Is the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX the Best Wearable Tech for Kids?

If you've visited this blog before... in fact it's more than a blog... but if you've visited here before, then you'll know that I'm a big fan of VTech educational toys and also those of their main rival LeapFrog.

Last year, both companies wowed us with smart watches just for kids. Never mind your Apple iWatch, Samsung Gear or Asus Zen Watch, these bad-boys from Vtech and LeapFrog were focused directly on kids having fun and learning. Were they really bad, you ask? Were they ever! But in a good way. You can see my comparison review of the original versions of the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch and the LeapFrog LeapBand on this site.

This year the game has changed slightly, with VTech upping the ante with the second generation Kidizoom Smartwatch DX. Somewhat disappointingly in my opinion, LeapFrog haven't yet followed suit with any upgrade to their LeapBand. However, this is probably only a matter of time (I'm sure there's a pun there somewhere).

Anyhow, VTech have clearly taken note that the LeapBand's strength lies in the fact that it's an activity tracker - magnificently combining education, fun and activity. To this end, the new VTech Kidizoom DX now features a pedometer and motion sensor. In addition, there are more pre-installed games, the internal memory has been doubled, and calendar and calculator functions have been added. In terms of size, the DX also appears less bulky and more watch-like.

The Smartwatch DX comes in a range of colors to suit both boys and girls, not just the rather attractive royal blue shown here.


I said it at the start of this post and I'll say it again, I just love this sort of tech for kids. It shows the determination of effort and understanding that companies have in bringing technology to education, at every level and in as many ways as possible. I think the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch is definitely a gift kids are going to be looking for in their stockings this Christmas.

5 Best Sites for Ideas on Making Your Own Toys and Games

Continuing from my previous post on a list of toys to restore your faith in simple pleasures, I've produced another list. This one however, is a little different. I'm not promoting toys that I think are just awesome, educational, cool, etc. What I'm promoting is more of the simple pleasures around making toys for yourself. Yes, the following list is my selection of some of the best sites (in my humble opinion) around the www, where you can find resources for you and your kids to get together and make their own toys and games.

Hope you like them as much as I do... Oh, yeah, and they're in no particular order.

Happy Hooligans crafts and activities for toddlers and preschoolers

Don't let the name Happy Hooligans put you off. This is actually a great site run by an experienced blogger who gives lots of sound advice on topics ranging from arts and crafts, to outdoor activities, holidays, cooking and parenting. The link here takes you to a page of over 70 ideas for things you and your kids can make at home. They're mainly aimed at the lower age range and include toys and games for both boys and girls. So, if you've got one or more happy little hooligans that need something to keep them gainfully occupied, I thoroughly recommend checking it out.

B-Inspired Mama

I really like the magazine-style layout of this site. It's got lots of clever ideas for kids arts, crafts and activities that are nestled among recipes, advice for parents, printables, gift ideas and more. I spent quite a long time just browsing a number of the 100+ pages of things to inspire you and your kids - hence the name of b-inspired I guess - and you certainly will be. There are even a couple of pages of Fun with Technology (my favorites, me being a bit of a geek). This is another great site that offers more than just kids toys, that I'm happy to recommend in this list.

Science Toy Maker

This site is fantastic! But, of course I would say that - did I already mention I'm a geek? Anyway, the layout is pretty basic, there are no advertisements and it certainly isn't the most professional looking site I've seen. However, what it lacks in style it makes up for with some amazing science projects. Each comes with detailed instructions, with photos and/or videos, so they're easy to follow. Here's a quote from the project to make a popgun: "There is a lot of great science in a popgun. A person building and using one has to grapple with atmospheric pressure and sonic compression waves." How's that for learning science!

Artists Helping Children

Probably one of the best How To sites I've come across in my toy-inspired travels around the www. Like the Science Toy site above, the layout is quite basic (although a little more sophisticated), but it's very well organized. You can search toy and game crafts alphabetically, or by theme (for example: cardboard boxes, jigsaw puzzles), or by holiday (like 4th July, Father's Day). The site's just chock full of easy-to-find things to make with easy instructions - many of which I'd done myself when I was a boy, but had since forgotten about. Such is the power of its simplicity, it just has to be included in my list.

All Free Kids Crafts

Last but by no means least is this site all about kids crafts. The things to make and do are clearly laid out, you can navigate page-by-page or by category, there are free kids crafting eBooks that you can download as well as a free subscription to a regular newsletter containing lots of crafting ideas. What's more, you can even submit your own project to share with other parents and their children. This site really does have it all! But, one of the best things I like is that you can comment on each project and give it a star rating (though you should be aware that some of the projects shown link to other sites). All in all, this is a great ending to my list of the 5 best sites for ideas on making your own toys and games - I hope you enjoy them.

10 Toys to Restore Your Faith in Simple Pleasures

I'm sure many adults feel (as I do sometimes) that with each passing year we seem to lose touch with the simple pleasures we used to have when we were little. Having kids of your own can certainly bring those pleasures back in many ways, but as technology advances and toys get more sophisticated, those simple pleasures can often seem but a distant memory.

Maybe it's just the age we live in, maybe I'm just feeling a bit nostalgic, maybe in the future our kids will wonder what simple pleasures we were actually reminiscing about - them always having played with high-tech toys and games.

But, while the mood takes me, I say NO! I'm going to enjoy my old simple pleasures and absolutely insist that every parent take their boys and girls back to that bygone era (at least once in a while) when SIMPLE TOYS WERE JUST THE BEST.

Enjoy...

#10 BBucket and Spade

Bucket and Spade Set Whether it's the beach (or the sand pit) for sand, the garden for soil or just lots and lots of water, there's nothing quite like a good ol' bucket 'n' spade. It's a simple idea really. You scoop up stuff to fill the bucket in one place, and then empty it out somewhere else. Endless fun for kids creating castles, mounds, holes and getting parents wet!

#9 RRubber Band Gun

Rubber Band Shooter When we were young boys, my brother and I used to make toy bows and arrows from thick wire coat hangers, rubber bands and drinking straws. In retrospect, our handiwork was actually a little dangerous. But, the rubber band shooter shown here is far more civilized, it has a nice wooden construction and won't take your eye out! I've actually given this as a gift myself, and couldn't stop playing with it.

#8 PPair of Stilts

Stilts For all those boys and girls that wish they were taller, there's a simple solution - stilts! It's only temporary, but the amount of fun to be had really does scale new heights. Amaze family, friends and neighbors with your increased stature, hold stilt races in the yard or even wear them non-stop for a charity event. The possibilities for a pair of stilts really are sky high ("okay, enough of the puns already", I hear you cry). Hee hee...

#7 AA Costume

Astronaut Costume I think it's probably fair to say that all boys would like to be just like their heroes. Whether it's firefighters, police officers, doctors or astronauts. This is a great astronaut suit that comes highly-rated. I think it's a great picture too - this kid looks like he's just come back from a mission to the International Space Station. What a little hero!

#6 SSet of Cars

Hot Wheels Gift Pack You don't need track, you don't need fancy loops, you just need the floor. Oh, and maybe some furniture, books, bits of old wood from the garage, in fact anything your imagination can use to create some hot-wheeling stunt car action. A simple set of cars can keep kids amused for hours. Just be ready to hear lots of vroom vroom coming from the room room!

#5 RRubik's Cube

3x3 Puzzle Cube This is one game I could never quite crack. I remember when  the Rubik's cube was first popular (showing my age here) and it was big. Amazingly, it's still a phenomenon, with many different variations on the original version and competitions held all around the world where young kids pit their puzzle-solving skills against the clock. I've still got my old cube in the attic... hmmm... maybe I'll give the TV a miss tonight.

#4 SSlinky

Metal Slinky in Collectible Retro Box Slinky is a toy that's a bit of a one-trick-pony, in that it only really does one thing - and that's to slink from a higher surface to a lower one. But, when you watch a slinky 'walk' down the stairs, it never fails to amaze. Metal versions like the one shown here work best (as opposed to the plastic ones) because they have a little more weight to them. For such a simple toy, this spring's got hours of entertainment, and is an absolute retro classic.

#3 TTool Kit

Durable Kids Tool Set There's nothing boys like more than to be just like their dads - especially when dad is doing some DIY. So, a simple solution to this is their very own tool kit. The kit shown here contains everything your boy will need to help out, and it'll also develop skills in manual dexterity, safety, practical problem solving... the list goes on.

#2 SSet of Animals

Learning Resources Forest Animals This picture shows a set of toy animals. But, it could equally be soldiers, cowboys and indians, or every kid's favorite - dinosaurs. Sets of toy figures make things from the real world accessible, and with that accessibility comes the imagination to make anything happen. Lots of the figure sets nowadays are far more detailed than in my childhood, which also makes them great collectibles.

#1 BBucket of Lego

LEGO Medium Brick Box Forgive me if this choice of simple toy is a little predictable, but it'd be wrong to leave it off my list. Lego - consistently voted one of the world's best toys, is pretty much that. It's one of the world's best toys. I've never heard of any boy or girl (and plenty of adults) that don't like to play with Lego. It's got to be one of the most creative ideas for inspiring the imagination of kids ever. I think I've praised it enough for now!

STEM Toys for Boys

STEM is the new buzzword for your boys to have a future only limited by their imagination. If you're not quite sure what it's all about, then that's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

You'd have to agree that these are all pretty important subjects. I myself have a science bachelors and am an engineer by career (when I'm not blogging about fun and educational toys). It has shaped the way I think, the way I solve problems, how to find the most appropriate solutions in everyday life, and has provided me with a job that I absolutely love.

Most of the pages on this site showcase boys toys and gifts that have learning benefits in STEM. In fact, they're all equally suitable for girls as well. One of the biggest challenges that educational establishments and employers face these days is getting more girls and young women interested in STEM, and forging careers to rival and surpass their male counterparts.

Here you can see one of my favorite toys featured on this site, which you can find in the section on the Best Gifts for 7 Year Old Boys. The 4M Animation Praxinoscope is a fascinating device for kids to make themselves that actually combines science, engineering and art all in one. Three great learning experiences for the price of one gift - it doesn't take a genius at math to figure out that's a great deal!

Toy Bananas Are Here!

Yes, you read it right. That does indeed say toy bananas.

The reason for this is that I've created a page in my Featured Toys section just for boys who love bananas. What's more, there's something for parents as well, with a whole host of banana-related madness and stories for them to enjoy as well.

Don't worry, it's all clean and above board, if only a little bananas!



Gund Monkey "Mambo"

Indoor RC Planes

ParkZone Night Vapor RTF

So, the boys can't play outside because the weather's not good. No problem. Having thought a little bit out-the-box, I present to you RC airplanes that can be flown straight from the box - and indoors too! These planes are so light and maneuverable that they are prefectly at home being flown around the home. The one shown here is the Parkzone Night Vapor ready-to-fly. And the coolest thing is, because it's covered in LEDs it can be flown in the dark. See test pilot reviews of some more great flyers in the Featured Toys section of this site.

Lego Base Plates and Lego Play Tables

Lego Three Seat Playtable

Lego - consistently voted the best toy in the world. And if your boy just can't get enough of the stuff, then you'll know that every great Lego creation needs a base plate to fix it to. But, it doesn't just stop at base plates for Lego. There are even ranges of tables especially designed for little Lego enthusiasts, just like the one shown here. So, when your boy has his friends around, they can all sit down together and play quietly at the table (hopefully)! Check out the selection of Lego base plates and playtables in the Featured Toys section of this site.

Know a Boy Who's Crazy About Space?

Do you know a boy who's just over the moon about all things to do with space? Are you his biggest star when he gets that special gift that makes him all excited about the heavens? Are you going round in orbits trying to find the perfect space-themed toy or gadget? "Enough already!", I hear you cry. "Just get to the point." Well, the point is that I've created a new site based upon my own passion for astronomy. I say it's a new site, but it's really a site of old pages all about astronomy gifts and gadgets that I had scattered around the web, but then decided to bring together into one cluster. I've updated those pages, freshened up the content and BANG! My little supernova has hit the Internet.

Don't worry - I'll still be updating this site and adding new content. But, if you're looking for something specifically related to outer space, you'll find it there. Scope it out through the above link.

Who says I can't 'crater' impression with my visitors? (groan)

3D Printed Selfies and Figurines Make Unique Gift Ideas for Boys

Some of the best gift ideas for boys (and girls) of any age are things that are either unusual or have a personal touch. The daddy of all gifts must surely then be both unusual and personal... like, maybe, a 3D printed figurine of yourself or your family?

Everyone's favorite online store, Amazon, have recently launched a service where you can personalize a mini figurine to create your very own 3D selfie. Selecting from a variety of hairstyles, facial features and outfits, you can create a 3D rendering of your figurine in a special viewer, which is then 3D printed on demand using sandstone. The finish is described as feeling like unglazed ceramics, and just like most other ceramics the figurines will break if dropped on a hard surface.

The figurines should be kept clean with a small, dry brush, and you should avoid getting them wet to preserve the color definition. So, I'd definitely pitch these at older kids and adults, as they're certainly not toys in the strictest sense.



The 3D selfies currently come as either regular figurines or bobble-heads, and as male or female characters you can customize to look like whoever you want. I'm definitely gonna be getting some of these made up of my boys, looking like they're wearing their favorite clothes - I can't wait to see their faces!

The LeapBand has LeapFrogged onto the scene!

Originally published 10 July 2014.

--- UPDATE --- UPDATE --- UPDATE ---

Hot on the heels of the Kidizoom Smart Watch, the LeapBand has arrived. It's not as fully featured as its VTech rival, but it packs in a whole lotta fun and activity, to help your kids get fit and healthy.

LeapFrog LeapBand - Green

LeapFrog LeapBand. Remember the name, because this may turn out to be one of the best toys for 4 to 7 year-old boys this year.



LeapFrog LeapBand - Pink

The whole idea behind what the LeapBand is trying to achieve and the concept behind it, is such a breath of fresh air in the games industry. And of course, it comes in colors to cater to the tastes of both boys and girls.



If you’re a parent (I’m assuming you are, or you wouldn’t be visiting this site), then I’d also guess that your boy has probably owned a LeapFrog toy at some time or another. They’re great. I love LeapFrog products because they seem to cover all the bases, are durable and really seem to tune into what boys and girls find fun. But, before I get too mushy over a toy manufacturer - and no, I am in no way affiliated with them, I’d just like to tell you that they’ve made me happy again.

The LeapBand is a simple concept that’s based upon those games where you take care of a virtual pet. You know the ones, they’re usually played on handheld consoles, smartphones or tablets. The LeapBand however is different - it contains the game preloaded onto wearable tech in the shape of a watch. But, it’s not really a watch, it’s a LeapBand.

The LeapFrog LeapBand is actually an activity tracker. Choose your pet, give it a name, feed it, groom it, play with it, learn from it - all on a color touch screen with easy controls and sound. The playing and learning bits are the thing that I find most exciting, because the games are specifically designed to get kids active and healthy, with the pet giving directions as to what to do. Maybe it wants you to hop around on one leg, maybe it wants you to do star jumps. The more kids do, the more points they earn. Feed your pet healthy food and snacks and it’ll help you learn about nutrition and healthy eating habits.

If you’re looking for a gift this year that’ll get your boy active, having fun and picking up healthy tips, all at the same time, then the LeapFrog LeapBand is here. Like the Vtech Kidizoom Smartwatch, these are the toys of the future.

The VTech Kidizoom Smart Watch is nearly here... Actually, it's here now!

Originally published 06 July 2014.

Those of you keeping an eye on VTech toys over the past few years, won’t have failed to miss the VTech InnoTab - currently on its third-generation release. But, not wanting to be behind the curve when it comes to bringing grown-up electronics to boys and girls in the 5 to 12 year-old age range, VTech are about to release their latest kids’ gadget - the Kidizoom Smartwatch.

As smart watches go, it sounds pretty good and more feature-packed than many of its cousins designed for adults and manufactured by electronics giants, such as Samsung and Sony. Among the things the Kidizoom Smartwatch can do are:

• Show you the time (obviously, but in both digital or analogue)
• Wake you up with an alarm
• Take photos, video and record sound
• Play games

The specifications for the device are equally impressive:

• Color touch screen
• 640x480 photo resolution (to store 900-1000 photos)
• 320x240 video resolution (at 15 fps, for up to 7 minutes of total video length)
• Rechargeable battery (about 2-3 days between charges with typical usage)
• PC connectivity via USB 2.0

I don’t want to spoil the anticipation too much, because I’ll be doing a proper review of this device after it gets released next month (according to current information). It’ll be available in either blue or pink, to suit boys or girls.

----- UPDATE ----- UPDATE ----- UPDATE -----

The VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch has arrived! Your kids can get their hands, sorry... their wrists, on one below. What's more, all this fun and technology comes for less than $60. Even I'm getting excited now.

Kidizoom Blue

Kidizoom Green

Kidizoom Pink

Kidizoom White

True to form, I’ll be comparing the Kidizoom Smartwatch it to its main rival in the battle of wearable tech for kids - the LeapFrog LeapBand. You’ll be able to check out Kidizoom Smartwatch vs LeapFrog LeapBand, as one of the featured articles on this very site - make a note of it! The Toy Spy saw the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch in action at the 2014 NY Toy Fair. Here’s his report posted on YouTube:

InnoTab 3S vs LeapPad Ultra | Which is the Best Learning Tablet for Toddlers?

If you've ever been faced with the question "Which is the best learning tablet for toddlers?", then you're not alone. This has been bugging the parents of toddlers since 2011 and features two main players: Vtech InnoTab and LeapFrog LeapPad.

Educational tablets can be a good way for parents to get
involved with their child's learning

For the past few years I've been tracking the progress of these two learning tablets, producing extremely popular reviews of the original InnoTab and LeapPad, followed by InnoTab 2 and LeapPad 2 a year later, and finally culminating with InnoTab 3S and LeapPad Ultra. But, I'm already hesitant to use the word "finally" here, because in all probability there'll be another upgrade for me to write about at some point. Anyway, "enough already", I hear you cry. What about the InnoTab 3S and LeapPad Ultra?

Well, the link above will take you to my review site where I compare the InnoTab 3S to the LeapPad Ultra. You can drop a comment there, ask questions and find more information on these handheld learning devices and accessories. However, I don't really focus much attention on toddler usage, developmental benefits or the robustness of either device against drops, spills or peanut butter. This is what this blog post aims to rectify.

So, to start off with, both the InnoTab 3S (or just the plain InnoTab 3) and LeapPad Ultra are specifically designed for kids. For the InnoTab 3S the age range is 3 to 9, and for the LeapPad Ultra this is 4 to 9. Previous LeapPad versions were designed for 3-years and up.

When I say specifically designed for kids, I mean exactly that. These are, never were, and never will be (at least without much technical jiggery-pokery) adult tablets. Their operating systems are proprietary, i.e. not iOS or Android-based, and their sole purpose for existence is to educate and amuse.


LeapFrog beefed up construction for the LeapPad 2 from the original LeapPad Explorer, so it was a more robust device for kids to handle. This has followed through into the LeapPad Ultra which, although slimmer and larger, still maintains a nice solid feel.

The InnoTab 3 and 3S look, by and large, the same as previous versions of this Vtech tablet. Dimensions are roughly the same and screen size is roughly the same. In fact, I think it looks more like a toddler's tablet should, in comparison to the more adult-looking LeapPad. LeapFrog are clearly trying to prize those little fingers away from mom and dad's iPad with something which has a number of similarities.

Both the InnoTab 3S and the LeapPad have toddler-friendly Wi-Fi. I'd suggest that younger owners of these tablets should get their parent's help to connect and navigate to the parent-approved websites.

If you don't have a wireless connection, there are hundreds of educational apps and games you can download to these devices via a home pc. There are also a number of cartridges available for both, each containing a selection of e-books, games and learning content.

Many of the games and apps are designed for a whole host of learning and developmental benefits, including math skills, letters, reading comprehension, phonics, problem solving, geography, etc, etc. The list really does go on. Currently, LeapFrog has more content than Vtech, but they're catching up.

For my money, if you're thinking of one of these tablets for toddlers around the 2 to 3-years mark, then I'd go with the InnoTab 3S. If your kids are 4+, then the LeapPad Ultra would be the better investment. Both tablets come in different colors, and some with exclusive cases.

A Selection of Toys for a 3 Year Old Boy

Here are a few ideas off the top of my head...

Toys for a 3 year old boy need to be educational - that's my opinion. You may not necessarily agree with it, but I'm one of those people that think preschoolers should get the best start they can when it comes to learning. Obviously, not every 3 year old will have the same level of ability, and for each boy the amount of challenge needs to be taken into account.

Now, that's not to say that the chosen gift should be dull, because the best way to learn is to make something fun and interesting. So, I've put together a page on this site that presents what I think are educational toys for a 3 year old boy that are also fun and interesting. I've kinda said all that in a roundabout way, but I hope you see what I mean.

Applicable to all toys for kids of any age, one of the main considerations that parents have (and this is from my own experience in providing advice to hundreds of parents) is longevity. In other words, how much mileage is their boy or girl going to get out of the toy? This would certainly be a big factor when buying for kids aged 3, and I personally find this quite a difficult thing to decide because there are a number of variables.

Firstly, toys with longevity need to 'grow' with their users. As an example, a kids' tablet pc would be suitable here, as it can be updated with new and more challenging apps and games to maintain interest and learning as the boy gets older. On the flipside, such devices tend to have a broad range of content - great for engaging attention across a broad range of activities, but maybe not so great if you want to focus on specifics, like just learning letters or basic math. This also starts to bring about questions as to the 'value' of such toys, on a scale of cost-per-amount-of-learning. Educational toys that focus on one thing tend to be less expensive.

Secondly, it all depends on the boy in question. Like I said above, there's going to be a range of abilities and parents should take this into account where they can.

Lastly, one boy's cast-off is another one's gold. For any number of reasons, which I'm not going to hazard a guess here, kids of any age might just find toys and games, suitable for any age, interesting. I've read numerous reviews where older siblings, aged 7 for example, are playing with their younger brother's toys (for 3 year olds).

So, after all this, I guess what I'm trying to say is... well, I'm not really sure now. These were just a few ideas off the top of my head...

Choosing the Best Gifts for 7 Year Old Boys

Finding a suitable gift for a 7-year-old son, grandson, nephew or friend can be somewhat of a chore. I explain why I think this when discussing the best gifts for 7 year old boys, which you can find on this site. Whether the boy in question is into toys that get him active, or possibly something that gives him more of a mental challenge, my selection of gifts has been hand-picked from my own experiences and that of hundreds of other parents.

Choosing the right gift shouldn't be something to stress about, as long as you bear a few things in mind. It's easy to allow work, school, and the business of running a home rule the day. In this respect, maybe something that builds communication and family togetherness would be a good idea. If it's a game you're after, then you should think about how easy it is to play and how long it takes to play. You need to be aware of the attention span of the boy you're buying for. Is the game going to be too competitive, so that the losers may feel a little left out? It's important that 7-year-old boys learn how to lose but still have fun.

Even though I've probably added a few considerations here to make you think that your decision is now even harder, I'm here to help. I hope that my roundup of the best toys and gifts for 7 year old boys is just what they're looking for. As ever, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to submit.