What to Consider When Shopping Tech Gifts for Kids

With the holiday season approaching, kids everywhere are adding tech gadgets to their ever-growing wishlists. As a parent, however, the prospect of purchasing new tech gifts for your kiddos comes with a list of its own – factors like price, age appropriateness, safety features, durability, and educational benefits may come to mind.

Struggling to find the right fit for your child’s interests and needs, or not even sure where to begin? These are five major factors to consider when tech shobest tech gifts for kidspping for your children and some of the best tech gifts for kids to consider!

Factors to Consider When Buying Tech Gifts for Kids

While the item price and your holiday budget are quick ways to nix or consider an item, here’s a quick “cheat sheet” on other factors you might want to consider.

Age Appropriateness

Age Recommendations

The first thing to keep in mind when shopping for technology gifts for kids is the age of the child. Not all tech toys are suitable for every age group. Younger kids may benefit from simpler, more intuitive tech toys like learning tablets or interactive robots, while older children might be ready for more advanced devices like a gaming laptop or a smartwatch with GPS capabilities. Most manufacturers provide age recommendations for their products, which can serve as a helpful guideline when making your choice.

Age Capability

For some high-tech toys, it may simply be a matter of deciding if your child is capable of using it properly. Some gadgets require a level of cognitive development and hand-eye coordination that younger kids may not yet have. For example, a basic tablet designed for kids may be perfect for a 5-year-old, but a gaming laptop for kids is likely more suitable for those in their pre-teens or older. Stick to the devices that offer age-appropriate content and features, ensuring your child can use and enjoy them fully.

Maturity and Trustworthiness

However, as parents know, determining age-appropriateness is a personal assessment and is incredibly dependent on the child in front of you. Consider your child’s maturity level, and how they respond to boundaries and rules. How do they communicate with you? How trustworthy do you feel they are? In the end, this decision may be a more intangible benchmark for the person who knows them best.

Educational Benefits

Before you press “Add to Cart,” take a look at what the experts say about the gadget you’re considering. Will it provide enriching and educational opportunities for your child? Will they learn useful skills or information by using this piece of technology? This isn’t to say that electronic gifts for kids are only worthwhile if they’re educational – most of today’s parents grew up on Gameboy and Nintendo 64 after all – but this may be a priority in your situation.

Safety Features and Parental Controls

Another critical factor to think about when buying electronic gifts for kids is safety. Technology opens the door to endless possibilities for entertainment and learning, but it also requires setting boundaries to protect children from inappropriate content and excessive screen time. Look for devices that offer built-in parental controls. These features allow you to monitor your child’s activity, limit their screen time, and restrict access to unsuitable websites or apps.

Tablets, for instance, might have child-safe modes that provide a curated experience suitable for younger users. Prioritize products that allow you to maintain a level of control without interfering with your child’s enjoyment of the gift.

Durability

For younger children—or our more rough-and-tumble big kids—durability is an important thing to think about before spending money on a tech gadget or toy. What would happen if they dropped it? Do they have the maturity and forethought to take good care of it? What types of accessories are available to protect it? Another related consideration is battery life: Will this need to be charged frequently, or is it a “lower maintenance” gadget?

Look for gadgets with strong build quality, protective casings, or water-resistant features to ensure they can withstand the inevitable bumps and drops. Whether you’re buying a tablet, smartwatch, or gaming system, it’s worth investing in a device that will last through your child’s energetic use.

Setting Boundaries

While gifting tech to children is exciting, it’s important to establish boundaries. Make sure you discuss appropriate usage times, the content your child is allowed to access, and the importance of balancing screen time with other activities.

Setting clear expectations from the start helps prevent the issues that can arise from too much time spent on tech devices. Encourage your child to see technology as a tool for learning and fun, but not as something that should dominate their time.

Alternatives

Comparison shopping is your best friend. The latest fancy gaming computer may seem like a fun choice, but is a more portable tablet more realistic for your child’s lifestyle? Would a hard-to-lose smartwatch make more sense than a cell phone? Fortunately, there is no shortage of tech toys and gift ideas, so take time to browse your options.

Popular Tech Toys for Kids

Unless your kiddo has a very detailed and specific wishlist, you may not know where to start. Tech gifts like tablets and computers are great gift options, with the added benefit of being versatile for both recreational activities and academic pursuits.

• Tablets: Designed for both fun and learning, tablets are a versatile choice. Many kid-friendly models come with parental controls, educational apps, and fun, child-appropriate protective cases.
• Smartwatches: These gadgets can be more than just a fun accessory. They’re harder to misplace than a typical cell phone, and your child will be less exposed to social media. With the ability to make phone calls (which may be an additional paid service) and features like fitness tracking, GPS, and simple games, wearable technology offers both entertainment and practical uses.
• Laptops: If your child is into gaming or online learning, gaming laptops for kids are a fantastic investment. They can be used for entertainment, educational purposes, and even creative projects like video editing or coding.
• Gaming Systems: Gaming consoles like a PlayStation, XBOX, or Nintendo Switch are often go-to tech gifts for older kids. But be sure to explore models, available parental controls, and age-appropriate games.

Shop Tech Gifts for Your Kiddos at Rent-A-Center

As technology advances, it’s hard to know exactly what to get your kids this holiday season. Fortunately, Rent-A-Center makes it easy to find the perfect fit. From gaming laptops and cameras to brand-name smart TVs and gaming consoles, we’ve got you covered. And if your child wants a newer model or an entirely new piece of tech, Rent-A-Center’s Exchange Program* lets you swap out items within the first six months of your agreement so you can get the perfect gift without hassle.

*“RAC Exchange” program valid for agreements entered at select locations, is available to new and existing customers and applies to inventory obtainable by store location. Cash price of the item selected for exchange may not exceed approval amount, which is subject to validation and adjustment prior to exchange and may vary from original approval amount. Exchange requires execution of rental agreement for item selected for exchange, which must be completed within six (6) months following the first active rental date of item being returned for exchange. Agreement for item being returned for exchange must be in good standing (with all rental payments current) at the time of exchange and product must be in good condition. Rent paid for prior agreement will be applied to reduce the total cost to own for the replacement agreement but rent paid may not be applied in full to Same As Cash amount for replacement agreement. Any applicable Same As Cash period will apply to new agreement based on product selection and agreement term. The amount of rent paid from prior agreement eligible for application to Same As Cash amount for replacement agreement may vary from 40% to 66%, depending on your state of residence. Exchanges under program may not be combined with other discounts, offers or promotions. Participating locations only. Eligible items only. All items subject to availability and approval. See Store Manager for complete details.