If you are a fan of touchscreen gadgets, it's not hard to imagine that you'd love to include these in your Christmas gift options for your children, as well. However, as the technology becomes more widespread, the prices of the gadgets vary greatly. As the prices vary, though, so do the functions. What are some of the top touchscreen "toys" that tweens may add to their wishlists?
Skip the LeapPad and Innotab
There are touchscreen toys, aimed at ages 4 to 9. If your tween is at that 10 and up age level, the kid themed animations will probably not hold their attention. Though there may be a passing interest, these ipad like toys aren't intended for the tween.
Ereaders
The Nook Touch and Nook Color offer touchscreen interaction, in the context of reading. If your tween is a reader, these are outstanding options, and include a bit of web browsing and apps with Nook Color, as well.
iPod Touch
One of the precursors to the iPad, the iPod Touch is popular with tweens and teens, with a vast selection of apps for gaming, ereading, web browsing, organizing, and communications. A dominant player in the mp3 market, many tweens and teens sink big bucks into their iTunes collections, and are unwilling to sacrifice those investments for a new platform. (Read about Facetime on iPod Touch.)
iPad
There are many apps that are specifically devoted to iPad, and some of the educational options are amazing. Additionally, the size of the iPad is a little easier on the eyes, compared to the small print and visuals on the iPod Touch. Smoothly transitioning from other Apple products, your tween can keep his or her music collection intact, and this will be even more true with iCloud management coming in fall of 2011. Both iPod Touch and iPad serve as a good ereading interface, as well, with free Kindle and Nook apps, along with iBooks.
Other Tablets
There are many touchscreen tablets available, aside from the Apple products. You can examine the top rated offerings, and reviews, from the perspective of Amazon customers.
