Add a little spark to the holidays with this amazing collection of high-tech toys.
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Roll with it
With the Revolution Roli EZ-Robot kit, you can assemble, program and command your very own planetary rover-style robot on missions around the house or through the back yard. The basic kit includes a video camera, gripper arms, adjustable-height treads and a Wi-Fi module that turns your PC, tablet or smartphone into a mission control station. $449. (888) 346-4333; ez-robot.com.
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Combat driving
Roll out the 3.5-by-8.5-foot track, charge up the robot-warrior cars, synch them to your smartphones and let the mayhem begin! Virtual racing becomes a battling reality with the Anki DRIVE Starter Kit, a system of remote-controlled race cars, each with its own set of upgrades and “weapons.” $150 for starter kit. (877) 721-2654; anki.com.
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Bigger is better
Peer into tiny worlds with both eyes wide open using a Video Screen Microscope from Hammacher Schlemmer. The LCD screen zooms in up to 1,600x magnification, and a USB port links the scope to a computer so images can be downloaded and shared. $300. (800) 321-1484; hammacher.com.
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Making connections
Help your budding electrical engineer learn how circuits work with Thames & Kosmos’ Electronics Advanced Circuits Kit. More than 140 components, from switches to capacitors, snap together to create lights, sounds and plenty of action. $160. (800) 818-4955; scientificsonline.com.
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Toy maker
With 498 pieces, two motors and extra gears, the Engino ENG10020 Toy System supplies limitless possibilities for inventing operational vehicles and other moving toys. Comes with remote control designed to work with solar power. $150. (847) 541-3800; elenco.com.
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Drone on
The Parrot Rolling Spider MiniDrone can fly in all directions or use its wheels to climb walls, roll across the ceiling and do flips, all controlled by a smartphone app. It flies indoors or out at speeds of up to 11 mph and beams back images to your phone from a built-in camera. $100. (800) 846-3000; brookstone.com.
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Smart pal
Anyone who loved the animated 1980s toy Teddy Ruxpin will marvel at the modern version, called Ubooly. Slip a smartphone or tablet in the stuffed toy, and the screen becomes an animated face that, through an app, tells stories and jokes and takes children on imaginative adventures. $30–$60. (800) 658-2030; ubooly.com or amazon.com.
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Building astronauts
Build a little, learn a lot. That’s the idea behind the littleBits project kits. Each box is filled with snap-together electronic components (sensors, LEDs, wireless transmitters, switches) and NASA-approved lesson plans to create operational vehicles, toys and life hacks. Prices vary by kit. $189 for the Space Kit, used to make the pictured Mars Rover. (917) 464-4577; littlebits.cc.
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Star cruiser
Protect planets from interstellar bad guys with a Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy Milano Starship Vehicle. It’s equipped with dual firing missiles, lights and battle sounds. $15. (800) 408-0052; hasbro.com.
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Spoken words
Foster a love of reading in children even if you’re not physically present with Sparkup, a device that records people reading books, then clips to the book so children can play them back again and again. Stores up to 250 books. $60. (866) 322-4675; sparkupreader.com.
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Tag team
Children can hone reading and writing skills with a LeapReader Reading and Writing System that looks like an oversized pen. It can be used with special “Tag” books to hear words sounded out and play vocabulary-building games. $40 for starter kit. (866) 334-5327; leapfrog.com.
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Dino dog
Zoomer is a robotic T-Rex with canine qualities. He’ll chase around the house, chomp his teeth, dance and roar. $90. (888) 280-3321; amazon.com.
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Fishy frenzy
Tap on the tank side, and “sleeping” Aquabots come to life to swim, dive and glow with pulsating LED lights. $20 for fish and bowl. (903) 453-0804; hexbug.com.