Not only can drones supply kids with hours of fun, but they are also an excellent way for children to start learning about everything from coding to physics.
But if you're thinking about giving a drone as a gift, there are a few things you need to consider first. You need it to be fun, robust, safe, easy to use, and ideally, to include some learning tools.
So, which are the best drones for kids that you can buy right now? Let's take a look.
The Ryze Tech Tello has become one of the most popular drones for kids, thanks to its focus on teaching children to code.
With the accompanying mobile programming app (which supports Scratch), kids can drag-and-drop coding blocks to create stunts, tricks, and other unique moves. The app has games and levels that help to gamify the coding experience and keep children engaged.
With a maximum speed of 18mph and a flight time of 13 minutes, the Ryze Tech Tello also manages to offer enough adrenaline to make the flying fun, but without hitting the high speeds of pro models, which kids might struggle to control.
The biggest downside is the controller—there isn't one! Instead, you need to use the smartphone app to control your flight. The reviews are mixed.
- 5MP camera can take 2592x1936 photos
- Two antennas for stable video transmission
- Easy to perform stunts and tricks
- Brand: DJI
- Camera: 5MP
- App: N/A
- Speed: 18mph
- Weight: 0.18 pounds
- Range: 100 meters
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Battery: 13 minutes
- First-Person View (FPV): No
- Teaches kids the foundations of coding
- Quick release propellers
- Comes with propeller guards
- Prone to overheating
- Relies on smartphone app for controlling
- Some users complain of Bluetooth issues
If you want your kids to become interested in drones, it's a good idea to opt for a closely tied product to something they already love. The Propel Star Wars Quadcopter is a perfect example.
Modeled on the famous X-wing fighter used extensively during the Galactic Civil War, each drone is hand-painted to hobbyist standards and provides exceptional attention to detail. Even the unboxing process will impress kids, with music and lights making the experience an unforgettable one.
There are three speed settings (Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced), and you get eight minutes of airtime on a single charge. If you have friends who own the same model, you can engage in battle with up to 12 people using lasers.
- Battle feature for up to 12 drones
- Hand-painted
- Supports reverse propulsion
- Brand: Propel
- Camera: No
- App: Yes
- Speed: 35mph
- Weight: 6 pounds
- Range: 60 meters
- Connectivity: USB
- Battery: 8 minutes
- First-Person View (FPV): No
- High-quality design
- Very fast considering size
- Supports altitude hold
- Some users have complained about faulty motors
- Short battery life
- Range could be better
One of the critical things to keep in mind when trying to get kids interested in drones is familiarity. Children are more likely to latch onto something that they can relate to in the real world. As such, a drone made to look like a helicopter is a surefire winner; it's highly relatable.
The SYMA S40, which has side propellers and regular propellers, offers two speed settings, an altitude hold function, and a low-voltage design that'll keep kids' fingers safe while they inevitably poke around. There's also one-button take-off and landing.
The negative of the S40 is arguably the crash resistance. While SYMA claims the design is crash-resistant, a lot of people have said that the helicopter is somewhat prone to breaking. If your child is a beginner, it might not be suitable.
- Altitude hold function
- Flexible blades for increased safety
- Four channels available
- Brand: SYMA
- Camera: No
- App: No
- Speed: Two-speed
- Weight: 0.93 pounds
- Range: 30 meters
- Connectivity: None
- Battery: 10 minutes
- First-Person View (FPV): No
- One-button take off and landing
- Emergency stop function
- Poor battery life
- Not very crash-resistant
The GoolRC Mini is perfect for kids, thanks to a slew of features that make flying the drone a breeze while simultaneously providing plenty of excitement.
Some of the key features include one key to take off and land, an altitude hold, one key to return, support for 360-degree flips, a headless mode, waypoint flights, and a 720p camera to capture all your adventures.
The tricks and flips are possible thanks to the built-in six-axis gyro. It provides significant inflight stability and means the drone is unlikely to drop out of the sky, even if your kid is a novice flyer.
- Easily foldable for transportation
- Headless flight mode available
- One-key return feature
- Brand: GoolRC Mini
- Camera: 720p
- App: Yes
- Speed: 15mph
- Weight: 0.88 pounds
- Range: 100 meters
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Battery: 15 minutes
- First-Person View (FPV): No
- Altitude hold means kids unlikely to crash
- Ability to perform 360-degree flips
- Six-axis gyro for unrivaled control
- Landing button prone to malfunction
- Battery life capped at 15 minutes
The GoolRC T36 has become one of the most popular drones for kids who are just starting to learning to fly.
Not only is the drone remarkably small (it is barely wider than the width of a smartphone), thus making transportation easy, but it also has rotor protectors that will prevent it from falling to bits even after multiple crashes.
The lightweight design also helps lessen the impact of a crash. Weighing less than half a pound, the drone simply cannot get up to a high enough velocity when falling to cause significant damage. Where kids are concerned, this is a lifesaver.
Sadly, it's not all rosy. The GoolRC T36 only has a range of 30 meters, meaning it's not suitable for use in wide-open spaces. Consider it to be more of a backyard toy.
- Tiny design
- Six-axis gyro
- High and low speed setting
- Brand: GoolRC
- Camera: No
- App: No
- Speed: Two-speed
- Weight: 0.45 pounds
- Range: 30 meters
- Connectivity: No
- Battery: 5 minutes
- First-Person View (FPV): No
- One-key return
- Headless mode
- Fully charged in 50 minutes
- Short range
- Short flight time
FAQ
Q: Are Drones Easy to Repair?
It depends on what goes wrong! The most common issue is broken or bent blades from crashes and general wear-and-tear. As such, most drones will include a spare set of blades in the box, along with the correct screwdriver for swapping them out.
If something goes wrong with the motor or circuit board, it can be a little trickier. However, anyone with sufficient knowledge should be able to get them working again.
Q: Are Drones Really Suitable for Children?
Yes, as long as you follow the manufacturer's guidance and do not attempt to fly them in unsafe areas. For maximum safety, make sure you are in a large, open space and well away from cars, buildings, and other people.
Q: Do You Need a License to Fly a Drone?
It depends on where you live and how you plan to use your drone. Since January 2018, all recreational drone users in the USA must register their device with the FAA and mark its exterior with the registration number. You also need to keep your drone flying within your line of sight at all times.
