Tactical toys: Military-themed toys for chips off the old block - Off Duty, Technology - Navy Times

Tactical toys: Military-themed toys for chips off the old block

Some suggestions for the kids in your life.

SPY NET NIGHT VISION INFRARED STEALTH BINOCULARS

Night-vision binoculars aren’t just for grown-ups — now kids can see in the green, too. With long-range, Spy, Stealth and Military modes, these binoculars work in complete darkness up to 50 feet.

Ages: 8-15.

Price: $49.99.

SPY GEAR SPY VIDEO TRAKR

Download apps for this programmable, remote-controlled vehicle or build custom apps for covert missions. Built-in apps include Cyborg Vision, Night Vision and Path Mapper. Shoot color photos or video, program mission routes, see in the dark and capture voice — and have the intel transmitted wirelessly back to your handset.

Ages: 8 and up.

Price: $129.95.

NERF N-STRIKE STAMPEDE ECS BLASTER

Nerf guns have come a long way. This fully automatic “dart cannon” has three extended 18-dart clips and one six-dart clip and also comes with a blast shield and pop-out bipod for steady blasting.

Ages: 8 and up.

Price: $49.99. Add the N-Strike Tactical Vest for $24.95.

SPY NET SECRET MISSION VIDEO WATCH

Your kids don’t need an altimeter or to know the time in six countries. They’ll find this timepiece much handier with the ability to capture video and audio and upload it to the Web to take a closer look. It has a color display and allows for 30 minutes of video, two hours of audio or 2,000 photos.

Ages: 8 and up.

Cost: $39.99.

ANDROIDZ

New for 2010, these tiny toy robots are based on everyday heroes. The action figures, vehicles and complete play sets come in military, police, construction and firefighter themes. For future fliers, check out the Androidz Strikebot Airbase Bonus Pak.

Ages: 5-7.

Price: $5.99-$19.99; $48.99 for the Airbase Bonus Pak.

DADDY DOLLS

Send in a photo of your service member, and Daddy Dolls will create a custom doll for your child in one of three sizes: 12 inches, 17 inches or 3 feet. You can get one- or two-sided dolls and even add voice. Go to the website and click on “Separation Tips” for great advice about managing deployments with young kids back home.

Ages: All.

Price: $23.95 to $46.90.

KINECT FOR XBOX 360

Switch off “Halo” and get your kids in the game with Kinect for Xbox 360 — Xbox’s hands-free answer to the Nintendo Wii. Motion-sensor technology paired with a video camera, depth sensor and multiarray microphone allow you to move or speak your commands. Kinect comes on its own, packaged with the “Kinect Adventures” game, or bundled with an Xbox 360 console. With 15 games available this holiday season, you’ll be able to interact with your Xbox 360 like never before.

Ages: “Kinect Adventures!” is rated “E” for Everyone.

Price: Kinect Sensor with “Kinect Adventures!” is $149.99; bundled with a 4GB game console for $299.99; 250GB console for $399.99. Selling out quickly online so prices are going up.

DISNEY NETPAL NETBOOK

Video-chat with your children via their Disney Netpal by ASUS Netbook computer with built-in wireless connectivity, webcam and microphone. With Disney-themed desktop, interface and apps, it’s fun for kids — and has more than two dozen parental controls. Available in either blue or pink.

Ages: 6-12.

Price: $349.95.