In an age where parents are quick to pacify their children with a a quick screen fix, LittleBits stands apart. The New York City based toy company holds faith in the belief that the formative years of a person’s life are also some of the most creative, building toys that entertain and fascinate both kids and adults alike.
Founded in 2011, LittleBits was founded by Ayah Bdeir with the core mission of addressing the alarming disconnect between our reliance on technology and our understanding of it. By providing building kits with near limitless construction possibilities, LittleBits teaches kids to become inventors of technology and not just consumers.
While LittleBits initially struggled to make products accessible to everyone, their newest release, Gizmos and Gadgets, essentially eliminates those concerns, and may actually be the first of their products that could be recommended for children under 10. With Gizmos and Gadgets, at least 12 contraptions can be assembled, including pinball machines and remote controlled cars. The kit is packaged with a newspaper style instructional guide covering estimates for the length of each project, a list of materials, and more. The approximated amount of time required for each project extends from the 5 minutes needed to build a fan, to the hour long Spy Box in order to fit any part of your kid’s day. The instructional is easy to understand, providing simple step by step instructions that should be understandable for most children without adult assistance. The kit includes a LEGO-esque board to hold the LittleBits modules. With 15 electronic parts and whole bunch of extra pieces like wheels and stickers, kids are given near limitless possibilities to assemble their wildest ideas. Setting this product apart from its predecessors, every piece from batteries to adhesives is included with the kit, saving you a tip to the store and your kid from disappointment! If you’re kid’s feeling a bit ambitious and is looking for more projects after completing those included with the kit, the instructional guide also includes a series of modifications and suggestions to offer a whole new array of ideas.
Little Bits has just secured $44.2 million in Series B funding led by DFJ Growth. The company looks to have some serious plans for it too, with CEO Ayah Bdeir saying the funding will be used to make a move into Salesforce, SAP, and Twilio for internal development. LittleBits is looking into establishing a subscription service that would provide regular customers with new parts on a monthly basis.
You can bet this one will be a hit this holiday season. Check it out here, at Amazon.
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