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Adrienne So
Gear
Your child has spent years watching you tap away on your phone or laptop. Give them a turn with an age-appropriate device of their own.
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Best Headphones
BuddyPhones Cosmos+
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Best Music Player for Younger Kids
Yoto Player
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Best Music Player for Older Kids
Victrola Re-Spin Bluetooth Suitcase Record Player
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The Best Watch for Kids
Apple Watch SE (2022)
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No matter how much they're begging for one, your kid probably doesn’t need a smartphone. The official advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics is that young children need hands-on social interaction and exploration with peers and caregivers to learn.
That doesn't mean you don't need a digital device to locate them, entertain them, or distract them while you're doing something else. If you need someone to absolve you, let me be the second, fourth, or 10th person to tell you: That's perfectly OK. Here are a few devices that have worked for me and my children, who are now 6 and 8. Most of these gifts don't require parental supervision, and the ones that do have good parental controls to limit your kids' use. Check out our Best Subscription Boxes for Kids guide and Best Tablets for Kids guide for more.
Updated November 2023: We added the BuddyPhones Cosmos+, Yoto Player, Victrola Re-Spin, Amazon Echo Pop Kids, Original Woom 4 bike, Amazon Kindle Kids, Amazon Fire HD 10 Pro Kids, and Luna blanket. We've also updated prices and links throughout.
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Adrienne So is a senior associate reviews editor for WIRED, where she reviews consumer technology. She graduated from the University of Virginia with bachelor’s degrees in English and Spanish, and she previously worked as a freelance writer for Cool Hunting, Paste, Slate, and other publications. She lives in Portland, Oregon.
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