FOR AGES 4 YEARS TO 12 YEARS
If your child loves remote controlled toys and is always seeking out exciting new adventures, a remote controlled helicopter might be the next great gift for them.
Finding the right RC helicopter for your child will depend on a number of factors including their age and experience level. The most important things to consider when choosing a remote control chopper are the chopper's flight time, power source and whether your child will be flying indoors or outdoors.
Ideally, your chopper will have a quick charge time (less than an hour) that provides between five to twelve minutes of flying time. Your chopper should be rechargeable via USB and the most versatile choppers will be suitable for flying both indoors and outdoors. While remote control helicopters are super cool, they can be dangerous if not used correctly and can be difficult to get used to using. To ensure your child's safety while they live out their piloting fantasies, make sure they always use their remote control heli under the supervision of a parent.
With so many helicopters available, we've listed the best options for a range of budgets and experience levels. You can pick any of these choppers and know for sure that your child will have hours of flying fun.
If you're looking for more toys to inspire your child to get away from screens and engaged in developmental play, check out our list of the best kids archery sets or children's microscopes to suit any budget.
In our humble opinion, this is the best remote control helicopter available right now because of its suitability for a range of ages, affordable price point and solid flying time. This infrared operated helicopter is the perfect helicopter for beginners aged eight and up. The remote operates all the helicopter's turning controls and also doubles as the charging station making this remote control chopper super easy to use, perhaps the easiest to fly on this list. The built in LED lights provide assistance with orientation in low light conditions and also indicate battery status. You also get back up propellers to get the chopper back in the air after a crash.
Your little thrill seeker will love this flying helicopter toy from Hamleys. This chopper is packed with features including full gyro and infrared control, turbo speed boost and a hover function. This chopper will keep your child entertained while developing their hand-eye coordination. The kit also includes a USB charger and extra blades to ensure your pilot can get their machine back in the air with speed.
This is one of the best remote controlled helicopters on the market, designed to withstand even the roughest pilots. These helicopters from Vatos are made from durable plastic and include two replacement blades so your little pilot can keep flying after a crash.
The dedicated take off, landing and emergency stop buttons on this chopper are designed to make it easy to use and child friendly. Children as young as eight can operate this chopper and will get the chance to feel like a real pilot. The chopper has automatic hover and gyroscope technology to ensure a smooth and stable flying experience for your little pilot.
This is a great introductory chopper for older children. The small helicopter is flown using a two channel joystick with precision speed control. It includes a gyro stabiliser to make the chopper easy to fly and the chopper is rechargeable.
This super easy to use helicopter toy makes flying possible for children as young as four years old. This easy to control helicopter has only four buttons including auto-hover and landing buttons to make these often difficult parts of flying automated for younger children. This little helicopter is made of durable, built to last plastic and includes helicopter sounds to bring the flying experience to life.
This super small, lightweight helicopter from Syma will keep your child flying for longer with a quick 25 minute charge time (via USB) that gives eight to twelve minutes in the air. This chopper is only for indoor flying and its advanced features, including gyroscope technology, make it suited to older children aged 12 years and up.
This jazzy alternative to the traditional helicopter is easy to control and will provide endless fun for the whole household. Featuring disco-like LED lights, the ball uses infrared technology to enable your child to fly, with safety features such as automatic power off after collisions to keep your child and your household items safe. This great electric helicopter can be flown indoors and outdoors.
This helicopter is a more kitted out version of the great toy above from Hamleys. This version is perfect if you have a bigger budget and if your child wants to fly their helicopters outdoors as it is made for both indoor and outdoor flying. This chopper has all the great features of the cheaper version including on/off LED lights and full gyro control, however, this chopper also has dual-speed control, helping your child feel like a true pilot as their machine soars around the house.
Another alternative to the traditional flying helicopter, this mini drone is perfect for the helicopter pilot wanting to take their skills to the next level. This one includes dedicated buttons for take off and landing to make your child's job easier as well as alarm functions to warn your child when their flying machine is going out of range or is low on battery. The machine has lots of features including altitude hold, adjustable batteries and adjustable speed levels.
Kidadl Best Buys selects the top parent-recommended products across the web for families of all ages. If you liked our articles on helicopters and want more ideas for healthy fun, you might also like to look at our list of the best kids' boxing gloves or the best kids' pool tables.
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