Have any budding techies in your family? Here are a few last-minute suggestions for gifts to keep them entertained.
Osmo Genius Kit
Osmo combines the digital and real worlds into an iPad game that will help teach your children without them even realising. Science, maths and art are all covered by the Genius Kit, which adds new game Numbers to the Starter Kit. You get a special stand and physical pieces that work with the games, and the kit is compatible with the iPad 2 and newer. The games themselves are free to download from the App Store.
Where to buy: Amazon.co.uk
How much: £90 (€101)
Sphero 2.0
Strip the BB8 or R2D2 Sphero toy robot of its fancy window dressing and you’ve got the Sphero underneath. App controlled, all you need is a tablet or smartphone, and children - or, let’s face it, adults - can have hours of fun controlling the robotic ball.
Where to buy: Harvey Norman
How much: €150
Fisher Price Code-a-pillar
The idea that a simple toy can help teach your children coding probably seems a little far fetched, but the Fisher Price Code-a-pillar is designed to lay the groundwork for future coders. It teaches pattern recognition and sequences, using is a motorised caterpillar head to which you can attach different colour-coded pieces. Each of the pieces have a different function, marked on their back, from taking a left turn to playing some music.
Where to buy: Smyths Toys
How much: €50
UBTECH Jimu Robot Meebot
If you have a budding Robot Wars contestant in your midst, you can start them on the path to creating their own machines with the UBTECH Jimu Robot Meebot: a programmable humanoid robot that is unlike any other toy they’ll find under the Christmas tree. It has six servo motors to allow it move, and you can programme the robot using Swift, or use the free Jimu Robot app to get it going.
Where to buy: Apple.com
How much: €140
Play-Doh Touch Shape to Life Studio
Play-Doh may be the bane of your life - ever tried getting it out of carpet? - but it’s also a good learning tool for children. And now, there’s a tech element to it, with the Touch Shape to Life Studio. Download the app, make your Play-Doh model and put it on the Studio accessory; you can scan it with your iOS device and then bring it to life on the screen. In the box is the Studio, along with cutters, stampers and tools to bring imagination to life.
Where to buy: Apple.com
How much: €52
