SingaporeMotherhood | Preschooler & Up
November 2017
20 Best Tech Toys to get the Kids this Christmas
With STEM-ed continuing to be the buzzwords this year, tech toys are gearing up to be THE toys to buy for kids this Christmas. Here are 20 of the best from 2017.
With Christmas just around the corner, toy stores all over the island have begun the much-awaited holiday sales. Can’t decide what to get your child? We round up the 20 best tech toys from 2017 — from an R2-D2 droid to a show pony, your own personal robot and even a drone racer — which promise to bring them hours of entertainment. At least until they unwrap the next present. Just kidding! The kids will be glued to these through the new year and beyond, we promise!
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1. Bloxels Video Game Builder Kit
Best for ages: 5 years and up (with supervision) or 8 years and up
If your child loves video games, why not let them get creative and build their own? With just their Bloxels Gameboard, some blocks and a mobile device, all they need is their imagination to start building their very own video games! There’s no more need to understand fancy codes or own expensive computer programmes for hours of entertainment. SGD78 at gethacking.com
2. Wonder Workshop Dash & Dot Robot Pack
Best for ages: 6 years and up
Is your little one obsessed with robots? Look no further! Responding to voice, navigating objects, dancing, and singing, Dash is a real robot, charged and ready to play out of the box. With Wonder, Blockly, and other apps to create new behaviors for Dash, your child can do more with robotics than ever possible. No books or camps needed! SGD348 at gethacking.com
3. WowWee Fingerlings Interactive Baby Monkey Toy
Best for ages: 5 years and up
Available in six different colours, Fingerlings provide hours of entertainment for your little one. Clinging adorably to their fingers wherever they go, Fingerlings respond to sound, motion and touch, promising hours of friendship at their fingertips. From SGD32.23 at Lazada.com
4. Merge VR/AR Goggles
Best for ages: 10 years and up
If your beloved is a little older, try Merge’s VR/AR Goggles instead! Just drop in a smartphone, and they’ll be transported into virtual worlds. With two built-in input buttons, they can interact with more VR apps, no controller necessary. The marshmallow soft googles and adjustable lenses also ensure that every child will have the best experience possible. SGD119 at Toy Tag
5. littleBits Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit
Best for ages: 8 years and up
Your child could just be the creator of the next generation of droids! This Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit comes with everything they’ll possibly need – even the batteries are included. With over 16 missions, this droid kit will keep them playing day after day. Fully customisable, they’ll also have free rein to unleash their creativity and showcase their personality with stickers, sounds, lights and craft materials. SGD159 at gethacking.com
6. Kano Computer Kit 2017
Best for ages: 6 years and up
Kano is back with an updated model of their famed Computer Kit! Your child will be delighted to get their hands on their very own Kano computer, packed with all the apps and programs they need. It’s a powerful learn-to-code tool, designed to unleash your little one’s creativity and unlock their potential. Just by following the storybook, your child will be able to build the kit step-by-step and bring it to life with coding. Building a computer has never been this simple! From USD119.99 on Amazon
7. BB-9E App-Enabled Droid with Droid Trained by Sphero
Best for ages: 8 years and up
BB-9E is the latest addition to Sphero’s Star Wars droids! Your child can control this astromech droid with their smart device, or leave it to patrol the home on its own. Specialising in keeping starships and machinery fully operational, make sure they keep their BB-9E sharp with the augmented reality Droid Trainer and explore holographic simulations from the Star Wars galaxy. SGD239 at Apple Orchard Road
8. SelfieMic Music Set
Best for ages: 8 years and up
Unleash your little superstar’s talent with the SelfieMic Music Set. Allowing them to both sing and record a music video, the SelfieMic features an adjustable selfie stick with a microphone and adjustable earpiece. It is suitable for smart phones up to the size of an iPhone 6 Plus (maximum width 85mm) and can be used with forward-facing cameras or karaoke apps of their choice. From USD27.81 on Amazon
9. R2-D2 App-Enabled Droid by Sphero
Best for ages: 8 years and up
If the BB-9E isn’t your child’s thing, go for R2-D2 instead! Artoo’s signature front and rear LED lights are fully functional, and an integrated speaker means the beeps and boops come right from R2-D2 itself. Through augmented reality, explore the Star Wars galaxy, roam iconic ship interiors, and more. SGD289 at Apple Orchard Road
10. View-Master Virtual Reality Starter Pack
Best for ages: 6 years and up
Let your little one’s imagination run wild from the comfort of your home. With just their View-Master VR Starter Pack and a smartphone, they can embark on exciting VR adventures! The Starter Pack includes one VR Viewer and Preview Reel, making it everything they need to try out the wide variety of Experience Pack apps. From USD18.99 on Amazon
11. Osmo Genius Kit Game System for iPad
Best for ages: 6 years and up
Tired of your toddler spending all of their time staring at the screen? Osmo is an award-winning game system that changes the way your child interacts with the iPad and iPhone by allowing them to engage in hands-on play. With tons of accessories, they’ll be entertained by racing Hot Wheels cars, arranging coding blocks to create music, bringing their drawings to life, and more! SGD159 at Apple Orchard Road
12. Anki Overdrive Starter Kit
Best for ages: 8 years and up
The most popular racing game of 2017, Anki Overdrive is driven by powrful artificial intelligence (AI). Each supercar is a self-aware robot, learning every track that your child builds. No matter if they’re battling pals or playing on their own, their tactical options are unlimited with just their smartphone. This pulse-pounding play promises hours of entertainment unlike anything else. From USD149.99 on Amazon
13. Fisher-Price Think & Learn Teach ‘N Tag Movi
Best for ages: 3 years to 6 years
With 360 degrees of mobility, this little robot encourages preschoolers to get their minds and bodies moving while teaching them how to follow directions and think critically about the world around them! Housing 3 exciting game modes and 6 games to choose from, Movi ensures that your tot keeps thinking and moving by engaging their critical thinking skills or getting silly on the dance floor. SGD119.99 at Toys R Us
14. DRL Nikko Air Race Drone Vision 220 FPV Pro
Best for ages: 9 years and up
Developed by drone racers and designed for future pilots, Nikko Air has teamed up with the Drone Racing League (DRL) to deliver the ultimate drone racing experience. Including a full colour LCD screen and FPV googles, your child will be able to see real-time video transmission from the cockpit of the drone. Including three variable flight modes, multiple speed settings, and 16 one-touch stunts, this racing drone will take them from beginner to pro in no time. From USD245.95 on Amazon
15. Zoomer – Show Pony with Lights, Sounds, and Interactive Movement
Best for ages: 5 to 7 years
Every child deserves their own pony! With Zoomer Show Pony, they can now feed, groom, and train their pony to perform different tricks. She can move on her own and show them how she feels with expressive light-up eyes too. Trot home a new best friend today! From USD59.99 on Amazon
16. Potato Pirates
Best for ages: 6 years and up
Potato Pirates features potatoes, programming and piracy rolled into a strategic card game perfect for classrooms, family days, or even game night with friends! With over 5,000 backers on KickStarter, Potato Pirates allows your child to learn coding effortlessly while playing. Ditch their phone and spend quality time with loved ones over a good card game, covering fundamental coding concepts which help them to ease into most programming languages. SGD35 here (note that this is a pre-order and the estimated shipping date for the game is April 2018)
17. LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox 17101
Best for ages: 7 years and up
LEGO Boost features five models in one! Build and customise Vernie, your little one’s own personal talking robot friend, code its behaviour, and complete fun activities with the included playmat. Vernie moves in all directions on its large tracks, responds to speaking with facial expressions that reflect its mood, and can launch darts from its shoulder-mounted shooter. Rebuild Vernie to create the other four models, all controlled via the free downloadable app that also includes digital LEGO Building Instructions for all five models, plus cool activities and ideas to spark their imagination. SGD249.99 at Toys R Us
18. Goldieblox and the Dunk Tank
Best for ages: 4 years and up
Help Goldie build a dunk tank to get Nacho clean so everyone can go to the carnival on time! Allowing your child to learn about hinges and levers, this is a book series plus construction set where Goldie and friends devise a plan to get Nacho clean in time for the carnival. Equipped with three designs and unlimited building possibilities, it helps kids learn spatial skills, engineering principles, and establish confidence in problem solving. SGD19.90 at Toy Station
19. Robot Turtles – The Board Game for Little Programmers
Best for ages: 3 years to 8 years
Robot Turtles launched on Kickstarter, where it became the bestselling board game of all time. It takes seconds to learn, minutes to play, and will keep your little ones learning for hours. Kids won’t know it but while they’re playing, they’re learning the fundamentals of programming. SGD52 on gethacking.com
20. Laser X One Player Laser Gaming Set
Best for ages: 6 years and up
Laser X provides a real life laser gaming experience! Allowing your child to play as teams or individuals, they can blast your opponents’ receiver vests from over 200 feet away. Full-colour lighting effets allow them to keep track of shots and hits while the interactive voice coach gives tips and feedback during the game, allowing them to have the best laser gaming experience possible. From USD39.99 on Amazon
Prices are stated in USD or SGD and are correct at the time of publishing
Feature image: isparktoys.com; Header image: Ciprian Boiciuc
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