THE HOTTEST TECH TOYS FOR KIDS

From a build-it-yourself space station to a portable storyteller to Harry Potter’s Hedwig, here are the 2021 tech toys that’ll bring the kids in your life a ton of fun

- CAROL MANGIS

Toys don’t need technology to be fun—and tech shouldn’t be the whole point of a toy. But when it’s done right, technology can elevate a toy from fun to amazing. We look for that magic extra element in the toys we recommend. This year, we found more toys for younger kids than we usually do. But our list will help you find the perfect gifts for all the tiny humans in your life.

EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS CIRCUIT EXPLORER DELUXE BASE STATION

$59.99. AGES 6 TO 12; USES 9 AA BATTERIES.

With the Educational Insights Circuit Explorer Deluxe Base Station, kids can build their own interplanetary headquarters while learning the fundamentals of electrical circuits: This kit gives you everything you need to build a base station featuring lights, sounds, motion, and even little astronaut and robot explorers to inhabit the station. It comes with a pictorial guide that shows how to build the circuits and the rest of the station. The company offers two other kits as well—Rover ($44.99) and Rocket ($34.99)—and they can all combine to create a space empire.

HEYKUBE

$74.95. AGES 8 AND UP; RECHARGEABLE BATTERY.