16 Christmas gift alternatives to video games for kids in 2010

Everyone knows that children love video games. They are on the wish list of almost every child between the ages of 7 and 17. But at some point, you have to wonder if kids play video games too much. So this year, instead of getting them another Xbox 360 or Wii game, consider these electronic alternatives to video games. To make it easier, I’ve broken down each gift idea based on the type of video games your child is interested in. You will also be surprised to learn that these gifts cost less than a couple of games or a single video game console like the PlayStation 3.

Musician: (Guitar Hero, Rock Band, DJ Hero):

Children love music-based video games. Games like Rock Band and DJ Hero are big hits. But wouldn’t learning to play a musical instrument or DJ equipment be a better use of your child’s time? If so, consider the following gifts.

– DJ equipment

– Fender Starcaster Guitar

– Midi keyboard

– Digital drum pad

Photography (Pokémon, The Sims, World of Warcraft, due to the images and the fact that many people enjoy taking and displaying screenshots):

Some children love games because they are bright, colorful, or have an interesting art direction and presentation. Also, kids love to play alternate world simulations where they often take screenshots of themselves in action. If you have a kid who enjoys playing games like The Sims or The World of Warcraft, then he might enjoy taking photos and videos in the real world. Consider buying them a good digital or video camera. The new Flip video camera is a great example. And after they’re done taking photos, they’ll want to show them off in some way, so consider a good-quality photo printer and / or digital photo frame.

– Digital camera

– Video camera

– Photo printer

– Digital photo frame

Scientist (StarCraft, Halo, Mario Galaxy, Plot Center):

If you have a child who is interested in futuristic or medical games like StarCraft or Trama Center, you may have a scientific future on your hands. Children interested in science fiction are also often interested in … science! Consider getting them a microscope or telescope that can be connected to a computer or projector. This will provide literally unlimited entertainment and children will learn a lot about science.

-Microscope

-Telescope

Artist (Castlevania, Harvest Moon, LittleBigPlanet):

If your child likes games that are task-oriented like Castlevania or Harvest Moon or they like games that require you to create your own game, like LittleBigPlanet, they obviously like to dig deep and get involved in the game and their artwork. If your child likes these types of games and also likes to paint or draw, consider getting tools to help him develop his artistic hobby. Color laser printers have come down significantly in price over the years and are far superior to inkjet printers for printing art. Also, consider some graphic design software or a graphics tablet for a PC so that they can begin to learn skills that can end up being very useful later in life.

– Color laser printer

– Graphic tablet

– Magna Studio Debut 4 Win / Mac

Sports Team (Madden 2011, Kinect, Dance Dance Revolution):

Kids who like to play sports games like Madden Football 2011, NBA 2K11, or Dance Dance Revolution are likely to be interested in sports and fitness outside of the virtual realm. If your child is into sports a lot, consider buying him some cool gear to keep him active. The Nike + iPod kid would make a great outfit as well as a GPS watch or fish finder for those who enjoy the outdoors.

– Nike + iPod Kit

– GPS watch

– Fish locator

All of these products are available on Amazon and will be a huge hit with your children, grandchildren, or whoever the kid in your life is.

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