People are slowly beginning to realize that the unbounded, limitless energy of today’s kids is a largely-untapped resource, and so toy makers are now creating toys that actually generate energy when kids play with them. Rocco, the power-generating rocking horse, happens to be one of the latest innovations to capitalize on this idea.

Rocco generates power when a kid rides it and rocks it to and fro — and as kids get bigger, you can bet the rocking is only going to get more energetic. The rocking motion generates power that charges an internal battery, which in turn powers Rocco’s ears — which are actually flashlights you can detach and use whenever you want.

The detachable flashlight ears serves another function in a kid’s playroom — either as a night light or a light source during a power outage. This makes Rocco a great addition to any toddler’s room, making it a little easier to wean a kid from sleeping in their parents’ bed.

Unfortunately, Rocco is still a concept at this point, and it’ll be a little while before it actually hits toy stores. But it’s a good concept at that — one I believe should be adopted by more toy makers in the future. Sort of brings a whole new meaning to the saying, “And a child shall lead them…”

Rocco isn’t the first time that an inventor has thought about the idea of capturing the energy generated from children playing. Recently, the a soccer ball was developed that can capture energy during playtime and later be used to provide power to for families in Africa.

Via: Coolest Gadgets