'Toys' that teach: educators weigh in on value of interactive learning systems.(Upfront Roundtable)

Playthings, March, 2004 by Printz, Carrie

They are flying of the shelves. Marketed as learning systems or just plain educational toys, the latest genre of 'interactive toys' promising to teach or encourage learning are among the brightest stars for toy retailers. A few years ago, these toys were few and far between. But as the cost of technology dropped and interactivity improved, the category took on a life of its own; driven in part by parents looking to provide their kids with a learning 'edge.' As the category continues to flourish with new offerings, parents look to retailers for information about them. On the following pages, PLAYTHINGS provides a roundtable of educator input to assist retailers in helping customers make 'educated' choices.--Maria Weiskott

Do learning systems actually help...