How to Choose Gadgets for Kids

Kids today tend to be scarily good with technology. Can't program your DVD? No problem. Give the remote to a child and they'll be able to do it. Can't work out how to use your new phone? It'll be child's play. For them anyway.

Tapping into their love of all things technical can make it easy to give them birthday and Christmas gifts that they'll really enjoy playing with. Kids like gadgets and gizmos as much - if not more - than we do.

So, what's on offer at the younger end of the market that they might like?

Be warned. You buy this stuff at your own risk. You'll give your kid something they'll really enjoy playing with but they may use it on you!

Kids, especially boys, can really get into spy gadgets. You can set them up with all kinds of options that can have them setting up surveillance systems and alarms and playing spy games with their friends (great for imaginative development by the way!).

Spy watches and gizmos like night goggles often go down well here as do spy phones. This will allow them to set up their own secret agent operation. To go the whole nine yards a spy agent kit that contains stuff like motion alarms, spy cams, flashlight pens, telescopes and listening devices could have them lurking round the house like James Bond!

One cool way of adding something to a gadget gift is to get your kid to build their own gizmo. There are a lot of kits that can tick boxes - they also come with the added bonus of getting the child to create their own device which could make it extra special to them. They want the gadget, they have to build the kit.

These kits may also be useful from an educational point of view (not they'll notice!) as many will help them learn science and construction skills. So, for example, you could give a kit that allows them to build their own gadget robot out of a tin can or one that teaches them to make their own solar robot. Other popular options include torch building, finger printing kit making and vehicle making kits.

Although a lot of kids seem to move into wanting adult gadgets and gizmos quite early on, there are still plenty of play based electronic gadgets and gizmo type games that may be more age appropriate for them.

Saying that, a lot of adult gadgets are targeted at big kids and you'll probably find that standard gadgets like desk racing sets, desktop football and USB based electronic games will suit small boys as well as big ones! I hate to put another family through this but keychains that make rude noises are cheap gadgets and give them hours of fun.

20Q seems to be a perennially popular gadget although this is also a game. My son, for example, has played with his for the last couple of years on and off (as have we!). This small electronic ball plays 20 questions with you and has the most disconcerting habit of being able to read your mind!

Another big hit with many boys are radio controlled gadgets. Micro planes, helicopters and bugs that can be flown in and outside the home often go down well as do mini vehicles and racing sets.