Simple, Robotic Pet Toys That Will Fascinate Kids for Hours on End

There are two things that are at the tops of my kids’ Christmas lists every year:  a baby brother and a pet.  Well, I can say with great certainty that a new baby is not in our future, and I honestly don’t see us ever having an animal in the house.  My son and daughter insist that they’re responsible enough to take care of a pet completely on their own, but I think we all know who would really end up caring for it:  Mom.  This year, I thought I’d present my children with “pets” that won’t need to be fed or poop in the house.

They’ve requested hamsters on more than one occasion, so Hamsters in a House is perfect for them.  And tell me they aren’t irresistible!

They buzz, scoot, scurry, and zoom all over the place, and they’re hungry!  Hamsters in a House is currently in Series 2, and the theme is Food Frenzy.  In addition to new hamsters, fans can also choose from a selection of highly detailed food-themed playsets.  We especially love Ham’s Burger Diner, which includes one exclusive hamster, several tracks, and accessories.

The little cuties can place an order at the drive-thru and take their food to go!  The tiny cash register is too cute, and I’m amazed that the set has a real, working turn table for food orders.

Other sets are also available, like the Supermarket, Cupcake Bakery, and Snack Shack, and each one is more adorable than the next.  Connect the tracks from each playset, add some of the other smaller accessories, and you’ve built your own Hamster world!

Hamsters in a House really are so much fun to play with, but if you have a child who isn’t that into cute and pink, I’ve got another toy pet that might work better.  I’m not so sure you’ll love it, but your kid absolutely will!

This one is a toy line called Robo Alive, and it’s very cool…if sometimes a bit creepy.  There’s a turtle and a fish that are pretty cute, and there’s also a Lurking Lizard and a Slithering Snake.  Those two are the ones I consider creepy, so of course they’re the ones my kids like best.

With the flip of a switch, these robotic pets come to life!  Set them on the ground, and they’ll take off with true-to-life movements that will fascinate the young ones.  Check them out:

Just like real reptiles, they move quickly, and your kids will have a blast chasing after them–or being chased by them.  Their movements aren’t the only things that make them life-like though.  Both reptiles have light-reflecting eyes, and the snake has a tongue that actually flicks in and out.

If your kids are anything like my son and daughter, they’ll be endlessly entertained by Robo Alive Robotic Pets.  I just hope they don’t try to pull any pranks on you.  Imagine sitting down on the couch to watch a movie and suddenly being attacked by a lizard!  The kids would double over laughing; just try not to choke on your popcorn.

Both the Hamsters in a House and the Robo Alive lizards combine technology with pretend play in a way that really engages kids.  They’re simple fun, and we can’t get enough of them.  Oh, and they aren’t any extra work for me, so that’s a huge bonus!

You can pick up Hamsters in a House online or in store at Target and Toys R US, and you can look for Robo Alive online and in store at Target or in store at WalMart.  Both are made by Zuru, and I highly recommended checking out their site to learn more.  They have so many interesting toy brands!