EAST AURORA, N.Y., June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Touch-screen
technology is everywhere and it comes as no surprise that today's
children are practically born digital. It's second nature for even
the youngest children to pick up a smart device and instinctively
navigate to find their favorite, age-appropriate apps. As parents
try to help their children find a healthy balance between
traditional and tech play, one thing is for certain...this growing
trend isn't slowing down any time soon.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release,
please click:
http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56836-fisher-price-laugh-learn-apps-toddlers-touch-screen-technology
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120620/MM27248)
In 2011, Fisher-Price, the leading maker of infant and preschool
toys and Mattel's largest brand, took an innovative approach to
integrating "app-cessories" into its product line by creating the
Laugh & Learn™ Apptivity™ Case for iPhone® and iPod® touch
devices to protect parents' coveted devices from babies' dribble
and drool. The Apptivity Case, appropriate for children ages six
months+, was developed in conjunction with free Laugh & Learn
apps to enable infants to experience their favorite Laugh &
Learn characters, like the beloved Puppy, in a new, engaging
format.
To date, the Laugh & Learn apps have had over 2.8 million
downloads and the number continues to grow. Last month,
Fisher-Price launched a new Laugh & Learn app for the iPhone
and iPod touch – the Laugh & Learn Learning Letters
Monkey app – that interacts with its new Laugh & Learn
Apptivity™ Monkey. Babies can squeeze the plush monkey's hands and
feet to interact with the app, which teaches them about colors,
numbers, animals and more. Even without a device inside, the Laugh
& Learn Apptivity Monkey entertains babies with more than 10+
sung-songs, tunes and phrases.
"This generation of children is the most tech-savvy yet," said
Kathleen Alfano, Senior Director,
Child Research at Fisher-Price. "Families share their smart devices
and children often inherit their parents' hand-me-down devices to
call their own. While smart phones and age-appropriate apps have
become a seamless, new developmental tool for children, parents can
still keep a well-rounded toy box that includes both traditional
and tech toys."
In May, Fisher-Price launched its Laugh & Learn Apptivity
Case for iPad® devices, which is off to a strong start. In
addition, the company is launching a Kid-Tough® Apptivity™ Case for
iPhone and iPod touch devices, aimed at preschoolers age 3+, with a
new, free Photo Studio App (available now) that features a
wide variety of drawing tools, stampers, frames and special effects
so preschoolers can explore their visual
creativity.
To help kick off its new 2012 app-cessory products, Fisher-Price
released a few "Just Like Mom and
Dad" photos— including shots of father and son and mother and
daughter tapping away at tablets and smartphones in a local coffee
shop. The children's devices were protected by Fisher-Price
Apptivity cases and it's hard to tell who was more immersed –
parents or their children. Download high-resolution photos at
http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56836-fisher-price-laugh-learn-apps-toddlers-touch-screen-technology.
Visit the Apple iTunes Store for a complete list of Fisher-Price
iPhone and iPad apps designed for babies six months and older – all
available for free download – including Where's Puppy's Nose?
For Baby, which teaches Baby about body parts with two
fun characters; and Let's Count Animals For Baby, which
encourages Baby to learn about numbers and animals through
interaction with engaging animations and sound effects; among
others. In addition, preschool apps, for children 3+, are also
available.
The Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case for iPhone and iPod touch
devices and the Apptivity Monkey are compatible with the iPhone 1G,
3G, 3GS, 4G and iPod touch 3G and 4G. The Laugh & Learn
Apptivity Case for iPad is compatible with iPad 1 and iPad 2. The
Kid-Tough Apptivity Case for iPhone and iPod touch devices is
designed to work with the iPhone 1G, 3G, 3GS, 4G and iPod touch 3G
and 4G. Apple electronic products are not included. Apple,
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc.,
registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple
Inc.
About Fisher-Price:
Fisher-Price, Inc., a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT)
located in East Aurora, N.Y., is
the leading brand of infant and preschool toys in the world.
The company's legacy of high quality toys has enhanced early
childhood development for more than 81 years. Some of the
Company's best-known "classic" brands include Little People®, Power
Wheels®, View-Master® and Imaginext®. Fisher-Price is
also a leading developer of baby gear products (infant swings,
bouncers, high chairs), as well as a wide array of character-based
toys inspired by high quality children's programming such as Dora
the Explorer™, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Thomas &
Friends®. The Company's website,
www.fisher-price.com, as well as its Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/fisherprice provide valuable information and
resources to parents and grandparents around the world.
Media
Contacts:
|
|
Juliette
Reashor
|
Susannah Frank
|
Fisher-Price, Inc.
|
Weber Shandwick
|
716.687.3354
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212.445.8437
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Juliette.reashor@mattel.com
|
sfrank@webershandwick.com
|
SOURCE Fisher-Price, Inc.