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While many adults have tech items on their holiday lists this year, there are increasing options for kids. Many toys are now tech-focused and can increase STEM skills, fostering innovating, coding, scientific inquiry and design proficiency.
The following picks will allow kids to learn, grow and play – all at the same time!
Call “Action!” on your child’s inner Spielberg with this kid-friendly HD video camera and tripod. Strong and solid enough to survive the inevitable drops, its built-in microphone, video editor and effects tools will raise the curtain on creative play. Includes a green screen cloth and more than 20 animated backgrounds to fuel story time (and three built-in games, for break time).
Appearing to float on air in a small box, the Bitzee may just be the next big thing. It begins as a full-colour pixelated puppy, but as children interact via gentle taps and touches, it will eventually evolve into an adult, and then a “Super Bitzee.” With 15 unlockable animals in one pod, there is lots of love and attention for your child to give.
Rev up those toddler fine motor skills (and eventual teen video game skills) with this hands-on play experience. Featuring two musical “gaming” modes, a light-up face and multiple buttons and knobs, this pretend controller opens an introductory portal to shapes, colours, numbers and alphabet education.
Make learning about electronics a snap! This award-winning STEM educational toy gives little engineers the platform to create more than 100 electrical circuit projects, with no tools required. More than 30 colour-coded parts (each with its own function) provide the building blocks to lights, sound and motion.
Music and stories on the go — and no screen time! With simple controls, a promised long-lasting battery charge, and library of audiobook card titles (sold separately), children can explore their imagination without distraction. Doubles as a Bluetooth speaker and sleep sound machine. As Yoto itself says: “No microphone. No camera. No ads.”
Your kiddo will love interacting with Sunny, a silly storyteller with plenty of funny faces, stories, songs and jokes to share. Sunny moves and expresses herself as your child inserts four different discs chock full of activities. She can even lull your little one off to sleep. And, this is a technology-based toy that they can easily use “all by myself.”
Little ones can pretend to be mom or dad with this “big kid” smart watch. The uber-popular timepiece is so much more than a watch, though. Along with helping children ages four and up learn to tell time, this smartwatch can teach your little creator how to make short videos, add funny filters to photos and play an AR-based game called Monster Detector. Comes in blue, purple and unicorn editions.
A great introduction to the world of Virtual Reality, this VR set packs a ton of educational value into one set of goggles. Your child can visit dozens of countries around the world via a 108-page world atlas. Each visit will teach them not only about the locale but also about culture, cuisine and local customs, along with famous landmarks and facts to impress their friends. Bon voyage!
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