Kids are hard to shop for, especially older kids. Sure you could just pick up some popular toys but more likely than not, they’ll play with those toys for a couple days and then forget about them. Instead, why not pick them up a mature gift they can enjoy year round and not one that will just get tossed into a toy bin and forgotten about.
Below are my choices for neat gadgets and electronics that your kids will surely love. Of course these are also gifts you can enjoy if you can convince your kids to let you borrow them.
New Nintendo 3DS
The New Nintendo 3DS has been out for a while now but only in the XL flavor. The smaller, more manageable one has never come to North America, until now that is. On Black Friday this week, the New Nintendo 3DS will be available for the first time ever here in the smaller size and with two special edition, Mario inspired designs. What’s great about this too is that it’ll only cost $99, which is $100 less that the XL and only about $20 more than the 2DS making the New Nintendo 3DS and excellent value. Now is also the perfect time to pick one up considering the new Pokemon Sun and Moon games just game out.
3Doodler Create
If you have a kid that is the creative type and is into modeling or crafts, you may want to check out the 3Doodler Create. The 3Doodler Create is a 3D printing pen that is compact and easy to use. It extrudes heated plastic that cools almost instantly into a solid, stable structure allowing you to create anything your imagination can think of. The 3Doodler Create is around $99 but there is a version of it called the 3Doodler Start for kids 8+ that sells for $49.99.
Boogie Board eWriter
The Boogie Board is an eWriter that basically removes paper from the equation. It’s an electronic memo pad that simulates the feel of pen and paper but is much more eco-friendly with the ability to write and erase multiple times without ever needing to be charged or connected to a power source. While the original Boogie Boards were meant more for note taking, there is now the Boogie Board Jot 4.5 with Clearview and Scribble n’ Play for children. These both are very inexpensive and will allow children to doodle and trace without wasting a ton of paper. Not only that, if you download the companion app on your mobile device, you’ll be able to scan and drawing they create and save it digitally.
iClever BoostCare Kids Headphones
While you could get small kids regular adjustable adult headphones, my main issue with this is that adult headphones don’t have volume limiting technology. What that means is that it would be easy for kids to crank up the volume way past acceptable levels and possibly damage their hearing. With that said, if you have young children, I highly suggest picking up a pair of kids headphones designed to limit volume such as the iClever BoostCare Kids Headphones. These come in three fun designs and work with any device that has a 3.5mm aux jack. Prices for these aren’t bad either can can be found for around $17.
Zivix AirJAMZ
Most of you have probably played “air guitar” before and pretended to strum along to your favorite rock songs. What if I told you that there was a way for you to now play actual songs by moving your hands in the same fashion? Enter the Zivix AirJamz connected guitar pick toy that makes sounds with your movement.
The AirJamz allows you to mimic guitar strums allowing you to play guitar riff and power chords just by moving your hands. You’ll need an iOS device to make use of the AirJamz however but the companion app will allow you to play more than 100 unique instruments and 25 full songs. There’s even a multiplayer mode so you can enjoy AirJamz with friends.
You can pick up AirJamz for $49.99 and it’s available in either black or red.