map together and then explore them with the Tag. Over 300 points of interest are on the map, all triggering responses from the Tag. For instance, you'll learn how to say hello in languages from around the world while also finding about the wildlife in various regions. Games reinforce the learning, making this a puzzle kids will come back to again and again. Note, the Tag pen is sold separately (As of this writing Amazon is selling the pen for less than thirty dollars.) Ages 5-9.

<strong>Barbie Photo Fashion Doll Camera (38.00)</strong><br />
My two girls never shied away from technology, but many do, gravitating more to pretend doll play. I think it is important that regardless of gender we all feel comfortable with technology and the toy may be just the sort of bridge to interest the pre-teen girl in your life into a new sphere of interest. Inside this Barbie doll is a real digital camera; the lens embedded in her back. You take a picture by pressing her jeweled belt buckle. The images can be viewed on a computer, but they also display on Barbie's blouse, like a printed t-shirt. The pictures can be gussied up, adding stickers and backgrounds, by pressing on other buttons on the 11.5 inch tall doll.

<strong>LOL Elmo ($39.99) & Flying Super Grover ($32)</strong><br /> These two novelty dolls may not do that much, but they do it with such magic and good humor that you have to smile. Tickle Elmo and he just cracks up, laughing and shaking. It is like watching cats on YouTube. So adorable, so soft, must keep watching. Flying Super Grover (shown above), debuts in a kind of superhero get-up - if you can imagine a superhero with a red cape, blue tights, red nose and a Romanesque bronze helmet. His gimmick is that when you pretend to make him fly he knows (most of the time) if he is going up, up, up or down, down, down, and tells you. He jokes, makes sound affects and is a fun play companion.

<strong>SilverLit Interactive Bluetooth R/C Porsche 911 Carrera ($79.99)</strong><br />Our tween testers' toy of the year, an RC model car that you control with your iPhone. Connected by Bluetooth, you can wireless steer the car RC car, and also control the lights. You can control the car with virtual joysticks or by using tilt-control. Kid testers loved the speed it was capable of and the great sound effects. VROOOOOmmmmm!

<strong>LittleBits ($49 and Up)</strong><br />
Inspiring kids to try new things, to explore creatively, is one of the greatest gifts you can give to the children in your life. Usually we think of 'creativity' sets as art supplies, but the amazing LittleBits helps kids explore using science, and playing with electricity has never been more fun. You see, instead of different colors of paints, LittleBits supplies dozens of electrical modules that can be endlessly combined to create working devices. Each module fits together by magnets, so there is no soldering required. Think of the set as object-oriented programming in a real-world, analog setting. There are several sets available, including a Holiday Starter Set available for ($49). If you can swing the extra cost, look at the $89 Starter set, as it offers a more dynamic set of modules including a dimmer, pressure switch, and very cool strip of bar-graph LEDs that lights up more as more power is applied through the circuit.
(Note: because of the strong magnets used in the set it is imperative that this not fall into the hands of kids still putting things in their mouths, including younger siblings. Swallowed, these magnets can be fatal, so please be careful!)

Hi-Tech Toys for the Holidays Featured on SiriusXM

I'll appear on SiriusXM Radio showing off some of the coolest family-friendly hi-tech toys, games, gadgets and gizmos of the year. These are some of the toys featured in the segment.

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