Gizmos for Kids

May the force be with your little Luke Skywalker or pint-sized Darth Vader!

Once your child opens the Oregon Scientific DV33 Darth Vader Learning Laptop, they must either choose either the Force or the Dark Side by touching the Light Saber pointer to the touch-sensitive LCD screen. The Light Saber will then change color accordingly (green or red). There are 80 exciting and fun learning games reinforce math, spelling, logic and memory, including 10 games in Spanish. Laptop also features 20 minutes of intergalactic audio learning entertainment. Laptop features a QWERTY keyboard and a large, easy-to-read LCD screen with backlight for low-light conditions. Carry handle for easy portability. Games designed specifically for 1st and 2nd grade Jedis-in-training.

Recommended price $46.78 at Amazon.com.

Create, compose and crank the music with the Nitro Jams Notebook! The Nitro Jams Notebook teaches music with a real piano keyboard attached to a sleek laptop. Young ‘Mozarts’ can create their own melodies or pump-up popular jams with cool sound effects. And, they’ll really score with 40 noteworthy activities that teach math skills, develop language arts, sharpen logical thinking skills, and encourage musical creativity.

Recommended price $49.99 at Vsmileshop.com.

Check out LEGO’s newest robot-building kit! It is really unbelievable!Features include: greatly improved functionality, 32-bit command center with large LCD, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth interfaces that allow robots to walk, talk and interact with their environment, Technic blocks (”studless legos”) that create a more human, less boxy look, intuitive GUI and drag-and-drop icons are PC- and Mac-friendly, redesigned touch and light sensors, new sound sensor and ultrasonic sensor, three motors redesigned for smoother, more reliable operation, 6-wire digital cables for more precise connections, and 5 main themes (8 different models) - Vehicle: Roverbot, Animal, Scorpio; Machine: Robotic Arm; Human: Humanoid; Gadgets: Clock, Music, Game and Movers.

The kit includes:
577 pieces
Quickstart Guide helps you build a robot ready for action within 30 minutes
Model-specific building instructions, tips and tricks, testing methods and programming options
Easy-to-use software
Test panel

For ages 10 and up.

Recommended price $249.99 at Amazon.com.

Take learning to the MAX!™The Leapster L-Max handheld, complete with interactive touch screen, stylus pen and directional pad, allows your child to play action-packed games anywhere - on the go or at home on your TV. Learn to write letters on the L-Max handheld screen - the letters you write will appear on the TV and star in an animated story! Simply insert any of the Leapster or Leapster L-Max cartridges and your child will enjoy mastering preschool through 4th grade skills. Appropriate For Ages 4 to 10 Years.

It teaches Math, Reading, Spelling, Science, Writing Skills, Language Art & Music, and Logic & Problem Solving Skills.

Recommended price $84.99 at Leapfrog.com.

Girls just want to have fun and they want to look good doing it!With the hip, password-protected Vtech Girl Fun PC, laptop they can do both! Guided by talkative virtual friends she creates, your child will go to town playing fun, fashion-focused games that teach key skills in math and spelling. As she advances through the arcade-style games, your child adds value to her debit card, which she can use to buy pets and accessories in the Digital Pet Shop. With a magic lipstick stylus, flower-shaped keys and cool animations on the large LCD screen, Girl Fun PC makes an awesome impression on girls—and their learning!

Recommended price $29.99 at vsmileshop.com.

SpongeBob KidzMouse is a kid-friendly computer mouse designed and tested for young children ages 2 to 10. A great way to get children involved into computers without the intimidation. As computers are becoming a way of life the younger the child, the easier it will be to grasp the idea of PC’s. A simple and affordable way to involve a child into a way of life!

Recommended price $16.98 at Children’s Software Online.com.

Anyone can buy a regular stuffed animal. If you have seen one, you have seen them all, right? Well, how about a stuffed animal that has a code that allows you to enter a new world on the web? That is what Webkinz can do!Webkinz are plush pets that each come with a unique secret code. These stuffed animals are similar to many other small soft toys, yet they come with a special code on their labels that allows access to the “Webkinz World” website to “adopt” a virtual version of the pet for virtual interaction. Each pet has levels of happiness, health, and hunger that decrease as time is spent with that Webkinz. They can be increased by feeding, playing with, exercising, and bathing the pet. If these meters get too low, the virtual pet becomes sick and must take the special medicine purchased at the clinic. Much of the game involves the making and spending of Kinzcash. Earning Kinzcash involves playing multiple minigames, including quizzes and arcade games. This virtual currency can then be used to purchase items for the virtual pet.

Collect them all!

Recommended price starting from $12.93 at Amazon.com.

The SpongeBob SquarePants Keyboard has been designed and tested just for kids ages 2 to 10 years. KidzMouse Keys works for small children by simplifying the keyboard, rounding the tops of keys, and shortening the overall span from the bottom to the top of the keys. KidzMouse Keys are safe and fun to use. The special KidzMouse Keys ledge allows children to put their favorite things on the keyboard. Kids will enjoy the colorful keys along with the characters around the keyboard. A great gift idea!

Recommended price $29.98 at Children’s Software Online.com.