We all know someone who we love that refuses to grow up and be serious all the time. Personally I see nothing wrong with it. So for those Big Kids on your Christmas list this year here are some ideas if you are drawing a blank.


WowWee Robosapien Programmable Robot - This is one cool robot! It moves fluidly and is able to do things like walk, pick things up, perform fighting moves, dance and even fart and belch! Quite some strange behavior for a robot I think but still a great gift idea. Plus it is fully programmable via a remote control unit. This is version 1 of the robot and there's now an updated version 2 which is far cooler (and of course far more expensive than the V1.0 $70 sale price) than the original. Of course if you really love that Big Kid and that Big Kid really loves robots then you cannot go wrong with either one.




Nikko 1/14 Scale Saleen S7 w/Battery and Charger - The next coolest thing behind a remote controlled robot is of course, a remote controlled car. These are popular the world round and have a massive following with people building and modifying their store bought versions. Something like this is sure to keep that big kid out of your hair for a while so you can soak up some rays or read that romance novel. Plus it is damn fast and comes with everything you need including 9.6V battery for the car, and 9V for the transmitter as well as a charger. It allows for frequency changing so they can race with their friends and the transmitter is a standard pistol grip type for ease of use. The Saleen tops out at 14mph which is nearly 230 mph to scale! An upgradeable motor and replacement tires are available as well. VROOM VROOM!




Skillcraft Chemistry Lab Kit Chemlab 1100 - Maybe your Big Kid wants to be a Mad Scientist. I had one of these when I was younger and I think it explains my cooking style now. This thing will keep even the most curious Big Kid busy for hours as they try to whip up everything from Chemslime to super absorbent polymers. Does the tap water taste funny in your house? Ask Dr. Kid if they will check it for chlorine or other chemicals that might be the cause. Ok so maybe it is not that practical, but just looking at the box makes me want to ask my mom for one for Christmas. Now I am really curious about what is in the ChemSlime.




Meade NG-70SPR Telescope But the real question is, what's out there? Out there, beyond the atmosphere, in those shiny points of light we call stars. Well let your Big Kid take a peek and let you know what they think. While this beauty weighs in at just under the price limit and with shipping might be more I thought it was well worth including in this article. This 70mm refractor telescope is a great piece of equipment for the price and includes an aluminum tripod, multiple eyepieces for varying magnification and StarFinder astro software for the PC which has a catalogue of over 10,000 objects that span the nighttime sky. With a minimum of effort you will be able to track your favorites across the night sky. Spend a stellar night out in the back yard with Big Kid pointing out the handle of the Big Dipper or the belt of Orion. Maybe if all goes well you will even see the sun rise together.




Bresser Backpack Binocular Set - If your Big Kid is the outdoors type then THIS is the gift to get! This is everything they need for that day trip including a backpack, water bottle, compass and 10x50 binoculars. They will even be ready for that time they read the compass and map wrong because it also has a mini flashlight and a whistle to call for help. This is a great all in one package to get your Big Kid out and about. The backpack is 6.75" L x 11.25" W x 16.5" H with enough storage capacity for all the goodies plus lunch and anything else they will need to carry for that hike. The flash light is aluminum and the compass is metal so even if they stumble on the trip the equipment will hold up to it. The water bottle is only 16 oz. but should still be enough for those mild-mannered hikes through the local backwoods or hills. It is a great way to get your Big Kid away from the city and into nature for some quiet time alone with them. This is another package that is right on the edge of the price range but I thought it was a great combination of useful gear.


So there you are, five great ideas for what to get your favorite Big Kid this Christmas that cover a wide range of interests and are sure to please.

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Five Hot Video Game Ideas
Five Gizmos and Gadgets for your Geek