Review: Tech Toys that Teach Kids

With Christmas coming quickly, it’s already time to start thinking about great gifts for the kids. Kids love getting great toys for Christmas, and tech toys have become a big hit with kids of all ages. With customizable robots, smart toys, and iPhone controlled options, there’s so much to choose from as you begin your search for the perfect gift like this gel blaster scar.

You might want to consider some tech toys for the kids that actually teach them important lessons, whether they’re life lessons or essential skills. The best tech toys offer plenty of entertainment while helping kids learn, making it fun for them to develop important skills.

Instead of scouring through all the latest tech toys to find the ones that will improve your child’s education, we’ve done the work for you. Here’s a look at five of the best tech toys that will offer a fun, exciting learning experience for your child too.

1 – LittleBits

Electronics are a huge part of our world today, and now kids can experience creating things with electronics just by snapping together a few blocks. LittleBits are building blocks that are actually circuit components color coded so you can attach them to one another. In fact, you can create many cool things with them without needing to know anything about electronics.

Not only can you put LittleBits building blocks together, they can also be combined with ordinary objects to create some exciting things. For example, add them to a bow tie and you could make it jiggle when it hears your voice. Kids get the chance to become inventors while learning electronics basics. Add these bits to objects to create buzzing and blinking creations.

The LittleBits Base Kit is $99 and comes with a helpful step-by-step guide to help kids learn to make their own inventions, as well as 10 Bits. They can also find more ideas online so they can really explore all that the LittleBits have to offer. For $149 you can get the LittleBits Electronics Premium Kit, which comes with Bits not included in the basic kit, and it works with the Base Kit as well.  Anf for $199 you can get their best kit, LittleBits Gizmos & Gadgets Kit

2 – LeapFrog LeapReader Letter Writing Pack

If you have a younger child learning to read and write, the LeapFrog LeapReader Letter Writing Pack is the perfect tech gift this year. The complete system is over $100, but it has a lot to offer. Kids can use the pack with the LeapReader Pen to build literacy skills and to learn how to write. The pack includes the LeapReader Pen, special paper that works with the pen, a Learn to Write Letters Writing Workbook, downloadable music album and audio book bundle, and Activity Book.

With the included LeapReader Pen, kids can trace out the letters that are in the workbook, and the pen has a built-in speaker that gives them instructions along the way. It also has flashing lights, encouraging words, and cool sounds to keep kids motivated. For the reading features, kids simply touch the pen to words in special picture books and the pen will speak them out loud.

3 – Lego Mindstorms EV3

Legos have been around for decades, and you probably played with them as a kid. Now they’ve been taken to the next level with Lego Mindstorms EV3. This new tech toy from LEGO allows kids to create their own cool robots, and although it comes with a hefty price tag, $349.95, it’s sure to offer fun for the entire family.

The programmable robot kit allows you to build several different types of robots, and it’s possible to control the robots with a smart device using Bluetooth or with a remote. An app is available to help with the building process as well. It’s easy to program the creation once you’re done. Kids will learn patience as they put together these robots, and they’ll even learn some programming skills once they’re ready to program the robots to do their bidding when they’re done with the building phase.

4 – Dino-Lite AM2111 Handheld 0.3 MP Digital Microscope

With the Dino-Lite Digital Microscope, the little handheld microscope will let kids have a blast seeing things all around them in a new way. In fact, they’ll enjoy collecting various samples, and they’ll find surprises even in the most common, everyday objects. This tech toy encourages curiosity and teaches kids important science skills that they’ll use in school as well.

The Dino-Lite is a handheld, digital microscope that hooks right into a laptop, phone, tablet, or computer. It comes with software that will support Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows, so it’s sure to work with any device. This microscope offers between 10X and 220X magnification. It comes with four LED lights that light up the subject, and it has a plastic stand that you can place it in as well. It can even be used to capture video or photos of the samples collected so kids can share their discoveries with friends.

5 – SAM Labs Science Museum Inventor Kit

Designed for kids between the ages of 7 and 14, the SAM Labs Science Museum Inventor Kit is the perfect way to get kids learning about engineering, technology, coding, and more. With this cool tech gift, kids can create unique smart inventions and interactive systems through educative, fun play. Seamlessly integrating together the internet, software, and hardware, kids have the tools they need to create fun inventions that let them learn while they’re having a great time. In just minutes, kids can create their own alarm systems, master the Morse code, and more.

The kit includes a tilt sensor, a motor, buzzer, light sensor, and more. Simply use the software on a computer and a simple interface is available that allows you to link together and move different blocks. With many different projects to work on, this tech toy will offer hours and hours of fun.

Now you don’t have to choose between educational gifts and toys. Kids are sure to be thrilled with these top tech toys, and you’ll be happy that they are learning something while having a great time.