Child146;s Play

Dealing with a precocious child could need a special kind of fortitude for many. But a simple solution would be to hand over your TV remote to them or simply let them run their hands over your laptop.

Children8217;s Day lineup or gifting season, retailer shelves are dressed with cool gadgets for young fingers

Dealing with a precocious child could need a special kind of fortitude for many. But a simple solution would be to hand over your TV remote to them or simply let them run their hands over your laptop. This generation, after all, is not about stuffed toys and building blocks but X-boxes and hi-tech gadgets that have caught the imagination of tiny tots. Toy manufacturers seem to have caught on to this trend quickly as the plethora of gadgets in the market testify.

8220;Convergence is the way forward. Children must be exposed to gadgets very early in life. If they are technologically comfortable at an early age, then handling difficult devices or gadgets in future becomes easy,8221; says Atindriya Bose, country manager, Sony Computer Entertainment who launched Playstation3000 series last week, a device that has special games for children based on spellings and music. For those who want to burn a smaller hole in their pocket can opt for an Xbox 360 console instead. There is a fascination and admiration for technology from a very young age, making hi-tech gadgets the gift of choice for most children. 8220;But one must make sure that these gadgets have educational value in them too,8221; says Bose.

From creating greeting cards to flying airplanes, the Digital Arts and Crafts Studio created by Fisher Price especially for pre-schoolers makes sure your kids have fun while helping them learn. 8220;The range has been designed to get children to learn, using their creativity to the fullest and ensure the overall development of little ones, while they are getting entertained,8221; says Rahul Bhowmik, marketing head, Mattel Toys, India.

Value for Money
Playstation 3000 series 8211; Rs 39,000/-
Digital Arts and Crafts Studio 8211; Rs 2,999/-
Computer Cool School 8211; Rs 2,999/-
All-in-one Learning Desk- Rs 3,999/-
Disney Mix Stick MP3 8211; Rs 1,800/-
Funky Beats Keyboard 8211; Rs 2,870/-