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High-Tech Toys for Tots

By Beth Weinhouse



It's hard to miss them in toy stores. They talk, blink, whistle, light up, and practically sing and dance by themselves. No, we're not talking about computer and video games for big kids, but toys for the very tiniest youngsters. Good old stuffed animals have become "interactive plush toys" that move and talk back. Keyboards play music by themselves, or prompt babies with flashing lights.

By Beth Weinhouse

It's hard to miss them in toy stores. They talk, blink, whistle, light up, and practically sing and dance by themselves. No, we're not talking about computer and video games for big kids, but toys for the very tiniest youngsters. Good old stuffed animals have become "interactive plush toys" that move and talk back. Keyboards play music by themselves, or prompt babies with flashing lights. Activity boards that used to simply rely on babies' hands to move levers, turn dials, and ring bells now have "modes" for emitting voices, lively melodies or bedtime lullabies. Even that old standard, nesting boxes, may now have an electronic base that makes animal sounds and states their corresponding names.