Why is technology so important in toys these days? Let me put it this way. If there was a snow day in my school district and I was the only one to get a call about it I could ask one of my three children so blast this news out and within five minutes every kid in our school district would know that school is out. If I had all three kids doing this I could probably shut down the neighboring schools as well. 
 
Our kids have been born surrounded by technology that we as grownups are still trying to grasp. There is no learning curve. It’s actually a natural progression of steps. Babies pick their heads up...learn to crawl and then walk.  Somewhere in the middle they are already happy when playing with mom and dads cell phone. Yes, this comes before real words.

From early childhood learning and up there is always a computer in front of our kids. In many school districts, like my own, kids in there middle and high school years can't even do homework without a computer. 
 
So its no surprise that much of the fun in their lives comes from what our toy insider team now calls smart tech.  Smart tech is not just a computer application or a toy with batteries. Smart tech will wow you because it’s cool for any number of reasons. And smart tech begins in toys for babies.
 
Here are some of my favorites from our HOT 20 List.. in all different ages:
 
Hide and Seek JOJO, Interactive Bunny.  JOJO comes with his carrot, and the child and the carrot hide while JOJO covers his eyes with his ears (yes, he really does this) and counts to ten.  JOJO will then search for your child with the carrot.  Does JOJO always find your child…no!  Sometime the carrot is too far and JOJO needs help and he will ask for a hint.  If your child yells here I am…JOJO will move in that direction.  After a couple of minutes if JOJO has not found your child he will say “come out, come out, where ever you are” just like the real game.  That is Smart Tech and great interactive fun for our youngest kids.
 
Some Smart Tech is so smart (how smart)…so smart because kids want the same great gadgets that their parents have.  I’m a Kindle reader…and so is my sister.  For my reading older teens…getting them a Kindle is fine.  But not for my nieces who want exactly what mommy (my sister) has, well, not so fine.  The V-reader by V-tech looks and feels like mom’s, but, it doesn’t carry the same high price tag, and more importantly it encourages a love of reading with animation in both the pictures and the words.  There are games and other things for kids to do…very smart tech.
 
Smart Tech in Spy Toys are definitely cool.  For kids 8+, what’s cooler than the Spy Net Secret Mission Video Watch.  Kids can go online to download secret missions and then use  the hidden video camera (which also has audio) and create videos that play on the screen of the watch and of course can be downloaded online.
The Air Hogs Hawk Eye is a radio control helicopter that takes up to five minutes of video.  Fly the helicopter to your neighbor’s backyard for a little spying fun for kids 12+.  Of course I’m a lousey pilot, but then again, I’m not 12J
 
Of course I can’t stop talking about Paper Jamz….the coolest tech in the slimmest guitar you will ever see.  No stings…all touch.  Plays like a real guitar but also gives perfect play mode, volume control, and even a karaoke mode.  Drums and amp just as cool and innovative so kids can build the entire band.  And there’s more coming….I have the 411 on that, but my lips are sealed till the news is released!!
 
Technology does not just exist on the computer anymore…it is a part of our every day lives..and certainly something that our kids expect.  Should every toy have some wild and cool “smart tech” application…the answer is NO!  But, many will and it’s as exciting for us (maybe more) as it is for them to watch their eyes light up because something astounds them.  As adults,we are an easier audience to be wowed.  Remember that if the technology is really smart, it will deliver hours…years of interactive play…never just a watch me!