Gadgets for Kids 2012

The GeoPalz Kids Motivational Pedometer is a fitness gadget for kids to encourage them to have an active lifestyle. You register the device with the GeoPalz website to track activity and even win fitness-related prizes.

There are lots of different GeoPalz designs that will appeal to girls and boys or various ages. A GeoPalz pedometer makes a great gift for a child who needs a bit of motivation to get some exercise, or any child that you want to make aware of the importance of keeping active.

GeoPalz Kids Butterfly Motivational Pedometer
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

GeoPalz Kids Rock and Roll Digital Tri-Axis Motivational Pedometer
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

GeoPalz Kids Lady Bug Digital Tri-Axis Motivational Pedometer
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

Tablets are very hot gadgets at the moment! Kids have been borrowing their parents iPads for a while, new tablets specifically for kids are available and there's a whole range of smaller mid-priced tablets that can work well for kids.

A touchscreen interface is very natural to kids (they keep poking my laptop screen!) so a tablet is very intuitive. The range of eBooks and educational apps for tablets is growing all the time and they provide a convenient kid-sized screen for watching TV shows where ever they happen to be. We've got a lot of books that come with an accompanying CD or DVD, a tablet is perfect for playing the audio or video while also looking at the paper book. They're great for following along instruction videos on YouTube for toys like Transformers too.

For Christmas we bought two 7" tablets to be shared by parents and kids. I use them for reading eBooks, browsing the web and to display recipes when I'm cooking. The kids (aged 3 and 5) use them for eBooks, coloring apps, games and watching videos.

Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet (Green)
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

Apple iPad 2 Tablet (16GB, Wifi,) NEWEST MODEL
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

Kids love to take photos. My kids are fascinated by creating scenes with their toys and then taking photos of them. It's a great way to get them to tidy up their Lego masterpiece - don't worry we'll still be able to see the photos!

There are lots of cameras on the market that are designed specifically for kids. These are ideal if you are worried about your kids breaking an expensive camera and they are designed to be easy for kids to operate.

We took a different approach though and gave our kids a cheap proper digital camera. Digital cameras aren't that complicated to use and our kids are used to technology and pretty careful. It is a risk and we wouldn't do it if we would be unable to replace the camera if it did get damaged. The photos from their camera are pretty good quality and they're learning to be careful with an expensive gadget.

The Kodak EasyShare is a great camera for kids. Just make sure the kids aren't able to connect it to the PC and upload photos to Facebook! I know I don't want my preschooler taking photos around the house and posting them on Facebook!

V Tech Disney's Cars - Lightning McQueen Digital Camera
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

Kodak Easyshare C1505 12 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom - Red
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

FujiFilm FinePix AV130 12MP Digital Camera (Blue)
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

Yes, kids love taking videos too! Great practice for future movie makers. And you might get some fun videos to keep as memories too. Again, some kids will cope with a proper video camera - it's a great way to pass on your old tech so you can upgrade to the latest gadgets. And for some you may be happier with tougher design that's better able to cope with enthusiastic kids.

Note that the LeapPad Explorer tablet comes with a basic camera and video recorder. Worth considering if you also want a tablet for a younger child.

LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet (Green)
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Video Camera - Blue
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

Kodak PlaySport (Zx5) HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera - Red (2nd Generation) NEWEST MODEL
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

If you're looking for a games console that the kids can use connected to a TV at home then I'd recommend the Nintendo Wii. There are lots of great games designed for kids of all ages and many of them will get kids up and moving.

We had to buy Nickelodeon Fit for our boys because they were so keen to join in when I'm using Wii Fit! (Oh yes, the Wii is a console for the whole family not just the kids.) And Super Mario Cart is a kids' favorite on the Wii too. Wii Draw is very popular as well - you can turn the Wii into a graphic design tablet.

Wii Console with Mario Kart Wii Bundle - Black
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

Nickelodeon Fit
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

uDraw Game tablet with uDraw Studio: Instant Artist - Black
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

My older son has been asking for a 'DS' since he was 3. His older friends at his childminder had them and he loved to watch them play Super Mario when they got back from school! He's five now and I've given him my old Nintendo Gameboy Advance. But maybe next Christmas when he's 6, he'll get an Nintendo 3DS.

Nintendo make very popular games for kids. We've been to two birthday parties recently with a Super Mario theme or cake. And kids do love to play on a DS. The Nintendo 3DS is the latest handheld console. Because it has been heavily promoted it's not actually much more expensive that the older generation Nintendo consoles.

The 3D feature of the Nintendo 3DS isn't recommended for children under 7 but you can turn it off. At this point it probably makes more sense to go with the latest console so that kids will be able to get the latest games. A 3DS is likely to hold their attention for quite a fews years.

Nintendo 3DS - Flame Red
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

Mario Kart 7
@ Amazon
BUY NOW

Super Mario 3D Land
@ Amazon
BUY NOW