Does it seem like the world of kids and teenagers gets more complicated every year, making them increasingly difficult to buy for? There are literally thousands of toys on the market, as well as more kid-friendly tech than ever before.
There’s no denying that here at T3 we love all things tech, and think there’s no better gift than a gadget specifically designed for a younger user. From smartwatches to tablets, and drones to bluetooth speakers, we’ve rounded up the best tech gifts for kids and teenagers.
But don’t despair if your child, or the child you’re buying a gift for, isn’t a gadget-fiend. We’ve also included gifts that encourage kids to get more out of the world around them, whether that’s through exploring the outdoors, documenting their favourite memories, or simply by being more curious.
We first featured the Vodafone V-kids watch in our best gifts for kids roundup last year, and it has made the cut again. With children and teenagers becoming more tech-savvy and parents ever more conscious of safety and security, this smartwatch is a winner for all generations.
Built in games and voice messaging will entertain kids and let them stay in touch with their friends, whilst GPS tracking means parents can always know where their kids are, without having to always be holding their hand, or don camo gear and binoculars.
The safety features of the V-watch really excel thanks to the SOS button that allows kids to send alerts directly to their parent's smartphone should they need help, and it'll even give directions to each other's location using Google or Apple Maps.
Parents can also set 'Safe Zones' so they’ll be notified if their child leaves a certain area. Release your kids to enjoy all the adventure the outdoors has to offer, knowing they are safe while they do.
But let’s not forget this is a present for your child, not you. The V-kids watch resembles a grown-up smart watch, but the bright blue or pink colours are a kid-friendly addition.
Scooters have been a Christmas gift list staple for years, but the Razor Power Core E90 electric scooter offers a 2019 upgrade for the child or teenager who has outgrown their manual scooter.
On par with other good electric scooters for speed, reaching up to 10MPH, this scooter is not recommend for children under eight, but is a gift that'll make you incredibly popular with your older child or teenager. Who knows, they might even let you have a go!
Where the Razor Power excels is its battery life: the owner of this scooter can keep riding for up to 80 minutes.
The rider is in full control thanks to a hand-operated front brake, and the airless (and therefore puncture-proof) tires absorb impact from bumps or knocks. If you’re looking for a modern upgrade of a traditional gift that’s guaranteed to get your child outside more, this gift is a win for you.
Pair your child's new Amazon Fire 10 tablet with a pair of these adorable headphones from Snuggly Rascals.
Flat speakers are enclosed inside the fleece handband, so the band folds up compactly as well as being comfortable enough to wear on long journeys.
There are six designs to choose from, all of which are size adjustable so you know you'll get the fit right. All you need to do is chose between the unicorn, the monster or the snuggly owl... it's harder than you think!
Most importantly for adult relatives, these headphones have volume-limited speakers to ensure you don't have to listen to the music or film that your child is listening to. You're welcome!
We recommend the fleece bands for a Christmas gift, but there is also a cotton option, perhaps if you've got a summer holiday planned in a hot destination?
Our number one pick of the best drones for kids is the Altair AA108 Quadcopter, because it looks just like a “grown up” drone, but comes with some easy fly features that make it perfect for an older child or teenager.
First up is the 'one touch take off'. For teenagers, there's nothing worse than a present you can't wait to use, but to do so takes a skill you're far too impatient to get the hang of on Christmas day. For parents, there's nothing worse than an otherwise epic present falling flat because of a teenage mood swing. Thankfully, the Altair AA108's one touch take off eliminates the initial stress of trying to get the drone off the ground.
There's also an altitude hold mode that keeps the drone hovering in the air without the user controlling it, helping the pilot get to grips with flying without being held up by constant crashes to ground.
As with any drone, the charge to flight time ratio is low, with each battery delivering up to ten minutes of flight time. The drone comes with two batteries, but it’ll be worth filling your teen's stocking with a few extras on Christmas morning.
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom tops out list of the best portable Bluetooth speakers you can buy today. The sound quality is the best of any we've tried, so it's sure to please even the fussiest teenager.
Designed to be used outdoors, whether that's a park or your back garden, this is the perfect gift for the teenager who is getting into music and wants to impress their friends.
360° audio means that everyone will be able to hear it without the need for blasting the neighbours (or you for that matter) senseless.
It's completely young-person proof: throw it at a wall or drop it in a swimming pool and it'll continue blasting out tunes in defiance. It's almost like it was built for teens.
If you're buying for a budding scientist this Christmas, then this pocket-sized microscope from the Natural History Museum is the perfect stocking filler.
As with any full-size microscope there's an adjustable focus wheel, as well as zoom magnification of up to 40x plus an ultra-bright LED light, all of which means your little genius can inspect flakes of skin and the like in incredible detail.
The microscope comes with slides, cover slips and a lens cloth so they can get started straight away.
