Radio Controlled toys make great gifts for kids. Toy grade models come in all shapes and sizes as well as various price points. Depending on your child’s age, I believe that radio controlled boats make the most sense for several reasons. Kids can get bored fairly easy with their toys. One minute they are interested and the next they are on to something else that caught their attention. If you get a RC boat, they will be playing with the boat in and out of the water, most likely the pool. This will likely keep their attention more on the toy since they also have the fun of the pool to keep them riveted.
The default radio controlled toy for most parents and grandparents are cars and trucks, although lately I have been seeing more helicopters seeping in. The problem with land based rc toys is that they often times are not made very well and are subject to a lot of abuse. Kids like to crash them! This means they will break sooner rather than later. Boats are not as susceptible to crashing into hard objects since they are on the water. Yes, they will often times flip over, but that’s a lot better than the crash prone land based vehicles.
Get a slightly better grade electric boat for your children. Toy stores and mass merchandisers sell cheap electrics at high volume that simply won’t last. Get your kids something that has a bit more value and they will have a lot more fun and a longer lasting boat. Typically, you will have to spend upwards of $35 but below $100 for a reasonable grade radio controlled boat. I would recommend either of the Venom boats, the Killer Vee or the Straight Jacket. Alternatively, Hobby Zone makes a line of pool racers called Zig Zag Racers. These will work in pool settings without much trouble and will keep your kids interested not only in the water but out of the water as they learn the art of mastering the radio controls.
RC Boats are easy to migrate to the next step in hobbying. It is relatively easy to get a Pool based electric boat to the next level of on water RC fun. Some of the better boats such as the Venoms will work quite well on ponds and lakes without having to spend more money. Taking your radio controlled boat on a family camping trip to the lake can be a lot of fun for your child. Once again, both in the water and out of the water, the rc boating experience can be memorable. Do you think the remote controlled truck would be as much fun on a trip to the lake as watching the Venom Killer Vee skip across the water at a high speed?
The next step up in price of RC Boats is reasonable. If your child starts to like the rc boating fun, it is not a great leap to move up in class and grade to keep them challenged. Take for instance the Traxxas Blast. This versatile electric boat made by Traxxas is a good quality boat that will cost you a bit more than $100. Or maybe your child wants to explore the fun in electric sailboats. The Megatech Nirvana II is a wildly popular boat that will put you out about $200. Once again, these are high quality boats that will not go out of style or break down after a few runs. Resist the temptation to get your kids cars and trucks. Introduce them to radio controlled boats for longer lasting fun and the possibility of getting them interested over time in the world of radio controlled hobbying.