17 Holiday Gift Ideas for Geeky Kids
Don't know what to get the kids in your life for Christmas this year? Well it turns out that little people get the biggest thrill out of getting geeky gifts - particularly gifts you do stuff with. So, if you're stuck on what to get your niece, nephew, friend, or even your own little person, take a look at our gift suggestions below.
We have organized them from the least to the most expensive, and give you 17 gift ideas for tweens and teens.
This kit lets kids investigate the science of fizz by creating their own bath bombs, haunted balloons, and volcanoes using simple ingredients like glycerine, cornstarch, and food coloring.
Recommended Age: 10+
Price Tag: $14.95
2. The Brew Your Own Root Beer Kit
This easy to use kit lets kids brew up 4 gallons of old fashion root beer naturally carbonated with real yeast.
Recommended Age: 8+
Price Tag: $17.95
From sour lollipops to sour gummies, to straight up sour liquids and powders, kids will love every minute of creating their own candy. The activity guide has recipes as well as candy, science, and candy-science facts.
Recommended age: 8+
Price Tag: $19.99
For the future cryptographer, this code making/breaking card game asks kids to decipher code words used by opponents on the back of cards. Eighteen sets of matching cards are spread face down and flipped over two at a time. One is revealed to all players, the other is kept private, marked for future reference by the player. Opponents need to break codes and swipe matched pairs.
Recommended Age: 7+
Price Tag: $19.95
RockStar is a hub for connecting up to five sets of headphones to the same MP3 player, making it possible for kids share a music player without having to share earphones.
Price Tag: $20
6. Fly Stick Van de Graaff Levitation Wand
This battery powered wand features a mini Van de Graaff generator that lets kids create the illusion of levitation. By pushing a button on the handle, the static charge built up in the wand causes the 3D mylar shapes to move around.
Note: You have to check out the video below to fully appreciate this toy [Dur: 1 minute 28 seconds]
Price Tag: $26.99
7. Darth Vader Mugshot T-shirt
Sizes: S - 2XL
Price Tag: $29.95
A fully automatic stapler with transparent casing that reveals the secrets behind stapler technology.
Price Tag: $32.00
9. R/C Animated Solar System Mobile
Kids that dream of turning to astronomy when they get older can start now by exploring the wonders of the solar system in their own room. This animated solar system mobile shows the planets in orbit around the sun. A CD and light pointer is included to help guide them around the solar system.
Recommended Age: 7+
Price Tag: $39.99
10. WowWee's FlyTech Bladestar
The Bladestar is an indoor flying machine that includes a navigation sensor to help keep it from slamming into walls and ceilings. Multiple Bladestars can engage in living-room aerial battles.
Price tag: $40
Recommended Age: 8+
11. Guitar Hero and Rock Band Guitars by Aly and AJ
For kids who love Guitar Hero or Rock Band, these guitars are the ultimate fashion accessory. Designed by the teen pop stars Aly and AJ, these guitars work on the Wii and the PS2.
Price: $49.99
For future rock stars, instead of cycling with earphones, keep kids safe with this water-resistant iPod speaker that clamps directly to their bike frame. A handlebar mounted remote control keeps things safe too.
Price: $50
13. The Roll Up Drum Kit
For budding musicians, this roll up drum kit has six sensor pads that plug into the USB port of PCs running Windows XP or Vista. Software is included letting kids choose from six different drum kits, 48 rhythm patterns, eight special drum effects, and eight bass drum loops. Each pad may be programmed with different effects. Kids can record and play their own riffs.
Price Tag: $59.95
14. Customizable Remote Controlled Robot
This customizable, remote-controlled robot kit has 105 interchangeable parts that enable kids to build limitless motorized robots with flashing lights, mechanical claws, and a rolling base. A color-coded, step-by-step manual is included for building four robots, or kids can just make up their own.
Recommended Age: 5+
Price Tag: $59.95
15. Perfume Science Experiment Kit
The Perfume Science Experiment Kit teaches kids how the nose works with their brain to recognize smells. Perfume oils, decorative flacons and other important tools of the trade are included with a full-color manual to help kids design and discover how perfumes are composed.
Recommended Age: 10+
Price Tag: $59.95
16. Electronics Workshop for Beginners
A unique introduction to electronics for kids who follow the story of Robert M-3, a young robot in the year 2069, who is beginning his education in electronics with an apprenticeship to Sirius Armstrong, the chief electrical engineer on an enormous space station orbiting Earth. As kids read about Robert's lessons in electronics, they will conduct experiments alongside him using the Electronics Workshop console.
Recommended Age: 10+
Price Tag: $110
For the filmmaker of the future, the Flip Ultra is considered the world's easiest camcorder to use.
Price Tag: $149.99
We hope this list gives you some inspiration in this busy time.
If you know of any other great gift ideas for kids, please share them with us.
Many thanks to the wonderful folks that inspired this post:
Geeks are sexy
Geek Sugar
Scientific American
Swiss Miss
Think Geek
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I made home made jam and christmas cookies one year for my mother and my girlfriends mother.
They loved the jam.
Posted by: Signe | November 23, 2008 1:31 AM
Wow, where was that stuff when I was a kid!? Might have to buy myself a few extra* presents this year :)
Posted by: Haleystar | November 23, 2008 2:29 AM
I have bought all my nephews and neice vouchers for the past couple of years - they love them as they can buy SO much more in the January sales.
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Posted by: Stephen | November 23, 2008 3:01 AM
Wow, wonderful list of amazing stuff. Just the thing I needed for my son and great timing too.
Posted by: ShriNagesh | November 23, 2008 5:28 AM
nice list. i can see smiling faces by now.
Posted by: ipanema | November 23, 2008 9:30 AM
beautiful selection of smart toys (well, except for the Tshirt). anyone knows a site where you can find more ideas like these?
Posted by: mariana | November 23, 2008 11:18 AM
Amber Jewellery | Jewellery Gift Ideas | Christmas Unique Gift
http://www.silver-ambermar.com
Posted by: SilverMaT | November 23, 2008 2:22 PM
I will suggest for gift ideas on Quintura Kids (http://www.quinturakids.com)
Posted by: Yakov | November 23, 2008 2:51 PM
Wow dude that is pretty cool.
jess
http://www.anonymity.at.tc
Posted by: Jimm Jones | November 23, 2008 4:27 PM
For the more expensive gifts, I would recommend www.eDivvy.com
Posted by: ThinkingSerious | November 23, 2008 4:32 PM
Filthy...Richmond
Posted by: FilthyRichmond.com | November 23, 2008 4:37 PM
Get your wife or husband a new bed, and you never know, your present may be to get a little love action!
Posted by: Gifts for wife, and husband | November 23, 2008 4:42 PM
Meh.
Posted by: Pabut | November 23, 2008 4:44 PM
These are some good ideas, thanks!
Costco has a two pack of the Bladestars for $65.
Posted by: Nyc Westport | November 23, 2008 4:57 PM
i'm a nerd- and i'd want none of these; would actually pretty much question why you thought i would if i got anything pictured here. maybe the bladester thing will be neat for a day....but ya, these aren't neat :P
Posted by: nerd | November 23, 2008 5:37 PM
Gotta agree with nerd.. All of these ideas (except maybe the GH controller or the headphone splitter) would get enjoyed for about 12 hours and then never seen again.
Posted by: Geeky | November 23, 2008 5:56 PM
Great list quite useful information and good pictures particularily for children
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Posted by: 009 | November 23, 2008 11:29 PM
Great article. Thanks for the information.
Posted by: Free Xbox 360 | November 23, 2008 11:46 PM
Hi
Loved your suggestions - I have 3 nephews who would like this stuff.
Have a look here too http://squidoo.com/childrenspianos
for other ideas.
Posted by: Mary Wilson from Scotland | November 23, 2008 11:49 PM
Wow dude that is pretty cool. Nice list!!
Posted by: dune | November 24, 2008 12:09 AM
thanks
Posted by: arama motoru | November 24, 2008 12:19 AM
Nice list!! Thanks
Posted by: mirc addon | November 24, 2008 2:51 AM
Great list Lidija, I'll have to keep some of these in mind for gift ideas for the holiday season. I had previously seen the levitating wand before, but most of the others were completely new to me. I found a couple other sites with good gift ideas, some on http://coolproducts.com/shop/category/Fun_Games/ and some other random ones on Google Blogsearch, but this was a great list.
Posted by: Justin Berry | November 24, 2008 6:16 AM
hahaha oh man I remember this kind of stuff from when I was a kid. It would get used for like 1 - 2 days and then stuck in the back of the closet, slowly losing parts until one day my brothers and I would dig it out and be missing most of the pieces, and then my dad would yell at us. I feel nostalgic...
Posted by: kay | November 24, 2008 7:06 AM
Gonna pick me up one of those Flip camera's cause their just so cute.
Posted by: Dercove | November 24, 2008 9:20 AM
Another geek-friendly gift idea is a subscription to www.kidzclix.net.
Posted by: smilealot | November 24, 2008 10:50 AM
some good gift ideas I found at:
http://www.top10productsonly.com/Top-10-Best-Gifts-s/28.htm
Posted by: Chuck | November 25, 2008 2:34 AM
one solution I recently used was www.wisheo.com
it works great for splitting up the cost with friends.
Posted by: martin | November 25, 2008 9:43 AM
Wow, where was that stuff when I was a kid!? Might have to buy myself a few extra* presents this year :)
Posted by: Dan | November 26, 2008 2:18 AM
Wow dude that is pretty cool!!!!
Posted by: robin | December 4, 2008 1:39 AM
I like the RockStar ...Its pretty cool..for only $20...
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Posted by: wow gold | December 10, 2008 12:39 AM
This is a fantastic list - some of these are presents I would like to receive now, and I'm 25! However, you did miss one awesome and slightly geeky gift - Legos, the best toys on the planet (3luxe did include on their list, though - check it here: http://3luxe.com/category/2008_Christmas_Gifts_for_Boys/2008_Boys_Christmas_Gifts_6-12 - that is what reminded me of the greatness that is LEGO).
Posted by: Jacqueline | December 14, 2008 4:19 PM
WowWee's FlyTech Bladestar was sold $3.03 at biddingmadness.com
Posted by: billz | December 15, 2008 12:41 PM
These are some good ideas, thanks!
Costco has a two pack of the Bladestars for $65..
Posted by: Erik | December 22, 2008 1:00 AM
This is a fantastic list - some of these are presents I would like to receive now, and I'm 25!
Posted by: steaven | December 22, 2008 2:36 AM