A screen-free summer doesn’t have to mean no tech at all. There are plenty of gadgets for school-aged kids designed to keep play, curiosity and conversation on the agenda. From instant camera to a pocket microscope, here are six charming low-tech devices
1. Tin Can
These punchy-coloured handsets from Seattle-based company Tin Can, allow kids to call each other securely on a Wi-Fi enabled landline. Parents can stay in control by approving contacts and setting available hours with an app, but the rest is up to the kids with the goal of growing phone confidence and independence.
“People talk about Tin Can with joy, relief, and peace of mind,” says Chet Kittleson, co-founder and CEO. “Kids love it because it feels like theirs. Grandparents tell us they’re having real conversations with their grandkids for the first time.”
The phone (£100) is aimed at kids 5-12 and launched in the US and Canada in early 2025. It has since been sold to hundreds of thousands of global customers since who love the idea of a 90s-style voice-only connection without apps, internet access or camera.
The twirly cord is a particular throwback feature the team wanted to include. “It’s a wink to that simple childhood idea of two cans and a string,” shares Kittleson. “A playful reminder that connection doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful.”
2. 3Doodler
Eighties cartoon hero Penny Crayon could draw herself out of a scrape with a set of magic pens. While the 3Doodler can’t quite make a getaway car or cave entrance appear, it does invoke the thrill of turning two dimensions into three. This gadget pen mixes 3D printer and glue gun, allowing kids to draw lines in soft plastic that harden into a desired form.
The 3Doodle Start+ (£39.99) is best for kids 5-13. It’s the easiest to learn intuitively and operates at a lower temperature than other models with no hot parts. Parents are happy that this mess-free creative kit helps children develop fine motor skills and spatial awareness, although the plastic filaments are expensive to replace. The other downside is that once your creation is made, there’s no melting it back. Choose 3Doodler’s Eco-Filament for fun that’s non-toxic and BPA-free. This type is also biodegradable and can be put in your household compost.
3. Pocket microscope
The Natural History Museum know what they are doing when it comes to inspiring little Attenboroughs. This robust and reasonably priced microscope (£15) is light, portable, can magnify 20-40x and survive drops, knocks and rough handling – suitable for ages 3 and up. It’s simple enough for little hands to use, and easy to chuck in a bag for the next outdoor family trip.
The inbuilt LED gives a rich, colourful image. When the base is detached, the microscope can be used directly on tree trunks, walls, rocks and stones to zoom into structure and details. When the base is in, it can be used with plastic slides (two are included) to see samples of leaves, bark, moss, feathers and the like. If you can’t get out, it can be just as fun to look at herbs, sugar crystals and other household bits under the magnifying lens.
4. Karri Messenger
“As a kid, I loved gadgets that gave you a bit of independence,” says Pete Clifford, co-founder and CEO of Karri. “Gameboys and CD players felt personal and fun, but not as all-consuming as smartphones.” The idea for Karri Messenger 2 is a simple screen-free way for kids to stay in touch, with added GPS location and contact approval to reassure parents.
“It needed to be voice-first, tactile and intuitive,” he says. “With children able to send and receive messages through a ‘slide-to-talk’ button inspired by traditional walkie-talkies.”
Karri – which has the strapline The Device They’ll Actually Put Down – doesn’t look typically kidsy. There are no primary colours or puffy shapes here, meaning 13-year-olds might be willing to carry it with them as much as those 5 and up. The Messenger 2 version (£89.99) has a LED panel displaying your caller’s name as a matrix but that’s about as close to a screen as this pocket messenger gets.
5. Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
The Instax Mini first came out in 1998, boomed in popularity around 2014, and continues to be a runaway hit with kids. Pick the Mini 12 (£74.99) for an easy-to-use camera that’s robust, screen-free, and comes in a range of soft pastel colours. The joy is its inbuilt printer, which shoots out a sharp-enough image the size of a credit card shortly after you take a picture. It’s easy to see why kids love the instant gratification. Film comes in packs of 20, which is just enough to go wild with over a holiday.
Operating this chunky camera for ages 8 and up is as simple as twisting the lens to turn it on or enter close-up mode. It’s not too hard to get a decent photo out of it either, with automatic exposure and a built-in mirror on the front of the lens to help line up and centre shots. Cheaper alternatives tend to come with a screen. Otherwise Praktica’s VF212 point-and-shoot (£24.99) is good for introducing kids to taking non-instant photos with 35mm film.
6. Ambessa Play DIY Torch
Ambessa Play’s STEM-learning kit for ages 8 and up includes all you need to make a wind-up torch (£45). Lifting the lid on its neatly packaged box reveals some 10 circuitry components, which a colourful 16-step manual (co-designed with kids) helps guide you through assembling.
This battery free design works with a capacitor and hand crank to teach kids about kinetic energy. A couple of minutes of winding it up yields 15 minutes of light. Putting it together takes about 30 minutes to an hour, and there are two versions: transparent version so you can admire your circuitry, or a tasteful light blue and orange.
When you buy a kit, you also donate one to a displaced child who lacks access to school and/or electricity, through Ambessa’s partners across eight countries. Founder Sara Berkai first came up with the idea of a DIY torch on a volunteer coding workshop in East Africa, and launched it on Kickstarter in 2023.
Main image: Karri
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