12 gadgets to keep kids entertained for less than £100

Have you ever had the pleasure of driving for hours with little cherubs in the back? Epic holiday journeys don’t mix well with most kids’ attention spans. Fortunately, there’s need to resort to ‘I spy’ or naughty step threats: just check out these boredom-killing toys, accessories and apps…

LEAPFROG EPIC (£95)

Kids love tablets, and while you could just let them loose on your iPad, we’d recommend a child-focused tab such as the LeapFrog Epic. It runs Android but comes with a kid-friendly and fully customisable LeapFrog skin, safe browsing and curated app store – so no more cries of “Daddy! I just pressed the button and now it says I have to pay some money! Help!”

AMAZON FIRE 7 (£50)

If your kids are of an age where you’d get a ‘look’ for suggesting the Leapfrog Epic, but you still don’t want to hand over several hundred quid’s worth of Apple kit when your little darlings are squabbling in the back seat, try the Fire 7. The screen isn’t great, and Amazon’s Appstore can’t hold a candle to Google Play, but there are still loads of games to keep tiny people quiet.

NINTENDO 2DS (£75)

It’s not a thriller, but with a lower price Nintendo’s 2DS is a rugged, kid-friendly handheld – and a much better idea than taking the brand-new Switch in the car. Also, with the earlier consoles now being a bit old-hat, you can pick up piles of superb games for a song on eBay.

CASIO SA-46 (£40)

Music’s much more fun with real instruments – especially on the motorway. The Casio SA–46 has 32 mini keys that are perfect for tiny fingers, and includes 100 sounds and 50 rhythms. It’s battery powered, very portable, and as an added bonus you can always have the kids busk for their lunch if they surprisingly turn out to be the next Pet Shop Boys.

ONANOFF BUDDYPHONES INFLIGHT (£21)

Most headphones are easily lost or broken, and not that kid-friendly. BuddyPhones, though, are strong and bendy, and come with stickers for your little tyke to personalise their pair (or the long-suffering cat). Adjustable volume means you can protect your child’s ears with 75dB, or temporarily boost the volume to 85 or 94 while on a plane.

ATTOL MINI BINOCULARS (£36)

Make staring out of the window a lot more interesting by welding a pair of these beauties to your child’s noggin. These binoculars not only look like a giant yellow bug (which is amazing unless you are the most miserable person alive), but they’re properly rugged, lightweight, and have rubber eye caps to ensure they don’t mug your child’s face.

FISHER-PRICE BRIGHT BEATS DANCE & MOVE BEATBO (£40)

This deranged sort-of-rabbit feels like the creation of engineers who spent a bit too much time clubbing in the ’90s. When a foot button is pressed, the creature explodes into song, encouraging its toddler friend to move to the beat. Thanks to its built-in mic, there’s also a mode to record a phrase that’s then ‘remixed’ into a song.

VTECH KIDIZOOM ACTION CAM (£50)

You probably won’t want to arm a kid with your GoPro, so the Kidizoom Action Cam is the next best thing. The waterproof case enables the camera to be used underwater, and protects it when it inevitably has an unfortunate meeting with a concrete floor. The Kidizoom can also be mounted on a bike or helmet for the kind of action movies that will later fill parents with horror.

VIEW-MASTER VIRTUAL REALITY STARTER PACK (£23)

As far back as 1966, generations enjoyed (then swiftly discarded) their View-Master stereoscopic toys, with inserted discs that moved with a ‘klunk’ that was more satisfying than the actual content. Today’s version is a take on Google Cardboard. With a phone shoved inside, reels and an app combine to provide augmented reality interfaces.

TOP TRUMPS DINOSAURS (£4)

We’re veering away from tech for this entry, because: dinosaurs. Top Trumps have been around since the 1960s, and dinosaur sets have always remained popular with kids. Plus: if you’re on a budget, a four-quid deck of cards is a smart way to have everyone pass a few hours.

TETRIS DUAL (£25)

This head-to-head game borrows from Connect Four, and has two opponents aiming to place pieces next to those of the same colour, or completing full rows. Leaving holes loses points. Little LED screens tot everything up, presumably while your tiny minion helpfully chirps that this is “even more rubbish than the Tetris on your old console”, making you feel very old indeed.

CAT NAP CUSHION (£15)

During long journeys, even the most stubborn child is going to conk out, collapsing in a heap in the most unsuitable place. Help direct their nap locations by arming them with this cushion. This plush item can be worn over a hand, elbow or forearm, and works well on a floor, table or bed.