IT’S no secret that a tablet will keep a kid entertained for hours – but there are loads of other tech-y options out there for children and teens.
If you want something that isn’t just an Apple iPad, try out these brilliant toys, fun free apps and games, and even some gadgets that you’ll want to use just as much as your child. You’ll even save hundreds versus buying a posh tablet.
12
12
12
Sphero Mini – £50
First up is the Sphero Mini, which is a robotic ball.
It’s currently available on Amazon for about £50 and you can race it around the floor at lightning speed using a phone app as the remote control.
Sphero Mini, £51.55
Even if that’s all this did, it would be great fun. I’ve used Sphero balls and they’re very easy to control if you just want to roll around – but you can go much deeper.
But you can use the robotic ball and the app’s Blocks mode to learn to code. So if you have a computer whiz at home, this is a great option.
You can give the robot commands (assigned by dragging and dropping from preset code) that it can carry out.
You can even go further with Sphero’s official education software, which lets you properly program the ball.
Toniebox – £77
For younger kids, look no further than the Toniebox.
This fun mini-speaker has earned rave reviews for entertaining (and educating) kids without any screens.
The idea is that you buy little figurines called Tonies, and place them on top of the box.
Different Tonies have their own audio – like unique stories and songs – that get downloaded to the Toniebox so you can play it through the speaker.
So to get more content, you’re meant to collect Tonies. There are more than 200, so you won’t run out anytime soon.
Toniebox, £76.99
The Toniebox itself is £77, and then you’ll bag some Tonies separately. For instance, there’s a Paddington Bear Tonie loaded with audiobooks that costs £15 – or you could grab The Tiger Who Came To Tea.
There’s even a Disney collection of Tonies featuring the Lion King, Aladdin, Jungle Book and more. You can also get some free Tonies content.
Google Gemini – FREE
OK, this one will need a phone or tablet – but it’s brilliant fun, is very interactive, and you don’t actually need to stare at the screen.
12
12
And you can do it together, which makes it even better.
If your youngster is older than 13, they’re allowed to use a feature called Google Gemini.
It’s Google’s official chatbot, which you’d normally type to. But it also has a free feature called Gemini Live for out-loud conversations.
Gemini will speak to you just like a real person would, and you can answer back in real time or even interrupt.
One great way to use this feature is to create your own choose-your-own-adventure or Dungeons & Dragons-style game.
Part of the fun can be setting up the game. You can ask Gemini to run the game, tell it what sort of story you’d like and the character you’d like to play, and that it should be age-appropriate.
Then you can start playing, with Gemini setting the scene and you telling the chatbot what you’d like your character to do next.
You could play alone or as a family (just ask Gemini to take it in turns with the different characters) for hours. And because it’s all being created in the moment, based on your own ideas, every game will be different.
And you don’t need any gear – just a phone or tablet, and you’re good to go.
Lego Technic and Lego Powered Up – £55
Obviously, kids love Lego. I’m not here to tell you that.
But it’s easy to forget that Lego isn’t just those eye-catching Harry Potter, Marvel, and Peppa Pig sets.
You can grab something that is a little more educational – and potentially create a budding engineer in your own home.
Then, when they’re older, they’ll rake in a giant salary designing bridges on the Moon, remember your thoughtful Lego gift that started it all, and buy you a bungalow near a beach as thanks. Hopefully.
There are two great ranges that you want to look at.
The first is Lego Technic, which has moving parts and more complicated designs. Several models are rated fine for nine and ten-year-olds. There’s even a Ferrari for £55 that’ll easily keep car fanatics busy.
12
Lego Technic Ferrari FXX K, £54.89
If you want to get even fancier, there’s the Lego Powered Up series.
These are motorised products that let you bring your creations to life: think cars, trains, and cranes.
Does that sound like a clutter nightmare?
One savvy way around this is to bag something from Lego’s non-tech Botanicals range instead.
12
These are pretty sets of Lego flowers that your child can build, and won’t look naff on the windowsill. They’re happy and engaged, and you end up with a lovely ornament. Everyone’s a winner.
The best part? There are loads that won’t break the bank.
You can buy cherry blossoms from Boots for £13, orchids at The Entertainer for £19, and a wildflower bouquet at Tesco for £15 at current pricing.
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World – £429
Arguably the must-have gadget right now: the Nintendo Switch 2.
12
It’s the new Nintendo console, now just a few months old.
The blockbuster launch title is Mario Kart World, an immensely fun racing game that almost needs no introduction. It’s brilliant and easy to pick up, even if you’re new to gaming. The bundle with the console and game comes to £429.
I also recently tried out Super Mario Party Jamboree, which is another great multiplayer option.
This is a gadget for the whole family – not just your child.
FREE GAMES GALORE!
Want to enjoy some games without paying extra? You might find you’re already owed some freebies…
For a start, your Netflix subscription includes free games.
Some of them can be played on the TV with your phone working as the controller.
And others can be downloaded for free on your mobile phone or tablet.
Sky TV also includes loads of child-friendly free games.
Just look for the Games by Play.Works app and you’ll be able to unlock hours of fun.
Third, Amazon Prime subscribers can get free games in two ways.
The first is through Prime Gaming, which gives you a rolling monthly roster of free games to unlock and keep.
And the second is Amazon Luna, which is a cloud gaming service.
This lets you stream top-tier games to your TV without a console – a bit like Netflix, but for gaming.
Normally it would cost you £8.99 a month for Luna+, but Prime members get access to a rolling selection of games for free – including Fortnite.
Just download the Luna app on your Fire TV or Fire Stick, or LG or Samsung telly.
Then you can connect a Bluetooth gaming controller and away you go.
Picture Credit: Netflix / The Sun
The Nintendo Switch 2 is a brilliant pick because it’s so versatile.
You can plug it into your TV, sure, but you can also undock it and carry it around as a portable gaming machine.
And it also has a kickstand. So if you’re on a train or aeroplane, you can plonk it down on the tray table, and play together – you just each need to grab one of the two Joy-Con controllers attached to the side of the machine.
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World, £429.99
12
12
Just keep the volume down if you’re playing in public!
Meta Quest 3 – £279
Virtual reality headsets were once enormously expensive.
Not only that, you previously needed to plug them into a similarly costly gaming PC. Ouch.
Now? They’re not so bad at all. In fact, there’s a brilliant one that’s cheaper than most consoles.
It’s called the Meta Quest 3S, and it costs £289. That’s less than most consoles. It’s cheaper than the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Xbox Series X. You could buy two of them and have money to spare versus a £700 PS5 Pro.
12
This headset lets you step into imaginary worlds, play virtual reality computer games, visit far-off places and more.
You can roleplay as Batman, slash and dance your way to rhythm-action glory in Beat Saber, and play shockingly realistic table tennis or golf without leaving your living room.
Unless you have two headsets, the person playing is mostly isolated – but you can beam their view to the TV to get everyone involved.
It’s incredibly cheap for what you get.
12
The only catch? Meta recommends that the headset only be used by those aged 10 and up, so this isn’t for very young children.
Meta Quest 3S, £289
Meta offers guidance for parents on how to manage play sessions, so it’s worth following the safety advice on the Meta Quest 3S website.
All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed.
Always do your own research before making any purchase.
BUT…DON’T FORGET THE IPAD!
Of course, there are plenty of ways to have fun on the iPad too…
For a start, you can enjoy loads of free books just by launching up the Apple Books app.
It effectively turns the iPad into a Kindle-style e-reader.
If you’ve recently bought the iPad (or you’re willing to pay £6.99 a month) then you can try Apple Arcade.
This gives you access to more than 200 games that have zero ads and no microtransactions.
So you can be sure your child won’t accidentally spend any money in them.
Find it in the Arcade tab on the Apple App Store.
And don’t forget that YouTube has a dedicated child-friendly video service.
It’s called YouTube Kids, which you can download as a standalone app on the iPad.
So you can feel safer that videos you choose won’t run on to inappropriate content once they’ve finished.
Picture Credit: Apple / The Sun
