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Sometimes kids need something they can do on their own — while you’re on a work call, cooking dinner, or just taking a breath. Here’s a list of solo activities you can try with your child, grouped by age. Some are linked to full activity guides on Offline.Kids, and others are simple ideas you can… View post
is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. LeapFrog has announced a new electronic learning system that swaps controllers for a camera. In fact, the LeapMove looks like an oversized, kid-friendly webcam, but is designed to connect to TVs like a console and get kids off the couch using educational game
Best kids' toys overall Hex Bots Wall Crawler Gecko CNET's Bridget Carey says this won her over "both as a mom and as someone who delights in making my co-workers squirm." By using a remote -- that can be as far as 25 feet away -- you can make it scale walls or perform spin tricks, she explains. To charge it, there's a USB-C port and you'll need two AAA batteries for the remote. Read our review here. $25 at Walmart Close RealFX Disney Stitch Not just any puppet -- this amazing 18-inch-tall Sti
is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid. If you’re a parent with kids in school or kids who are independently exploring their neighborhood for the first time, then there’s a good chance you’ve considered stashing a tracker somewhere on their person for added peace of mind. Skechers is making that a little easier with a new line of sneakers for kids that feature a hidden compartment in t
I’ve been building Kidz Fun Art (web, iPad & Windows) since 2021, so 4 years at time of writing. It’s a tablet optimized application intended to be used by children of all ages – my daughters were 3 and 5 when I started, and are 7 and 9 now, so I’ve seen how they use it almost daily at various ages. I’ve learned a few things about designing for their usability and how it differs from some more common patterns found in adult focused applications. Topics Covered Minimize Text Use If you want ki
ZDNET's key takeaways The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet is available for $190. Designed for older children aged six to 12, this kids' tablet features a slimmer design, better performance, strong parental controls, and a free screen repair or replacement within two years of purchase. While it's better than other Amazon Fire Kids tablets, the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet doesn't outperform an iPad -- but it's also a fraction of the iPad's price. $189.99 at Amazon What makes a good tablet? It's easy
Amazon My older kids each have a Kindle they use to read each night before bed. Thanks to strong parental controls and an easy user interface, it's the perfect e-reader for young readers. Now, Amazon is adding color to the Kindle Kids lineup with a new Kindle Colorsoft created exclusively for children. The first-ever color Kindle for kids is a 16GB Kindle Colorsoft built to provide young readers a more enriching experience. The device brings a color E Ink display to the Amazon Kids+ and Kindle
Amazon’s newest Colorsoft e-reader is downgrading storage so it can upgrade your bank account. A new version of the Colorsoft Kindle—Amazon’s first-ever color e-reader—will come in a 16GB version that cuts the e-reader’s storage in half compared to the first generation but also debuts at a slightly cheaper $250 compared to the first-gen’s $280. There’s not a ton going on here other than the lower storage for a lower price tradeoff, but if you’re not someone who needs the whole 32GB of capacity
When Swiping Supplants Scissors: The Hidden Cost of Touchscreens — and how Designers Can Help Amber Case 9 min read · 1 day ago 1 day ago -- Listen Share Zoom image will be displayed The history of technology is full of innovators who got their start creating with their hands. Steve Jobs cites a calligraphy class at Reed College as influencing the design of the Mac; Susan Kare, who designed the Apple icons we still use today, had a childhood immersed in arts, crafts, and embroidery. It’s a ke
TL;DR Amazon has launched a cheaper Kindle Colorsoft 16GB and a new Kindle Colorsoft Kids model. The Kids version includes a year of Amazon Kids Plus, a colorful case, and parental controls. Both devices use the same color screen as last year’s model, which we didn’t love. Amazon is still betting on color E-Ink, even if it had a somewhat rocky start last year. The company just added two more devices to its Kindle Colorsoft lineup: a cheaper 16GB version and a new Kindle Colorsoft Kids. Both a
Amazon is making its color screen Kindle more affordable. Following the launch of the Kindle Colorsoft last year, the retailer on Thursday introduced a lower-cost version of the normally $279.99 device. The new device offers a $30 discount for 16GB of storage instead of 32GB, bringing the cost down to $249.99. A kids edition is also now available. The original 7-inch Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition was designed to bring a more engaging visual experience to the popular Kindle e-reader, ideal
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . Amazon finally launched its first-ever color Kindle last year, and while the Kindle Colorsoft was an impressive first effort, the high price of entry likely put it out of range of a lot of people. Well, we have good(ish) news. Amazon has now added a slightly cheaper Colorsoft to its li
Amazon My older kids each have a Kindle they use to read each night before bed, and it's the perfect e-reader for young readers thanks to strong parental controls and easy user interface. Now, Amazon is adding color to the Kindle Kids lineup with a new Kindle Colorsoft created exclusively for children. The first-ever color Kindle for kids is a 16GB Kindle Colorsoft built to provide young readers a more enriching experience. The device brings a color E Ink display to the Amazon Kids+ and Kindle
is a news editor covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme. After launching the Kindle Colorsoft last year — its first Kindle with a color screen — Amazon is adding two new iterations of the e-reader to its lineup today: a cheaper Colorsoft with 16GB of storage for $249.99 and a kids-focused bundle for $269.99. The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition will still be available for $279.99. “Our customers have loved reading Kindle in color
ZDNET's key takeaways The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet is available for $190. Designed for older children aged six to 12, this kids' tablet features a slimmer design, better performance, strong parental controls, and a free screen repair or replacement within two years of purchase. While it's better than other Amazon Fire Kids tablets, the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet doesn't outperform an iPad -- but it's also a fraction of the iPad's price. $189.99 at Amazon What makes a good tablet? It's easy
Maria Diaz/ZDNET My kid had been asking for a Toniebox for two years, but I always talked her out of it. I'm no Grinch, but each set basic starter kit is $100. Then we finally got one during a Prime Day sales event. Testing a Toniebox has not only convinced me that it's perfect for my kids and worth every penny, but it's such a great device that I'd recommend it to any parent of young children. Here's why. Also: I ditched my Bluetooth speakers for this slick turntable - and it's more practical
With smartphone addiction a growing problem among US teens, one solution being tried is digital detox summer camps, where parents are charged around $2,000 a week to separate their kinds from their electronic devices. One kid sent to camp was so desperate to remain connected he brought three phones with him, handed over one, had another found in his bag, and was ratted out on the third by his room-mate … Smartphone addiction has been a problem for so long now that it was officially declared to
Summer. For teens not at work, it’s hot, it’s boring, and it’s an ideal time to close the door and spend about every waking moment watching, playing, texting, streaming—anything but talking—on the phone. With almost half of teenagers in the US saying they’re online almost constantly, the adults in their lives are growing more desperate to drag them off. Families are establishing screen-free zones in their homes, states are banning phones in schools, and a new kind of summer camp has emerged: dig
Hack all the things - Toniebox 17. Jun 2025 Continuing my Hack all the things series, I’m doing something slightly different today. So far I’ve hacked my PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS, but this time I want to talk about my Toniebox. Or rather…my kids’ Toniebox. If you’re unfamiliar with the thing, it’s a little music box with a built-in speaker, two little “ears” to raise or lower the volume and an NFC reader at the top. Instead of putting in cassettes or CDs (yes, I’m old!), you instead put litt
is a senior correspondent on the Culture team for Vox, where since 2016 she has covered books, publishing, gender, celebrity analysis, and theater. Every month or so, for the past few years, a new dire story has warned of how American children, from elementary school to college age, can no longer read. And every time I read one of these stories, I find myself conflicted. On the one hand, I am aware that every generation complains that the kids who come next are doing everything wrong and have
CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review products and services. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. My Gen Z teen got an after-school job last year, and she wanted an easy way to access her money and save for her summer trip with a school group. We chose a teen debit card that included automatic deposit for her paychecks, easy transfers and -- most important to me -- no fees. I also wanted some safeguards, like setting spendin
With summer vacations still stretching off into the distance, taking advantage of Prime Day board game deals or snagging some discounted toys could be a very smart move. The WIRED Reviews team has a gaggle of kids of all ages between us, and most of us are still big kids at heart, so we’ve tried a lot of board games and toys over the years. Some of the best family board games are on sale for Prime Day. You can also find deals on some of the best STEM toys. I have handpicked a selection of WIRED
Of all freestanding power tools, perhaps the jigsaw or scrollsaw would be the most fun for kids to use, as they allow freeform cuts. They're also pretty darn dangerous, with the jigsaw being powerful enough to remove fingers. A much safer way to introduce kids to power tools is this ChompSaw, developed by product designers Kausi Raman and Max Liechty. The material it's designed to cut is cardboard, allowing parents to turn Amazon boxes into projects. The tool is essentially a nibbler, using an
Of all freestanding power tools, perhaps the jigsaw or scrollsaw would be the most fun for kids to use, as they allow freeform cuts. They're also pretty darn dangerous, with the jigsaw being powerful enough to remove fingers. A much safer way to introduce kids to power tools is this ChompSaw, developed by product designers Kausi Raman and Max Liechty. The material it's designed to cut is cardboard, allowing parents to turn Amazon boxes into projects. The tool is essentially a nibbler, using an
With summer vacations still stretching off into the distance, taking advantage of Prime Day board game deals or snagging some discounted toys could be a very smart move. The WIRED Reviews team has a gaggle of kids of all ages between us, and most of us are still big kids at heart, so we’ve tried a lot of board games and toys over the years. Some of the best family board games are on sale for Prime Day. You can also find deals on some of the best STEM toys. I have handpicked a selection of WIRED
My kids love their Fire tablets, and I love the convenience of parental controls they offer. Maria Diaz/ZDNET Amazon is offering some huge deals on its latest Fire Kids Tablets during Prime Day, my kids' favorite device for home and on-the-go entertainment. The newest Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet is 54% off at $65, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet for older kids is also down to $65, and the larger Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is down to $105. Also: The best Prime Day deals you can shop now
Finding the right tech for kids is always a balancing act. You want something that keeps them engaged, encourages creativity, and helps them learn, but also gives you peace of mind. Too many devices are either too limited or too wide open, making it hard to know where to start. That’s why this Amazon Kids bundle is a good idea. Not only does it combine three devices that you can feel good about the kids using, but you can save a serious amount of money right now thanks to this Prime Day sale. An
With summer vacations still stretching off into the distance, taking advantage of Prime Day board game deals or snagging some discounted toys could be a very smart move. The WIRED Reviews team has a gaggle of kids of all ages between us, and most of us are still big kids at heart, so we’ve tried a lot of board games and toys over the years. Some of the best family board games are on sale for Prime Day. You can also find deals on some of the best STEM toys. I have handpicked a selection of WIRED
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . Amazon’s big sale has arrived and these are the best Prime Day Kindle deals on the site. Currently, Amazon makes four models of its ereader: the basic Kindle, the writing-enabled Scribe, the colorized Colorsoft and the premium Paperwhite, which also comes in an even fancier Signature e
In cities across the United States, an ambitious goal is gaining traction: Vision Zero, the strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries. First implemented in Sweden in the 1990s, Vision Zero has already cut road deaths there by 50 percent from 2010 levels. Now, technology companies like Stop for Kids and Obvio.ai are trying to bring the results seen in Europe to U.S. streets with AI-powered camera systems designed to keep drivers honest, even when police aren’t around. Loca