The Christmas gift guide: For kids

How time flies. It is only 16 days before Christmas and three weeks before we welcome 2016.

As we prepare for the festive season, it is time to wind down and, yes, start shopping for gifts.

This year has been a great one for technology lovers, and the deluge of new gadgets means there will be no shortage of gifts to get.

Our gadget gift guide this year includes affordable items such as the Asus ZenWatch 2 smartwatch, the quirky Sphero BB-8 drone from the upcoming Star Wars movie and in-car video camera Marbella LX5.

So check out our picks. There is something for everyone.

DISNEY INFINITY3.0

$109

The upcoming release of a new Star Wars movie means that excitement over the sci-fi fantasy franchise is at an all-time high, so Disney has capitalised on it by launching a Star Wars-themed sequel to its hit toys-to-life Disney Infinity franchise.

Even if you are not a fan of the game, there is no denying the appeal of each of the Star Wars figures. They include Obi-Wan Kenobi, young Anakin Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Darth Vader, as well as Finn, Rey and Kylo Ren from the upcoming sequel movie.

SPHERO BB-8

$249

An electronic, rolling sphere that users can control with their smartphone may sound ho-hum. But the Sphero BB-8 is anything but drab, especially for Star Wars fans.

It mimics the look of the BB-8 droid in the upcoming Star Wars movie and has become a hot commodity all over the world.

Owners can play mini games with it, and use it to interact with pets and children.

SKYLANDERS SUPERCHARGERS

$114 (Regular), $140 (Dark Edition)

If your child has been playing the Skylanders video-game series, then your home would have plenty of toys that are part of the game. It also means that this year's set is a must-have.

In this (and other) toys-to-life series, players simply buy the toy figurine that they want. The embedded data within each figurine allows gamers to bring it into the video game.

Skylanders Superchargers brings vehicular figurines into the mix, so players can zip across the land, take to the skies, or dive into a new underwater realm.

As a bonus, the starter sets for the Nintendo Wii and Wii U come with exclusive Nintendo figurines not sold anywhere else.

LEGO DIMENSIONS

$84.99 (www.amazon.com)

When it comes to fun educational toys, few can match the brilliance of Lego.

This year, the Danish company merges its toy and video-game series with its first toys-to-life game, called Lego Dimensions.

The game has characters from different properties, so Superman can fight alongside Dr Who, and the Ghostbusters can team up with The Simpsons.

Alas, there is no official distributor for the game here, but Amazon ships the game for free if you clock US$125 (about S$175) worth of eligible items in your check-out cart.

FURREAL FRIENDS STARLILY, MY MAGICAL UNICORN

$249.90

Think of this magical unicorn as the pet you never have to feed and clean.

StarLily responds to voice and touch with over 110 sound and motion combinations, including moving her wings and front hooves.

There is also an Android and iOS app that allows your child to interact more with this electronic toy.

This article was first published on December 14, 2015.
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