It’s not possible to separate kids from their beloved toys. As the world has gone tech-crazy, parents are constantly worried that their kids would adopt the habits of gazing at the screen of a laptop or mobile phone all day. This is extremely dangerous for the vision of those tiny eyes. But you will be surprised to know that there are other best smart toys for kids that don’t harm them but help in the better mental and physical building of the child.
If you want to push your child towards good skills, its high time you start considering the toys that you invest in. Kids love their gadgets and since they are so fond of these devices, why not make perfect use of the situation. Research has claimed that kids who play most of the time are more creative and active than the ones who lazily spend their day on a couch, watching cartoons all day. It is best to indulge your children in activities and let them explore great things.
Games can act as a stimulant for the kids. They can persuade them to think or make a thoughtful move. This will enhance their alertness and thinking ability.
Yes, we understand the importance of smart toys. But the bigger question is what are these toys and how to find the best one for your child. Well, I am writing this review to help you understand different toys that are available in the market and then I will share the selection tips, followed by some great and durable smart games available out there.
Read more: Best 3D Pen for Kids in 2021 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide
Table of Contents
How To Buy The Best Smart Toy For Kids in 2021
Since we are not targetting a certain type of toy here so I am going to mention the standard things that are common for all. The options are immense which means that you are sure to feel a little uncomfortable while making a selection. At some point, you will want to buy them all since they serve different purposes. But most important is to not get perplexed with the choices and stick to a sole purpose. Whether you are buying for the mental development of the child or for their entertainment purpose. Once you have the purpose straight, the selection criteria will be a lot easier.
You can light up a smile on your child’s bad days as well by giving them something of their interest. In this section, we will be engaging with some of the standard things to have in your head while buying.
1. Safety
As a parent, safety is a prime concern while selecting a toy. You don’t want to expose your child to any kind of risk. There are various factors that can contribute to making a toy risky. It could have sharp edges. Also, the toy could be made of toxic material. This can be harmful to your child’s health. You don’t want to purchase either of such toys that can put your child’s health even in a little bit of risk.
As parents, it is important to pick a toy that is made of healthy material and soft edges. Durability is also an essential concern for buyers. The smart toys are usually priced too high to afford them to break or stop working in a couple of days or months. It doesn’t matter if a toy is not visually attractive. The purpose of buying a smart toy is to give your child a new thing to focus and channel their energy and mind.
2. Level of Engagement
If you are planning to invest in a smart toy then make sure that it is engaging for the child. It is important that such toys could stimulate some mental or physical activity in them which will positively impact their growth. This will also assist them in enhancing motor skills and their spectrum of imagination will also improve.
There are all kinds of smart toys available in the market. Such toys also encourage manipulative and dramatic game. Then there are others that are dedicated to evolve the creative art or boost them academically. Child’s overall smartness is largely improved.
3. Educational
Toys and games are a fun way to push your child towards academic upgrading. These games are especially helpful before the child has started schooling. You can find toys that introduce kids to different figures or alphabets, numbers, weather, and various other day-to-day objects. This way, without you even noticing, the kid will be familiar with colors, alphabets, numbers, and so much more. For the children that are already going to school, these toys will give them the great practice of things that they learn in the school.
4. Choosing Toys Based On Their Age
Finding the right toy with so many options available down your sleeve can be overwhelming. Parents usually find themselves struggling in finding the right gadget for children. One of the most essential features to play a gigantic role in this is the age of the lad.
If you end up buying something that is not appropriate to their age then it will be a mere wastage of your money. So, be very cautious while selecting a toy, especially that is within the age bracket of your child. If you buy something more than their age then they will get bored too soon and stop playing eventually.
Top 8 Best Smart Toys in 2021 Reviews
As we proceed, it is important to discuss some of the major models in smart games available for kids. In this section, I will discuss the top 8 smart toys to help you make a suitable purchase.
| Product | Best Feature | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Snap Circuits PRO SC-500 Electronics Exploration Kit | Fine Game For Kids Between 8 - 10 Years | 4.8 |
| 2. Puzzle Baron’s Logic Puzzles | Best Puzzle Game For Smart Kids | 4.5 |
| 3. Makeblock mBot Robot Kit | The Best DIY Mechanical Building Blocks | 4.5 |
| 4. Original BB-8 by Sphero | Classic Droid Smart Toy for Kids | 4.4 |
| 5. Threeking Smart Robot Toy | Highly Functional Robot Smart Toy | 4.5 |
| 6. Circuit Maze Logic Game | Best Educational Game For Kids Above 7 | 4.6 |
| 7. IHBUDS Programmable Remote Control Toy | Editor’s Choice Best Smart Toy | 4.8 |
| 8. Space Lion Educational Mini Pocket Robot | Excellent Educational Gear For Kids | 4.0 |
1. Snap Circuits PRO SC-500 Electronics Exploration Kit – Fine Game For Kids Between 8 – 10 Years
So, this game from Snap Circuits is for kids between 8 – 10 years, the ones who can understand how electricity works. This is an excellent game to keep kids occupied and entertained for hours. While your children spend time in snapping the modules, you can rest assured that they are not wasting their time but learning about the electronics.
- There are 75+ electronic components to keep you entertained for building over 500 exciting electronic projects.
- The game supports STEM curriculum.
- The modules do not require any soldering or tools to establish electric connections.
- This game is suitable for kids that are above 8 years in age. Below that will only get bored because they won’t be able to understand how it works.
- It comes with a elaborated manual where all the instructions are illustrated in detail.
- This game is safe for the kids. It is not made with sharp edges or toxic material. With this, your child will be never exposed to any kind of danger.
Benefits
The Snap Circuits game is for the kids that show interest in the process of how electricity could work. This game gives challenges to the kids, making them brainstorm on how they can crack maximum trials. If your kids enjoy the challenges then this is a game that they will really appreciate.
Pros
- Comes with 500+ electronic projects
- Durable
- Support STEM Curriculum
- Comes with a manual to explain details
Cons
- Some kids find it complex to understand
2. Puzzle Baron’s Logic Puzzles – Best Puzzle Game For Smart Kids
Smart toys and games are not all about the ones the have electronic mechanism. Any game that boosts the thinking ability of the child is also a smart game. This brings me to the next options that I would like to list. The Puzzle Baron’s logic puzzles is basically a book full of different puzzles. Kids need to think a lot to solve them. They have to apply different logic to crack the answers which are not only enthralling but also stimulates the brain of the puzzle solver and encourage the tendency to apply logic.
- Kids can put their brains to work through 200 grid-based logic puzzles. The range of these puzzles varies from semi-complex to difficult. It keeps your children occupied for hours.
- The game is available at a highly affordable price which ensures that all kind of buyers can have it.
- This game helps in preparing for future challenges. It gives them the ability to use logic to solve the puzzles. If they are good at it then they can also go to the competitions.
- It comes with an answer guide which helps in evaluating if the answers found by the child are right or wrong.
Benefits
Puzzles have always been a fantastic way to keep kids entertained and help them in building up better-thinking ability. This book put them through complex situations where they have to churn the wheels of their brain to find answers.
Pros
- Make kids smarter
- Readily available
- Inexpensive
- Keep kids entertained for hours
Cons
- Not for the smaller kids
3. Makeblock mBot Robot Kit – The Best DIY Mechanical Building Blocks
So, to encourage logical thinking among children, this is another fantastic smart toy available on the market. This toy introduces a new concept of coding and learning to the children. There are various functions that keep children interested in this little robot. It is available in two different colors- pink and blue.
- The assembling of the toy does not take more than 15 minutes. Kids can do it themselves by following the steps mentioned in the manual accompanied.
- There are endless features in this little machine. It uses an Android system or iOS to control the functioning of the robot truck. You will also get a remote control to work with the toy for convenient operation and can invest in the upgradable version to increase the productivity of the toy.
- You can code it from all the platforms or simply by using the mBlock Blockly App. It is an ideal place to provoke creative thinking in children.
- This model requires 4 pieces of AA batteries or you can also use 1 pcs 3.7V 1800 mAh Lithium battery for mBot and CR2025 coin battery for the remote. You won’t find the batteries in the package. That has to be purchased separately.
Benefits
mBot is a new-era smart toy that is quite useful to the kids. It fast-forwards the learning of coding and mechanical mechanisms of the robotic tools. It is available in Bluetooth and Dongle versions. Also, you can find two color choices. This is a fantastic product that your kids will find useful.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Keep you entertained and occupied
- Knowledgeable
- Thought-provoking
Cons
- The batteries are not included
4. Original BB-8 by Sphero – Classic Droid Smart Toy for Kids
No just the kids but youngsters are also quite fascinated with the Star Wars. If your kids also drool over the Star Wars then the Original BB-8 will be a great toy for them. This model can rotate in any direction and the head floats magnetically on the top. The toy is operated through an app with original star wars sound. It is also adept in doing various other activities which include recording holographic messages, etc.
- The material used in the making of this toy is tough and waterproof polycarbonate shell. It is not only safe but also quite durable which allow the toy to endure abuse.
- This model is equipped with Bluetooth smart connection that allows the Gyroscopic propulsion to a 30 m range.
- It has prolonged usage time with the induction charging stand that gives non-stop functioning of 60 minutes.
- One of the most interesting features is its compatibility with Force band to control through gestures.
- Furthermore, you can access it through iOS or Android apps that allow adaptive personality and view holographic recordings.
Benefits
This one is a really interesting machine to buy for your kids. It has astonishing features that kids can unveil by having it around. Kids can drive it through the pavements or around the house, attempt and fulfill challenges which require immense focus. It can do patrolling of the house without bumping into the stuff around. Also, with your command, it can record and view holographic.
Pros
- Made with durable material
- Waterproof
- 60 minutes of non-stop operations
- Highly adaptive
Cons
- Customer support by the company is a little sloppy
5. Threeking Smart Robot Toy – Highly Functional Robot Smart Toy
Among the finest range of smart toys, it is difficult to look past the amazing robot toy from Threeking. First of all, you will find it extremely pocket-friendly. It looks like a robot with big fat feet and macho construction. The outlook is plenty impressive. This toy is for girls as well as boys and kids in the age bracket of 5 and above for this model. There is only one color available which is Blue.
- The construction is done thoughtfully. There are no sharp edges or toxic material to put your child’s health in jeopardy. The material is safe for you and the environment.
- It can fit in any family for some fun time. With its fun activities, it keeps everyone around entertained and excited.
- Enjoy the features of gesture control, singing, dancing, intellectual programming, LED eye lights, auto display, sensing the obstacles, patrolling, etc. When you show the hand to the robot to stop, it comes to halt. All the features make it a stunning piece on the market.
- To enhance the performance of the robot, it has got flexible multi-joint in thumbs, shoulders, and elbows. Through this, the robot is able to show various exciting moves. Your kids can dance with the dancing toy.
- It can be programmed to move forward, backward, right, left, etc. There are various other instructions you can give to the robot to make it more productive.
Benefits
This is a highly functional smart toy for smaller kids. You want to occupy them so that you can do other household work then get them this robot. They will sing and dance with it. This is a fantastic machine that you can program according to your child’s likings and tastes.
Pros
- Highly functional
- Comes with various pre-programmed functions
- Great quality
- Can endure abuse
Cons
- Not suitable for kids 8 years or more
6. Circuit Maze Logic Game – Best Educational Game For Kids Above 7
For kids that have recently reached 7 years can use this amazing logic game. It brings their abilities to test and takes them through simple to complex tests. However, I don’t recommend this game for every child. Kids that are fascinated by the electronic appliances will find it useful. This toy will teach them the working mechanism of electricity and how the circuits work. Kids find it really interesting.
- The game uses real pieces and circuits to give real-life experience to the kids. This model exposes kids to 60 challenges which increase from beginner level to expert. To run the game, you will need 3 AAA batteries that are not included with the game.
- The instructions of the game are clearly mentioned. Kids will pick them up easily from the detailed manual that comes along with. There is no training required. They can instantly start playing it.
- The game encourages the development of critical skills in the kids. It provides a stealth learning experience as the players will be able to develop logical skills. They will learn how circuits and electricity works.
- There are multi-level challenges so that kids can have enough practice before going to the complex zone.
Benefits
The game is one of a kind for smart kids that have a taste for learning about the mechanism of electricity. The tasks that kids have to do ranges from pretty easy ones to highly complex. Kids can warm up by starting with easy tasks. They will instantly get the grip and rush towards the difficult ones to test their ability.
Pros
- Promote logical thinking
- 60 different challenges
- Multi-level challenges
- Intriguing game
Cons
- AAA batteries not included in the pack
7. IHBUDS Programmable Remote Control Toy – Editor’s Choice Best Smart Toy
Say Hello to IHBUDS programmable remote control robotic toy which is one of a kind. It looks so adorable that your kids will enjoy its company a lot. This smart toy is great for the smaller kids, mostly the toddlers to whom you want to introduce various activities like communicating and dancing, etc.
- This model moves and speaks the recorded messages. If you want to teach your child numbers or alphabets then you can feed the instructions inside and allow their favorite toy to teach them all these things. It comes with a wireless remote through which you can move it forward and backward and spin it in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions.
- The top of the head of the robot has surprises for the kids. You can simply touch it to trigger a specific action. You can also control it through hand claps or voice commands. This toy is a great source of fun for kids from 4 to the age of 9.
- There are pre-programmed music tracks on which the robot dances and show you its brilliant moves. Do you have a single child at home who feels lonely? Well, bring them a new dancing companion with whom they can spend the entire day.
- The robot comes with attachments that can be used to toll it around inside the house to serve drinks and other snacks to the guests. It can be your personal assistant as well.
- To encourage kids to save their money, there is a small coin bank inside the robot. Kids can save their money in it.
Benefits
You can see why this one is the editor’s choice product. It is unimaginable features and the cost is highly suitable. The 2.4 GHz intelligent processor delivers advanced features, movements, and capabilities. You can give this smart toy to your children on their birthday. Also, it makes a fantastic Christmas gift.
Pros
- Magnificent construction
- Countless features
- Can work as your personal assistant
- Take voice commands
- Great as a gifting option
Cons
- The overall material could have been better
8. Space Lion Educational Mini Pocket Robot – Excellent Educational Gear For Kids
The Space Lion pocket robot is the best educational aid for the kids. It is an excellent quality toy with impressive features. The size is so small that you can practically hold it in your hands. Also, this is one of the most affordable toys in our list that is all set to impress its users. Your kids will love its company and in return, this will help in educating them.
- So, as we talk about the size, this one is merely 3.54 inches in length which makes it pretty small. It is a delightful robot that flashes its eyes as soon as you give it a command. You will find it pretty charming and all kind of kids will appreciate the quality. The rotating arms offer high flexibility to this model.
- Another key feature of this model is that it has a repeat mode. You can record your voice in it and it will repeat the messages in its cute robotic voice. Kids can improve their language skills through this function.
- If your kid stays home a lot and does not have a lot of friends then this robot can be his friend as well. There is conversation mode through which the robot talks to the user. It will recognize your voice and give you response. This feature will give kids a chance to communicate with others without hesitation.
- You can easily carry it anywhere you like. It comes with a belt hole on the top of its head. You can hang it there or simply put it in the pocket. Your children can take it to their friends birthday parties as well.
Benefits
This portable little machine is quite impressive. It can sing, dance, chat, and even teach children new skills. You can record the lessons and allow the robot to give the speech. Your kids will find it really interesting to learn from their best friend and pay more attention to the lessons. This is a great machine to have around.
Pros
- Voice record
- Chat control
- Sings and dances
- Great quality
Cons
- The making quality could have been better
Conclusion
As I conclude my review, it is important to tell that all the details that I have shared above are significant. You need to check with the quality of the toy and also ensure its purpose.
Most of the smart toys available on the market are robots that help kids in developing various amazing habits and enhance their personality. Also, there are puzzles that provoke logical thinking in children.
I cannot take sides because all the smart toys that I have mentioned in the list are productive. While purchasing the best smart toys for kids, just make sure that your child has correlative interests.
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