16 Alternative Christmas Gifts to Video Games for Kids in 2010
Everyone knows that children love video games. They are on the wish list of almost every kid between the ages of 7 and 17. But at some point, you have to wonder if kids play video games too much. So this year, instead of buying them another Xbox 360 or Wii game, consider these electronic alternatives to video games. To make it easier, I’ve broken down each gift idea based on the type of video games your child is into. You may also be surprised to learn that these gifts cost less than a couple of games or a single video game console like the PlayStation 3.
Musician: (Guitar Hero, Rock Band, DJ Hero):
Kids love music based video games. Games like Rock Band and DJ Hero are big hits. But wouldn’t learning to play a musical instrument or DJ equipment be a better use of your child’s time? If so, consider the following gifts.
– DJ equipment
– Fender Starcaster guitar
– MIDI keyboard
– Digital drum pad
Photography (Pokemon, The Sims, World of Warcraft, due to the images and the fact that many people enjoy taking and showing screenshots):
Some kids love games because they are bright, colorful, or have interesting art direction and presentation. Also, kids love to play alternate world simulations where they often take screenshots of themselves in action. If you have a child who likes to play games like The Sims or World of Warcraft, they might enjoy taking photos and videos in the real world. Consider getting them a good digital or video camera. The new Flip video camera is a great example. And once they’re done taking photos, they’ll want to display them somehow, so consider a good quality photo printer and/or digital frame.
– Digital camera
– Video camera
– photo printer
– digital photo frame
Scientist (StarCraft, Halo, Mario Galaxy, Trama Center):
If you have a child who is interested in futuristic or medical games like StarCraft or Trama Center, they may have a scientific future on their hands. Kids who are interested in science fiction are also often interested in… science! Consider getting them a microscope or telescope that can connect to a computer or projector. This will provide literally unlimited entertainment and children will learn a lot about science.
-Microscope
-Telescope
Artist (Castlevania, Harvest Moon, LittleBigPlanet):
If your child likes games that are task-oriented like Castlevania or Harvest Moon or they enjoy games that require you to make your own game like LittleBigPlanet, then they obviously like to dig deeper and become involved with the game and its artwork. If your child likes these types of games and also likes to paint or draw, then consider getting him tools to help further his artistic hobby. Color laser printers have come down significantly in price over the years and are far superior to ink jet printers for printing art. Also, consider some graphic design software or a graphics tablet for a PC so they can start learning skills that can end up being very useful later in life.
– Color laser printer
– Graphic tablet
– Magna Studio Debut 4 Win/Mac
Sports equipment (Madden 2011, Kinect, Dance Dance Revolution):
Kids who like to play sports games like Madden Football 2011, NBA 2K11, or Dance Dance Revolution are likely to be interested in sports and exercise outside of the virtual realm. If your son is really into sports, then consider getting him some cool gear to get him out and active. The Nike+ iPod kid would make great kit, as would a GPS watch or fish finder for those who enjoy the outdoors.
-Nike + iPod Kit
-GPS clock
– Fish finder
All of these products are available on Amazon and will be a huge hit with your kids, grandkids, or whoever the kid in your life is.