|
|
Awesome Kids Adds Animation New Videos Develop Children’s Imaginative Powers
 The company is known for its Toys in a Boxx playsets — a line that, since 1991, has grown to more than 40 themed sets. Awesome Kids’ current animated line features the Magic Color and Play Series and several DVD titles, including “The Magic Book” and “Mount Olympus Magic: The Spirit Games.”PUTTING VALUE INTO VIDEOS “We've looked at a lot of the animated films coming out, and we just think they're a little too harsh for the children. We're going back to the wholesome [values] — not the competitive nature of combat found in video games. “Video games are making kids very myopic,” she continued. “What’s that doing for their imaginative powers?”  LESSONS TO LEARNThe six Awesome Kids characters, which show up on screen and in the playsets, help impart traditional educational values to children. “We have a group of kids that are various ethnic group combinations — some that are of conflicting backgrounds,” De Souza said. “The message is, you’d better learn to get along with all different types of characters and their personalities.” Kids can also learn from the CD in each Boxx, and through interaction with their caregivers. The CD includes a book with both a parents’ and child’s side of the page, De Souza said, and “we popped in some questions we know [children] can’t answer, so parents can answer for the child when they ask.” WHAT RETAILERS ARE SAYING Owner Marilyn Walker of PlayFair Toys in Boulder, Colo., said Toys in a Boxx are “steady sellers for us … [with] more parent and grandparent appeal, from a buying perspective.” She carries the Dinosaurs, Space and Cinderella Boxxes, and said they make nice birthday gifts or something for Grandma to keep at her house.  Lesley Webb, owner of Little Locks Children’s Salon & Toy Boutique in La Jolla, Calif., told TDmonthly she carries the line for the packaging. “They’re convenient for parents and easy for storage,” she pointed out, noting that her 7-year-old stepson owns some. “We found that they're great for the bathtub as well. You can take a handful of them to a restaurant or in the car, [and] there are so many pieces in a set that if a couple get lost, it's not a big deal.” YEARS IN A BOX Producing the components of each themed set is a big deal, however. From research to development to production, it takes roughly three to four years to produce one of the company’s signature playsets, De Souza said. “We have a PhD in education on our staff, so we go to deep extents [with research],” she noted. Time isn’t the only investment, of course. Awesome Kids employs 500 to 600 people across the globe, between its home office and various factory locations, in order to teach kids “to really recognize their intellectual powers of imagination.” See below some of Awesome Kids’ newest items: Since Awesome Kids has not paid its past due balances with ToyDirectory.com, Inc., the company's contact information has been removed.
 Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Disclaimer Privacy Policy Career Opportunities
Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use.
© Copyright 2024 PlayZak®, a division of ToyDirectory.com®, Inc.