This post brought to you by Walmart. All opinions are 100% mine.
Years ago when my nephew was a toddler, Teddy Ruxpin was the ultimate in animated toys. Old Teddy groaned and ground his way through a few eye movements as his lower jaw moved a bit while a cassette played. There was no interaction with Teddy; you just sat and listened as he “told” you a story. He was more a novelty than a companion for play – a little more than just a cassette player for books on tape. He was pretty amazing for the time period, but today’s kids are used to more sophisticated toys and would find him boring. Kids now are used to using tablets; they get a reaction to their actions, and they expect to be an active participant.
With the new Gabby doll from Chatsters™, your daughter won’t just have a new toy. She’ll have a new BFF. Gabby has a sassy personality, a sense of humor, a keen sense of fashion, a cute little puppy, accessories, and more than 25 fun activities and games so her human BFF won’t get tired of her. Gabby will sing, dance, chat, and charm your daughter as she gets to know her.
Gabby’s big, doe-like eyes aren’t just pretty to look at. They light up and animate when she talks. She’s always “thinking” about learning more about her friend, and she’ll ask questions of her human friends, ask for advice, play games, and make funny observations. She knows more than three hundred words and phrases to keep the chatter and the fun going.
Her glasses aren’t just a fashion accessory; they are a pair of high-resolution LED screens. The screens function as her eyes, play animations, and are the screens for playing games with Gabby. The glasses are also touch sensors that are used to communicate with Gabby. When she asks questions – which do you prefer: dinosaurs or unicorns?, for example – you’ll touch the glasses to answer. Gabby’s questions are designed to get to know you better – just like a real BFF.
Chatsters™ provides Gabby with several fun accessories. She has a pet puppy named Sprinkles. She has hair accessories, eye makeup, and lipstick, so you can give her a makeover. Just like most girls, Chatsters™ love their snacks, too, so Gabby comes with a cupcake and a smoothie. No matter which accessory you choose to play with, Gabby has something to say about it and an animation.
For example, you can change the color of her lipstick. Her mouth lights up when you place the lipstick against it, and her lips change colors. She likes music, too. Play a song, and she’ll dance along with you.
If you download a free app to your mobile device, Gabby can call you and send you text messages – just like a real BFF. The app will also unlock new activities. What with all the talking, playing, dancing, and texting, Gabby will get to know all about you! (Check the Apple App Store or Android Marketplace for the Chatsters™ app.)
Gabby stands roughly a foot tall, and she’s designed for children ages four and up. She’ll need four AA batteries, which you’ll need to supply.
Chatsters™ is making Gabby available through Walmart. She’ll be available in Fall 2014, and Walmart is taking pre-orders now. The doll is $79.97. Be sure to get your order in early. What better holiday gift could you give your daughter than a funny, happy, playful, sassy new best friend?
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Your “daughter’s” new best friend? Your “DAUGHTER’S” new best friend???
Your CHILD’S new best friend.
Sandee, it seems they are marketing them to girls, so I used “daughter”…
Maybe boys playing with dolls is not a bad thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNtuVGWgBDM
@Janet,
The fact that the toy company “markets” them towards girls doesn’t mean we have to buy into their stereotype.
Did you read, recently, about the teenager who got Hasboro you change the color of their Easy-Bake oven from pink to steel and purple, after complaining about the gender stereotyping of girls as cooks. After all, many men are making tons of money as chefs—more than women!
Consider if a boy were in those photos. Applying makeup? Think of Max Factor.
it’s very easy to imagine a boy going on to establish a hair care empire such as Paul Mitchell and Vidal Sassoon.
The cupcake accessory? When you come to NYC, visit Billy’s Bakery with two locations.
C’mon, instead of trying to justify your headline, admit you blew it.
@Sandee I would have written the same headline without giving it a second thought. Janet has a daughter and that’s who she was thinking of when she wrote the piece. I think you’re being way too critical of her/us when you should be complaining to Walmart or the company who makes and markets this toy if it bothers you so much that they aren’t including boys. Toys are gender based, always have been and probably always will be. Heck when I was a kid I wanted all the boys toys. My parents bought a few for me without complaining that they were for boys only.
@Julie, @Janet
I very sorry to read this.
@Sandee All those men you mention grew up in a time when there were no gender-neutral toys, and they developed their interests and strengths despite that. Kids don’t see that a toy is only for girls or only for boys. They see what they like. Parents are the ones who say “you can’t have that; it’s for [the gender you aren’t]!”
And color is simply a reflection of some wavelengths of light. Until a few decades ago, pink was considered too masculine for girls, because it was a light red – a “strong, masculine color.” Pink was for boys and light blue was for girls, until society changed their collective minds.
My daughter, Rachel, walked through all the toy aisles and picked out what she thought looked fun to play with – glittery pink and purple or camo green. It’s the same with clothes. She owns lineman’s boots and lace dresses and everything in between. The only thing we said no to is stiletto heels – because she blew her knee out throwing a powerful roundhouse kick in taekwondo.
As I said. I’m sorry you feel that way.
@ Sandee Cohen
Does this mean that if The Gadgeteer review purses, you would like the review to be written as if purses are used by both women and men?
I am just curious as to where you draw the line.
I don’t consider myself to be gender biased by and large, but I do recognize the difference between boys and girls. My 8 year old daughter chose a black jacket over a pink one, and I don’t have a problem with it. But I do recognize that she generally likes pink and purple things.
If I were a marketing company, I would not market girl dolls to boys, no more than I would market rap music to my grandparent generation. That is not to say that none of the people in my grandparent generation love rap music.
Oh lighten up.
if you want to buy the toy for your little boy. go ahead no here one is trying to stop you. who cares to whom or how it’s marketed. going on post boards and self-righteously damning the author doesn’t make you a better person. it just makes you sound like jerk. a bigger statement would be to go and buy the toy for your son b/c that’s what he wants… without over-intellectualizing it or acknowledging what anyone else thinks. but if you still need a soapbox you could always write a review on your own blog.
Just ordered doll and unsure now that it is her if my 10 year old is too old for it. Please comment. I have younger one I can give it to.
Too funny are u being that critical….. That’s what’s wrong with people these days so critical on stupid sh..t.
so anyway with this toy I downloaded the app u can’t use it unless u have a phone connection not just by using WiFi with the app