Educational Toys

New York Toy Fair 2012: Best of Show

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The 2012 New York Toy Fair provided a preview of the upcoming products from a vast array of companies both big and small. Without question there were many items that seemed to be no more than knockoffs of last year’s hottest toys or simple tweaks to traditional top selling favorites. Yet as a whole, my colleagues and I who covered the show were pleasantly surprised to discover that innovation is indeed alive and well in the toy industry. The following list represents CuteMonster.com’s choices for Best of Show at the 2012 NY Toy Fair.

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LeapFrog Text and Learn Review

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Tech gadgets have always fascinated my son. I suspect it runs in the family genes since I’m an avid fan of fun-filled gizmos as well. Therefore it’s not surprising at 3 years of age, he would be captivated by computers with their myriad of on screen eye candy as well as the keyboard’s buttons, letters, symbols, and numbers. To my dismay, he randomly discovers certain keystroke combinations which result in negative “reactions” from my computer such as new settings being implemented, files going missing etc. The same holds true for my Apple iPhone. He’s enamored with the multitouch aspect of the device which is fine but due to his scrutiny certain apps end up being rearranged or disappear altogether. Thankfully these items are all backed up on my computer via itunes (Apple’s software engineers have kids too.). Without question, my son’s interaction with these devices have been a source of conflict between the two of us. I needed to provide my son with a viable, engaging alternative to my personal tech gear. But what? Enter LeapFrog’s Text & Learn to the rescue.

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