Skip to the main content
PeabodyMake a free story

The kids' software directory

Kids' phones, watches, tablets and speakers

The devices families hand to children, and how they handle kids.

  • 60 researched
  • 2 to know about

Researched by Peabody

Facts from each maker's own pages (terms, pricing, privacy), with our one-line take. A to Z; we rank nothing until we have tried it.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    3Doodler Start+

    3Doodler (WobbleWorks) · ages 6+

    A fun, safe-by-design entry to 3D making for ages 6-10; kids who want precise models will move to a 3D printer.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Adafruit Circuit Playground Express

    Adafruit Industries · ages about 8+ with adult help

    A low-cost, flexible first electronics board for kids 8+ with a helper; kids who want a guided kit may prefer a subscription box.

  • Desk researchPaid

    Amazon Kids Tablets (and Fire Kids tablets)

    Amazon · ages 3+ and 6+ versions

    A reasonable first tablet if you want Amazon's controls plus real Android apps; families who want a tightly closed device may prefer a device without the Play Store.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Apple Watch For Your Kids

    Apple · ages kids who don't have their own iPhone; no set age

    Good for iPhone families who want a phone alternative with strong contact controls; cheaper kids' watches exist if you only need calls and location.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Arduino Education

    Arduino S.r.l. (owned by Qualcomm) · ages about 7-18+ (varies by kit)

    A strong choice for schools and teens serious about electronics; younger kids or tight budgets may start with a micro:bit or Circuit Playground.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Arduino UNO Q

    Arduino · ages about 13 and up with some coding experience

    A good next step for teens who already know Arduino and want to add AI vision; true beginners should start with a classic UNO or a starter kit.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Bambu Lab A1 mini

    Bambu Lab · ages teens; younger kids with an adult

    A capable family 3D printer for teens or kids working with a parent; it is not a kids' product, and adults should own the account.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Bark (app, Bark Phone, Bark Watch)

    Bark Technologies · ages kids and teens

    For parents who want alerts about serious risks on a teen's phone and will talk openly about it; families wanting simple limits can start with free built-in tools.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    BBC micro:bit

    Micro:bit Educational Foundation · ages about 8-14

    One of the best-value ways for 8- to 14-year-olds to learn coding and simple machine learning, with privacy-first tools; very young children will need help.

  • Desk researchFree, with paid extras

    Birdbuddy (AI bird feeder)

    Bird Buddy Inc. · ages family use; kids with a parent's account

    A fun family science gadget for bird-curious kids if parents accept the subscription and default model training; skip it if you want an offline camera.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Boogie Board Scribble Pals

    Buffalo Games (Boogie Board brand) · ages 3+

    A cheap, data-free doodle toy for preschoolers on the go; older kids will want a bigger board.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    C-Pen Reader

    C-Pen (sold in the US by Scanning Pens) · ages school-age readers and adults

    Worth a look for a child with dyslexia who reads paper books and worksheets; ask the school first, since many lend them.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Camp Snap

    Camp Snap Ltd · ages school-age kids and up (CampLock aimed at younger photographers)

    A good no-screen camera for kids who should focus on taking pictures; families who want instant viewing or prints should look elsewhere.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Casio Moflin

    Casio · ages Marketed to adults; not designed for children

    An adult comfort gadget that families might share, but parents should know Casio does not intend the app for children and it teaches nothing.

  • Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads

    Cricut Joy 2

    Cricut · ages 13+ (Cricut says not for children 12 and younger)

    A family craft tool for teens or parent-led projects; it is not built for young kids to use alone.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    DWARF Mini Smart Telescope

    DWARFLAB (Tinyphoton (Wuhan) Technology Co.) · ages about 8-adult (with an adult)

    A strong fit for a family that wants to photograph the night sky together with little setup; families wanting kids to learn to find stars by hand should start with binoculars or a manual telescope.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Echo Dot Kids (with Alexa+)

    Amazon · ages 3-12

    Fine for bedtime stories and quick questions if parents check and delete recordings; skip it if a microphone in the bedroom bothers you.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Enabot EBO home robots

    Enabot (Shenzhen Fuzhi Technology) · ages Terms say 18+; kids interact with it at home

    A home monitoring gadget for adults, not a kids' learning robot; families with young children should think hard about a remote-controlled camera plus open AI chat.

  • Desk researchPaid

    Explore with Alexa

    Amazon · ages young kids with an Amazon Kids profile

    Fits families already on Echo and Prime who want voice-only curiosity chats; families wary of AI chat or always-on microphones should skip it.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Fitbit Ace LTE

    Google (Fitbit) · ages school-age kids without a phone

    A playful phone alternative for active kids if you can find one in stock; families who want friend-to-friend calling should look elsewhere.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Gabb (Gabb Phone, Gabb Watch)

    Gabb Wireless · ages Watch 5-12, Phone 9-14

    A solid locked-down first device for elementary and middle schoolers; teens who need school apps or a browser may outgrow it fast.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Gizmo Watch (Verizon)

    Verizon · ages about 6-11 (Gizmo Watch 3 Adventure); Verizon says devices are for kids 3+

    A reasonable kids' watch for Verizon customers; families on other carriers or wary of AI answers can choose a simpler watch.

  • Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads

    Google Nest / Gemini for Home (supervised kids)

    Google · ages supervised children and teens

    Usable for families who already supervise accounts in Family Link and want to set limits; parents wary of kids chatting with AI should keep Gemini off.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Huion Inspiroy pen tablets

    Shenzhen Huion Trend Technology Co., Ltd. · ages about 8 and up

    A sensible first digital-art tool for older kids and teens with a computer or Chromebook; young kids may find drawing without seeing the pen tip frustrating.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    HUSKYLENS 2

    DFRobot · ages teens and adults (not stated by the maker)

    A capable, low-cost AI vision tool for teen robotics clubs; younger children need close adult help, and face recognition projects deserve a privacy talk.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    iFLYTEK Smart Dictionary Pen

    iFLYTEK · ages students learning English, about 8+ (not stated)

    Handy for older kids reading in a second language; parents who care about data and company ties may prefer a phone dictionary app.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    KidiZoom Smart Watch MAX

    VTech · ages 4+ (maker)

    A fun offline gadget for young kids who want a 'watch like a grown-up'; parents wanting location tracking or calls need a different kind of device.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Kindle Colorsoft Kids

    Amazon · ages about 3-12 (Amazon Kids+ is designed for 3-12)

    A focused, distraction-free reader for kids who love comics or illustrated books; families happy with black-and-white text may prefer a non-color Kindle Kids.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Kindle Kids

    Amazon · ages about 6-12

    A solid distraction-free reader for chapter-book kids in Amazon's world; families wanting color can look at the Colorsoft kids model.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Makeblock CyberPi

    Makeblock · ages about 10+ (maker lists CyberPi under 12+; Go Kit aimed at beginners)

    A cheap, capable first coding gadget for tweens; younger kids will need an adult or a simpler robot.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Makey Makey

    JoyLabz / Makey Makey LLC · ages 8+ (the box says ages 8 to infinity)

    A fun, low-risk way to spark interest in circuits for kids 8+; kids who want to program hardware directly should look at a micro:bit or Circuit Playground.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Meta Quest (parent-managed accounts for ages 10-12)

    Meta Platforms · ages 10+ (10-12 with a parent-managed account)

    Workable for 10-12s with an engaged parent who approves each app; too much for kids under 10, as Meta itself says.

  • Desk researchFreeNo ads

    micro:bit CreateAI

    Micro:bit Educational Foundation · ages about 7-14

    A safe, hands-on way for kids 7-14 to learn how AI uses data, if you have or will buy a micro:bit; skip if you want screen-only learning.

  • Desk researchFreeNo ads

    Microsoft MakeCode (micro:bit, Minecraft and more)

    Microsoft · ages about 8-16

    A strong free choice for kids who want code to make something happen in the real world or in Minecraft; skip the Minecraft editor if you have no Education license.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    myFirst Camera (incl. Insta magiCam)

    myFirst · ages about 3-10

    The basic cameras are easy kids' gifts; parents should ask myFirst how magiCam handles children's photos and voice before buying the AI model.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Nanit Smart Baby Monitor

    Udisense, Inc. (Nanit) · ages babies and toddlers (used by parents)

    Suits parents who want sleep data and are comfortable with a cloud camera over the crib; families wary of video leaving the home or of subscriptions should pick a local-only monitor.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Nex Playground

    Nex Team Inc. · ages about 4 and up, with families

    A good fit for families who want active, shared screen time with tight safety settings; skip it if a yearly subscription or an always-present camera is a deal-breaker.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Super Developer Kit

    NVIDIA · ages about 14 and up, with Linux experience

    A strong pick for a motivated teen ready to tinker with Linux and local AI; younger kids or beginners should start with a micro:bit or Raspberry Pi.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Owlet Dream Sock

    Owlet Baby Care, Inc. · ages babies about 1-18 months (used by parents)

    May reassure parents who want oxygen readings and accept a cloud-linked health device; it is not a substitute for safe-sleep practices, and anxious parents may find alarms add stress.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Pinwheel phone

    Pinwheel · ages first phone through older teens

    Good for families who want a real smartphone with tight, adjustable rules; parents who prefer no AI chat should keep PinwheelAsk off.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Pocketalk

    Pocketalk · ages school-age children with adults; buyers 18+

    Useful for schools and families bridging a language gap in short conversations; for learning a language, a course or tutor is a better fit.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Raspberry Pi AI Camera / AI Kit

    Raspberry Pi · ages teens and adults (not stated by the maker)

    Great for teens who want to build real AI vision or local chatbot projects; too technical for younger children without an adult.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Samsung Galaxy Watch for Kids

    Samsung · ages kids without their own phone

    Makes sense for Samsung families with a spare LTE Galaxy Watch; others will find cheaper kids' watches.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Skylight Calendar

    Skylight · ages whole family; chore charts suit kids about 4-12

    Good for busy families with younger kids who respond to a visible chore chart; skip it if a shared phone calendar already works.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Snorble

    Snorble Inc. · ages about 2-7

    May suit families of preschoolers who want help with bedtime routines and accept a listening device in the room; skip it if you want a proven, available product with clear ongoing costs.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Spacetalk kids smartwatches

    Spacetalk (Australia) · ages about 4-12

    Suits parents of younger kids who want calls and location without a phone; skip it if you do not want a monthly plan or round-the-clock tracking.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Stickerbox

    Hapiko Inc. · ages about 5-12

    A fun creative gift for kids 5-10 who love drawing and stickers; skip it if you want a device that works offline or no recurring paper costs.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II

    Teenage Engineering AB (Sweden) · ages about 10 and up

    A great creative tool for a musically curious older kid or teen who wants to make beats without a screen; younger kids or casual dabblers may find it too costly and fiddly.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    The Light Phone

    The Light Phone, Inc. · ages about 10+ (as a first phone)

    A calm first phone for families who want calls and texts without the internet; families who need location tracking or contact limits should look at a kids' phone with parental controls.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    TickTalk 6

    TickTalk Tech LLC · ages about 3-12

    Suits parents who want calls, texts and location for a young child without a smartphone; skip it if you want a watch without a camera or monthly fees.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Timekettle translator earbuds

    Shenzhen Timekettle Technologies · ages teens and adults; no child-specific design

    Useful for multilingual families or schools bridging a language gap; not a tool for young kids, and not a substitute for learning the language.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Toniebox 2

    tonies · ages about 1-12

    A simple, sturdy audio player for toddlers and young kids; plan for the ongoing cost of figures.

  • Desk researchPaid

    Toybox 3D Printer

    Toybox Labs · ages about 6-14

    Suits families who want an easy first 3D printer for a curious grade-schooler and accept refill and subscription costs; makers who want an open, general-purpose printer should look elsewhere.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Troomi

    Troomi Wireless · ages younger kids to teens

    A fit for parents who want a smartphone that opens up slowly with no social media; teens who need a full browser may chafe.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Wacom One pen display

    Wacom · ages about 10-adult

    A good fit for a child who already draws on the family computer and wants a real pen screen; families without a suitable computer, or kids who only doodle now and then, may be better served by a tablet they already own.

  • Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads

    Wokwi

    Wokwi B.V. (Netherlands) · ages about 13+

    Great for teens learning electronics or prepping before buying parts; younger kids do better with a physical kit and blocks.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Xplora kids smartwatches

    Xplora Technologies (Norway) · ages about 4-10

    Suits parents of young kids who want calls and location without a smartphone and like EU-style data limits; skip it if you want no camera or no monthly fee.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Xplora X6Play

    Xplora Technologies · ages 7-11 (XGO3 for 4-7)

    Fits parents who want a reachable, trackable child without a smartphone; skip it if the subscription or always-on location bothers you.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    XPPen Deco Fun

    XPPen · ages about 8+ (XS size sold for kids)

    A sensible first digital-art tool for kids who already use a computer; young kids may prefer drawing directly on a tablet screen.

  • Desk researchPaidNo ads

    Yoto Player

    Yoto · ages toddlers to about 10+ (cards sorted 0-2 up to 9+)

    A simple, low-risk audio player for young children; budget for cards or a Club plan over time.

Know before you buy

Shut down, exposed children's data, or said unsafe things in tests.

  • WarningPaidNo ads

    Circle (Circle Home Plus)

    Circle Media Labs (an Aura company) · ages whole household

    Do not buy new hardware; owners can keep using it while it works, and new buyers should look at Aura or router-level filters like CleanBrowsing.

  • WarningPaid

    Unitree Go2

    Unitree Robotics (Hangzhou, China) · ages teens and adults with supervision; not designed for children

    A cautionary pick: amazing tech, but its security and data record make it a poor choice for homes with children unless kept on an isolated network with Bluetooth off.