The Best Toys of 2006 – Pre-school
Barbie "I know you" Smart Phone
Manufacturer: KIDdesigns
Ages: 3 and up
Suggested Retail Price: $43
What it is
The Barbie "I Know You" Smart Phone gives girls a truly personal make-believe phone experience with Barbie. Parents use the enclosed CD-Rom and cable to program the phone with a kid's personal information, such as family members, favorite things, and birthdays. Best of all, the programming happens through a panel on the back of the package, so the kids think that the phone came that way-and that Barbie really knows all about them, which of course, she does. Barbie calls the phone with personalized greetings and messages. And there are realistic phone sounds, busy signals and even voice mail.
Why it's fun
The Barbie Smart Phone allows little kids to interact with Barbie in a popular play pattern. Kids love getting calls from Barbie and hearing Barbie call them by name and mention their favorite colors, foods, family members, birthdays, pets, hobbies, and more.
There is also a back-lit screen with Barbie's picture that lights up when Barbie is on the phone.
Who's going to love it
Little girls will love this Barbie themed phone because the personalization is always a surprise at the young age. It truly is magic, and when kids first encountered it, they kept asking, "How does she know that? The styling is realistic, and the handset is sized right for little hands so it creates a rewarding experience across the board.
What to be aware of
Entering and downloading information to the phone is simple but requires a PC with open USB port. The Barbie Smart Phone comes with all the software required and a USB cable. The package back features a perforated section that allows parents to program the phone without removing from the package. Very useful for giving as a gift.
