There is a school of thought that drones should be exclusive to adults. From a safety point of view there is perhaps an element of pragmatism in such a belief, but from a ‘lets enthuse a generation of tech savvy young people to push our technological boundaries’ mindset, it could be quite unwise to not allow children near one of the fastest growing tech markets on the planet.
Leaving the argument of ‘should or shouldn’t kids fly drones’ to one side (and we are certainly not suggesting that they definitely should fly them) for now, we assess the best way to choose the right drone for your child.
Why Are Drones Good For Young People?
It is all too often said that young people don’t have enough positive experiences or hobbies in their lives. Allowing children access to a positive pastime such as piloting drones is not only good for them but good for the industry as a whole.
We all have memories of being a child and being super excited about the latest toy or gadget. Children in this day and age are no different – the technology might have changed but the enthusiasm and passion that can come from being given access to a tangible gadget is the same as it ever was.
With drones becoming more and more sophisticated and manufacturers such as DJI and Ryze producing drones that can be used to learn simple coding skills – there are a number of significant benefits to letting children use drones.
Choosing a Drone – Think Features and Future
Depending on how old your child is; the features the drone needs to have now and in the future are pretty key to your decision on which one to buy.
So how exactly do you choose a drone for kids?
You could of course opt for a lower priced drone if your child is quite young and depending on whether or not you want them to have access to photo and video you could even choose a drone without a camera.
However, if you really want your child to develop a passion and a thirst for developing a hobby there really needs to be some longevity in the lifespan and so choosing a higher end drone may well be the wiser choice.
The area that you really should look to invest in is the battery life. Most cheaper drones will have around 5-6 minutes of battery life. If this is the case then double, triple or maybe even 4x the batteries. No child is going to be impressed with the fun being cut short after 5 minutes. Alternatively, go for something that has a little more juice.
Choosing a drone with a decent HD camera will also allow your child to develop other skills – perhaps in photography, videography or in the editing suite (also known as their bedroom).
Above all, children want to have fun – and being a child is all about exploring new experiences and excitement. Owning (or at least using) a drone is certainly going to tick those boxes and it can have so many other advantages too – but remember to check your local laws as to where it is safe to fly and at what age.