Many families geared for a tech-tastic Christmas. And they were not disappointed.
Gone are the days when a spinning top or wind-up car was the pinnacle of toy technology.

Nowadays kids expect their toys to connect to the internet, pair with smart devices, and let them join in the latest tech trends, often before their parents. To help you (and Santa) keep up, kids in the 21st century have more demands and choices than I could have ever envisage 20 years ago.

Amongst the 2016 best gift ideas for kids, many collectively agree that they are interested in gadgets, the most popular being the electronic tablet with internet access.
Rather than take technology out of their lives, there are smart gadgets out there that can help kids develop programming skills while providing them with a safe environment to explore, play and grow.

Whatever your budget places such as STARR Computer, Gizmos and Gadgets, Game Express, The Gift Centre, The Giftland Mall and many other places had deals that gave parents the opportunity to afford gadgets for their children.
Many parents collectively agree that they would have liked to fork out thousands of dollars on tech gifts, spending to fulfil their children’s Christmas wishes, but some saw such acts as a pricey investment.

Tablets topped the charts for the most wanted present being bought by one in four parents, while video games remain popular among the boys.
Fourteen-year-old Sarah Harrell said she preferred a laptop computer followed by an X-Box video game. “I love gaming on the internet because it really takes up your free time and keeps you entertained. The internet surfing teaches you a lot of educational things,” the East Coast Demerara resident said.

Jordon Ross,8, said that his favorite gadget was the tablet because of the games and things that can be learned on the device. The Primary School student said he would love to have the gifts of his choice for Christmas.
Renee Thornhill said she prefers a tablet since it is like a small portable computer that can also access the internet while apps give the options of various applications whether educational or entertaining.

“We love tech, but Christmas is about something more isn’t it? It’s one of the few times in the year where we put down our smartphones to pull crackers, eat baked chicken and just sit and talk to each other,” one parent said.

Parents complain that what’s changing is that the once occasional tech gift has become standard with parents now struggling to spend cash each year on gifts for their kids.
The thing is, one mother noted, was that the pressure of meeting the astronomical giftd is proving too much for many, as nearly half of all parents can’t afford the gadget their child wants most.

Parents who do manage to deliver a top-notch tech gift are also likely to lose out on quality time, as nearly a third will let their child spend more than three hours playing with gadgets on Christmas Day. Astonishingly, one in ten will allow their child to be absorbed by tech for more than 5 hours. Just when are these families meant to fit in the mandatory ill-fated game of Monopoly?

By all means, buy your teen a second-hand smartphone; buy your dad a smart watch and spend an hour explaining how to use it. But don’t miss out on the holiday’s best bits because of our obsession with tech.