The kids are alright
We round up some great gadgets that offer safe spaces for youngsters to get to grips with tech
WHEN it comes to the tech world there’s no reason why the kids have to miss out.
Obviously we don’t want to expose those still in single figures to the Wild West of the internet – but there are gadgets that offer a curated space where the young people in your life can learn, stay safe, and get creative.
Here are four ideas to get started.
Amazon Fire 10 Kids
They say: A full-featured 10ins HD tablet. If it breaks, return it and we’ll replace it for free with our two-year, worry-free guarantee.
We say: The Fire 10 Kids is incredibly durable and robust – just as you want it to be if you’re spending almost £200 on a gadget that’s aimed very much at the under-10s.
What you’re actually buying here is a regular Fire 10 that is encased in a tough plastic “kidproof” case that makes the whole thing more or less indestructible.
Inside the Fire 10 is a very capable device, but the whole thing is monitored via the Parents Dashboard web page, where grown ups can view daily activity reports, add and block websites, and adjust their child’s setting however they see fit.
Also included is a year of access to Amazon Kids+, which offers thousands of ad-free apps, books, games, and videos.
Parents can manage access to these, and set learning goals for their children… like requiring them to watch an educational video before they can play any games.
The Fire 10 is the biggest of Amazon’s tablets, and despite the price it is a very capable machine.
For the age group it offers a fun and exciting way to access digital material to help them learn, but also have a lot of fun.
Cost: Fire HD 10 Kids for three – to seven-year-olds comes in a blue or pink kid-proof case for £199.99 (amazon.co.uk)
VTech KidiCom Advance 3.0
They say: The all new KidiCom Advance 3.0 is a sleek, slim, touch screen tech device.
We say: It might look like a mobile phone, but it’s not.
This device doesn’t connect to mobile network, but to wifi, where a very carefully curated set of apps allow the user to interact with ageappropriate services, get creative with the built-in rotating camera, and message approved others.
The KidiCom is a great way for kids to get acquainted with the smartphone world in a safe environment, and learn something too.
Cost: For four to 11 years, KidiCom Advance 3.0 costs £139.99 (vtech.co.uk)
Moochies Connect
They say: The MyMoochies app on your smartphone, giving you control over all the features of your child’s all-in-one smartwatch and phone.
We say: It may look like a smart watch, but Moochies Connect is actually a fully featured smartphone with a built-in SIM for connectivity anywhere.
It’s controlled by an app on the parents phone, and from there you can track the location of your children and communicate with them either via voice or the built in messaging service.
It’s a great way for parents to keep track of what their kids are up to, ensuring that they are safe at all times.
Cost: Moochies Connect is £79.99 (moochies.com)
Groov-e Kidz Camera
They say: Are you ready to unleash your child’s inner artist and watch their creativity soar?
We say: This miniature digital camera should have them snapping away in no time, with easy to use controls.
Available in sky blue or baby pink, the Groov-e Kidz Camera is especially designed for the small hands of budding photographers.
Featuring a 40mp camera and 1080p video capture it also has a two-inch HD screen so they can instantly admire their snaps and videos.
The included cable can attach to other devices to transfer images for sharing with others.
Cost: Groov-e Kidz camera costs £24.99. groov-e.co.uk