Gadgets, gizmos, and games to make your mom's life more fun
Whenever Mother’s Day comes around, most of us automatically think of buying flowers, cakes, food, wine and jewelry.
While your mom might not be as tech-savvy as you, that doesn't mean she won't appreciate a carefully chosen gadget, especially if it makes her life easier or more fun. Games are often left for the kids, but a lot of moms have found time for new hobbies during the pandemic and deserve some play and relaxation time for themselves.
Here’s a roundup of suggested gadgets, gizmos, and fun games to consider getting as gifts for your mom this Mother’s Day.
Fitness tracker
Is your mom into health and fitness? A fitness tracker like a Fitbit is sure to please the stylish yet fitness-minded mom in your life. Fitbits resemble smartwatches designed for step tracking and activity tracking.
One aspect of a Fitbit tracker that makes it useful for moms is the support for the expansive Fitbit ecosystem that includes active zone minutes, menstrual health tracking, sleep stages, stress management tools, guided breathing exercise, and more.
E-book reader
For moms who love to read but don’t have space for more books at home, e-book readers like the Kindle are a great choice. Kindles now come with a built-in adjustable front light so you can read indoors and outdoors and at more times of day.
Unlike smartphones and tablets, Kindles are purpose-built for reading with a 167 ppi glare-free display that reads like real paper, even in direct sunlight.
The battery charge also lasts days and not hours. You can easily download the books popular shows were based on like Bridgerton and Shadow and Bone so your mom can get the scoop even before new seasons are released.
The Kindle Paperwhite is thin, lightweight, and easy enough to stash in a bag so your mom can enjoy her favorite books on the go.
Robot Vacuum
While it seems more like a household appliance for cleaning the house than a fun gift, all moms want a break from having to constantly sweep the house.
Having a little robot sweep up the kitchen and living room with a click is immensely helpful. There are so many companies and versions of vacuum robots today that picking out one that fits your budget is the best bet.
Roomba’s S9 and J7 models are said to have the best rating, but you can also get more afffordable models from Xiaomi, Ecovacs, Dyson, Automat, Konka, Dreame, and more from various online stores.
Chromecast
For those who don’t have a Smart TV yet, a Chromecast could be a good solution for better home viewing of movies and binge-watching shows.
The streaming media adapter from Google allows users to play online content such as videos and music on a digital television.
The adapter is a dongle that plugs into the TV's HDMI port; a cable connects to a USB port to power the device. Chromecast allows users to stream their favorite entertainment and apps from phones, tablet or laptop right to your TV or speakers.
Home Cinema Projector
A lot of moms have had to give up watching movies on the big screen for the safety of younger kids while senior moms might still not want to risk watching movies in enclosed theaters just yet.
A home cinema projector could provide a fun experience for the whole family for fun movie nights at home. The LUMOS RAY home cinema projector is an affordable model that can help transform any room in the house into a private theater. Watch out for our full review on this gadget soon.
Handheld gaming device
Moms play games too, even if a lot of advertising materials seem to say otherwise.
While most modern gaming consoles and PC platforms market violent adventure games for younger audiences, tech-savvy moms might appreciate having something that’s just for her when she needs to de-stress or has some rare alone time.
The Nintendo Switch Lite is designed specifically for handheld play, so anyone can jump into their favorite games in between daily errands or at the end of a long day.
The Nintendo Switch has a massive variety of different games, including retro games from your mom's childhood, puzzle games, simulation games, and other relaxing games to de-stress with like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Stardew Valley, Untitled Goose Game and Gris, to name a few.
LEGO Botanicals Set
Is your mom a busy plantita? Check out LEGO's Botanical collection.
Designed specifically for adult fans of Lego, the intricate nature-inspired builds lets you build your own flower bouquet, bonsai tree, succulents, and orchids. Inspired by real-life plants and flowers, the sets are just as beautiful as the real thing, but far less frustratingly difficult to keep alive.
LEGO's newest succulents and orchid sets just launched this May 1, making it a unique gift item to consider this Mother's Day.
DIY Miniature Kits
For moms who have maxed all the home improvement quarantine projects and are looking for a new hobby just to keep their mind off things for a while, DIY miniature kits could be a fun pasttime.
Lil' Haven offers different miniature sets inspired by different television shows like FRIENDS and How I Met Your Mother, and cute destinations like cafes.
If your mom was into decorating dollhouses when she was younger, the miniature kits could provide a fun bonding activity with kids or a mini-project just for mom to play with and feel like a kid again.