Post date: Dec 8, 2017 10:24:20 PM

Each year, Thanksgiving ushers in the season of serious shopping: this year, we have five weekends before Christmas Day. Instead of gathering at the mall at 4 am on Black Friday, many of us stayed home and shopped online at our favorite stores’ websites, and we’re still shopping. Let’s face it: some people are a challenge to shop for, including the geeks in our lives, whether they’re children or adults. So here are some gift ideas for your favorite geek kid and many of these are for toys.

Whether you buy the toys online or in your favorite local store, it’s a great idea to do some research first online. Toy manufacturers identify a recommended age, use a system of 1 to 5 stars to rate the toy, include reviews by people who purchased the toy, and offer a detailed look at what you get, as well as well as how to use the toy. Many come equipped to work with apps from mobile devices. You will also see lots of bargains from your favorite stores, great deals on shipping or free pick up at the store.

This season, there are lots of interactive toys like the Hatchimals, which come packed in eggs and need to be held, loved, and encouraged by children before they hatch. If you haven’t seen these, go to Youtube and watch as an adorable baby animal pecks its way out of the shell to meet its child. Hatchanimals are cute little stuffed animals with eyes that light up, cost around $60 and are designed for children aged 5+. Once hatched, the toy needs attention and develops from baby to toddler to child.

Other popular toys are Robots like the Cozmos robot which looks like a funny little vehicle with a mechanical face of sorts and arms: it’s designed for children ages 8 and up, Cozmos is on sale for around $150 at Target or Walmart. It can express emotion, move around, pick up its power cubes, and get to know its child. Children use a mobile app to program Cozmos, so it is very educational.

Another great option is the littleBits Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit, which is described as a toolkit to create a droid using electronic building blocks that snap together with magnets. So children get to assemble the droid, which looks like R2D2 from Star Wars, and then program him using the app and the little bits, to do different tasks. They can also redesign the toy, which fosters creativity. This toy was rated 4 ½ stars, is designed for children 8 and older, and is on sale several places for $79. Reviewers were enthusiastic about this toy!

Be aware that many toys have flooded the market, being labeled as robots or looking like robots when they are just remote controlled toys that can move around. For example, Walmart is offering a great deal on a toy called Star Wars Smart R2-D2: originally $99, it is on sale for $39. Children 6 & up use an app to send the Droid on missions; however, they aren’t programming and the toy isn’t “learning” based on their actions.

Lego’s building sets are always a great choice, and sets feature Star Wars, Batman, and Lord of the Ring. Another popular building toy is Magformer’s magnetic building blocks: I ordered a similar set off Amazon and my grandsons want to play with them almost every time they visit. Pieces come in a variety of shapes, such as triangles, squares, and rectangles, and are magnetic, so fit together to create a variety of objects.

If you’re an Amazon user, don’t overlook the popular Kindle Fire tablet: the 7 inch model is on sale at $29 after Thanksgiving, so you’ll be tempted to buy one for lots of people on your list. Kindle also makes one for kids, with a year of access to apps and games, videos, books and educational content from PBS kids, Nickelodeon, and Disney. It is geared for kids 3-12 with friendly apps, durable covers, and lots of ways for parents to customize and control content and usage. It is on sale for $69, down from $99. In addition, Amazon has an amazing array of toys, gadgets, and books for kids in its STEM section. Some of the products here include a talking microscope, a roller coaster building set, robots like Cozmo, and kits to build a robot and program it.

Another hot toy this season will be small remote controlled drones like the RCtown NH010 Mini Drone 2.4GHz 4CH Mini UFO Quadcopter Drone: available for under $20 on Amazon, the manufacturer advises that it is suitable for children ages 7 and over. Much pricier drones, equipped with cameras, are available, of course, but beginning users can easily crash their drones the first time out, so why not start out with a simpler model.

A low tech option is the Boogie Board; this thin plastic board is the size of a small tablet and comes with a stencil. You can draw on it, write a list, draw a picture, and then erase it with the button at the top. You can also use an app to save your creation (or simply snap a photo with your smartphone). They come in several models, including one for children that comes with four small drawing tools. Find them at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, or Staples for around $30. They are great for families on the go: kids enjoy creating things, playing simple games, or drawing something.

If you want to find unique clothing, toys, or gifts for your geek child, go to thinkgeek.com. You will find a variety of clothing, backpacks, toys, gadgets, and other products featuring a variety of characters and themes from Minecraft to Star Wars to Star Trek to Dr. Who. You can find Little Golden books retelling the six Star Wars movies for kids, for example, or plush toys for the Star Wars characters. They also have Stem toys, such as Kano’s Build your own Computer kit, with Raspberry Pi3, allowing kids to learn how to code and build their own computer to play games and more. The website is easy to navigate, with lots of options to search for gifts for your geek kid. As you browse, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for all of the geeks in your life—and you may end up finding a couple of gifts for yourself.

Last updated November 24, 2017

This column appeared in the Waterloo Courier.