Laptops for Kids

Laptops are no longer a luxury and are present in almost every house. When kids see their parents working on laptops, they develop the desire to work on one. Some are even adamant about playing with their parent's laptops. To minimize the squabbles over the laptop, parents these days are opting for toy laptops that will keep their little ones busy. The market is flooded with all kinds of toy laptops. Narrowing down on one for your kid is not an easy task. To be successful in your search you need to be sure of a few factors. Your choice will depend on the gender of your child, the age of your child, applications you need on the laptop and amount of cash you are willing to shell out.

Laptops For Girls
Vtech Magic Wand Laptop
Vtech has customized their laptops for little girls who are crazy about 'pink' and 'fairy tales'. This pink laptop has a Cinderella theme. To make the laptop even more exciting, it has a magical wand that lights up and a glass-slipper directional mouse. Priced at about $35 to $40, this toy laptop features a total of 10 activities that include matching and logic games, alphabets, numbers, etc. The laptop has a handle, whereby, the kid can easily carry the laptop where she goes. However, the screen is quite small and can be a major drawback.
Vtech Disney Princess Carriage Laptop
Meant for girls between the ages of 4 to 7, this pink laptop is shaped like Cinderella's carriage. Besides the keyboard and 10 number buttons, it also features a mini piano, with 12 piano keys. Has 8 activities including spelling, counting, etc. The Cinderella hologram is a hit with little girls. It's easy to navigate and girls above the age of 4 will certainly find this laptop entertaining. However, the screen is quite small in size and graphics are basic.
LeapFrog My Own LeapTop - Violet
Available at $15-20, the Leap Frog LeapTop is meant for 2-3 year olds. This laptop features a customizable music playlist, from which songs can be chosen and downloaded as per one's likes. It also features 8 email messages that can be personalized. The laptop includes 6 activities that introduce alphabets, music, animals and the sound they make, etc. However, the activities of this laptop require internet connection.
Fisher-Price Color Flash Laptop
Available at about $30, this laptop features 6 modes, wherein kids can be occupied with interesting activities based on alphabets, numbers, music, etc. This laptop has a color-changing feature, that is the screen color can be changed from green to red to blue. One interesting feature is the cordless mouse.
Laptops for Boys
VTech Star Command Laptop Buzz LightYearPriced at around $30 to $35, this toy laptop features 30 activities that include interactive lessons on alphabets, memory, maths, spellings and even basic Spanish. This laptop is designed with Buzz LightYear's spaceship theme. It even has pop-out wings that make the laptop look like a spaceship. The alien cursor mouse is also attractive. If this is not enough, it also features the real voice of Buzz Lightyear.

Kids Designs Transformers 3 Bumblebee LaptopPriced between $35 to $40, this laptop features a learn mode, which helps kids learn spellings, nursery rhymes, alphabets, etc. It also has an interesting quiz mode, which tests the knowledge level of kids. The transformer theme is loved by little boys. Its drawback is the lack of volume control and is too loud for the parents.

VTech Lightning McQueen Learning LaptopPriced at $25 to $35, this laptop includes 30 activities for kids including alphabets, words, numbers, logic, etc. Its tire-shaped mouse, car buttons and actual McQueen voice are added attraction for little boys. The most attractive element in this laptop is seen when the laptop is folded. When folded, the laptop resembles a Lightning McQueen.

Discovery Kids Teach & Talk Exploration Laptop CHARCOALThis laptop is suitable for toddlers or kids who want an adult laptop replica. The keyboard and mouse are made to look like an adult's laptop. However, the mouse and touchpad are fake. Its compact nature makes it suitable for taking along on car and plane journeys. Available at around $25-30, this laptop features more than 60 activities including subjects like geography, science, maths, music, etc. besides the other interactive activities like word puzzles, brain teasers, spelling games, etc. However, the screen doesn't have a backlight, which makes reading difficult.

Should You Invest in Such Laptops? Toy Manufacturers advertise their toy laptops by saying it will help turn your kid into a computer-whiz. Now, let's face it, kids don't need to be introduced to a keyboard or laptop. They are really quick and even if you don't buy them a toy laptop, they are sure to find their way around an adult laptop, without any guidance!

Secondly, with regards to the educational value it imparts, the activities featured by these laptops can be easily conducted at home in various other ways. Use more interactive and creative ways to teach your kids the alphabet using clay, paints, food items, etc. This way you can get their creative juices flowing. Moreover, don't get your child addicted to technology at such a young age. Parents who have less time to play with their kids, find such toys beneficial because it keeps them occupied.

Thirdly, such toys are expensive and definitely not worth the price, because kids get bored of them real quick. Moreover, if you look at the themes of these laptops, they all center around the latest cartoons or animation characters. With every new animated film, will come its products and children will lose interest in the one they have and will long for the latest cartoon toys. So the attraction to a particular toy is short-lived!

The decision to purchase a fancy laptop for your kid is finally yours. If you do decide to purchase one, peruse through different reviews before selecting one. You need to make sure what you're purchasing is not a rip off!