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10 tech gifts for kids who love to make and explore
The Dex camera helps kids learn vocabulary by photographing everyday objects.
Image credit: Dex
A child who wants to know what’s hiding in a burrow may need a different gift from one who spends afternoons building LEGO models. But the best tech and STEM gifts for both give them something to try right away and a reason to come back tomorrow. A microscope can turn a walk around the block into a search for things to examine. A pair of build-it-yourself boxing robots can turn the end of an afternoon project into the start of a family tournament.
These ten picks start with what a child already loves to do (draw, take things apart, watch birds, or ask questions about dinosaurs) and give them somewhere new to take it. They run from youngest to oldest, and the age ranges can help you narrow the list, but the best clue is what a child already does when they have time to play. There are constant sales going on through the holidays, so check Amazon for the latest price.
Jump to a gift
- A camera that helps kids learn new words – Ages 3-8
- A microscope that peeks into tight spaces – Ages 3-10
- A pen for drawing in three dimensions – Ages 6+
- A bird feeder that tells you who stopped by – Ages 7+
- A dinosaur book with VR and a fossil dig – Ages 8+
- A logic game that lights up when kids solve it – Ages 8+
- A LEGO model that puts the Moon in motion – Ages 10+
- Boxing robots kids build and battle – Ages 10+
- A 3D printer for kids ready to make their own designs – Ages 11+ with adult supervision
- An AI camera teens can teach to recognize objects – Ages 14+
A camera that helps kids learn another language ($249.00)
Dex turns a photo of the family dog into a chance to learn how to say “dog” in another language.
Dex is a pocket-sized camera that gives kids a reason to look closely at everything around them, and every photo comes back with a new word to learn. A child snaps the dog, a pumpkin or a bowl of cereal, and Dex says what it sees aloud in the language a parent has chosen in the Dex Parent App. There are 16 languages to choose from, including Mandarin, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Arabic, plus more than 30 dialects, some still in beta. A child learns one language at a time, and a parent can switch it whenever they like.
Photographing the same object adds a new layer each time, such as its color, shape, function or a short story, so kids build vocabulary around the object. Parents can set one of three levels: beginner mixes a few new words into English, and advanced is 100 percent in the new language. Even a blurry photo earns a playful response, a welcome feature when your photographer is four and most shots are of sneakers and thumbs.
Dex includes unlimited camera use over Wi-Fi, and an optional Dex plan adds personalized stories, scavenger hunts and flashcards that parents can create in the app. Dex also offers a $9.99-a-month Mobile Data plan that adds built-in cellular service with unlimited data in more than 100 regions, with no SIM or phone plan needed.
Because the camera sends a child’s photos out for identification, parents will want to know where they go. Dex says it does not store photos or voice recordings of children, and that the camera complies with COPPA, the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
Ages 3–8
Image credit: Ashfly
A microscope that peeks into tight spaces ($39.99)
The Ashfly Kids Microscope with Borescope lets kids examine objects up close and explore hard-to-reach spaces.
A child who comes home from every walk with a pocketful of leaves and rocks will have plenty to look at. The microscope shows what they’ve found on a 2.4-inch screen, so they can hold it up and point out the details to you. Ashfly rates the microscope at up to 500× magnification.
The part I’d buy it for is the detachable 3-foot borescope, a tiny lighted camera on a flexible cable that attaches to the same handheld unit. The next time a kid asks what’s inside a hollow log, they can slip the camera into the opening and watch the dark interior come into view. The camera tip is waterproof, but the screen needs to stay dry, and Ashfly advises adult supervision when kids explore unfamiliar spaces.
Kids can take photos with the built-in camera, but recording video requires a memory card, which isn’t included. Add a 64GB microSD card ($24.99) to the gift so they can record video, too. The box also includes a charging cable and a protective silicone cover.
Ages 3–10
Image credit: 3Doodler
A pen for drawing in three dimensions ($59.99)
The 3Doodler Start+ lets kids turn lines of plastic into little sculptures they can pick up.
The fun in using the 3Doodler Start+ is seeing a drawing stand up on its own. A child who likes making miniature things could draw four walls flat on the table and join them with a fresh line of plastic. By the time they add a roof, they’ve made a little house. I’ve used the pen, and it’s fun to play around with creating 3D objects.
The pen feeds out a thin line of plastic that firms up as it cools. A child can start by tracing a shape on a flat surface, then make another and join the pieces into something three-dimensional. The Start+ uses a low-temperature nozzle and has no hot parts, so kids can touch the nozzle and the plastic without a burn risk. There are 10 guided activities in the box and hundreds of tutorials on how to create additional designs.
The kit comes with the pen, 72 strands of plastic, a design pad, an activity guide, and a USB-C charging cable. The starter kit should be enough to make a 5-inch house with solid walls and a roof. Additional Start+ refill bundles (250 strands) cost about $32.
Ages 6+
Image credit: Birdfy
A bird feeder that tells you who stopped by ($139.99)
The Birdfy Feeder Rookie lets kids see which birds came for breakfast while they were at school.
I used to love watching the multiple bird feeders my grandfather had at his house, and I recommend it as a fun activity for adults to share with kids. The Birdfy Feeder Rookie adds a Full HD camera to capture birds at the feeder, so kids can see who showed up even if they weren’t there when the birds came to eat.
The camera captures short 10-20 second clips whenever birds are at the feeder, and you can view them through the Birdfy app. The app uses AI to identify the species in the videos and adds that information to the clips. That makes it easy for a child to start a list of visitors, recognize a regular when it comes back, and keep an eye out for newcomers as the seasons change. Birdfy says bird identification is free for life.
A parent will need to do the setup. The feeder connects over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only, so choose a spot where your router’s 2.4GHz signal reaches, then pair it through the Birdfy app, which requires a free account. A solar panel is included, and Birdfy lists a battery life of about four months. The seed bin holds 44 ounces, and Birdfy says clips are stored with Amazon Web Services.
Ages 7+
Image credit: Abacus Brands
A dinosaur book with VR and a fossil dig ($39.99)
With National Geographic Extinction, kids can come face-to-face with dinosaurs in VR, then dig replica T. rex bones out of an excavation block.
For the child who can name every dinosaur in a picture book, National Geographic Extinction gives them a chance to see a Triceratops up close in VR and watch the asteroid strike that ended the age of the dinosaurs. The kit also includes a world map and a 40-page book, and the app brings 15 dinosaurs to life in augmented reality on the map.
The VR goggles are in the box, but the AR and VR features need a smartphone that isn’t included. The app works with iPhones running iOS 15 or later and Android phones running Android 8 or later, and it doesn’t support tablets. All of the app’s content is included, with no in-app purchases or subscriptions.
I appreciate that the map and the book work without a phone, so there’s plenty for a child to read and look at in bed or on a car ride. There’s also a fossil excavation block with embedded bones to build a replica T. rex that measures 20 inches when assembled.
Ages 8+
Image credit: Suzanne Kantra/Techlicious
A logic game that lights up when kids solve it ($39.99)
ThinkFun Circuit Maze turns completing an electrical circuit into a puzzle with a visible payoff.
I discovered the ThinkFun Circuit Maze at the Toy Fair trade show years ago, and it's still one of my favorite gifts for kids who love solving puzzles. The tech bonus is they learn about completing electrical circuits at the same time. A challenge card gives them a starting layout and tells them which pieces to use. From there, they have to work out where the pieces go to make a path for electricity. When they’ve completed the circuit correctly, the light comes on, and it’s satisfying to watch.
The 60 challenges progress from beginner to expert, so kids can start with a puzzle they can tackle and move up when they’re ready. The game takes three AAA batteries, which aren’t included, so make sure you have them on hand.
Ages 8+
Image credit: LEGO
A LEGO model that puts the Moon in motion ($74.99)
LEGO Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit lets kids turn a crank to see how Earth and the Moon move.
If you have a LEGO fan who asks questions like “Why does the Moon look different tonight?” give them something to build to discover the answer. The 526-piece Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit set builds a model of the Sun, Earth, and Moon that stands about 9 inches high and 12.5 inches long.
When the model is finished, your builder can turn the crank to set the planetary bodies in motion: the Moon orbiting Earth and the Earth traveling around the Sun. Months and moon phases are printed on the model, which makes it a fun way to see the phases of the Moon over a month. Over a year, they’ll see how the top half of Earth leans toward the Sun in June and away in December.
Ages 10+
Image credit: Thames & Kosmos
Boxing robots kids build and battle ($49.95)
Thames & Kosmos Hydraulic Boxing Bots turns a lesson in how water transmits force into a two-player game.
With Hydraulic Boxing Bots, kids build two water-powered robots from a 327-piece set. They’ll learn about hydraulic systems during assembly and then see the system in action while battling.
Moving a Bot’s controller pushes water through the system, making the robot move so kids can see how the force travels as they play. Each robot can throw two types of punches and take three waist postures. A player scores a point by knocking the opponent’s head backward, and there's an included scoreboard to keep track. In the heat of battle, the fun changes from working out how the pieces fit to seeing who can land the better punch.
Ages 10+
Image credit: Flashforge
A 3D printer for kids ready to make their own designs ($249.00)
The Flashforge Adventurer 5M gives older kids a way to turn digital models into objects they can use.
Think of the kid who’s already figured out how they’d change a board-game piece or wishes their gaming rig had some fun key caps. The Flashforge Adventurer 5M gives them a way to make it. They can start by printing a ready-made model, then try making a design of their own.
The printer’s automatic bed leveling helps beginners get that first layer down evenly, and Flashforge says it arrives 95 percent assembled. I’d start with a short print, so they can see how the whole process works before they commit to a bigger build. The printer connects over Wi-Fi, Ethernet or USB, and it works with slicing software such as FlashPrint, the program that turns a 3D model into printing instructions. Flashforge recommends PLA and PETG filament and says ABS filaments are not compatible.
The 5M has an open frame, and its nozzle reaches 200°C in about 35 seconds and tops out at 280°C, so it will need a dedicated spot and adult supervision for younger makers. Flashforge sells an enclosure kit separately for $39.99.
Ages 11+ with adult supervision
Image credit: DFRobot
An AI camera teens can teach to recognize objects ($89.90)
The DFRobot HUSKYLENS 2 lets teens experiment with how a camera recognizes what it sees.
An AI vision sensor is a small camera with a built-in AI chip that can recognize faces, objects and lines on its own. For a teen who wants to understand what AI vision does inside a gadget, the HUSKYLENS 2 gives them something they can experiment with directly. They can teach the sensor to recognize an object by pointing it at the object and tapping its 2.4-inch touchscreen, then see what happens when they turn it around or put it against a different background.
I like that teens can start experimenting with the camera without writing code. DFRobot includes more than 20 ready-to-use AI models for tasks such as face recognition, object tracking, line tracking, and reading text. That gives them a chance to find out what the sensor recognizes before committing to a project.
When a teen is ready to make something happen, such as steering a line-following car, the HUSKYLENS 2 connects to boards including Arduino, micro:bit, Raspberry Pi, and ESP32, which supply the motors and the code that act on what the camera sees.
Ages 14+
