What's on your kids’ holiday wish list? With tech being almost impossible to avoid when it comes to our kids, I'm almost certain your kids already have their eye on a few of this season's hottest tech toys. There's no denying that we all love to see how excited our kids get when they receive a toy they wished for, but as parents we get most excited when we know that our little kids are learning all about technology and developing important tech skills when they're given a VTech® product! That's why I've curated this top tech toys holiday gift guide to help you choose some of this season's hottest tech toys. The tech toys featured here don't just make fun toy gift ideas, they're also great tech toys that promote learning, creativity, knowledge and skills building. I've even included tech toys for kidsthat don't involve any screens -- yes, they do exist -- and can help develop a kid's aptitude for life skills and knowledge bases.
Which of these tech toys will your kids be adding to their holiday wish list?
Empower your kids to become a kid creator with the KidiZoom® Creator Cam and make all their content creator dreams come true!
Kids can take still photos and also create awesome videos with this high-definition video camera kit for kids. It includes a built-in microphone, editing and creative tools, green screen features and more than 20 animated backgrounds. Kids can easily set up their own video shoot with the included abletop tripod/selfie stick and use the easy on-screen editing and creativity tools to create trick shots and time-lapse videos to share with others. Photos and videos taken on the KidiZoom® Creator Cam can only be uploaded to a computer via an included USB cable at a parent's discretion. The camera comes with a microSD card slot to increase storage up to 32 GB (card not included). Recommended for kids ages 5 to 10.
Every little kid wants to be like Mom and Dad, down to the tech! The KidiZoom® Smartwatch DX2 is a great multifunction smartwatch, just like Mom and Dad's. Best part, it's designed just for kids!
With the KidiZoom® Smartwatch DX2 kids can take pictures, videos, play games, tell time and more! Featuring a new sleek and stylish design, this durable smartwatch includes 55 digital and analog customizable watch faces to help kids learn to tell time. This kid smartwatch also features two cameras that lets kids capture everything from action videos to selfies and these can be customized in the Silly Me app and made into new watch faces. Also included are an assortment of fun digital games, like Monster Detector, which uses the camera and augmented reality to help kids find and capture monsters in the real world. Kids can also use the watch's motion sensor for active play challenges or to track steps. Additional content is also available from Learning Lodge. Using the included Micro-USB cable, kids can also upload photos and videos. Recommended for kids ages 4 and up.
These days, we seem to be outdoors a whole lot more! Stay connected and add some extra excitement when adventuring outdoors by gifting the kids a set of KidiGoTM Walkie Talkies.
Keep in touch anywhere you go with the KidiGoTM Walkie Talkies’ 500-ft range. These kid-safe, two-way radios feature a digital connection that's clear and keeps kids' conversations secure, preventing other walkie-talkie users from listening in or chatting with them.
Little adventurers can also send messages back and forth by choosing from preset animated messages using the large, backlit LCD screen. The KidiGoTM Walkie Talkies also include four two-player games for real-time gaming between devices -- perfect for downtime during your next outdoor adventure! Recommended for kids ages 4 and up.
Since many of our little kids are learning from home right now, it's more important than ever to continue to foster learning and help them practice and master new skills in fun ways.
Cast your line into a sea of play and learning with the Jiggle & Giggle Fishing Set! Little kids will love catching sea creatures on the magnetic bobber and watch them wiggle. Seven sea creatures wait on the pretend pond playmat, ready to jump on the line. The smart bobber recognizes each sea creature you catch, triggering the creature to respond with its unique personality in songs and phrases.
As kids play, the interactive fishing pole teaches them about animals, colors and numbers with three play modes, 10 songs and five melodies. As kids line up the bobber with each magnetic creature, they're developing hand/eye coordination. The light-up bobber teaches colors as it changes color to match the color of each sea creature and reinforce color learning. What's also nice is that kids can place their catch in the storage bucket when playtime is done, and tuck the pond playmat inside with all seven sea creatures, for easy storage. Recommended for little kids ages 2 to 5.
Last but not least, my personal favorite is VTech®’s Myla's Sparking FriendsTM. These Sparkling Friends make playtime magical! These adorable Sparklings are colorful, talking, singing friends that are as unique as our kids.
Each of these adorable tech toys talks, sings and lights up with a kaleidoscope of colors and can respond with more than 100 fun responses related to mood, feelings and lucky colors. Kids can change the Sparklings' color by touching their magical necklace and then touching their horn, eyes or wings to change their color as well. Kids can accessorize themselves and their Sparkling Friend with the included shared accessories -- hair clips, combs, and rings. Each of Myla's Sparkling FriendsTM is so cute and unique that I just had to list each one below. Kids will love collecting all five (each sold separately) -- Mia the Mystical Unicorn, Riley the Unicorn, Ava the Fox, Finn the Fox, Penny the Peacock, and Piper the Dragon (coming to Walmart this fall). Recommended for kids ages 4 and up.
Mia the Mystical Unicorn
Touch Mia's magical necklace, then touch her horn, eyes and wings to change their color. Squeeze Mia's legs to flap her wings and trigger lights and playful responses.
Brush her mane and tail using the included comb and add some extra flair with two included hair clips for you to share.
Riley the Unicorn
Touch Riley's magical necklace, then touch her horn, eyes and wings to change their color. Squeeze Riley's legs to flap her wings and trigger lights and playful responses. Brush her mane and tail using the included comb and add some extra flair with two included hair clips for you to share.
Ava the Fox
Touch Ava's magical necklace, then touch her hair, eyes and ears to change their color.
Push Ava's leg to wag her tail and trigger lights and playful responses. Brush her tail using the included brush and add some extra flair with two included hair clips for you to share.
Finn the Fox
Touch Finn's magical necklace, then touch her hair, eyes and ears to change their color. Push Finn's leg to wag her tail and trigger lights and playful responses. Brush her tail using the included brush and add some extra flair with two included hair clips for you to share.
Penny the Peacock
Touch Penny's magical necklace, then touch her crest, eyes and tail to change their color. Push Penny's wing to move her tail and trigger lights and playful responses. Add some extra flair with four included charms to put on her tail or place the crown on her head.
Piper the Dragon
Touch Piper's magical necklace, then touch her horn, eyes and wings to change their color. Squeeze Piper's legs to flap her wings and trigger lights and playful responses. Add some extra flair to Piper with a crown and two included bracelets that kids can use as rings.
Which of these top tech toys will your kids be adding to their holiday wish list?
Monica Encarnacion is a Digital Parenting Writer and Consultant. She is the author of the blog NYCTechMommy. Monica spent 12 years as an elementary classroom teacher in NYC and was a Technology Teacher for several years. Working with elementary school children and their parents inspired her interest in identifying digital platforms and other tech resources that would promote learning, language development, and help children make connections with the world beyond the classroom.