What do you get for the child who has everything? What should you put under the Christmas tree for the child who is technologically savvy and who has already figured out everything there is to learn from the latest chemistry set? What could you buy that will set apart your gift from all the other ones a child will receive? The question has a surprisingly simple answer: a hi-tech toy! Of course, not all hi-tech toys are created equal, and here is a list of the top five all-time favorites for kids.
1. The Robopet is quite possibly the pet of the future. In a time when living space is becoming more and more valuable, many families find that they have to forego the house with the backyard in favor of a condominium or apartment without a garden. The latter truly inhibits a family' ability to keep a dog or cat, and at some point a child will longingly gaze at their friends' furry "best friends" and wonder what it would be like to have one of their own. Fortunately, Robopet can make this dream come true, and it is no surprise that it has become an easy favorite hi-tech toy of children everywhere. This robotic companion is designed to mimic the behavior of a pet dog. Only nine inches long, this little gadget is so lifelike that it is quickly treated like a real life pet without the mess, expense, and vet visits. It walks, sits, rolls over, sniffs, runs, and even crawls! Because of the advanced technology that is used in the creation of this toy, it can avoid crashing into walls, tables, and other furniture. To further the illusion of lifelike actions, this toy is programmed to "eat" and "fetch."
2. The automated pogo stick is another crowd pleaser. Who does not remember the good old pogo stick? Yet who would have thought that in an incredible match of high technology with old time fun, the shining result is the FlyBar? Relying on a patented polymer spring system, this device allows the enthusiastic rider to leap up to five feet in the air! It is important to note that this toy is only for children who have reached one hundred twenty pounds to ensure maximum safety.
Every American travelling in England gets his own individual sport out of the toy passenger and freight trains and the tiny locomotives, with their faint, indignant, tiny whistle. Especially in western England one wonders how the business of a nation can possibly be carried on by means so insufficient.
—Willa Cather (1876–1947)
3. The next toy on the list is the Laser Ball. This ball looks and feels like an average baseball, but it is so much more! Because of its hi-tech guts, this ball is actually a valuable speed meter! An LCD display located on the ball also you to find out how fast your fastballs actually are. Serious baseball players can even preset the distance they are throwing. Of course, you do not want to play a real game of baseball with this little gadget, since any electronic gadget that connects with a baseball bat usually stops working!
4. The incredible, inflatable, pool racer is the answer to the somewhat more stationary blow-up pool toys of yesteryear. A mixture of a mountable flotation device and a watercraft, this toy allows little riders to traverse the length of the pool at up to two miles per hour. Made of durable PVC, this little craft may be used by water-loving children as young as five years of age. Of course, as with any toy or game that involves submersion in water, parental supervision is not only encouraged but also strongly advised!
5. For those who might find that they are a bit too old to be riding along on the Surf Racer, the Sea-scooter might be the answer. Hi-tech design allows any adolescent or adult to be moved across the pool at two miles per hour. In the alternative, if diving is more to your liking, it will give you the extra push you need to dive quickly up to fifteen feet below the surface.
Taking a child to the toy store is the nearest thing to a death wish parents can have.
—Fred G. Gosman (20th century)
As you can see, there is no shortage of hi-tech toys that appeal to children, adolescents, as well as adults of all ages. Obviously, for younger children parental supervision is strongly advised, yet since these toys are so sturdy and designed with the child's safety in mind, they make wonderful presents for any occasion. So go ahead, and take a peak into the gadget section of your local toy store!.