It may still be November, but there are people out there who have not only got the Santa letters signed and sealed, but in some cases, the gifts have even been delivered.
We aren’t all that organised. But in the case of those all-important Santa gifts, the elves might not want to leave it to the last minute to get cracking.
If you are still in need of a little inspiration here are some suggestions to get started.
Yoto Player
From €70
If your child is too young for a screen, or you don’t want to add another one to the pile vying for their attention, there are alternatives when it comes to keeping them entertained. The Yoto Player, for example, is screen-free but offers a wealth of content to entertain and educate your child.
The wifi-enabled player uses cards, rather the figures of its main Tonie rival, inserted into the top of the device. When they are put into the player for the first time, the story downloads on to the device, so they can be used without a wifi connection in the future. It has a small pixel-based display on the front of the device that will show different images, related to the content, as the story progresses, but that is the extent of it.
There are two options: the Yoto Player or the Yoto Mini. The latter is designed to travel with you, with a jack for headphones and the option to add a protective case.
The larger Yoto Player (third generation, €99) has a rechargeable battery, but is intended to be used at home. It works as a night light and white noise machine for helping your child sleep, a clock to tell them when it is time to get up, and a radio, with child-friendly content.
Even the bigger kids liked this one; the Yoto Mini was co-opted by a 10-year-old who has been reading independently for several years. The content reflects that, too, with stories ranging from suitable for all ages up to 8+ Both devices have controls that can be easily mastered by younger children too.
One caveat: the Yoto may be screen-free, but you do need a parent app on your smartphone to set it up. However, the cards can also be “scanned” over NFC into the Yoto app on your smartphone, so you will always have access to the stories, even if the player is out of reach. eu.yotoplay.com
StoryPhones
€86
Onanoff’s StoryPhones are another option for parents, particularly if you plan a few trips next year. These Bluetooth headphones play stories directly through the use of swappable discs that attach to the earcup, called Story Shields. That means you can dispense with the smartphone and screen for your child, while still giving them some independence and control over their own entertainment.
The Story Shields are themed – Disney, for example – and you can use the headphones as regular wired or Bluetooth audio devices if the stories no longer hold their attention. harveynorman.ie
MyFirst Camera 50
€130
If you have a budding film-makers or YouTube star at home, MyFirst Camera 50 will open a whole new world to them. An AI-enabled world, in fact. The camera is designed to be used by children (read: can be dropped without breaking, easy controls, won’t collect all their data) aged five to 12, with tools that can enhance photos and videos, and curate stories for them.
Children can capture content, and then use the built-in tools to edit them, customise them with stickers and add voice notes. Then they can share the end result with a trusted group of family members over wifi. The AI-assisted curation will help them to create stories from their content, analysing facial expressions and scenery in the photos to make it easier.
The camera itself has a 20-megapixel lens, a selfie light bar and up to 128GB of storage. myfirst.tech
Tablets and phones
The great debate among many families is what the appropriate age is for your child to have a smartphone. Too young and you open them up to all sorts of issues before they are ready – inappropriate content, cyberbullying, digital addiction. But leaving it later may leave them without a way to contact their parents should they need to, or risk isolating them from their social groups who may have already been given the devices.
There are compromises though.
Xplora Play X6
€200
This kid-themed smartwatch combines the essential features of a phone into a more easily controlled device. Rather than giving your child free rein with a phone, you can put a compatible sim card into the watch, and use the Xplora app to add contacts who can call them or text the number, allowing them to reply with voice messages or calls. The built-in microphone and speaker are good enough to hold a conversation, even with background noise.
The X6 also has GPS, which allows you to keep an eye on their location. It updates frequently, and unlike some devices, the location is usually fairly accurate – at least in my experience.
If your child is wearing the watch to school, you can put it into school mode for the duration of the school day, which locks out the smart features, including the 5-megapixel camera, and turns it into a regular watch until the time elapses.
There are plenty of compatible straps out there if your child wants to change it up, too, with Amazon offering up a range of options. harveynorman.ie
Barbie HMD flip phone
€120
The Barbie-themed HMD phone is another compromise. It’s not a smartphone, there is no social media, but it will allow you to keep in contact with the owner by text or voice calls. The first thing you will notice is that the flip phone is, naturally, pink. The second is that the outer front cover will also work as a mirror, so you can take selfies the old way – with precarious positioning and wishful thinking.
The phone has a Barbie-themed interface, with apps that include Malibu Snake, and some hidden surprises for you to figure out (we won’t give it away).
Although it doesn’t run on Android – it uses S30+ as an operating system – it still includes digital balance tips, and has some Barbie-themed meditation, should you feel the need for relaxation. currys.ie
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
If a tablet is on the wish list this year, it is best to get one that will last a few years. The Samsung A9+ comes with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, which means lots of storage space and the ability to run more demanding games and applications without stuttering. That should keep your child happy for a few years.
The tablet has a Kids Mode to make it more user-friendly for younger children, and with Family Link parental controls on your own device, you can limit content and time spent on the device.
The larger A9+ also has a decent 11-inch screen, which will work for children of all ages.
One tip, though: invest in a decent case. Tablets will last a few years if they are looked after; a smashed display can be an expensive fix. samsung.com
Tips for tech
Read the privacy policies attached to any device you are buying for your child. Yes, they can be long, but it will give information about what personal data is collected and how it will be used.
If your chosen device requires an account and is for a younger user, make sure that you set it up as a child account to allow you to keep an eye on what they are accessing, and how long they are using the device.
Make sure any content purchases are password protected – and don’t disclose the password, unless you fancy paying a rather large surprise bill.
Be careful about where you charge devices – smartphones and tablets are better off being charged outside bedrooms, and not overnight.
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