Black Friday Picks

There are two more days before Black Friday and it’s a great opportunity to get your Christmas shopping done! Many of you have asked me for my top high-tech picks this year. But it’s not just about giving your kids high-tech toys. It’s about giving your kids technology as a tool to spark their thinking! And these tech toys do this and more!

It’s about giving your kids technology as a tool to spark their thinking!

#1 OSMO

It’s a great learning tool packed with fun! And the Black Friday sale should get you amped! There are discounts of at least 30% off! If your child already has an iPad or a Kindle Fire then this is MUST HAVE on your Christmas list!!! There are so many options; interactive spelling games, counting games, puzzles, drawing activities, a Hot Wheels racing game and even coding! Remember you must have an Osmo base to use it so be sure to purchase a starter kit or else make sure your kit has a base.

If your child already has an iPad or a Kindle Fire then this is MUST HAVE on your Christmas list!!!

There’s even a preschool version – Little Genius Starter kit. If you got your kids the Genius Kit last year check out Pizza Co. or Coding Jam! Prices range from as low as $27 to $70USD as the Black Friday discounts are already active on Amazon.com.

#2 LEGO BOOST

This is a right of passage for any child that’s crazy about Lego! And as every model your child builds is programmable he or she can learn to code or develop further coding skills simply by playing. There’s not much to say about Lego Boost other than you can’t go wrong with buying this one!….Well except in one area – price. This is currently $160USD on Amazon.com. Just maybe it may be lower on Black Friday! Good Luck!

There’s not much to say about Lego Boost other than you can’t go wrong with buying this one!….Well except in one area – price.

#3 SPHERO

Ok so first off, I am very wary of gimmicky toys with limited functionality. But guess what? Kids like ’em. Think Fidget Spinner! But Sphero’s got a range to choose from! So you can get loads of fun with fewer learning opportunities with Sphero mini ($50USD on Amazon.com). Or you can get way more focused learning opportunities with Sphero’s SPRK+ ($122USD).

Kids can really get their creative juices flowing by creating their own music through technology.

I myself am particularly fond of Sphero’s specdrums! Kids can really get their creative juices flowing by creating their own music through technology.

Why do I like Spehro specdrums so much? Because it hits so many targets; opportunities to create, free play, memorable experiences, hands-on activity, technology-driven thinking. And for musically inclined kids it’s a great avenue to express themselves in a modern way! And it’s only $70USD!

#4 KINDLE FIRE

Should you buy a tablet for your child? Yes! Now…at which age? That’s really up to you. Our kids got hand-me down iPads eons ago. But it works for our family because my husband can repair screens! (Lucky much?) I’m a fan of Apple simply because of the wide range of quality apps that are available. But more and more the Kindle Fire and Android are catching up. What’s the benefit of giving your child a tablet? Well if they’re always using your phone that’s one good reason right there. You are important too! 🙂 But seriously, your child can have access to educational apps like Jolly Phonics, Education.com and tailor-made shows and movies on Netflix.

Should you buy a tablet for your child? Yes!

By the way the first thing I recommend if you get a tablet for your child is to DELETE YouTube!…yes, even YouTube Kids! I know that’s an unpopular stance. But in the pros vs cons game cons wins on this one. More on this another day! The cost of the Kindle Fire HD 8 Kids Edition starts at $80USD on Amazon. Now if you’re anything like me you’ll go for the smaller model at a reduced price. For e.g. the Kindle Fire HD 7 Kids Edition is currently $60USD on Amazon! But larger screens definitely offer a better user experience! Maybe on Black Friday or Cyber Monday prices may be even lower!

#5 KANO COMPUTER KIT

I’m really excited about what Kano has out this year. In the past Kano wasn’t among my top picks. Why? Cause although it’s an amazing product it was super inconvenient. Starting at $113USD the Computer Kit seems like a great deal on the surface; a kid’s first Raspberry pi computer but it doesn’t come with a computer screen! You’ll have to hook it up to the television or a desktop or laptop screen. This can seriously impede any independent play the child may want to engage in and hence removes opportunities to embed learning or build skill. Of course you can purchase a screen – Boooooo! Bah Hum Bug!

This can seriously impede any independent play the child may want to engage in and hence removes opportunities to embed learning or build skill.

Now there’s the Kano Computer Kit Touch which seems to offer a wide range of coding and play activities at…wait for it…$225USD. Great for a child who is really into coding, electronics and building things. But I guess you can see why I never gave Kano the green light.

But this year they’ve changed the game with the Kano Frozen II Coding Kit at $50USD and Kano Star Wars The Force Coding Kit at $80USD on Amazon.com. These interactive games are the perfect concoction of fun through challenging, thought-provoking activities without breaking Santa’s wallet.

#6 LITTLEBITS

If you’ve been to any of our Summer STEM Camps or visited our Makerspace at Chuck E. Cheese’s Epic Field Trips you’ll know Smart Kids Club loves LittleBits!!! They are tiny electronic circuit blocks that snap together magnetically. They really make electronics come to life. Kids can dive in immediately and create something that is functional. They learn how gadgets work by creating gadgets of their own! Brilliant!

LittleBits has lots of options to choose from. There’s the Rule Your Room Kit ($29USD), Base Inventors Kit ($65), the Space Rover Inventor Kit ($95USD), the Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit ($75USD) and Avengers Hero Inventor Kit ($119USD). You can’t go wrong with any option. They are all geared to give opportunities for invention and innovation.

That’s a wrap!

So that’s my list! Hope it was helpful. If you are considering any other STEM or high-tech toys, need any advice or want to share your top picks WhatsApp me at 772-9812 or email smartkids@smartkidsclubtt.com.