Hartshorn is also the mother of two teens. This story was most recently updated by contributing writer Jessica Hartshorn, who has tested drones and drone toys with children through her previous job at Parents magazine. She also judges products with some technical aspects, such as heated gloves and sewing machines for every level. Initial reporting for this story was by Emma Seymour, a textiles product analyst who's worked with GH since 2018. Finally, our editors pour through online reviews to be sure that real user experience is in line with our lab findings. We also send samples to be tested in homes, by families. ![]() Our experts take product testing seriously and run tests in our lab. The Good Housekeeping Institute has been evaluating household objects, appliances and toys for more than 100 years. ✔️ Plan flight time: It can take roughly an hour to charge your drone battery, and flight time is short, typically about 10 minutes. ✔️ Practice: Send the drone on small flights before you try a large journey. ✔️ Avoid entanglements: Beware of flying the drone too close to a roof or tree, where it might get stuck. ✔️ Seek space: Find a large enough area for the drone to fly without bumping into anything. This helps prevent losing the drone to a crash on the very first flight. Use the time when a drone is charging up to learn how to make it lift gently in the air. ✔️ Read the directions: Unlike simpler toys, drones require some careful reading before turning them on. Before playing with any drone, you'll want to make sure you: See the FAA's Drone Zone for all the rules and to register a drone. Read the directions carefully and be ready to download an app.Īlso, keep in mind that drones being flown outdoors for fun are still subject to federal regulations. Most models now sync directly to smartphones. ✔️ Camera: If it has one, it should be able to capture awesome images from the flight. ✔️ Propeller guards: These prevent any finger injuries during takeoff, and help keep the propellers from breaking off when the drone inevitably hits an object. This makes it easier to fly and avoids crashes. It keeps the drone at a stable height even when you let go of the controls. ![]() ✔️ Altitude hold: This is a feature of beginner drones that we definitely recommend looking for. If you are buying for a young child, be prepared to help them learn the controls and possibly take off and land for them in the beginning. ✔️ Age grading: Most drones are recommended for older ages. It's best to learn the basics of flying a drone with one designed for beginners before you move on to a more significant investment. Most are under $100 and all are under $200. Professional drones cost hundreds of dollars, so we have focused this story on drones for beginners and drone-like toys. The picks in this story are from brands that have performed well in our lab, new models with impressive features and drones with tons of rave online reviews. And with practice, kids will be rewarded with new motor skills and that familiar unique zoom that will keep them coming back for more. (They fly into walls, objects, you name it!) Luckily, many drones have spare parts in the event of a broken or lost propeller. When we have tested drones marketed for children, we've frequently watched junior pilots younger than age 8 crash them readily. Our experts note that drones are somewhat fragile across the board, and learning to fly them takes some patience (flight time usually lasts for less than 20 minutes) and care (one needs to avoid walls, trees, water and all other hazards). We tested our drones predominantly inside with children ages 8 and up but occasionally we took certain drones outside and tested some with younger children as well. The same team that judges Good Housekeeping's Best Toy Awards - plus our in-house engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute - regularly test new drones for kids. When working alongside an adult who explains the rules and demonstrates the controls, most tweens can fly drones safely. But note that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would like families who are flying recreationally to register each drone and learn the federal rules for flying one. Generally, when shopping for a drone for kids, your options are:Ī drone can make an exciting holiday toy. Another class of "drones" are more like flying spaceship toys made for school-age kids to play with. The vast majority of beginner drones are age-graded for teens and adults. These drones might have a camera or act as racing drones that are simply fun to fly. There are plenty of beginner drones out there with easier-to-use features at a way lower price than professional drones. ![]() Now they want drones - the kind they see adults flying at the beach or in the park. A generation ago, kids asked for remote-control planes.
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