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Amazon's Parent Dashboard means you can remotely manage children’s devices
Parent Dashboard is a new, microsite from Amazon that lets adults manage their Fire tablet. Providing they have a subscription to Fire for Kids, parents can remotely manage their child’s Fire for Kids settings remotely on Parent Dashboard, as well as... Read more
What’s it like to design a Lego set? We talk to a Lego designer!
Lego has just celebrated 60 years of the ubiquitous plastic brick and to celebrate we spoke to Jonathan Peter Robson who is one of the company’s foremost Lego set designers.The Lego brick has become one of the most popular toys in the world since Godtfred... Read more
10 top tech toys for 2018: Hot Wheels Rocket League, Animatronic Chewbacca and more
There are always slew of gadget and toy shows at the beginning of each year, as inventors, toy makers and franchise creators set out their stalls for the coming months. Literally.New York Toy Fair is one of the very biggest conventions around, with hundreds... Read more
How to set-up an Android phone for a child
There comes a point when your child needs their own phone. As a parent, it's a fork in the road: on one hand a phone provides a point of contact as your child becomes more independent, on the other it's a gateway to the darker side of online life. For... Read more
EE will teach parents how to set parental controls on devices
EE is marking Safer Internet Day by announcing rolling out specialist online safety training for staff in its 600 retail stores up and down the UK.This includes step by step guides to inform and teach parents how to set parental controls on multiple devices.The... Read more
The best coding toys: From robots to iPad games, these toys will help teach your kids to code
Coding is all the rage at primary school and beyond as parents and teachers show how keen they are to teach children the value of learning how the technology around us works.Coding toys and robots range vastly in their approach. Some focus on teaching... Read more
Recoil initial review: App enhanced laser game brings first person shooters to life
A considerable number of UK children have a phone by the age of 11, so it makes huge sense for toy manufacturers to combine iOS or Android apps with their products. Especially for augmented reality gaming.Recoil is a perfect example of this. It uses... Read more
Best high-tech baby gadgets: Top gear for both parents and little ones
If you consider yourself a modern parent, you're probably interested in decking out your baby's room with gadgets.There are tonnes of internet-connected devices you can get for your little one, whether it's a crib that'll gently rock them to sleep or... Read more
Apple promises to add new parental controls to curb kids' iPhone addictions
Apple has responded to criticism levied at the company that it doesn't do enough to prevent children becoming addicted to its devices.Two of its substantial investors had previously complained that Apple's iOS platform needs additional safety measures... Read more
How to setup an Amazon Kindle for children: Kindle for Kids and FreeTime explained
Amazon's Kindle has established itself as a leading reading device and where you have reading, you hopefully have eager children. Although real books, on paper, as well as using public libraries, should be something that all children experience, there's... Read more
EE partners with Internet Matters to make your kids' mobile browsing safer
EE and Internet Matters have partnered to help parents who plan to give their children mobile devices this Christmas.The aim is to inform parents of the dangers of mobile internet browsing and how to ensure their kids do so safely.The partnership results... Read more
Best Star Wars: The Last Jedi toys to buy
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is out this week, from 14 December.And whether you are a fan of the Empire or the Resistance, there are a number of cool things to buy and do this year including Star Wars-themed coding classes at Apple, an augmented reality game... Read more
Best tech toys 2017: Connected toys, robots and more
For many, the days of just building a spaceship out of Lego or playing a game of Monopoly are long gone.Today, kids want interactive tech toys that are powered by an app or that connect to the internet. They want animals that learn and grow as you play... Read more
Wow! Sphero took $50 off its R2-D2 and other robots for Black Friday
Sphero, the company behind BB-8 and other robot toys, has reduced some of its most popular products on Amazon (US) for Black Friday.Starting off with R2-D2, which we previewed here, it's marked down $50, bringing the cost to $129 from $179.99. Unlike... Read more
Mega discount on Lego Death Star, this is the Black Friday deal you're looking for
It's Black Friday, and there are great deals all over the web. For those of you who are fans of Star Wars and Lego, there are cracking deals to be had right now, including the huge Lego Death Star. As Lego sets go, few are more desirable or iconic than... Read more
The most popular Christmas toys and tech from over the last 40 years
It seems like every year there's a new fad toy that's come to market just in time for Christmas and with high demand and limited stock, the shops are full of parents fighting to get the last one off the shelf. Over the last 40 years, there has been a... Read more
Amazon Fire for Kids Unlimited: How to download and watch videos offline
Kids love watching videos.And giving them a tablet to use, especially when traveling, can be a real lifesaver - unless, of course, there's no internet for them to connect to during the trip. Without internet, they can't download and watch movies. However,... Read more
What is YouTube Kids, how does it work, and is it really safe?
If your kid wants to watch YouTube, consider trying YouTube Kids. Google launched a dedicated version of its video service that's designed just for kids in 2015. According to Google, the app was downloaded more than 10 million times in its first year... Read more
How to help your child watch YouTube Kids shows and videos safely
When children ask to go on the internet they usually mean "watch YouTube videos" and since YouTube Kids app launched a couple of years ago, there has been a dedicated online destination for them to visit.But while it opens an Aladdin's cave of characters,... Read more
Hatchimals are back: They're totally different now and double the fun
Last year's "it" toy is back.Remember Hatchimals? Well, Spin Master, the maker behind the toy egg, has shown off a second-generation version that's bigger, heftier, and quite literally double the fun. Called Hatchimals Surprise, it now features two furry... Read more
Sphero Mini is a ping pong ball-sized robot you steer with your face
Sphero has launched a new Sphero. Dubbed Sphero Mini, it's a lot like the original app-enabled robot toy, only it's even tinier. More specifically, it's about the size of a ping pong ball. You can control it with different modes in the Sphero Mini app,... Read more
Sphero R2-D2 preview: Artoo it is you, it is you
Sphero, the company behind BB-8 and other robots has created its own fully programmable version of R2-D2 from the Star Wars films.Pocket-lint has previewed the new Droid ahead of its official launch. Is this the Droid you're looking for?R2-D2 Droid hardware... Read more
Sphero BB-9E preview: The cute "evil" BB-8 shows us the dark side of The Last Jedi
The Droids of the Star Wars universe always hold a special place in our hearts. R2-D2, C3-PO, that silly Droid that Chewie likes to shout at in the Death Star.It's no surprise then that we've got a new Droid to love/hate for the new Star Wars: The Last... Read more
Ultimate Collector Series Lego Millennium Falcon in pictures, all 7,541 pieces of it
Just how much of a Lego Star Wars fan are you? Enough to spend £650 on 7,541 piece Star Wars Lego Millennium Falcon? That's what Lego is hoping as it launches its biggest set ever to date in celebration of the new Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi.Announced... Read more
Amazon's best boys toys 2017: 11 fun kids gadgets to buy or pre-order
In July each year, Amazon puts on a special event to highlight the best products people might want for Christmas and beyond. And there is always one section particularly popular: toys.The retailer shows a range of tech toys and fun gadgets that kids would... Read more
What is Circle with Disney, how can it moderate kids' internet usage and how do you set it up?
No matter how responsible or communicative your children are, ensuring their online activity is safe and healthy is no easy matter. For parents this is a challenge on many levels. What content is children accessing? Which devices are they using to go... Read more
Cyberbullying: How to spot the signs and what steps to take, revealed by Internet Matters GM
Internet Matters is a not-for-profit organisation that helps parents understand the digital world, so they can ensure their children can use the internet and connected devices safely.It has many articles and how-to guides about all manner of digital subjects,... Read more
Sphero's app-controlled Lightning McQueen available to drive away now
Sphero, the maker of the lovable BB-8 app-controlled droid, has branched out to Pixar and developed an app-controlled version of Lightning McQueen from the Cars trilogy, to tie in with the launch of Cars 3 in cinemas. Sphero BB-8 review: The Star Wars... Read more
Cozmo preview: The Anki robot friend comes to the UK at last
Anki’s Cozmo robot has been a double-edged sword for UK families. It offers some exciting features, has huge buzz online and is peerless in terms of its interactions. However, its availability has been limited to the US.Until today, that is. Anki just... Read more
Worried your children are victims of cyberbullying? Take the pledge to talk to them
Internet Matters, the organisation to aid parents in online safety, has launched a campaign to raise awareness of cyberbullying and help children and their families communicate about its dangers and effects.As well as host a #Pledge2Talk button, which... Read more
Seriously: Amazon should make the Fire Phone for Kids
Everyone remembers the Amazon Fire Phone and probably not for the right reasons. It was 2014, smartphones were superhot, but the Fire Phone didn't catch on. In fact, it was unilaterally derided, and its light only burned about a year before it was extinguished.So... Read more
Anki Overdrive goes Fast & Furious with new special movie edition
Anki has carved a niche for itself in artificially intelligent toy car racing, with Anki Overdrive offering a slot-free experience quite unlike anything else out there. There's one thing its rival, Scalextric, has been doing exceptionally well for decades... Read more
Amazon's new Parent Dashboard and Discussion Cards will keep you engaged with your child's development
As parents, you may not always be aware of what digital content your kids are consuming. There are ways of making sure the content they do have access to is age appropriate and safe, but unless you take a proactive approach and actually look at what they're... Read more
Lego is honouring the women of NASA with this cool new set
Lego's latest set should make space-geek feminists very happy.The company is developing a new Lego set featuring five historic women who contributed to NASA's space program. MIT News editor Maia Weinstock created the set, called Women of NASA, and submitted... Read more
Is the Nintendo Switch good for all the family? Parental controls, motion gaming and more explored
While the internet groans under the weight of umpteen Nintendo Switch reviews, including our own here, here’s an assessment of Nintendo’s new console with a difference - from a family perspective.The Switch, if you have somehow missed the hype thus... Read more
Scalextric Arc Track Day set brings the iPad control to racing
As traditional toys continue to feel the pressure of not only games consoles but iPads as well, toy makers like Scalextric are having to up their game when it comes to appealing to players young and old.Scalextric's take is to introduce not only Bluetooth... Read more
Lego Life lays the building blocks for a safe online presence for kids
The Lego Group has just launched Lego Life, an app-based social network designed specifically for kids aged 13 and under. Lego Life will work in a similar way to Instagram, where kids can share photos of their Lego creations at home, and others can comment... Read more
BeatMoovz preview: The crazy wearable that adds a soundtrack to your life
Character Options might have stolen the London Toy Fair, at least where adults are concerned. It demonstrated a wearable wristband that prompts special effect noise and/or music as you move.The bands, which cost £49.99 for a pair and will be available... Read more
Fisher-Price Smart Cycle preview: An indoor exercise bike for kids
Fisher-Price made a high-tech exercise bike for kids who like to game. During this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Fisher-Price unveiled the Think and Learn Smart Cycle. It's a miniature exercise bike with a tablet stand - and it's meant for children... Read more
Lego Boost sets to bring your Lego alive
Lego has launched a range of new robotics coding kits that are aiming to inspire would-be creators to dabble with more than just building static spaceships and houses.Revealed at CES in Las Vegas, the new range of robots and programmable toys called Lego... Read more
Win 4D colouring books for your child's WHOLE class worth £300!
Want to win a last-minute Christmas present for your child and their school friends?We've teamed up with AliveLab, makers of the Mardles stickers that come to life, to offer one lucky winner 30 discovAR 4D colouring books that come to life - that's one... Read more
Cabbage Patch Kids now have LCD eyes and an app, of course they do
US manufacturer Wicked Cool Toys has reinvented the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls for a new generation. The originals were always creepy looking, but now they can also stare at you with moving LCD eyes.In addition, they can now be interacted with through an... Read more