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Smart speakers come with challenges, especially for families with children. Among them, the privacy and data collection concerns, unvetted content everywhere you turn, potential for hacking, and cost. We’ve all heard the stories of kids “accidentally” ordering thousands of dollars’ worth of motorcycles on Amazon. Oof.
Remaining dedicated to our mission, we wanted to create an all-audio speaker product that was truly safe for kids to use on their own, with expertly curated content bundles on kid-friendly themes. With that at the forefront, WhaZoodle was born.
WhaZoodle is centered around Explore mode—with half of its two hours of audio content curated to a specific category, like Animals and Bugs or Engineering and Technology. Listeners will hear podcasts, music, short stories and more connected to the theme of the audio bundle. For example, if the theme is “Be Brave!”, the device will play content that explores facing fears and anxiety with courage and determination to enjoy new challenges.
We want WhaZoodle to be a child’s sidekick, not just for learning, but for their daily physical, social, and emotional needs. That’s why we’ve introduced two supplementary modes—Recess and Relax— designed to encourage kids to exercise, play games, and get creative, and to resolve a full day of energy with self-care tools like guided meditations and relaxing nature sounds.
Empower autonomous exploration with themed adventures and short stories, music, podcasts, and more. Reduce screen time and fuel imagination alongside homework, creative play and productive free time with expertly curated kid-safe content.
Activate a midday boost to exercise with interactive games, activities, yoga, and challenges to burn off energy or be a rainy-day recess hero. Adults can promote physical activity in a safe and controlled environment for peace of mind.
Practice mindfulness and wind down from anxiety with calming sounds of nature, serene soundscapes, and guided meditations. Relax Mode offers a mental break from structured learning, helping kids get centered.
One of my favorite aspects of the audio format is that it’s inherently creative. It’s up to the listener to create the landscapes, the appearance of main characters, and other visuals in their minds. We believe this imaginative play and discovery will nurture intellectual development and a lifelong love of learning through exploration.
We gave extra care to the device itself, starting with the design process. Unlike a smart speaker, this device is fully functional by button press, allowing children with neurodivergence or speech impediments more ease of use. WhaZoodle’s three sections of buttons were intentionally given different colors for navigational support, and each button icon is raised, creating a unique texture for those with visual impairments. We vetted this experience with a special education expert who focuses on the visually impaired from Pre-K through adulthood. We also added a custom light experience which can be turned on or off with a simple switch. The lights change in accordance with each of the three listening modes.
In terms of durability, WhaZoodle is one of our toughest products yet. This poor product has been thrown, stomped on, exposed to extreme heat and extreme cold, endured chemical testing, and much more. We don’t encourage treating WhaZoodle so poorly, but it will withstand the general wear and tear of being in a young child’s hands.
Importantly for circulation markets, WhaZoodle does not require the circulation of extra parts. While some speakers require characters, cards, and downloads to initiate content, WhaZoodle starts by simply powering on the device. That’s it! It does come with a Micro-USB for charging purposes, though each device will last for 7.5 hours on a full charge.
Educators, librarians, and parents alike can trust the audio on every WhaZoodle device. With top educational partners like Highlights, Rebel Girls, Smile and Learn, But Why and more, WhaZoodle is full of award-winning and exclusive content, specifically curated by age appropriateness into levels 3+, 5+, 8+, and 10+.
WhaZoodle’s uses are nearly endless—recess, story time, after- school programs, independent reading, bedtime routines, self-guided crafting and creativity time, travel entertainment, play dates, and more. No matter the time or place, kids can embark on an epic adventure with WhaZoodle!
Visit shop.playaway.com to explore the collection and see for yourself.
