The 14 Best Personal Technology Gifts for Kids
To be clear: No matter how much they're begging for one, your kid probably doesn’t need a smartphone. The official policy of the American Academy of Pediatrics is that young children need hands-on social interaction and exploration with peers and caregivers to learn—a standard that is admittedly difficult to uphold during remote learning.
But if you're looking for a digital device to entertain or distract them while you get some work done, let me be the second, or fourth, or 10th person to tell you: That's perfectly OK. Here are some of the devices that have worked for me and my children, ages 3 and 5. Many of these gifts don't require any parental supervision, and the ones that do have solid parental controls that let you limit your kids' use to fewer than, say, 35 hours per day. If you'd like to see more options, check out our gift ideas for new parents or our guide to the best tablets for kids.
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Photograph: AmazonThe Easiest Tablet
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids EditionWe’ve reported critically on Amazon in the past. But if you’re a parent with a younger child, the company's tech products for kids are worth a look. Amazon's kids tablets are the most durable, affordable, and easy to manage on the market. The latest version of the Fire for Kids comes with a year’s subscription to Amazon Kids+ (formerly called FreeTime), which makes it easy for parents to monitor consumption, filter content, and set time limits from a smartphone.
The price also includes a sturdy, durable case and a two-year, worry-free replacement guarantee. And because it’s Amazon, it comes with an endless supply of entertaining and, yes, educational content. I read books with my kids on the tablet when we’re traveling rather than bring paper ones. It’s the easiest tablet for young children (and their parents) to use.
Photograph: AmazonA Cute Smart Speaker
Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition (4th Gen)Another benefit of the Fire Tablet is that Kids+ works across your child’s other devices. I was meh on the previous version of the kids’ Echo Dot. But the 2020 model is decorated with a cute tiger or panda head—worlds cuter than a foam-wrapped regular Dot.
We’ve only had it for a few days, but so far it's easy to use. I set the device as my child’s in Kids+ and set time limits so she can’t request princess stories or games in the middle of the night. It also wakes my kids up in the morning and tells them dumb jokes while I’m wrestling socks onto their feet. However, I still don’t let my children use it without me present, and I can also remotely turn it off from the parent dashboard if a scary story has them too worked up.
Photograph: AmazonA Smart Night Light
Amazon Echo GlowTo be honest, Amazon’s smart night light doesn’t do very much. But it’s gorgeous, small, and has a variety of colors and light modes, like Disco or Underwater. My daughter likes the rosy-pink glow the best.
You can enable tapping to switch colors on the Glow. I can also adjust the main color, tweak the brightness, or turn it off remotely from the Alexa app. You will need a compatible Alexa-enabled device to set it up. If you just need a smart night light for a younger kid and don’t want to spring for an Echo device, the $60 Hatch Baby Rest is another one that I’ve used and love.
Photograph: AmazonA Kids E-Reader
Amazon Kindle Kids EditionAmazon has a habit of slapping a fun cover on a device, calling it a Kids Edition, and marking up the price. The tactic usually works, because the upcharge is small and what you get in return—a case, two-year, worry-free guarantee, and a one-year Kids+ subscription—is worth it.
The Kindle is one of my favorite devices, period. If your kid enjoys reading, it makes sense to buy one for them too. Like all Kindle e-readers, the black and white screen can't display pictures in color, but Kids+ has an enormous selection of books, and it's easy to whitelist books from your local library. Most of all, if you read on a Kindle, your kids will probably be inclined to copy you.
Photograph: AppleAn iPhone Dupe
Apple iPod TouchThe reason to get an iPod Touch is to get your child a device that looks, feels, and operates exactly like your iPhone—minus the expensive data plan and the ability to make prank calls, of course.
Because everyone in my family owns an iPhone, my 5-year-old can use an iPod Touch to FaceTime both of her parents and all of her grandparents. And unlike a full-size tablet, its small enough for her to manage with her tiny hands. I'd recommend using Apple's Family Sharing feature on your own phone to configure your child's device and set permissions. Like Amazon's Kids+, Apple's family management system works across multiple devices. However, you might hit a bump in the road if you need to set up an Apple ID for your young child and can’t remember the password for the email account you started for them when they were born. This is absolutely not based on personal experience.
Photograph: AppleAnother Good Kid Tablet
Apple iPad Mini (7.9-inch, 2019)For more tech-savvy kids, consider an iPad Mini, which you can buy new or give as a hand-me-down if you already have one. The display is nicer than the iPod Touch and Amazon's tablets, and the guts are faster and more powerful. It's the better pick for an older kid who wants to play games, chat with friends, and edit dance videos. The newer versions of Apple's smallest tablet are also compatible with Apple Pencil, which is a great $95 add-on if they love to draw.
Photograph: AppleA Kid Smartwatch
Apple Watch Series 3With this year’s Family Setup, Apple has made it easier than ever before to hand off your old Apple Watch to your child, with the caveat that you’ll need an Apple Watch that has cellular capabilities and is compatible with WatchOS 7.
Family Setup has two major advantages. First, you may already have an old Apple Watch lying around. Second, it makes great use of the watch’s GPS capabilities. Once it’s on and activated, your kid will pop up in the Find My app. The major downside is that you are handing your kid a full-fledged smartwatch, complete with podcasts, fitness tracking, and dozens of functions that a young kid probably doesn't need.
Photograph: VerizonA Simpler Watch Option
Verizon GizmoWatch 2Verizon’s GizmoWatch 2 is a good alternative children's smartwatch, especially for a younger kid. It comes in several colors, including a preschooler-friendly pink. Even though the watch is a little large—I measured it as 2 inches from corner to corner—it’s still small enough for my 5-year-old to wear comfortably. It’s also waterproof. And pink.
It doesn’t have a ton of features, but then again I don’t want it to. I can track her location in the GizmoHub app on my phone, and she can call her parents or her grandparents by clicking on their pictures in the Contacts page. I did have to connect it to my Verizon account for a $10/month service fee. However, unlike the Apple Watch, it can be set up and monitored from both iOS and Android phones. This watch is one I've tested and can vouch for, but be extra cautious when buying your child a cheaper GPS-enabled smartwatch.
Photograph: JioBitA Location Monitor
Jiobit Location Monitoring ClipThis is more of a present for you than for your kid. Of all the child trackers that I’ve tested, the Jiobit was the simplest and easiest to use. You can fasten it on your child’s clothes with a flex ring or a spare hair tie; mine was delighted by how small and cute it was. Then, send them outside and check the app on your phone to see your child moving around on a map in real time.
The security protocols on this device are stronger than similar devices. In addition to standard safety precautions like a security chip and data encryption, Jiobit also burns away part of the circuit board after assembly, so even if a hacker got their hands on the monitor, they wouldn’t be able to reprogram it. It require a monthly $8 subscription fee, but it's commitment-free.
Photograph: Joseph ShinA Cute Console
Nintendo Switch LiteSeveral parents have asked me if they should get their child a Nintendo Switch to pass the time during quarantine. Years after it debuted, it's still on everyone's holiday wish lists, and yes, everyone deserves a Switch. They are very popular and never go on sale. but there is a more affordable version of Nintendo’s handheld console called Switch Lite. It's small, cute, and light enough for even my 5-year-old to play.
This would make a great holiday present for the kid in your life. Even if they end up losing interest, you can pick it up and play games yourself. So far, my kid’s favorite games are Donut County and Mario Kart, but we have more suggestions here.
Photograph: PowmeeEffective Headphones
Powmee P10 Kids HeadphonesEarlier this year, I tested the $100 Buddyphones Cosmos with my 5-year-old. I liked that they can limit the volume to under 94 decibels to protect my child's hearing. But I just couldn't bring myself to recommend such an expensive pair, even though my daughter loves how comfortable they are.
These headphones, my alternate choice, work perfectly well. They have a similar volume-limiting function, but they're much more affordable. The headphone jack plugs into her school Chromebook and her after-school Fire tablet, and I don't worry as much about having to replace them when she throws them into the bin under her desk at dinnertime. We also have an older version of the wired JBuddies that she also likes.
Photograph: JBLA Bluetooth Speaker
JBL Jr. Pop SpeakerI used to let my kid listen to podcasts, nap time meditations, or music on my own Bluetooth speaker. Then she lost two of my UE Roll 2 speakers in a single year, so now she has her own speaker.
JBL's Jr. Pop fits in the palm of her hand. It comes in a variety of fun colors, and the button strap fastens to a clip, car seat, or stroller handle. If we're traveling, it serves as a combination white noise machine and night light (a built-in LED). Finally, it's much cheaper than my preferred speaker. It's a little underpowered, but that works for me too. I prefer that she not blast "Crazy Train" as loud as she wants.
Photograph: CubcoatsA Cute Mask-Wristband
Cubcoats Kids Convertible Face Mask and WristbandIf you're struggling to get your kid to wear a mask or to hold onto them after they take them off, Cubcoats has an ingenious solution. The company's masks flip and fold into a small, adorable animal face. You can slide them onto your child's wrist, or you can do as my children do and line them up on the desk in their bedroom for playing. They have two layers for safety and elastic ear loops for comfort, and they're washable.
Some caveats: They don't have a nose wire, so they're a little floppy. The ear loops aren't adjustable, and they're a little big on my 3-year-old. Still, this might be a good pick if your kid keeps losing their mask.
Photograph: REI Co-opBest Kid Backpack
REI Co-op Tarn 12 PackI've tried multiple backpacks for my kids, everything from the Skip Hop and Decathlon to the pricer Fjällraven Kånken mini. But so far, in terms of size, features, and versatility, I like this backpack the best.
It's sized for a 5-year-old, but I can cinch the padded straps tight enough to fit my 3-year-old or loosen them enough to fit me. It can hold two water bottles in the pockets, or a Chromebook and a jacket, and the recycled nylon is DWR-treated, Earth-friendly, and durable enough to drag along on hikes, bike rides, or to the pod family's house for a playdate. It even has a hip belt for her to grow into! Now if only it came in pink.
