Though meant primarily for communicating wirelessly without recourse to network infrastructures, handheld 2 way radios, commonly called walkie talkies, can be very educational for kids. Using them also provides lots of opportunities for a variety of pretend play and adventures for kids.
The radios also help to improve social, cooperation, and communication skills in children. And the delicious sense of freedom kids feel while using the devices is offset by the ability to easily keep track of them if you have a device too.
If you are looking for the very best walkie talkies for kids so they can have fun and learn a thing about wireless communication, you are in the right place. We reviewed several dozens to identify the best of the best. The intriguing lineup contains devices of varying prize tags ensuring that affordability won’t be a problem no matter your budget.
10 Best Walkie Talkies for Kids
We now look at the 2 way portable radios for kids chosen after several hours of rigorous evaluation. 10 products are reviewed in this guide; anyone would be perfect as gifts for kids no matter the occasion and for more adult two way radios I would check out https://thewalkietalkguide.com/.
1. 3-Pack Topsung Walkie Talkies
Kicking off this guide of top-rated walkie talkies for kids is this 3-Pack kid’s handheld radios by Topsung. This is a great option for a house with three kids. Or you could just get it because you want to be a part of the fun too.
Each unit comes with a different color so each kid can choose their favorite color. They offer 22 channels and 121 privacy codes making it easy to get a free channel any time. This also helps to block out external interference
The compact, ergonomic design would be perfect for kids’ small hands. And the tough plastic casing ensures it can hold up well to the rough and tumble of kids’ play.
2. 2-Pack 2-Way Radios by Dilis Toys
These bright yellow radios have been optimized to appeal to kids between 3 and 10 years old. So if you are looking for a walkie talkie for toddlers, these would be perfect.
Each device comes with labeled buttons making it easy to use. It also features backlit LCD, easy Push-to-talk button, built-in in flashlight for night use, and awesome sound quality with an adjustable volume button.
And with 22 channels, kids won’t have a problem coming up with open channels for communication for up to 4 miles range in perfect conditions.
3. Obuby 3-Pack Kid’s 2-Way Radio
With an impressive range of up to 3 miles, auto squelch for clear audio, and 22 channels reinforced with 99 privacy codes, Obuby’s is simply one of the best children’s walkie talkies.
The devices feature a strong build, ergonomic design, and are packed with many kid-centric fun features making them more than just devices to bridge the communication gap between children and their parents during family outings to places such as the amusement park or carnivals.
The design is optimized to fit into kids’ small hands perfectly. Like all good walkie talkies for kids, it is easy to use with simple instructions. In no time at all, kids would be playing around with it like pros.
4. Car Guidance Kids Portable Two-way Radio
Thanks to the camouflage design and rugged looks, these Car Guidance radio communication units would be perfect for all kinds for outdoor adventures and imaginative role-play between your kid and their best buddy.
The pack contains two units with casings that are tough enough to effortlessly stand up to the rough and tumble of children’s activities. It also comes with a belt clip that allows kids to run and play without fear of losing them. With the hands-free feature, they could also communicate without having to touch the radio.
Talking about communication, it features crystal-clear audio with adequate channels backed by sub-channels for privacy. Kids can hear themselves loud and clear from a range of up to 1 mile in residential areas. They would also find the in-built flashlight handy for navigating dark trails in the night or looking for stuff in a dark room.
5. Romanda Kids 3-Pack 2 Way Radio
Some gifts are so beautifully-designed you can help the huge smile that comes on when you see them. These devices by Romanda would elicit that reaction. You can bet kids would fall instantly in love with them.
The 3 units are designed in very bright fun colors. The fun doesn’t stop with the designs though. Each one is a fully-functional complete with 22-channel options, clear backlit display, squelch function to block out unwanted noise, clear sound, and a button for adjusting the volume of the crystal clear sound.
Perfect for kids between 3 – 10 years old, each unit is powered by 4 AAA or rechargeable batteries. The range is decent enough for outdoor adventures while the buttons are intuitive and easy to use.
6. Wes Tayin Walkie-Talkies
The best Kid-friendly walkie talkies don’t come way better than this Wes Tayin handhelds for kids. Straight away, you’ll notice the minimalist design that is all about service delivery devoid of complications.
There is no display to distract young children. All the buttons needed to operate the radios are labeled and located on the front making the device very easy to master. The range is also very impressive and even at the maximum 2 miles range, the audio and sound output is crystal clear, crisp, and soft to protect children’s eardrums.
The blue and black casing with an ergonomic design perfectly fits the profile of kids’ walkie-talkies. The tough plastic material is safe for kids to play with and can take whatever is thrown at it.
7. Little Pretender Walkie Talkies
Up next is this pair by Little Pretender that is extremely popular for their reliability, tough build, and kid-friendly design. Excellent for the young adventurer, it is packed with top-notch features that include an amazing range of up to 2 miles in ideal conditions, 3-channel selection, call alert, easy to read LCD screen, flashlight, and other perks that take kids pretend play and fun to the next level.
Perfectly-sized for kids’ hands, they provide exceptional communication and entertainment whether at the shopping mall, park, beach, or even the backyard for hours. The already superb sound quality is enhanced by a ‘clear voice technology’ taking the audio output to crystal clear perfection.
8. Byboo Kids Handheld 2 Way Radio
This pack contains three delightful radios in brilliant blue, pink and green colors: just the perfect colors to get kids really excited. The excitement doesn’t stop with the colors or ergonomic design that is perfect for children’s hands though. In-built design features such as the bright display, big buttons, and crystal clear audio make them awesome gadgets for kids to keep in touch with their buddies or even parents easily while outdoors.
Kids would also have lots of fun with the VOX function that allows them to transmit without touching the buttons, 22 channels with sub-channels for privacy, squelch function to mute background noise, and more. With so many features and functions, the fun goes beyond simple communication.
9. Retevis RT-388
The best kid walkie talkie should come with features that combine great functionality with operational simplicity. This and more is what you get from this pair of Retevis handheld radios for kids.
Each unit features keypad tones that provide great convenience when setting up the phone. While the power saving function extends the battery life of the 4 AAA batteries when the device is not in use to help minimize the cost of purchasing batteries.
Ergonomically-designed in a sleek blue exterior casing, the devices come with 22 primary channels and 99 privacy codes to keep communication safe and prevent external interference. Other in-built perks kids would find useful include the VOX function for hands-free use, belt clip, flashlight, and 10 call tones for exciting customization options.
10. 3-Pack Supker 2 Way Radio
Supker’s pack of three radios has everything you need in a 2-way communicator for older kids up to 12 years old. Considering the compact, ergonomic design, combined with its easy functionality, even kids as young as 3 years would be comfortable using them.
The three units in the pack come in different colors so there would be no confusion about who owns what.
The devices feature bright backlit LCD, HD voice quality, built-in torch for night adventures, and VOX function which combines with the belt clip for convenient hands-free operations on the go. And with a long-range of up to 3 miles in perfect conditions, this would make an awesome means of communication for camping, hiking, beach outings, etc.
Handheld 2 Way Radios for Kids: Buying Considerations
Buying two-way radios for kids involves much more than ordering the first, sleek device that catches the eye. Certain features are essential when choosing appropriate devices for kids. These include:
Ease of use
You don’t want the kids the spend a large chunk of the time learning how to use the radios. The setup instructions and the learning curve should be very easy as children are impatient and simply want to take their new toy for a spin immediately.
So gadgets with a few buttons are highly recommended. Also, ensure that access to basic operational functions doesn’t involve having to go deep into the menu system.
Number of units in the package
It won’t be fun being the only kid with a walkie talkie on the playground, campsite, or during a family outing. That is why kids’ two-way radios come as a pair or more. This ensures the kid has at least one other person to engage with.
That said, it’s best to determine the number of kids that would need the devices before choosing. Look for package deals that come with multiple units. This makes the pairing of the sets easy and besides, packages that come with multiple sets generally offer better deals in terms of price.
Design
You want the gadgets to be attractive. The general rule is that the younger the kids are, the more likely they’ll fall in love with very colorful units.
Aside from this, the units must be compact and ergonomic so kids won’t have a hard time holding them. While an anti-slip design is great, the outer shell must be made of tough material to withstand the inevitable falls and rough handling.
Other features to look out for in the design include:
- Strong belt clip to attach to the belt
- Flashlight
- Lanyard
- Backlit display for night time operations
Range
This is also important if the plan is to keep in touch with your kids beyond a few yards. Devices with a more than decent range are vital for outdoor activities like camping. This makes it easy to get in touch with them and organize a rescue if they somehow got lost.
In essence, a long-range two-way radio is what you should be aiming for if the device is to be used as the primary mode of wireless communication for camping, hiking, beach parties, etc.