Kyocera Slider Remix KX5
Teen cell users need entertainment options. The Slider Remix has a 1.3-megapixel camera, digital music player, and 3-D games, but even more impressive are the accessories: a dock that connects the phone to speakers; stereo headphones with remote control; and a game pad with an eight-way controller ($269 at Best Buy from October 1, 60 W. 23rd St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-366-1373).
VTech V.Smile Pocket
Try and keep younger kids away from Grand Theft Auto with this handheld gaming system, which makes education fun—really—with a color-coded, large-button controller and $20 games. Batman, SpongeBob, and Dora help teach creativity, advanced math, and money skills that ratchet overachievers up to the “gifted” level ($89.99 at Toys ’R’ Us, 1514 Broadway, at 44th St.; 866-742-6423).
Twelve-Inch Apple iBook
Apple recently tweaked its most affordable laptop to make it even smarter for young students. Aside from amping-up processor speed and doubling the RAM, the company added a small-finger-friendly scrolling TrackPad, as well as a sudden-motion sensor to stop the hard drive from spinning if dropped—a mistake only a child would make, right? ($999 at the Apple Store, 103 Prince St., nr. Greene St.; 212-226-3126.)
Archos AV 700
Your kids will be the envy of the playground with this multipurpose player, which lets young media mavens store their music, photo, game, and video collections, then watch them on a giant seven-inch screen. It not only syncs directly with the TV, it’s compatible with Dish Network DVRs—making it easy for you to monitor your kid’s TV habits (40-GB model, $600, 100-GB model, $800, at J&R Computer World, 15 Park Row, nr. Ann St.; 212-238-9000).
Firefly Mobile Phone
Who would send their kids out into the big bad city without a cell phone? The Firefly is easy enough for third-graders to use, with six hours of talk time and dedicated “Mom,” “Dad,” and 911 buttons. What’s more, prepaid usage cards are an option, so you can control (or support, if you like) your young gabbers’ habits ($99.99 at Target, Atlantic Center, 139 Flatbush Ave., at Atlantic Ave., Downtown Brooklyn; 718-290-1109).
Disney Portable DVD Players
Avoid holiday family-travel pain with Disney’s affordable personal DVD player, which appeals to grade-schoolers with its graphic themes based on beloved characters like Mickey and Cinderella. If that doesn’t stop the “Are we there yet?” chorus, we don’t know what will ($139.99 for 3.5-inch model; $199.99 for seven-inch model at Toys ’R’ Us).