The perfect mouse for little hands

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Sept, 2004

Face it. Kids today are born using computers. There's a huge industry of computer games geared towards the youngest of children. Commercials for cereals, yogurt, games, toys, and animated shows all entice youngsters to check out product websites. Even preschools are equipped with computers. We constantly have to wrestle with our kids for some computer time. As advanced as the little ones are, the size and shape of an adult mouse can be difficult for a small hand to master.

Enter KidzMouse, Burlingame, Calif., with a line of "mice" designed for children ages 2 and up. Decorated in a variety of appealing bugs and licensed characters--we adore Paloma Firefly, which lights up, as well as Blue from "Blue's Clues" and Winnie the Pooh--each optical mouse fits perfectly in a child's hand and the oversized buttons work with a squeeze (rather than a tap) to click. KidzMouse ($24.95) does not require any additional software and is both PC and Mac compatible.

For stereo listening, there's Kidz-Mouse Ears, a headphone set that is equally appealing to young children and tweens. With padded, replaceable leatherette ear cushions and an adjustable headband, the device sits comfortably on a child's head. The 6' straight cord with 3.5mm stereo plug is permanently attached and the volume controls are set by the parent or teacher. KidzMouse Ears comes in two sizes, small ($19.95) and large ($24.95).

These cute yet useful products are available at toy and computer stores, mass merchandisers, and online at www.kidzmouse.com.