What the Tech: Kids toys
Tech Toys That Get Kids Off Phones and Video Games
Not all tech toys keep kids glued to a screen. Some are actually designed to do the opposite.
If you’re a parent trying to limit screen time without starting a daily negotiation, there are smart gift ideas that use technology to pull kids back into the real world. These toys still feel exciting and modern to kids, but they encourage hands-on play, problem solving, and real interaction.
One of the most creative examples is the PowerUp paper airplane. It turns an ordinary paper airplane into a controllable flying toy. Kids fold the plane using a template, clip a lightweight motor onto the back, and connect it to an app. Using simple controls, they can steer, climb, and even do loops. Along the way, they learn real basics of flight like balance and thrust. It feels like a video game, but the action is happening in the air right in front of them.
Another smart option is the GoCube. At first glance, it looks like a regular Rubik’s Cube. Inside, it’s packed with sensors that connect to a phone or tablet. As kids twist and turn the cube, the app provides step-by-step guidance, tracks progress, and turns solving into games and challenges. The key difference is that the screen isn’t the focus. The goal is to learn, then put the phone down and solve the cube in your hands.
For kids interested in strategy games, a smart chess set can make learning less intimidating.
The connected board knows where every piece moves, and the companion app helps guide players through legal moves, strategy, and full games. Kids can play against someone else remotely or against the app, and when the opponent makes a move, the physical piece slides to its new spot on the board. It brings a classic game to life without replacing it with a screen.
And not every solution is a toy. For parents who feel stuck when it comes to smartphones, the Bark smartphone is designed to help set boundaries instead of fueling arguments. It looks like a regular phone, but it gives parents tools to manage screen time, control apps, and monitor messages for potential issues like bullying or explicit content. It’s not about spying. It’s about giving kids access to technology without giving them the entire internet all at once.
While I don’t advocate giving children a smartphone, if they need a way to stay in touch, the Bark Phone is the best solution.
The goal isn’t banning technology or pretending it doesn’t exist. It’s using it better. These gifts show that tech can still be fun, educational, and engaging without keeping kids locked into a screen for hours.
Sometimes the smartest tech choice is the one that helps kids unplug.
