Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit

For future witches and wizards, opt for a STEM gift. The Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit starts with the recipient building a wand following the step-by-step book, while learning about sensors, data, and code. Once assembled, the Kano App will unlock challenges across six Wizarding World settings including Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and The Forbidden Forest. $99.99

KIBO robot kit

The KIBO robot kit engages even the youngest children in active STEM/STEAM Learning. With KIBO, 4-7 year olds create, design, decorate, and bring their own robot to life. Prices start at $229.

Makeblock Neuron Explorer Kit

The Makeblock Neuron Explorer Kit allows kids to create using a series of programmable electronic blocks that work as sensors, lights, sounds and motors. $199.95

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BuddyPhones PLAY

BuddyPhones PLAY come in four colors with safe audio listening modes. $49.99

Shifu Orboot

Kids can explore countries and cultures with the Shifu Orboot 10″ globe that works in sync with the Orboot app. $49.99

Motorola e5 play

The Motorola e5 play, which also comes in a larger plus version, is ideal for kids asking for their first mobile phone. It allows kids to have a simple phone that keeps them connected to their parents, but with enough features to ensure they experience the novelty of having their first smartphone. Starting at $94.99 for the e5 play.

Augie robot

Augie is a robot for children and supports augmented reality, coding and construction play. Users can play alone or with friends. $199.99

Etch A Sketch

Give your kids something from your own childhood–an Etch A Sketch. The iconic frame, classic magic screen, and shake-to-erase feature haven’t changed in more than 50 years. $14.99

ROOT robot

ROOT is an easy-to-use educational robot that transforms the skills required to code into real-world physical experiences. ROOT teaches coding, creativity, problem-solving and logic skills to pre-readers through college students. $199

Cozmo

Cozmo is the little brother to Vector, and it’s a real-life robot with a unique personality that evolves over time. Kids can access Cozmo’s CodeLab to get access to activities and coding opportunities. $179

Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE

The Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE is great for students because it’s permitted for SAT, ACT and AP testing. It has a color display and preloaded apps. $150

Overdrive

Anki Overdrive is a battle race system. Each car is a self-aware robot driven by artificial intelligence. Whatever track you build, they’ll learn it. Wherever you drive, they’ll hunt you down. The better you play, the better they become. $149

Boxer AI robot

Boxer is an AI robot buddy with an IR remote control and interactive options. $79.99

Stikbot Monsters

Stikbot Monsters are popular for stop-motion animation, and kids love to use them to create videos for social media. There’s a free Stikbot Studio app so kids can snap individual photos and stitch them together into a film with built-in music and sound effects. Prices range from $4.99 to $9.99

Fitbit Ace

For younger kids, Fitbit Ace provides kids with motivation to move through customizable step and active minute goals, with messages, badges, and challenges for the whole family. With an adjustable, shower-proof wristband and an up to five-day battery life, Ace is designed to keep pace with kids’ busy lives. $99.95

Kinetic Sand

Kinetic Sand is the original, squeezable sand that stimulates imaginations and allows kids to shape and mold it over and over. The sand never dries out and sticks to itself, not kids. $19.99

Boolean Box

The Boolean Box is a build-it-yourself computer kit that encourages girls–and boys–to code, build, invent and animate. Using only the parts within the Boolean Box, kids can learn basic circuits and build quick-reaction games, a control panel for Minecraft, or even a game controller for games they’ve coded. With added components, they can build alarms, robots, motion detectors and more. $149.99

WRLDS Smart Ball

The WRLDS Smart Ball is enabled with AR. Install the app on your phone and you can start playing games. One of them is called Squeesh and it’s one kids in particular will love–it sounds like someone is passing gas when the ball is thrown. $39.99

Scholastic STEAM kit on space

Office Depot is exclusively offering STEAM kits for growing crystals, building electronic circuits, learning about rocks and minerals and more. Each one is priced at $24.99.

The Space Out kit focuses on space and teaches kids about the constellations, planets and other heavenly bodies. It includes a telescope the kids can build and customize.

Scholastic STEAM kit on geodes

tThe Geodes kit from Office Depot also retails for $24.99 and provides kids an intro the world of hidden rock formations.

Also see

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• Gift Guides for Techies (TechRepublic Flipboard magazine)

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• Photos: The best tech gifts for 2018 t (TechRepublic)

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• Photos: Holiday tech gifts worth the splurge (TechRepublic)

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• Photos: Holiday tech gifts under $100 (TechRepublic)
• The do’s and don’ts of giving holiday gifts to your co-workers (TechRepublic)
• Best gifts: Top iPhone XS or XS Max accessories (ZDNet)