Right from the time she was 3 months old, my daughter would not touch her teddy bears and Barbie dolls but showed great fascination for pounding on my laptop. She was just 6 months old when I got her an educational laptop that thrilled her to bits. To me, it was weird, but that’s when I understood that this generation is not about stuffed toys and building blocks but Xboxes and hi-tech gadgets. That led me to explore the hot-selling kids’ gadgets today. Catering to a tech savvy generation We live at a time when our kids are exposed to computers and video games at a very early age. Even when parents do introduce their kids to traditional games, they prefer playing chess and Scrabble online on the PC, to using the board versions. There is a fascination and admiration for technology from a very young age, making hi-tech gadgets the gift of choice for most children. Toy manufacturers seem to have caught on to this trend quickly, as the plethora of gift gadgets in the market testify. And then there are the numerous online stores that open up a whole new world of gizmos for eager kids. Zipping ahead: hi-tech cars and planes When I was visiting a friend’s place recently, her 6 year-old son proudly invited me to see his ‘Mazda RX 7’. Following suit was his 4 year-old brother who wanted to flaunt his ‘Mazda RX 8’. I was quite shocked to hear that such young children were being driven around in their own cars – but was soon laughing at my own ignorance, when they showed me their fancy battery operated toy cars that could steer, turn and stop. Such cars, as well as remote controlled (RC) helicopters and planes that can fly over a range of 200 ft. and up to a height of 100 ft., are a craze among little kids. These cars, available $40 upward, and planes at about $50, make ideal birthday gifts, while racer bike sets and Grand Prix sets are also available for kids who enjoy racing. What else is on the shelf? If your tech-savvy child is not into action toys, there are lots of other gadgets to bring a smile to his/her face. Ranging between $10 and $25, you can find beauty accessories like skin care devices, body massagers and even a battery operated eyelash curler. If s/he is more into ‘mind games’ there are many varieties of laptops available at any of the online stores. Attractive, child-friendly designs include Barbie laptops and flower shaped laptops. And then there is the ultra thin MP3/FM/voice recorder that can be had for less than $15. Video games - the all-seasons gift For parents of video game addicts, the options are simply endless. It’s best not to attempt to surprise kids with a video game though, because they might already have downloaded the same one as freeware from the net. And if you are ready for a sizable hole in your pocket, a truly memorable gift is the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 Console fully loaded with games. For music buffs too there are plenty of gift ideas – from MP3 players of various capacities and price ranges, to electric guitars and synthesizers. No matter which way your child is inclined, technology today caters to the tastes of one and all. The next time you are short of gift ideas for your child, search the web. You might be surprised by the many options available that suit your budget and delight your child. What was the last gadget you bought for your child? Do you think that gifting children with gadgets instead of books, board games and dolls is a good idea?
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