Last Updated on November 1, 2018
When choosing a quadcopter for a child, consider the age of the kid, safety, and cost of the quadcopter. In general, a kid under the age of ten would typically have less hand-eye coordination than a twelve year-old. Most beginners will crash the quadcopters several times before they learn how to control a flying vehicle. Safety is paramount – the rotors can hurt little fingers and get tangled in her beautiful long hair. Here’s a check list to help you shop for that first drone for your favorite kid:
- Age of the child – under the age of ten?
- Flying skills – any experience with flying a quadcopter?
- Cost – it depends on your tolerance of crashing dollars to the ground. Is it $30, $50, $100? Keep in mind that children will destroy stuff. If you buy an expensive quadcopter, will you feel bad about the damage and the cost of replacing it?
- Safety – check for propeller guards. They help to protect little fingers, minimize damage to the quadcopter and your furniture. (Nothing says “ouch!” like seeing a quadcopter fly into the flat screen TV and leave a spider web pattern on the screen.)
- Safety – the weight of the quadcopter is important, too. The less the quadcopter weighs, the less damage it can do. If the quadcopter weight is higher than about 2 to 4 oz., then the propeller can actually cut your hand or finger. So, remember to get a quadcopter that weighs less than 4 oz. for children.
Check out our review series on drones for kids.