Educational Gadgets
V.Smile by VTech tops the list for education kids' gadgets as a learning device masked as an entertainment console. Bright colors, big buttons, and easy controls make it perfect for tiny gadget lovers while the education-based games are fun and functional. Characters are based on the same characters your kids already love but teach skills for all ages.
Robots
The Wow Wee Robosapien (Robosapienonline.com) is the futuristic toy you dreamed about as a kid and can now give your own children. The white and black robot is programmable and remote-controlled to walk around, pick things up, throw things, dance, fart, and otherwise react to the environment around him. He can do kung fu and talk in his own robot-talk. Designer Mark Tilden sharpened his skills at NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency before working on a toy to get your kids started on the basic of computer hacking – as they become more advanced they can check out the software hacks and modifications online.
The RadioShack VEX Robotics Construction System is an erector set on robotic steroids. The starter kit has over 500 parts, three continuous-drive motors, one servomotor, a radio receiver, a six-channel remote control, a programmable micro-controller and all the wheels, tires, metal bits, bolts, and gears your child needs to begin taking over the world. They can learn technical skills in a hands-on environment to build whatever walking, rolling robot they can design. Check out vexrobotics.com for more information.
Themed USB Drives
Even young school children can benefit from the portability of USB drives for school projects and homework. Most Kindergarteners are already more adept than their parents at computer basics, so a USB drive to make transferring information and assignments is an obvious gadget must have for kids. To avoid the risk of your child losing something so small, get them a themed-character USB drive they will want to hang onto. Gadget company mimoco offers cool looking mimobots from the Happy Tree Friends television show. Both the "Happy" and "Gory" character are featured. The gory ones are perfect for little boys who are afraid of looking too cutesy at school. Both types of characters feature classic Japanimation features like big mouths, simples designs, and bright colors. At about $25 each, the mimobots are reasonably close to their boring USB counterparts.
Cool Desk Gadgets
Studies show having a set study area in your home keeps students more focused during homework. Give your child a reason to enjoy their study area with a cool gadget for their desktop, like the Nature's Fire Color-Changing Volcano from the Discovery Channel Store. This cheap kinetic sculpture runs about $25 and emulates the actions of an erupting volcano with changing light patterns, motion beads and multi-colored LED lights.
Or get them a desktop lighting solution with a Glow Brick by Uncommon Goods, a glow in the dark light bulb sealed in an acrylic brick which charges during the day and releases a blue or green glow for up to eight hours. Your kids will love learning how it works: a real light bulb is filled with phosphor luminescent powder which absorbs natural UV light during the day and releases it in the darkness.
Clocky the Sneaky Alarm Clock
No more yelling up the stairs seven times in the morning to keep your kids from being late to school. Elsewares now offers Clocky – the alarm clock that will actually run away when you try to hit snooze. This red plastic alarm clock has large wheels ready to jump off your nightstand and wheel around your room looking for a place to hide. After your one chance to wake up, Clocky goes on rampage forces you to get up. Fully adjustable, you can set Clocky to snooze at least once or more before running away. Either way, your kids will be entertained and out of bed quickly.
The Original Gadget Guru
Introduce your kids to one of your childhood heroes with the Inspector Gadget: Original Series available at Barnes and Noble for $35. Your kids will love the bumbling inventor/inspector as much as you did and get a break from more modern, less imaginative cartoons.