Holiday Gift Ideas for Tweens and Teens
by Susan Ayers Walker
Whether for the holidays or year round, these gadgets make great gifts for the kids in your life.
For Six Years and Up
This is a cute, futuristic looking interactive puppy robot that features virtual pet play. The MIO PUP is an adorable pal that will respond with lights, sounds, music and its expressive and colorful "emoto-tronic" eyes. The puppy is about companionship and nurturing play. MIO expresses emotion through icons and animation in its huge, endearing eyes. The puppy communicates its feelings and moods like happiness, surprise, hunger and love. Just like a real pet, this robot companion can walk and enjoys being touched and held. Kids will love to share their secrets with MIO PUP as it listens and babbles back in its own special language. The MIO PUP interactive companion also sings and plays music to let its friends know it’s happy and in a good mood. The MIO PUP robot pet companion is for ages 6 years and up. Under $50.
For 10 Years and Up
Power Tour Electric Guitar is for the active tweener 10+ for expressing their musical side. Kids can rock to their favorite tunes and learn how to play the 12 pre-loaded songs or plug in their MP3 player (not included) and jam along to their favorite tunes. To learn the pre-loaded songs, your aspiring rock star can select a song then follow along to the lights. The Power Tour guitar will ‘light’ the places where fingers should be so your tween can play at their own speed. The guitar has touch sensors instead of strings. When the guitar is in learn-mode, the player is introduced to each song segment by segment, lights along the fret and strum bar guide the learner. Once the player can correctly play the segment, the next segment of notes is introduced. Once your child masters the song, they can switch to “band” mode and rock out to backing tracks--just like they have their own band! Under $70.
For Your Teens
How about a little electronic pocket photo album? This is a 1.5” keychain digital photo viewer that can hang on a back pack or from a keychain. The Pocket Album from Digital Foci can hold up to 74 pictures with its 8MB internal memory. It can scroll photos manually, or run automatic photo slideshow. The device comes with Photo Viewer Software to convert JPG or BMP images from your computer to your Pocket Album. The Pocket Album runs on a lithium-ion battery with up to 9 hours of battery life. Easily recharge the battery with included AC adapter or with USB power by connecting it to your computer. The device also features a built-in clock with automatic on/off timer. Pocket Album measures 2.2" x 1.6" x 0.5" and weights only 1.2 ounces. Package includes Pocket Album, USB cable, USB-AC adapter, software CD, and User’s Guide. Photos must be transferred from computer that is compatible with Windows Vista/XP/2000, Mac 10.x & later. Under $40.
The Stocking Stuffer
The Nagtag is a great little battery operated tag that hangs on a student’s back pack. This is for any child who forgets to pack all those important things they need in their daily school back pack or sports bag. This handy gadget might save gas for those times you have to drive a forgotten item to school or sports field. Parents and grandparents can stop going crazy with the constant reminding--"Did you pack a fresh towel, your cleats, your mouth-guard? Is your lunch packed?" Instead simply ask, "Did you check your Nagtag?" Under $20.
Happy shopping!
AARP does not recommend or endorse any of these products or web sites. Please be advised that there are other similar products and web sites available which were not reviewed and are not listed here.
