Kids Clock Radios

Most kids clock radios are digital. They are easy to read and more adult looking since so many clocks are digital anyway. They are a great choice for kids. However, if you're considering a device for a young child that is just ready to learn how to tell time, you might want to consider an analog clock. We have one analog clock radio listed below.

If your purpose is primarily to teach a pre-school age child to tell time, you may first want to take a look around our page about children's alarm clocks since there are far more options for teaching and keeping track of time.

When choosing a clock radio for a young child there are a few things to think about beyond the analog versus digital question. Certainly you want it to have a display that is large enough and lit adequately to be read. You want the controls to be easy to use, the design to eliminate any small parts that might be a choking hazard, and perhaps you want it to have a nightlight as well. In many instances, these clock radios are selected based on their theme. If your child is a future gear head, then a hot wheels clock radio might be perfect, but for Barbie fans something else would be necessary.

However, since you're buying a device with a radio, then it's assumed that the music is important. Clock radios for kids from 3 to 9 generally won't provide outstanding audio quality. However, you can certainly look for a few things that might help. The ability to attach an external antenna can be useful, but a built-in antenna is much better than none at all. Many clock radios offer just one speaker. Ideally the speaker would be located on top or on the front of the device for better sound. In fact, having two speakers could help improve audio quality as well. Parents also need to decide if they want a headphone jack. Allowing your child to listen to music in private can keep you both happy. On the other hand, some parents don't want their young children wearing earphones due to an increased chance of hearing loss. Over the ear headphones however present less danger than in-the-ear style headphones, and if volume is regulated then it shouldn't be a problem.

In addition, you should check to be sure that the radio provides both AM and FM bands. There are a few that also provide a CD player. In such instances, having functions such as repeat, skip, and search are handy. You should also check to be sure the alarm will allow your child to select waking by buzzer or music. One final feature that can come in handy is an automatic shut off timer that allows your child to fall asleep to music.

Introduction photo by Pink Sherbet Photography.