VTech(R) Celebrates 25 Years of Educational Toy Innovations at Toy Fair 2001

Three Fun Robots Lead a Parade of 66 New Electronic Learning Toys
VTech Industries, LLC, a pioneer in the interactive learning toy market, is taking its 25th year -- 2001 -- by storm, unveiling 66 new toys, including a friendly alien robot, "Alien-Bot," at The 2001 American International Toy Fair.

VTech's hottest new toys for 2001 include Me-Mo-Mo(TM), an Alien-Bot who befriends children in an effort to learn about life on Earth. This innovative toy encourages kids to "teach" Me-Mo-Mo English by completing 25 activities, such as letter choice, categorization and puzzles. Alphabert and Sprocket, The Ready to Read Robots(TM), engage children in an interactive experience with friendly characters as they learn letters and phonics.

VTech Learning Heritage VTech's "Ages and Stages" product development philosophy builds on the foundation of age-appropriate educational curricula by enhancing learning with a multi-sensory (visual, tactile and auditory) approach. VTech incorporates everything from compelling fun forms, shapes and sounds for younger learners to hands-on, curriculum-enhancing tools for preteens, making VTech's interactive learning products some of the most progressive toys in the market today.

"As VTech marks its 25th year, we celebrate our achievements in developing toys that help children achieve their full potential through learning, exploring and creating," said Emil Heidkamp, president, VTech Industries. "We have made great strides toward our goal to become the most trusted name in electronic products for children."

Trends That Take Shape From day one, children are interested in the world around them, whether it's exploring the sights and sounds in their crib, pretending to be a teacher or fisherman and, as they get older, investigating the world through the Internet. VTech combines interactive learning, proven play patterns and enriching, age-appropriate curriculum to reflect today's trends in its new line to give kids what's hot.

Of course baby's first teddy bear was cozy and comforting, and according to experts, was providing tactile stimulation that is important to baby's development. VTech's new Smart Start(R) Baby Drake(TM) and Baby Bugsy(TM) embrace the comfort of plush toys, while encouraging motor skills development and music appreciation through multiple textures, colors and melodies with soft, huggable friends that baby will love.

In 2001, VTech brings developmental electronic learning to classic baby toys. Ring Around the Rosy(TM) a friendly, smiling friend spins, twirls and carries the tunes of six melodies that stimulate and engage baby's visual, auditory and tactile senses. The Twinkles 'n Hugs(TM) rattle assortment each play three different melodies and light-up antennae that stimulate baby's visual awareness and encourage sound localization.

Toddlers and preschoolers love to pretend they are someone else. VTech helps these imaginations think big by introducing Cody Carpenter's Light 'n Learn(TM) Bench, a fun workbench that takes the traditional "hammering" play pattern and adds on number and letter recognition. Catch 'n Count(TM) Fishing lets preschoolers pretend they're fishing, while teaching numbers and colors through a "smart" fishing pole that identifies the objects children catch on their fishing pole and rewards them with vibration and melodies.

Studies have shown that Internet use is steadily increasing among grade-schoolers and preteens. VTech has answered this demand in 2001 by providing downloadable capabilities to its new PowerZone(TM) Plus Desktop. In addition to the 53 built-in activities, children can further personalize and customize their learning experience by downloading additional activities and games through a PC with and Internet connection.

A Deeper Look at the 2001 Line Up

VTech's Smart Start Baby line features 13 new toys and five items carried over from 2000. All feature a multi-sensory approach to developmental learning by combining classic music along with buttons and lights that stimulate babies while introducing the world around them. In addition to the plush and textured toys, the Nighty Nite Nature Light(TM) attaches to baby's crib and lulls children to sleep while casting soothing, floating images onto the ceiling and into the crib.

Toddlers are introduced to ABCs, 1-2-3s, colors, shapes and more with the 17 new toys featured in VTech's Smart Start Toddler line. The line-up this year includes a new twist on a VTech bestseller, Storytime Rhymes(TM), now featuring a complete storybook with translucent pages, "The Pigs and the Wolf(TM)."

VTech's Smart Start Preschool line's six new toys and four continued items combine unique appearances and character voices to provide reality-based, imaginative role-play and education. At this stage, manners and social skills are a large part of a child's development.

Toys like Farmin' Phonics Hayride(TM) help children get a jump on learning basic social skills, such as saying "pardon me" and "thank you," while Boppin' Band Stand(TM) teaches basic music composition while having fun.

VTech's new FUNdamentals of Learning(TM) line builds on the prior success of VTech's FUNdamentals of Reading(TM) line. With a fun and interactive format, the 12 new toys further VTech's proven formula of single-subject, curriculum-driven learning, focusing on phonics, foreign language and math. Alphabert and Sprocket, The Ready to Read Robots(TM), engage children in an interactive experience with friendly characters as they learn letters and phonics. Global Greetings(TM) provides a fun introduction to English, Spanish and French conversational phrases, and Math Lab(TM) encourages young mathematicians to visualize basic math functions by pushing for addition, pulling for subtraction, and twisting for number order.

VTech's OnTrack(TM) line features toys for children from four to 10 years old. Through new friends like Me-Mo-Mo and products featuring download capabilities, children are able to expand their learning potential through curriculum-based activities in many core subjects.

Habla Espanol? Si (yes)! According to U.S. Census Bureau studies, Spanish is the second-most spoken language in the United States. As domestic numbers climb to more than 22 million people, VTech meets the changing demands of these consumers by providing an assortment of bilingual Spanish/English products for children from birth to pre-teen. "Whether it's English-speaking families wanting their children to learn a second language, or Spanish-speaking families wanting to learn English, VTech's unique bilingual line is a great starting point," said Heidkamp. "The great thing about our bilingual line is that each toy delivers VTech's advanced electronic learning curricula with both English and Spanish translations."

VTech started selling bilingual products in 1999, introducing them to several markets across the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago. This year, VTech has expanded the breadth of the product line available in each of the markets.

About Vtech

For the past 25 years, VTech has been creating and perfecting a full line of products that help young minds develop. All VTech products incorporate compelling, exciting technology with age-appropriate features and activities for kids from birth through pre-teens.

Further information on VTech's complete line of 2001 toys can be found at www.vtechkids.com .

SOURCE VTech Industries, LLC www.prnewswire.com