Kiddie Accessories
August 8, 2005
KidzMouse is king when it comes to child-friendly computer keyboards and mice. Now the company has introduced a line of headphones so adults can be spared the mind-numbing ditties from Putt-Putt and other kiddie computer games. KidzMouse Ears, available in a few different colorful designs (bumblebees, fireflies, ladybugs, Elmo), come in two sizes: one is recommended for ages 2 to 10, the other for ages 9 to 13. Both survived an attempted mangling by my 3-year-old. The soft, cushioned ear pads come off to be cleaned or replaced.
The $30 KidzMouse keyboards are sturdy and colorful—decorative themes include Mickey Mouse and SpongeBob SquarePants—and they are stripped of non-essential function and control keys. A bit of internal software enables them to forgive clumsy fingering; if your child keeps him finger pressed on a single key—the letter B, say—while hunting for his next target, only one 'B" will appear on screen. Compatible with both PCs and Macs, they connect via a USB port. (You can also use the PS/2 adapter, included in the box, to connect to an older PC.) Matching mice are sold separately for $30 with a scroll knob, $25 without. Both versions have extra-large click buttons that will respond to direct hits as well as finger squeezes from the side.
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