The Hottest Tech Toys for Kids
In searching for the best tech gifts for kids this year, we looked for that extra something that made us feel like we might not mind getting one for ourselves, too.
By Carol Mangis and Jake Leary
Toys don’t need technology to be fun-and technology shouldn’t be the whole point of a toy. But when it’s done right, tech can add elements that elevate a toy from mere fun to inspirational-and give it playability far beyond out-of-the-box infatuation.
In searching for the best tech toys this year, we looked for that extra something that made us feel like, well, we might not mind getting one for ourselves, too! Hopefully our list will help you find the perfect gifts for the tiny humans in your life.
3Doodler Start Robo Sumo 3D Printing Set
The 3Doodler Start Robo Sumo pen set lets you lovingly customize pinky-sized robots before you plop them onto a makeshift arena and force them to duel to the death. It comes with a translucent 3Doodler start pen, 24 plastic strands in four colors, a cardboard battle arena, two motors, an activity guide, an instruction manual and a micro USB charging cord. The pen has two buttons, an on/off switch and a large, green activation button. The Robosumo kit with the Start pen is available for $49.99; a penless version is available for $24.99. Ages 6 to 13.
Lego Hidden Side Graveyard Mystery
Ghosts run amok in Graveyard Mystery, part of Lego’s Hidden Side line, but you can’t see them with your eyes — you’ll need your phone. Each of the eight new sets comes with AR integration and pairs with the Lego Hidden Side app; kids can build a set, and then scan it to bring their creations to life and play a series of unpolished mini games. The Graveyard Mystery set results in a larger-than-expected cemetery snippet complete with an Angel of Death and tree monster — a more vile creation than we’ve seen before from Lego. It’s deliciously sinister, with vines snaking from its eyes and twisted, moveable arms. Ages 7 and older.
Wildluvs Juno My Baby Elephant
We’ve seen plenty of lifelike animal toys. But this one is extra appealing. Juno waggles her amazing trunk (and the rest of her body), responds to touches, trumpets, kneels, sings, and sneezes in a very disarming way. She comes with a peanut and mouse accessories, which kids can play with and use to train her to do tricks. As kids spend time with her, her personality develops — she loses her initial shyness and becomes more playful. Ages 5 and up.
Ubtech Jimu MeeBot 2.0 Kit
This next-gen Jimu bot from Ubtech packs in the A-to-Z robot experience: You build it; you code it to move and especially, dance; and then, you play. The kit comes with 404 Lego-like, snap-together parts and connectors — some parental help will likely be required for the build, but the companion app takes you through step by step. You also get servo motors, a codeable color sensor, three gears, two programmable LED eyes, and other accessories. Ages 8 and up.
Secret Code
Want to make your daughter, niece, or any girl in your life feel special — and encourage her interest in technology? Secret Code is a colorful, engaging book, and it’s customizable: Your young friend is cast as the hero of the story, whose “superpower” is coding. She can make any kind of robot, but her Chorebot creation runs amok until she figures out how to fix it. Along with the book is a free app game that lets you bring a robot to “life” via AR. Ages 4 to 8.
Hasbro FurReal Cubby The Curious Bear
This expressive plush bear is a soft, snuggly toy, but Cubby also responds to kids in numerous realistic ways. When they hug him, he hugs back. When they talk to him, he answers (in bearish babble). Tickle him, and he giggles. Feed him some “honey” (a little plastic accessory that comes with the bear), and he’ll happily eat it up. Cubby also has a nighttime mode when he closes his eyes and plays relaxing music. Ages 4 and up.
Sphero Mini Activity Kit
We already thought the Sphero programmable robot ball was pretty cool. The Sphero Mini Activity Kit is a less expensive alternative that includes a clear-shelled drive-able Sphero Mini ball with a gyroscope, accelerometer, and LED lights for 45 minutes of battery life. Also in the kit are accessories for 15 projects kids can build, play with, and even try some simple coding. Ages 5 and up.
Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit
Osmo’s kit conceptualizes basic lessons for young children. The kit includes a small, downward-angled mirror, a stand, a play mat, 38 silicon rings and sticks for creating letters and shapes, and 19 costumes and a character board for the two dress up games included with the set. It requires a tablet — ideally an iPad or Kindle Fire — and connects to Osmo’s apps suite. The mirror slides over your tablet’s camera, allowing the device to “see” your creations and scan them into one of Osmo’s games.
Four free apps are compatible with the Starter Kit out of the box: ABCs and Stories are educational, and Costume Party and Squiggle Magic provide more open, experimental experiences. The character board features a generic, gender-neutral child onto which you can layer clothes and props — which include everything from space suits to tutus. Osmo’s start kit is a little pricey, but once you’re signed in and set up, it’s a good first step on your child’s educational journey. Ages 3 to 5
Mattel Hot Wheels id Smart Track Kit
Mattel’s NFC-enabled racers ($6.99 each) and accessories are a smart hybrid of digital and IRL play. You can record each vehicle’s top speed, total number of laps, best lap time, and more. The cars connect to the Hot Wheels id App, which lets you level up your racers, view your digital garage, and race on an app-exclusive city track. Mattel also offers the Hot Wheels Race Portal ($39.99), which lets you scan your cars into a “digital garage” then play with them virtually. It comes with two exclusive Hot Wheels.
But if you really want to go flat-out, the Hot Wheels id Smart Track Kit is a 16-piece, configurable track for your new Hot Wheels that also comes with two exclusive race cars, 16 track pieces, and the Portal too. Age 8 and up.
Flycatcher smART Pixelator
It’ll remind parents of the Lite-Brite, but the SmART Pixelator allows for much more creativity than the classic toy did. You get a pegboard-type workstation base that displays scenes from a companion app on your phone or tablet; you use the scene as a guide to build your 2D or 3D (guided multistep) bead project. The kit comes with beads and designs for 50 projects. But the real draw is that you can create your own designs: Upload an image or photo into the app, and it’ll show up as a template on the base’s display. Ages 7 and up.
Originally published at https://www.pcmag.com on December 3, 2019.
