Children love playing with flying toys – from paper planes, and kites to the newest hit in the skies, namely drones. There is something fascinating in the ability to operate a flying machine and kids adore it.
There is a great variety of drones for kids on the market now. The different models take into account the age and abilities of the drone operator in order to provide the maximum pleasure of the play. The drones that are specifically designed for younger children are easy to fly. The aim of the drone is to be a toy at the end of the day and bring joy and laughter and not frustration. Hence, the drones for the youngest kids are pretty simple but do a great job. The models made for teenagers are more complex and include other interesting features as cameras to enhance the experience.
The drone is lots of fun but can be viewed as an educational toy that helps your kids’ development. It will stimulate their engineering skills, the motoric skills for younger ones, and help them discover the beauty of nature by having an option to spend time outdoors.
How to choose a drone for your kids?
When it comes to choosing the right drone for your kid, it is necessary to take safety features into account as well. The drones for kids are made to meet safety standards and to provide great time free of accidents. Still, it is better to supervise them while flying a drone. This is a great opportunity to spend some quality time together with your children and, at the end of the day, let’s admit it – we adults also love drones.
Note that it is mandatory to read the instruction manual prior to flying your drone. It will give you details on how to properly operate it and what you need to know or keep an eye on. It is also necessary to check if you need to register the drone as in the USA, for example, all drones above 0.55 lbs (250 g) should be registered. You also need to check the current requirements of operating drones in your location to make sure that you are not violating any of them.
If you are wondering which is the best drone that you can get in 2019, here is our list of the most popular flying toys that you can get on the market. We know that price is an essential factor when choosing a toy and we have tried to present quite a few options that are completely within budget but still have excellent feature and are of high quality. These are quite good for beginners as well since you can easily replace the drone if your kid crashes it. Naturally, there are some more expensive models, which are recommended for kids of higher age and with substantial experience in drone operation.
Syma X5C-1 Quadcopter Drone
If you are looking for a drone with a camera at an affordable price the Syma X5C-1 Quadcopter Drone offered by KidsBaron is one of the best options you can get on the market. The drone is suitable for kids of all ages and adults alike and will make time spent outdoors great fun.
The X5C is a quadcopter that is equipped with the 6-axis flight control systems and the gyro auto stabilizes it during flight so that you can go up, down, left, right, forward, backward, left aileron(roll), and right aileron(roll).
The blades are protected with an extremely elastic plastic protective circle which enhances its performance. The drone is safe in case of collision and fall. You can crash it over and over and it will still be good to fly. The Syma X5C-1 is ideal both for beginners and for seasoned pilots.
Its lightweight design makes it perfect to fly indoors and you can take it outdoors at high-speed when it is calm or even in a light breeze.
The drone is equipped with a high-degree camera that allows you to take photos and make videos with decent quality. Combined with a low price tag, the features make it the ideal first flying toy for your kid. The drone is durable and can withstand a lot of wear and tear.
It comes with a 2.4GHz remote control and requires a 3.7V 500 Mah Li-poly battery to operate. It's flying time is between 7 and 10 minutes, which can be considered a small drawback for the model along with the long charging time of the battery – about 100 minutes via USB.
Altair 818 Hornet Kids Quadcopter
Altair is a well-known brand for drones and is one of the preferred on the market. The 818 Plus Hornet is a drone that is suitable for all ages. The drone is very stable and can be operated in windy areas and flown at a slower speed.
To make it more durable and susceptible to crashes, the drone is equipped with larger landing gear and thicker propeller guards. The drone is pretty easy to operate with 1 button for take-off and landing and features 3 controller skill settings.
The 818 comes with a wide angle 720p HD camera suitable for live video and taking photos.
The flying time of the drone is 15 minutes, which quite well for its class and the battery lasts quite long. On top of that, it comes with two batteries in the box so that you can enjoy twice as much flying time before you need to recharge it. The drone is lightweight so that you can fly it indoors as well and put no end to the fun in case of bad weather.
This is a great gadget for both beginners and seasoned pilots and the only drawback is that it comes at a slightly higher price than similar modules of its class but its durability and long flying time are worth paying it.
Holy Stone HS170 Predator Mini RC
A mini-drone is a great flying toy for both indoors and outdoors. The Holy Stone HS170 Predator is the size of an adult hand and can easily fit in your pocket.
The drone is suitable for beginners as it features a slow-speed operation but still, the manufacturer’s recommendations are to be used by kids aged 14 and above.
It is a fast quadcopter with a 6-Axis Gyro Technology that allows it to perform amazing rolls and flips in the air once you learn how to operate it. It is good for youngsters as you do not have to differentiate between back and front and simply operate it from the remote, which is included. The only drawback is that the buttons on the remote are not marked and your kid will have to learn and memorize which button does what.
The box with the drone comes with a spare set of rotator blades, which is a great plus.
The flying time of the Holy Stone HS170 Predator is 8 minutes in ideal conditions and it can go about 80 m away from the remote control. It features three different speed levels.
The drone is not equipped with a camera but given its low price, it is still a great gift, especially as the first drone for your kid.
KidsBaron Mini Quadcopter Drone
KidsBaron offers one of the best mini-drones suitable for younger kids as well. It is an excellent training toy for novice drone operators since it is easy to fly, lightweight and compact for comfortable transport, and virtually indestructible.
The mini quadcopter drone features 2.4Ghz control system and 6 axis Gyro that ensure maximum stability of the drone when operated indoors and outdoors. The drone can make 360-degree flips forwards, backwards, right, and left and is capable of 3D tumbling in four directions.
The drone is small enough to fit in your pocket but a lot of fun to operate. It has bright LED lights that make it shine in the dark so that you can follow the direction of the flight. The propellers come with a safety guard to protect them from damage during collision and crash.
You can change the speed directly from the remote control.
Buying two or three of this inexpensive but high-quality drone will allow you and your kids to race together and maximize fun time.
EACHINE E010 Mini
The EACHINE E010 Mini Quadcopter is quite an affordable flying toy that is suitable for kids under 10 years of age as well. The drone is pretty easy to operate both indoors and outdoors and is quite good for beginners. It features Headless Mode and One-Key Return function, which means that you do not need to worry which direction the drone is facing in order to operate it. The one-key return button can be used anytime while the drone flies and once you press it, it will return to you immediately.
There are two speeds that you can change between and you can use the remote control and the direction stick to control its flight direction. The mini quadcopter is capable of performing 3D flips and rolls. It is quite durable and stable during flight due to the built-in gyroscope. The only drawback is that it has no automatic hover function.
FORCE1 UDI U818A HD+
If you are looking for an affordable drone with an HD camera, the FORCE 1 UDI U818A HD+ is the right answer. The style of the drone is quite simple and yet attractive to kids. It comes in two colors – lime green and black and features LED lights, which makes it attractive to operate at night as well.
The drone is lightweight and easy to fly both indoors and outdoors. It comes with prop guards that keep it safe even in the hands of beginners. The drone is stable and capable of aerial tricks and flips for better entertainment.
The HD camera is suitable for both pictures and videos.
The flying time is only about 7 minutes but the set comes with an additional battery, which doubles the fun prior to recharging. The remote control has a clean display and makes your drone navigation very smooth and easy. The headless mode allows you to soar the drone regardless of the direction it faces.
This is a great toy for kids aged 9 and above.
DJI Mavic Air
In case you have a teenager, who is already a pro in flying drones, you can get them this DJI Mavic Air to help them maximize their skills and experience. This drone is a professional toy and is meant for children aged 16 and above. It offers great features and comes at quite a significant price so it is by no means a simple beginner’s toy.
The list of specifications of the Mavic Air makes it clear why it is one of the best drones on the market. It features a Mavic Air Intelligent flight battery that allows the drone to stay in the air for up to 21 minutes, while the charging time is only 55 minutes.
The drone is foldable and easy to transport. Its weight is 430 grams, which will require registration if operated in the USA. It has a range of 10 km and with the 4K 12 MP camera, you can make stunning photos and videos. The drone features 32 MP Sphere Panoramas and 3D environment sensing.
The sleek design is due to the plastic and aluminum frame, which also makes it quite durable.
DJI is a company known for the high-quality drones and the Mavic Air model is definitely one of their best. If you have the budget and an already experienced drone operator at home, this can be the perfect gift for them.
Choosing the right drone for your kid depends on several factors. It can be a great toy for younger children and an excellent training gadget for grown0up teenagers interested in flying, mechanics or engineering. If you are looking for other great offers, make sure to check our toy section as well.
