High five — episode 4
Today is Safer Internet Day 2021 and we welcome you to Episode 4 of High Five, our bi-monthly curated list of 5 items focused on kids and family tech. Let’s not wait and just get started.
1. EdTech, a winner in the pandemic 😷
It seems there is a VC in each of the posts so far and we don’t break with the tradition. This time it’s Brighteye Ventures which publishes a yearly report on edtech. Of course EdTech is benefiting a lot from lockdowns and closed schools and the VC world seems ready to take more risks in the sector. I believe the European ecosystem will continue to get stronger, especially as the portfolio of products for small kids increases, requiring local original content (language and culture). One could expect a lot of local European players booming in the next years and being acquired by their larger American or Asian competitors.
2. Kids Market Insights in a podcast 🎶
The people at KidsKnowBest, Kids Industries and Sherbert Research have started a new podcast called Kids Market Insights. A lot of combined knowledge in an entertaining show which I recommend to anyone working with or interested in kids products. It’s interesting to see in such a format already how big the cultural differences can be in the kids content space and at the same time how they slowly disappear with global distribution platforms such as Netflix. Good or bad thing? Worth discussing.
3. Lego keeps innovating 💡
I’m a big fan of Lego and how the company has managed to transform and evolve while keeping its heritage all the way.
Two things that came out of lego in the beginning of this year:
- Lego Vidiyo, an app where kids can create AR videos with Lego characters next to them. I still wonder why there is not yet a good camera for kids, with effects integrated from all their favorite characters.
- a white noise playlist made only of lego sounds. Turn it on, sit in your most comfy spot and relax to the sound of Legos… until someone walks on one of them.
4. Better Internet for Kids 👦
How did I know it was Safer Internet Day? Thanks to the BIK website. The Better Internet for Kids is a European initiative offering services, guidelines and support to protect our kids on the internet. It is in line with the European Strategy for a better internet for kids (yes there is one)
The point 2.1.1 is interesting and I can see it going very well with Topic 1 from today: “Stimulating the production of creative and educational online content for children”. Expect the next couple of years to be a boom of new original content for kids online.
5. A small easy guide to tech with kids 👪
For any parent wondering how to handle tech with their kids, here is a good set of advice on the NY Times. One of the most difficult ones is probably this : “Make Tech Time Bonding Time”. Most parents will use tech to occupy their children so they can have free time and that’s OK :) But it’s probably helpful to try take some of this time and be genuinely interested in what the kids are playing.
That’s it for today, thanks for reading us and until next time, High Five 🖐 .
