As a parent, I know how such a dilemma it is to pick the right toy for your kid. As much as we want our kids to enjoy themselves, at the back of our minds is that gnawing fear that this certain gizmo or gadget may turn them into mindless, blood-splattering video game addicts. Say the word "educational," though, and that pricey new gizmo may just find its way straight to the bottom of the abandoned-toy box. But then again, repackaged and described more creatively and that techie thing just might be what the teacher ordered!

Fortunately, there is a middle ground: there is such a thing as software and gadgets that are both fun yet also help teach fundamental principles of electronics, engineering, music, and more. I care to share them now, some are new in 2010, while others debuted in years past but are still worth mentioning.

A Little Soft Music – True or false: All iPods are small, come in durable hard-plastic cases, and are built by Apple. It's true if you're an Apple lawyer. But Super iPod DIY Kit lets you build a pillow-sized iPod out of, well, a pillowcase, along with a handful of electronics, a "hacked" Coby MP3 player, some conductive fabric, and a whole lot of thread. Along the way your children learn the basics of electrical schematics, conduction, and insulation, as well as how to wow their friends at the next sleepover. The project comes via Tech DIY, a site devoted to science projects that mothers can do along with their kids. You can purchase the $45 kits from Etsy.com.

Point and Brick - If your kids dream of becoming architects, designers, or structural engineers, this software/toy combo will give them a Lego up. Download the free Lego Digital Designer 2.0 software from the Lego Factory, and you and the kids can design your own Lego creations on a PC or Mac. When the masterpiece is done, you can upload the design to the Lego Factory site and then order the pieces necessary to build the structure, along with step-by-step instructions. Or you can download designs that others have created and edit them. Just make sure your ambitions match your budget--a 1200-piece scale model of the Parthenon will cost you an arm and a Leg (o?)! Ooops pardon my intent at pun.

Oregon Scientific Darth Vader Laptop - If your son or daughter are gaming fans and especially fans of Star Wars you might like to lead them into the Sith Realm with the Oregon Scientific Darth Vader Laptop. This innovative device will challenge your child's skills and logic in amazing games that will help to improve hand-eye coordination, memory and reflexes as well as any musical talents that might be waiting to be discovered. It comes with a light saber with motion sensors which when swung plays sound effects. It is also extendable at the push of a button and interactive throughout the games reflecting your choice of character and allowing you to select activities. The player can choose to battle Darth Vader as a Jedi knight or a Sith and the players are entertained for hours. !

Silverlit Vbeat Air Guitar - If you're not bothered by noise and you want to test the water, musically that is, before forking out on the real thing, you could invest in the Silverlit Vbeat Air Guitar. It is usually about half the price of other air guitars, definitely a plus on any one’s hecklist, and apart from being great fun will give your child a sense of what it's like to learn to play a musical instrument. It works by coordinating movements of the plectrum, pressing combinations of the four buttons found on the arm and varying the distance between the main body and the arm of the guitar. Apart from this you can also switch between a combination of four different guitars, create a tremelo effect and play chords. Cool!

And there’s more where that came from.