There are plenty of toys that can entertain your kids, but what about helping them learn? As technology advances each year, the tech toys continue to improve.

If you are hoping to supplement your child’s learning by giving a gift that engages their brain through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities, a toy using the latest technology may be a great option.

Here are a few different types of high tech toys your kids may enjoy.

Educational Toys

USB Microscope

Viewing plants and bugs under a microscope used to be an individual activity. Now your child can share what they are seeing, since some toy microscopes use a USB port connect to your computer screen. This displays the magnified image on a computer monitor so everyone in the room can see. Some microscopes may also have photo or video capabilities, so your child can download the images and print or share them later.

Virtual Reality for Kids

Parents know that kids love video games. The trick is to integrate educational games to teach your kids as they play. Virtual reality (VR) designed for kids shows them astronomy and global tourist destinations. Simply download an app and attach your cellphone to the VR headset, and your child can feel like they’re exploring space or traveling the world.

Kid-Friendly Drones

Remote Control Flying

Some of the newer drones are designed for children to use, with remotes that look like they are for video games. As kids fly the drone, they can also capture video footage and edit it into their own videos for a creative outlet. (Before purchasing, check that the drone is age-appropriate for your child. To be help ensure your child is operating the drone safely and filming appropriately, adult supervision is advised.)

Glove Control

Other drones for kids come with a glove or controller that attaches to their hand. Anyone can fly the drone with basic hand signals. These drones are easy to use, and the flyer will also enjoy having such easy control. (As noted above, adult supervision is recommended, particularly for younger children.)

Coding Toys

Computer-Building Kit

Following the trend to emphasize coding in education, there are several kits that come with everything your child needs to build their own computer. Once it’s set up, they can use their machine to learn coding.

Magic Wand

Coding isn’t just for computers. There are now “magical” wands that you can program to respond based on how you wave it — casting spells and creating projects within an app. Some wands can also be set up as a remote control for devices around your home, so you can control your television or Blu-ray player with a flick of the wand.

Coding Board Games

If your child is a hands-on learner, look into board games that teach computer programming principles. At first glance, these may seem like traditional board games, but the logic they teach will help your child understand coding.

Control a Robot

Using drag-and-drop code, you can program a small robot to move however you want. These robots can be simple enough for kindergartners, but there are also more complex robots for teenagers and adults who want to learn coding.

Inventions and Electronics

Invention Kits

Ultra-creative invention kits for children are designed to help them build anything by connecting the included wires, wooden or plastic pieces and other accessories, such as wheels, lights and buzzers. These kits come with ideas (and instructions) for building a robot, car, musical instrument, toy or almost anything else you can imagine.

Circuit Board Puzzles and Kits

While your kids are playing with these toys and connecting puzzle pieces, they are actually learning how circuits work. By snapping pieces into place, your child can connect lights, motors, magnets and simple wires to build their own circuits.

Tech Toy Safety Tips

Safety is always a top concern when combining technology and children. There are several easy steps you can take to make sure tech toys are safe for your kids, including:

Secure your passwords, especially for anything connected to the Internet. If your device comes with a default password, change it to something unique.
Use parental controls, and monitor how your kids use technology. This will help you to ensure your kids use it for a reasonable amount of time and, for those toys that have social media features, may enable you to help keep their interactions positive.
Teach children that they should never download anything without asking.
Follow the instructions included with the toy to help prevent damage, injury and misuse.

If your child has a smartphone, you can look into various parental control apps that are available in your smartphone’s app store.

With so many toys to choose from these days, choose one that will keep your kid entertained and engaged. From magic wands to computer kits, today’s tech toys are a mix of learning and fun.

The post 10 Fun Tech Toys for Kids appeared first on The Allstate Blog.