Kids love drones. They’re usually entranced by the fast speeds, smooth controls, and fun stunts that experienced drone pilots can accomplish. Drones can also be a great way to teach kids hand-eye coordination and encourage them to play outside.
We’ve gathered three of the best drones for kids on the market. These choices are all super-durable, easy to use, and suited for children both young and small. Choose one of these three options, or use these tips to pick your own drone for the kids in your life.
Before you buy a drone for your kids, ask yourself how they plan on using it. Do you want a small remote control toy that your kid can fly around the house? Are you looking for an impressive drone that the family can take to the park for the day? Do you want a more complicated drone that will teach your kid about engineering and aerial photography?
Buying drones for children is a little different than buying for adults. Don’t be afraid to start with a cheaper drone; your kids are most likely going to crash it during the first few flights. Once they know how to fly and land a drone, you can explore the idea of a more expensive device with interesting features.
We used the following criteria to come up with our list of the three best drones for children.
Ready to Fly
The best drones for children are ready to fly straight out of the box. Kids don’t want to spend time setting up or programming their new toy; they want to take it outside, press a few buttons, and see how it flies.
If you choose a drone that isn’t ready to fly on its own, complete the setup yourself before you give the present. Test the drone to see if it works. Charge the batteries, and consider buying a spare battery to extend the first-day fun. Most drone flight times are less than 15 minutes, but the batteries can charge for an hour or more
Camera or No Camera?
Some kids are more interested in the remote control aspect of drones. Remote control toys help kids practice their motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Learning to successfully fly the device is the challenge, and the speed and “wow” factor of the drone make the game fun. Buy cameraless drones if your kids like fast and action-packed movies or video games.
Cameras add a different level of functionality to the drone and appeal to a different kind of child. The camera drone flying experience is as much about the aerial views as it is about operating the device. If you get your kid a camera drone, they’re probably also going to want a set of FPV goggles to go with it.
In general, cameraless drones are a better choice for younger children or for kids who are looking for a novelty experience. These drones are a great hands-on family activity that even the kids who aren’t holding the controller can enjoy. If the drone does have a camera, the kids will see it more as a novelty than as a tool.
A camera-focused drone is a better choice for older children who already have the motor skills needed to be a drone pilot. Flying aerial drones as a hobby is a fun choice for teenagers who are interested in learning about vehicle mechanics, radio control technology, and light mechanical engineering. Using a camera drone might even encourage your kids to learn photography and video editing skills. If you want to promote this hobby, purchase a drone with a good camera, and be prepared to help your kid afford small upgrades like new antennae or propellers.
Weight and Durability
Drones for kids need to be durable. Your kid is probably going to crash the drone several times during the initial learning stage. Save yourself the worry and get something that can withstand a little damage.
Lightweight drones are significantly easier for your kids to handle. They’re easy to transport, and they can be deployed with minimal effort. On the other hand, lightweight drones are easier to break. Heavy drones are made from reinforced materials and can survive for much longer.
Ultimately, the weight and durability of your drone may be decided by price point. Use your best judgment while shopping, and avoid options that seem dangerously fragile or heavy to the point of being unwieldy.
Automatic Controls
Modern drones come with a surprisingly wide array of automatic controls that will make flying the drone much easier for children. Look for a few of these features while you’re shopping:
• Altitude hold – Altitude hold is a feature that keeps the drone in the air while it’s not receiving controller input. This is an absolute must for every kid’s first drone; they can take their hands off the buttons without crashing the entire operation.
• Headless mode – Most drones have an obvious front and back. Headless mode lets a drone fly in any direction, which is an excellent feature for younger kids.
• Autopilot flight mode – Autopilot drones follow a preprogrammed route. If your kid is a computer enthusiast, they can learn early programming skills by writing new autopilot routes for their drone.
• Auto return – Homing features will make drone-flying much more fun for your kids. Auto-return drones fly back to the GPS location of the controller, which saves stress and hassle for both kids and parents.
Size and Skill
Always get kids a smaller drone as their first introduction to the hobby. Little drones are easier to fly, more affordable, and less likely to damage something when they crash. If you do purchase a bigger drone, only let your kids fly it outside where there’s nothing to damage.
Many drones come with blade guards. These protect your kid’s fingers while the propeller is in motion; they also reduce the potential damage that the drone can cause. Don’t skimp on this feature unless your child is an experienced drone pilot.
As a final thought, consider how difficult the drone is to fly. Some drones use simple remotes that are reminiscent of a video game controller. Other drones allow the pilot to control individual propellers and various aspects of flight; these drones are probably too complicated for little kids to use. You know your kid better than anyone, so make intelligent decisions based on their current skills and environment.
The Top 3 Drones for Kids
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1. Potensic A20 Firefly
If you’re looking for a simple remote control drone to give to a child, the Potensic A20 Firefly is an excellent choice. This fun little drone features durable construction, auto-hover mechanics, and super-simple flight controls.
The Firefly was clearly designed with children in mind. The one-click controls are easy to learn and remember, and the battery is tucked inside a protective plastic case. The feet and propellers are padded to avoid injury or damage. Use the emergency stop button to halt the drone at any time during a flight.
To your kid, the best part about the Firefly might be the wide selection of colors. We think this drone is the perfect choice for a birthday present or a fun surprise; it’s a cool toy that will help your kids learn to pilot bigger drones if they’re interested. It also features a thoroughly affordable price tag.
Check out the Potensic A20 Firefly before you keep shopping; even older kids will appreciate how fun and easy this drone is to fly.
Product Specifications
| Product: |   |
|---|---|
| Specifications: | • Weight: 8 ounces • Auto hover: Yes • Headless mode: Yes • Autopilot: No • Flight time: Five to six minutes • Battery charge time: 35 minutes • Batteries: Three lithium metal batteries |
Potensic A20 Firefly Pros List
• Extremely easy to use for kids of any age
• Flights are stable and smooth
• Padded propellers and feet to prevent accidents
• Comes with spare batteries in the package
• Choose from several bright and easy-to-see colors
Potensic A20 Firefly Cons List
• Does not offer the same control and maneuvering as other drones
• Flight time is very short at only six minutes
What do other reviews says
Frequent Flyer RC calls the Potensic A20 very suitable for young children. The reviewer notes that the A20 has a stable flight characteristic and simple buttons; he also mentions that his 4-year-old was able to fly it with ease.
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2. Holy Stone HS220 Foldable Drone
If you’re looking for a fun family drone with a serious “wow” factor, you should consider the Holy Stone HS220 Foldable Drone. This drone features accessible controls, interesting mechanics, and a decent camera to record in-flight action.
The primary feature of the HS220 is the foldable propellers. Keep the drone in its compact mode for indoor flight, or extend the propellers for outdoor stability. You can play around with shapes and configurations, and you can choose whether or not to use the camera. This drone is extremely durable; it can even stay in the air after small collisions.
The HS220 also connects to your smartphone. The controller features a phone dock for FPV flight, but this feature isn’t necessary to take the HS220 out for a spin.
Overall, the HS220 is a fun beginner drone with cool features. Give the Holy Stone HS220 Foldable Drone a look; it’s a fun and affordable present that will keep everyone in the family entertained.
Product Specifications
| Product: |   |
|---|---|
| Specifications: | Weight: 2.85 ounces • Auto hover: Yes • Headless mode: Yes • Autopilot: No • Flight time: Seven to 9 minutes • Battery charge time: 150 minutes • Batteries: One lithium polymer battery |
Holy Stone HS220 Pros List
• Can fly while folded into different shapes and modes
• Stays in the air after small bumps and crashes
• Easy to control and perform stunts
• Connects to your smartphone for camera-based flight
Holy Stone HS220 Cons List
• Batteries can only charge while in controller
• Batteries take up to 150 minutes to charge
What do other reviews say
DroningOn gives the HS220 a stellar review. He highlights the drone’s flight stability and flexible controls.
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3. Tello Quadcopter Drone
You might recognize the Tello Quadcopter from our previous review of the best nano drones with cameras. This drone remains one of the best choices for kids on the market. It’s small, padded for indoor use, and packed with autopilot features that make flying a breeze for kids of any age. The Tello also has fun remote controls; you can easily do flips, spins, and stunts with very little practice.
What’s really interesting about the Tello is that it’s controlled completely from your smartphone. Use the camera app to look through your drone’s “eye” while you fly it around the room or at the park.
Kids can also use an app called Tello Edu to program their drone. The app uses a block-based coding language called Scratch; kids will be able to control their drone’s flight path and pick up some valuable skills along the way.
If you want to introduce your kid to all of the features of drone flight, the Tello is an excellent choice. Check out the Tello Quadcopter Drone on Amazon. It’s easy to use and surprisingly well-priced.
Product Specifications
| Product: |   |
|---|---|
| Specifications: | • Weight: 9.6 ounces • Auto hover: Yes • Headless mode: Yes • Autopilot: Yes • Flight time: 13 minutes • Battery charge time: 60-90 minutes • Batteries: One lithium polymer battery |
Tello Quadcopter Pros List
• Features simple controls and a toss-to-fly mode
• Safe to use indoors with padded propellers and feet
• 720p camera that supports FPV goggles
• Programmable autopilot with complementary app
• Customize with fun colors and stick-on skins
Tello Quadcopter Cons List
• If desired, controller must be purchased separately
• No internal camera memory; need to save images and video on your phone
What do other reviews say
Ed Ricker calls the Tello his favorite $99 drone. He says the drone flies well and has impressive speed and range.
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Conclusion
The best drone for your kids should be simple and easy to use. You also want to find an affordable drone that can withstand a little wear and tear.
If you’re looking for a sweet and simple drone to give your kids, you really need to consider the Potensic A20 Firefly. This is the perfect beginner drone for a kid of any age; once they master the Firefly’s controls, they’ll be able to learn how to fly any other drone with ease.
Give the Firefly a look the next time you’re shopping for drones for kids.
Don’t forget to come back sometime and check out some more of our product reviews and best-in-class lists.