Tech for Kids

By Kate Pruitt (from Design Sponge) on August 2, 2011

Let's face it, raising kids in the booming age of the internet is no easy task. How soon do you start introducing them to new technologies? Are there any quality educational tools for all these new gadgets available? And how many expensive gadgets can I afford to replace due to spills and breaks? Fear not, parents: the truth is that interactive gadgets are here to stay, and there are many responsible designers and developers out there who are using these technologies to create quality toys and tools for the little ones.

I'm already coming to terms with the amount of time I spend on my computer and my various tech devices. When I eventually become a parent, it's nice to know that there are great way to share those activities with my kids, whether it's playing an interactive game, reading a book, or listening to music. I've rounded up some great gadgets for kids of all ages--not just kid-proof tech toys for your tots to scurry around with, but also apps and accessories that allow you to introduce your kids to grown-up technology by sharing your devices with them in fun, inventive ways. Some of the new gadgets and apps for kids are so well designed, in fact, that I predict you'll have a hard time sharing. Enjoy!

I'd love to hear from those of you with children of your own. What's your kid's favorite gadget at the moment?

1. Griffin Woogie case for iPhone and iPod Touch, $20
2. Shape-O ABC's app for iPad, $2
3. Mushroom Age HD app for iPad, $7
4. Miffy MP3 player and dock station (sold separately), $23 and $27
5. Griffin Lightboard case for iPad, $30
6. Etch-A-Sketch app for iPad, $3
7. Kid's digital camera, $20
8. Crayola Colorstudio HD for iPad, $30
9. Speck iGuy case for iPad, $40
10. Kid's digital video camera, $20

Timbuktu App for iPad, Free :
Timbuktu is basically the first online magazine geared towards children. It offers up current news and educational stories in a fun, engaging interface. The graphics are so beautiful that I actually recommend this magazine to people of any age as a fun quick read.

Little Things App for iPad, $3 :
I always had a fascination with little things as a child, and I know I'm not alone in this obsession. Little things is an incredibly inventive visual game where kids seek out objects from a collage made up of thousands of little objects... it's so fun that I bet you'll have a hard time letting your kids have a turn.

1. Clocky alarm clock in aqua, $49

2. Funkyfonic stereo headphones, $25

3. Mercury EcoNation DIY eco speakers, $17

4. Amazon Kindle, $139

5. Slap flexible wristband for iPod nano, $25

6. Robot headphone splitter, $11

7. Lacie Skwarim portable hard drive, $100

8. Fujifilm Instax instant film camera, $68

The Fantastic Flying Book of Mr. Morris Lessmore for iPad, $5:
"Flying Books" represents a new hybrid for children's books that I'm sure we'll see more of in the current age of tablet technology. Created by award-winning author, illustrator, and ex-Pixar designer William Joyce, the interactive animated book/film hybrid is truly captivating, and well worth the bargain price of only $5.

Pacman for iPhone and iPod Touch, $5:
What is there to say about Pacman that hasn't already been said? No child (or adult, for that matter) should miss out on playing this highly addictive classic, which has been faithfully rendered in this version for use on your iPhone. Homework productivity may suffer, but joy will skyrocket.

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Design*Sponge is a daily website dedicated to home and product design run by Brooklyn-based writer, Grace Bonney. Launched in August of 2004, Design*Sponge features store and product reviews, sale and contest announcements, new designer profiles, trend forecasting and store/studio tours. In addition, Design*Sponge features a unique section dedicated to covering student design, national and international design shows. The site is updated constantly throughout the day (with an average of 6-10 posts a day), and attracts a core group of devoted readers. Design*Sponge currently has over 60,000 daily readers. As a Contributing Editor at Design Sponge, artist Kate Pruitt shares DIY projects each Wednesday. Kate lives in Oakland, California and has a background in art/art history and recently left her job creating window displays to pursue her own work full time. Growing up in New Hampshire, Kate spent a lot of time building machines out of paper and scotch tape, and thus discovered her first DIY impulses.

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