If your son or daughter are gaming fans and especially fans of Star Wars you might like to lead them into the Sith Realm with the Oregon Scientific Darth Vader Laptop. This innovative device will challenge your child's skills and logic in amazing games that will help to improve hand-eye coordination, memory and reflexes as well as any musical talents that might be waiting to be discovered. It comes with a light saber with motion sensors which when swung plays sound effects. It is also extendable at the push of a button and interactive throughout the games reflecting your choice of character and allowing you to select activities. The player can choose to battle Darth Vader as a Jedi knight or a Sith and there are 50 English games which will keep the player entertained for hours. You'll also be pleased to learn that there is a plug-in audio jack so games can be played quietly!
If you're not bothered by noise and you want to test the water, musically that is, before forking out on the real thing, you could invest in the Silverlit Vbeat Air Guitar. It is usually about half the price of other air guitars, definitely a plus on my checklist, and apart from being great fun will give your child a sense of what it's like to learn to play a musical instrument. It works by coordinating movements of the plectrum, pressing combinations of the four buttons found on the arm and varying the distance between the main body and the arm of the guitar. Apart from this you can also switch between a combination of four different guitars, create a tremelo effect and play chords. In my opinion this gadget is fun, educational and reasonably priced. What more could you ask for? A pair of ear plugs possibly!
Moving on, we should think about those children who haven't quite yet succumbed to the technical revolution and who still enjoy the great outdoors. I was certainly one of those whose knees were constantly scraped and shoes caked in mud. I remember quite clearly my brother and I playing at stealth manoeuvres with make-believe walkie talkies, shouting through our homemade devices in the vain hope that the enemy, mother, was out of earshot! Oh, what we would have given for the real thing. Well your kids can have the real thing, so when they're on secret missions in the back garden or out in the wilds they can stay in touch. Apart from all the fun they're going to have it's good to know that if they're out of sight of one another and they get into a spot of bother they can still communicate and stay in touch. Wind-up walkie talkies run on batteries and can also be charged via a mains adaptor and topped up by winding the crank, ensuring long usage time and optimal performance. I would certainly rate this as one of my eco-friendly favourites. So your kids will be happy, you'll have peace of mind and the ingenious cranking option means it's one less strain on our planets resources. Prices vary with this gadget so shop around to get the best deal and make sure that the price includes two sets.
So what about the fashion conscience girly teens? If they have an MP3 or MP4 player then this might just be the perfect gift. The Pink Pod Kit MP3 and MP4 Accessory Kit in Pink comes with a very funky brandy carry case, USB 6v DC power input cable, speaker dock, pink headphones, MP3 and MP4 in-car sound system connector and an audio/visual connection cable. Oh, and it's pink! This is definitely one for the girls that like their music. It's handy for travel, stylish, brother repellent and.... pink! Believe me, they'll love it.
At the end of the day, when it's time to pack away the video games, air guitars, walkie-talkies and music, we can all sit back, relax and enjoy the amazing Rainbow in My Room. This is a childrens favourite, remember the first time they ever saw a rainbow? It's one of natures most stunning special effects. Well now your kids can transform their rooms into a magical light show using a rainbow projector with multicoloured LEDs. It's great for sleepovers and pyjama parties adding drama and atmosphere to the occasion, or it can be used just as a simple night-light. An instruction sheet containing information and facts about rainbows is also included so there is an educational benefit too. The auto shut-off is a thoughtful feature saving the battery charge (4 x triple A batteries are required) and not requiring you to switch off manually risking disturbing your sleeping angels. The Rainbow in My Room is suitable for children aged 5 years and up and won't disappoint.
It's difficult buying gadgets and toys for kids these days. Apart from the fact that they can be expensive, and that there are so many to choose from, they can also become outdated very quickly and you know what children are like when it comes to what's trendy and what's not. These gadgets are tried and tested, some have educational benefits and all are value for money. Thank goodness we don't have to drag our kids kicking and screaming into the 21st Century, rather the other way round I fear! Above all, it's about having fun and these five are my chosen superstars.
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