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Top 10 Best Walkie Talkies For Kids – 2020 Edition

Do kids love walkie talkies? That’s a big 10-4. For decades, walkie talkies have remained a consistently popular toy among both boys and girls of all ages.

Whether chatting with a sibling in the next room or a best friend down the street, two-way radios help build social skills, a love of technology and more. Here’s a look at the best two-way radios for kids for 2020:

Retevis RT628 Walkie Talkies

These two-way radios aren’t the fanciest, but they’re simple to operate and won’t break the bank. The RT628 has just a few buttons plus a channel lock so little ones don’t have to worry about finding the right frequency. Plus, a belt clip lets kids carry the two-way radio even while active.

The RT628 runs on three AA batteries and has a range of about a mile. They’re colorful and weigh only 90 grams. While they’re not filled with tech, they’re a great choice for younger kids who just want something simple and fun to use.

Sokos Walkie Talkies for Kids

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Sokos Walkie Talkies are durable, easy to use and have a few extra features. They’re a great choice for pre-teens and teens who are developing more of an interest in technology. With a smart PMR system to auto-scan channels and reduce audio interference, these 2-way radios provide clear communication over a huge area of three to five miles. One of the largest audio ranges in this category.

These walkie talkies are easy to carry on a belt or in a backpack. Weighing just five ounces, they measure 5.5 inches by 3.3 inches by 2.2 inches. With three AAA batteries, the 2-way radios have enough power for 3.5 hours of use or nine hours on standby.

Bring the whole group together! These walkie talkies use a 22-channel system which can broadcast to multiple units. Great for large group games or big family fun.

Kidzlane Durable Walkie Talkies

Looks can be deceiving. These boxy, blue two-way radios look decidedly low-tech but they’re actually a great choice for young kids. They have a two-mile range with three separate channels. Battery power allows for 3.5 hours of use and nine hours of standby.

There are no frills or fancy features here, just simple push-button operation and LED indicators. This certainly isn’t a criticism. Even very young kids can start using these walkie talkies, and start having fun, right away. A fun, kid-friendly two-way radio for children three and up. It’s a solid family radio service product.

Aphse Kids Walkie Talkie

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Hiking, camping and other outdoor activities often make for great family fun. But lack of cell reception can add an unwanted danger. Walkie talkies are a reliable way for families to stay in contact when in the mountains, forest or other areas far from civilization.

A bright yellow color means they’re hard to lose. Plus, an extended range of three miles provides a wide reach, which is great when you’re in unfamiliar backcountry. This two-way radio has 22 channels, ergonomic grip and belt clip. Walkies talkies are fun outdoors, but they have serious uses, too. The Aphse is a two-way communications device that the whole family can count on.

Spy Gear Ultra Range Walkie Talkie

Kids can unleash their inner secret operative with the Spy Gear Ultra Range 2-way radios. Featuring a sleek black-and-red design, friends can stay in contact while conducting secret missions around the house, playground and more.

These walkie talkies have a range of over two miles, which gives kids plenty of room to play. Includes two units and an instruction guide. Requires six AAA batteries, which is more than many similar two-way radios.

USA Toyz Walkie Talkie Explorer Pack

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These two-way radios from USA Toyz include a variety of cool features including a backlit LCD screen, LED flashlight, labeled buttons. Plus, the built-in “Vox Box” allows for full voice activation.

With a three-mile range, this 2-way radio is great for family outdoor fun or even secret missions with friends around the neighborhood. Communication stays clear due to the unit’s scan function, 22 channels and 99 subchannels. It’s a great family radio service device.

Explorers of all ages will love the small pair of binoculars. Also includes a lanyard, lens cloth and travel case. A good choice for older kids who are responsible enough to play in groups around the neighborhood.

Little Pretender Walkie Talkies for Kids

The Little Pretender two-way radios offer a great combination of solid, kid-friendly features. The unit has a bright LCD display, a built-in flashlight and even a call alert function. The easy-to-use push button and ergonomic design make it practically intuitive for kids to use.

With a radio range of two miles, this is also a good choice for older kids who can roam longer distance. Three channels and clear voice technology create a quality signal which actually rivals far more expensive two-way radios. A good all-around set which younger kids can use in the backyard and older kids can take longer adventures.

DilissToys Walkie Talkies for Kids

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With this DilissToys Walkie Talkie set, your children will get the high-quality and long-range chatting capabilities that they crave. What’s more, these 2-way radios have voice-activated microphones, so they won’t need to go through the hassle of pushing a button to speak.

This also means that you can use these two-way radios to monitor your baby because their noises will be transmitted through the speaker on the other end. But, you may need to check the batteries frequently as they tend to run out.

Playco Products Walkie Talkies for Kids

These walkie talkies are different from others on the market because they have multi-channel functionality. So, you could have up to three separate groups of people with two-way radios communicating with each other at one time without any problem.

The only problem with this Playco set is that the exterior tends to get discolored and chipped fairly quickly. The electronics inside of the set are very durable, but they lose their blue aesthetic sooner than you might like.

Walkies Talkies for Kids, 22 Channels

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The drop-resistance on these walkie talkies means that they’re great for younger children. Likewise, the ability to scan between 22 different channels makes these two-way radios great for using in areas where there is a lot of interference.

Normally, high-interference areas rule out the use of child-style walkie talkies or reduce the voice quality to nearly unintelligible. But, because you can easily pop over to a different channel when you use these two-way radios, you can still use them in urban areas.

Best Two-Way Radios for Kids FAQ

Walkie Talkies are a bit unique among toys because they’re not just a toy. You can also find a variety of sophisticated walkies talkies for adults. When shopping for the best walkie talkie for kids, you want to make sure the device is appropriate for their age level and abilities. Here are the answers to some common questions about walkie talkies for kids:

What Skills Do Walkie Talkies Help Teach?

Your kids will have fun just playing, but these 2-way radios are also an effective teaching tool which help develop many different skills. They are also family radio service products. First, two people are necessary to use a walkie talkie. So they help teach communication skills. They’re great for playing with friends or siblings.

Also, two-way radios help foster an interest in technology. Kids of different ages react to these communication devices in different ways. Between the ages of four and six, most kids will understand that the voice in the walkie talkie is from someone talking through the device, but they won’t really care about how that’s possible. Starting around the age of seven, kids will typically become more interested in the science which makes the two-way radios work.

Finally, two-way radios also help kids develop their imaginations. Because they are also used by adults, the kid-version of the device helps kids roleplay specific adult jobs. Kid-sized two-way radios let kids pretend to be firefighters, police officers and more. Plus, many walkie talkies for kids have futuristic, sci-fi type designs which also help spark imaginative play.

What Range Should the Walkie Talkie Have?

Adult two-way radios can have a range of many miles. With kids, you probably want to limit the range to no more than three. That should be enough space to allow for plenty of safe play around the neighborhood. However, if the range is too large, the child might feel comfortable going too far away from home and their friends.

The range will depend on where the kids are likely to be playing. For siblings to use around the house, a range of under a mile will be fine. However, a larger range can be fun for two friends who live near one another. They can talk to each other from their own homes, which is a great solution when the kids are too young for their own cell phones.

If you plan to use these two-way radios in the outdoors, you want a range of a few miles. Families often take a set of two-way radios along when camping, because they’re often more reliable than cell service in remote areas. A wider range is a much more important consideration when you plan to use the walkie talkie to communicate with your child than when it’ll only be used for kids to talk to their friends.

How Safe are Walkie Talkies?

Generally, they’re pretty safe. Because they’re battery operated, there’s a minimal risk of any electrical-related injury. You might need to supervise any actions related to the rechargeable batteries, but for the most part two-way radios pose a minimal risk of physical injury.

However, there is one risk which many parents often overlook. They can pick up radio signals. It’s possible a stranger could communicate with your child through their walkie talkie. While this is relatively unlikely, especially if the range on the child’s walkie is low, it’s still a real possibility. You’ll want to teach your kids to never talk to a stranger in such a way. If a stranger attempts communication, teach your kids to shut off the walkie talkie immediately and come find you.

How to Choose the Best Walkie Talkie for Kids?

Despite their best efforts, kids can be pretty clumsy. Consider the durability of the two-way radios you plan to buy. Most 2-way radios for kids are designed to take an occasional bang or knock. Look for sturdy construction with a water-resistant case. Many walkies also have a clip to attach the device securely on a belt.

Make sure the radios are easy to use. The simple models use one-button operation. Simply hold the button, speak your message, and then release the button to open up the line. That should be easy enough for most younger kids. But older kids will be able to use select channels and other more complicated features.

Price is another important consideration. You don’t want to overspend. If your child accidentally loses a walkie talkie, replacing a $20 set is much easier than a set which costs $50 or more. For most types of play, kids don’t need a lot of fancy features. Instead, they usually have more fun with a walkie talkie which they don’t have to constantly keep an eye on. After all, the main goal (at least for the child) is fun.

Conclusion

In the days of smart phones, classic two-way radios have become somewhat forgotten. But they’re actually a fun way to foster communication and an interest in technology. Plus, they can also be used as a quick, reliable way for parents to stay in touch with their kids within the house or neighborhood.

Select a walkie talkie which can handle some bumps and wet weather. Younger kids do better with simple two-way radios while preteens and teens will likely prefer more features like multiple channels and auto-scan.

The best walkie talkies bring friends (and family) together for fun, imaginative play.