🎁 The Parent ProTech Holiday Gift Guide

IT’S THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Your Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide 🎁

It’s time to stress over buy those holiday gifts.

Our holiday gift guide is packed with the best tech, games, and gadgets for kids of all ages—safe, fun, and parent-approved. We’re here to help you have the easiest shopping season yet. 🙏

Watch our very own Melvin and Marlene break down the list here.

*Prices listed are as advertised at the time of publication.

📞 Bark Phone for parents who like their phones smart and their kids safer – monitoring, location tracking, and screen time controls (Free Device, Plans start at $39/monthly).

📱 Troomi Phone for kids who need a smartphone (you need peace of mind) – safe apps, no social media, and built-in parental controls ($199.95, Free Device with Black Friday Sale, Plans start at $19.95/monthly).

📵 Light Phone for the minimalist in training – just calls, texts, and essential tools, no social media or distractions ($299).

📟 Wisephone for focus-first families – essential tools only (calls, texts, navigation), no addictive apps ($399, Plans start at $14.99/monthly).

🔥 Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet for the little ones – durable, kid-proof, and packed with parental controls to manage screen time and educational goals ($109.99 $54.99 Black Friday Sale).

🅰️‍ Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro for older kids (6-12) – Full HD display, 32GB storage, and robust parental controls for a mix of fun and learning ($189.99 $109.99 Black Friday Sale).

SMARTPHONES
“There are safe smartphones?!” 😳

The holidays are here, and so is the question your children will surely ask: “Can I please have a phone?”

If you're like us, you're probably wondering if your kids should have a smartphone and, if so, which one is the best and safest option.

Our team has spent hours researching the top devices, including multiple phones that were designed with kids in mind. We’re covering the good, the bad, and the ugly here.

IT’S THE HOLIDAY SEASON
But Wait, There’s More… 🎁

🎮 Nintendo Switch for family gaming anytime, anywhere – play on the TV or handheld, with a library packed full of family-friendly hits ($299.00).

🧱 LEGO: Horizon Adventures for action-packed fun in a LEGO-fied world – explore, solve puzzles, and battle robotic creatures in a brick-built landscape ($59.88).

🍄 Mario & Luigi: Brothership for RPG fans – join the iconic duo on a laugh-filled adventure with colorful characters and an engaging storyline ($59.99).

⌚ Troomi XGO3 for safe communication on the go – GPS tracking, camera, voice messaging, and robust parental controls ($129.95).

🎨 VTech KidiZoom Smartwatch for kids learning time and having fun – water-resistant with a camera, games, and playful watch faces ($59.99 $44.99 On Sale).

🏃 Fitbit Ace LTE for active kids – tracks steps, sleep, and activity, with animated faces and badges to keep them moving ($229.95 $160.97 Black Friday Sale).

📸 Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 for instant memories – shoots credit-card-sized photos with automatic exposure and a built-in flash for all lighting conditions ($74.99).

🤳 VTech KidiZoom Camera Pix for budding photographers – durable, fun, and packed with creative photo effects, frames, and even voice-changing features ($39.99 $32.89 On Sale).

🌊 OZMI Digital Camera for adventure-ready kids – shockproof, waterproof, and capable of 1080p video recording, perfect for capturing every moment ($28.39 $23.99 Black Friday Sale).

🃏 Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza for laugh-out-loud chaos – a fast-paced card game of quick reflexes, simple rules, and hilariously chaotic gameplay ($9.99 $7.99 Black Friday Sale).

🙋 Charades for Kids for family-friendly fun – silly gestures and sounds with picture-based cards (no reading required) and clues for all ages ($9.99 $6.44 Black Friday Sale).

🔲 OK Play for quick and strategic fun – a tile-laying game where players race to create a line of five in their color ($18.99 $17.55 Black Friday Sale).

Check out our full downloadable gift guide here for even more of the best tech, games, and gadgets your family will love!

SETTING UP NEW TECH
5 Steps to Set Up Your Kid’s New Tech the Right Way ✋

Got a shiny new device for your child? 👀

Before handing it over, follow these steps to ensure it becomes a tool for growth, not a headache:

1. Create a Family Tech Contract
Establish ground rules for tech use. Agree on when, where, and how the device can be used. A great place to start is limiting tech use in bedrooms and around the dinner table. These guardrails help set clear boundaries from the start and empowers your child to use tech responsibly.

Here’s a sample smartphone contract to help you get started.

2. Talk About Online Safety
Teach your child basic online safety: avoid sharing personal information, recognize scams, and know how to report inappropriate behavior. Regular check-ins can help reinforce these lessons.

Use our family-friendly tech conversation videos to help begin these conversations with your child.

3. Set Up Parental Controls
Use parental controls to manage screen time, block inappropriate content, and monitor app downloads. Many devices include built-in features like Apple’s Family Sharing, or you can also use added tools like Bark Monitoring.

Our guides will walk you through everything you need to know.

4. Customize the Device
Disable unnecessary features (like social media or app stores) and pre-load educational apps or games. If the device has location tracking or monitoring, make sure those features are configured.

5. Stay Involved
A new device isn’t a “set it and forget it” moment. Regularly review how your child is using it and adjust settings as they grow. Use tech as an opportunity to stay connected and learn together.

For all those now connected, our friends over at Aro have a tool to help your family maximize intentional time away from your devices. You can learn more here.

Bonus Tip: Need help setting up new tech? We have guides, walkthroughs, and resources to help you get started! You can explore our resources here.

TABLE TALK
Thanksgiving Conversation Starters 🦃

This Thanksgiving, skip the politics - talk tech instead! 😅

These conversation starters are guaranteed to spark laughs, insights, and maybe even some holiday gift ideas.

• What’s one app or game you think everyone at this table should try and why?

• If your phone could only do one thing, what would you want it to do?

• What’s one tech habit you’d like to work on improving before the new year?

• Do you think tech brings families closer together or pushes them apart?

• If you had to spend Thanksgiving without any screens, what would you do instead?

• What’s the coolest way you’ve seen technology used for good this year?