This holiday season, get your child the best tech gifts they could hope for. Here are some of the best gifts for 3-6 year olds in 2021:
- An Apple Watch or Android Wear device
- A gaming console such as a Playstation 4 or Xbox One
- A smartwatch or activity tracker
- A drone or other flying toy
- A new computer game or app
The Best Tech Gifts for Kids From 3-6
The difference in motor and cognitive abilities between a three-year-old and a six-year-old is pretty vast, so gift ideas that age range can be hard to figure out. A three-year-old might only just be getting to grips with letters and numbers, whereas a six-year-old might be comfortable writing and reading.
It means you need to keep the age and general abilities of the child you’re buying for in mind, but it also means that whatever you buy should be able to grow with them a bit too. That is possibly the hardest thing to balance, and figuring that out on your own can be challenging.
Thankfully for you, you’re not on your own. You’ve got us here with a list of gifts sure to amaze and delight these kids.
Leapfrog LeapLand Adventures: Educational Gaming
Gaming can be a huge boon to younger minds when it comes to learning new things and practicing different styles of problem-solving. Plus, it also keeps them quiet so that parents can relax a little. However, gaming isn’t always educational enough to be a good activity for young children.
The Leapfrog LeapLand Adventures is an excellent little product that comes with a controller and an HDMI game stick. It can then be connected to a TV to allow the little one to play through over 150 different games as they want, with a heavy focus on education.
It’s a great chance for children to get to grips with the basics of controlling video games, but the not-so-subtle educational aspect of it is a huge boon too—and make parents feel better about their children being in front of the TV.
Moji the Lovable Labradoodle: All Dog, No Mess
The SkyRocket Moji is a toy dog that responds to voice commands, reacts to touch in different ways depending on where it is pet, and can even perform tricks like sit, shake, and lie down. It’s an impressive little toy and it definitely does more than a stuffed animal.
Moji also comes with its collar that can scan special cards to get unique reactions, and the toy even displays the dog’s emotions. It’s a great learning tool to help young kids get used to the responsibility of a pet—not to mention that it’s really cute.
In short, Moji is the perfect gift for kids who want pets desperately, but they definitely aren’t quite for the responsibility yet.
LeapFrog On-The-Go Story Pal: Audio Entertainment
Audio-only toys are a huge boon for kids who like to do other things while listening, and that’s where this pick comes in. The LeapFrog On-The-Go Story Pal is a cute device that encourages little ones to engage in active listening by allowing them to listen through stories, poems, songs, and even lullabies.
The aim of the On-The-Go Story Pal is to get children used to paying attention, rather than just having it on as background noise. The mix of sound effects and different voices all help to achieve this. Plus, parents can even record their own stories too, which is guaranteed to help keep the kids engaged.
It’s even possible to make playlists of specific stories that could be used to help the kids get to sleep or keep them distracted for a set amount of time. The Story Pal is simply a versatile little device.
Plugo: Highly-Engaging STEM Toys
One of the most exciting advancements with toys in the last few years is when it comes to helping kids find their feet in the world of STEM education. Plugo offers a range of different products that will help children get better at every aspect of STEM.
Plugo Letters offers a great chance to learn more words and help out with grammar too. In the same vein, there’s Plugo Count for numbers and Plugo Tunes for music. If your giftee is more into physical learning, the Plugo Slingshot is a fun take on puzzles that help teach subjects like force and projectile motion.
Finally, Plugo Link is an excellent toy to learn about a range of different STEM topics, as well as a focus on dexterity. If you’re not sure which one to pick up, Plugo Link is a great place to start.
KidiZoom Smartwatch DX2: Tell the Time and Take a Selfie
Learning nowadays is a bit different from how it was when many of us were kids. Technology has become something that’s both far more affordable and far more essential, and it means that we can give kids gifts that we never even dreamed of when we were younger.
One of the things you can do to help a kid learn more about modern-day interfaces is getting them a KidiZoom Smartwatch DX2. This watch can take videos, audio, and pictures, all while mimicking a modern smartwatch interface. The KidiZoom can also be used to edit the pictures with different filters and even set them as the watch face. It makes a great stocking stuffer, as well.
Plus, the KidiZoom has an AR game included where the kids have to try and catch monsters in a real-world setting. That might be inspired by another similar-sounding mobile game, but that doesn’t make KidiZoom’s title any less engaging.
Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar Toy: Creepy-Crawly Coding
One of the most exciting ways for a child to learn about the potential of coding is to see it represented in the real world. Not every kid struggles with theoretical and digital applications, but practically everyone learns a little faster with a more physical presence, and that goes doubly so for young kids.
The Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar Toy is an adorable caterpillar that has a body you can build using different segments, each of which will have the Code-a-Pillar moving in a different direction. It comes with the head (which is the control center), and eight different segments, so there’s plenty of room for play here.
The Code-A-Pillar is a very physical toy that can help children understanding coding better. It’s also perfect for kids who love building toys!
Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet: A True Entertainment Hub
Everyone knows that having a tablet is a one-way trip into the digital world that can expand anyone’s mind, but it can also be a bit too much for a young child.
Thankfully, the Fire HD 8 Kids tablet is specially designed for children, which means it has plenty of parental controls to ensure everything is safe. Kids can use the Fire HD 8 to browse loads of different shows, apps, games, books, and videos that’ll keep them entertained for hours on end.
Let’s not neglect to talk about the “kid-proof” case and a built-in stand, which is useful if you want to make sure the kid can’t break the tablet by boomeranging it through a window. The window may not survive the impact, but you can be rest-assured the Fire tablet will be fine.
Nintendo Switch Lite: Mario and Friends
Finally, we’ve got to give you the recommendation of a Nintendo Switch Lite, because how could we not?
The Switch Lite is a smaller version of the standard Nintendo Switch, while it can’t be connected to a TV, it’s lighter and far more child-friendly as a result. The Switch Lite is cheaper too, costing just $200 compared to the original Switch’s $300.
With a huge library of great games, including titles that are free like Fortnite and Rocket League, either version of the Switch is an incredible gift. While this may not be perfect for a toddler, children on the higher end of the age range will definitely appreciate this Nintendo console.
If the parents already own a Switch, then there’s the option for plenty of fun multiplayer nights with gifts like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate being easy contenders for the best multiplayer games around.
