How to choose the right gadgets for your child

Discover the best family gadgets, according to tech experts and parents

Explore our expert-approved guide to smart gadgets for kids to support positive digital experiences.

Popular gadgets for kids and families

From smart toys to VR headsets, here are some popular gadgets for 2023. Choose a type of gadget to explore.

Explore smart speakers for the family

See smartwatches for kids

AI and VR gadgets

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The most popular smart speakers for families

Smart speakers are increasingly popular in the home for setting reminders and creating routines. They can check the weather, read your texts, answer questions and set timers.

Additionally, some smart speakers let children play games or quizzes, read audiobooks, play music and answer their burning questions.

Here are some of the most popular smart speakers for kids in 2023.

Echo Dot Kids – from £64.99

Every purchase includes 1 year of Amazon Kids+ content. Children can ask Alexa to play music, get help with homework, hear bedtime stories and more. With a dedicated parent dashboard, you can control what your child is engaging with and filter content. Plus, Alexa will automatically give child-friendly responses and filter songs with explicit lyrics, so kids can listen independently

See our parental controls guide to set your Echo up safe.

Google Nest – from £49.99

While Google Nest doesn’t have a dedicated children’s speaker like the Echo, the Google Nest allows for parental controls and personalisation. Parents can change everything from the voice children hear to the sort of content Google Nest will respond with.

Delivering screen-free fun, smart speakers can be a great tool for kids to learn new things, explore audiobooks and satiate their curiosity with answers to every question they can ask.

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Set up smart speakers for safety

Best smartwatches for kids in 2023

Smartwatches are like a wearable smartphone — some can take photos, track how many steps you take a day and can even help you track your location.

Most smartwatches have options to manage how much data is collected, particularly if you buy a watch specifically designed for children.

Here are some of the most popular smartwatches for kids this year.

VTech Kidizoom DX2 – prices start from £39.99

With a splash-proof design, motion sensor, pedometer, alarm clock, timer, stopwatch and voice recorder, this watch does almost everything your child could need. Plus it has a Time Master app which helps children learn how to tell the time. It also lets children take photos and videos with its dual cameras, so it’s worth having a conversation about photos and photo sharing safely.

iTime Black Smart Watch – prices start from £34.99

The iTime Smart Watch connects to the ITIME app on IOS and Android devices which features message and call notifications, a step counter, Bluetooth, a sleep monitor and more. You can also receive call and message notifications.

Garmin vivofit jr.3 – prices start from £59.00

Parents can set goals like cleaning their room and allow kids to earn virtual coins (parents decide how many) from there, parents can choose how the kids can redeem them. There are plenty of preset options such as “go swimming” or “eat out”. Kids will also be rewarded for being active, 60 minutes of daily activity unlocks ‘adventure’ – an educational but fun travel story.

Tikkers interactive watch and headphone set – prices start from £39

The Tikkers watch offers plenty of interactive features like preloading up to 40 songs for listening with the child-safe headphones provided. There are also four games to play plus a voice recorder and a built-in camera with high-quality image capture and filter option

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AI and VR gadgets for kids

With the growing popularity of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, plenty of gadgets on the market using either or both are now available.

From smart toys that help kids code to virtual reality headsets that immerse kids in fantasy worlds, here are some popular AI and VR gadgets to support children’s digital experiences.

Miko My Companion Miko 3 – prices start from £227

Designed by experts in child education and development, Miko grows up alongside kids. Perfect for studying, dancing and built with deep AI learning to better understand your child, Miko comes with built-in profanity filters, age-appropriate content, and culturally neutral suggestions.

Botley 2.0 The Coding Robot Activity Set – prices start from £89.99

Programe endless challenges with 27 obstacle pieces, Botley is an innovative STEM toy that encourages children to explore science, technology, engineering and maths, while having fun.

Sphero Mini – prices start from £49.99

By lighting up and responding to motion, Sphero Mini offers a range of educational experiences. Drive it, code it and use it in a variety of games, you can connect the Sphero to a range of apps for play or learning.

HTC Vive Pro 2 – prices start from £719

With the highest resolution on the market, the HTC Vive Pro 2 offers an experience like no other. But, it’s also one of the most expensive options (at over £1000 for the entire kit).

META Quest 2 – prices start from £299

One of the most popular choices on the market, META Quest 2 delivers an incredible gaming experience. However, it does require a META (Facebook) account to function.

PlayStation VR – prices start from £299

Perfect for PlayStation owners, this headset only works when paired with Sony’s PlayStation games. However, it’s had nothing but rave reviews and plenty of kid-friendly games to explore.

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Guide: What is the metaverse?

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