Walkie talkies that include a high number of channels to communicate on are the safest units to purchase to avoid unwanted persons communicating or listening to your child on the other end. Thankfully, many modern walkie talkies for children have up to 22 channels available to promote safe communication.
Below we have ranked the best walkie talkies for kids of 2022. All walkie talkie sets that we’ve reviewed are sold in sets of two or three.
Based on appealing aesthetics, variety of functions and best battery, we recommend the QNIGLO FRS Walkie Talkies.
Best Rechargeable Walkie Talkies For Kids
While the Retevis RT628 Walkie Talkies do not come with a rechargeable battery, there is an option to purchase either AA batteries or a rechargeable battery pack, however, the QNIGLO Rechargeable Kids Walkie Talkies come with rechargeable lithium ion batteries that charge with the included USB cord.
Retevis RT628 Walkie Talkies
The Retevis RT628 Walkie Talkies are for children ages 5 and up.
Features of the Retevis walkie talkies include 22 channels and CTCSS (audio filter) for clear communication. The call ring melody and the button tone sound can be changed within the settings. To prevent children from making changes in settings or channels, there is a channel lock feature as well as a keypad lock.
PTT (push-to-talk) is available in addition to VOX (voice activation) communication. Customers love how clear communication is and say that the range works quite well. They also love how durable these are and how they survive multiple drops from their children.
These walkie talkies do require batteries to operate (3 AA) and are not included. Although batteries are necessary, Retevis does sell a rechargeable battery pack (Retevis BL45 Rechargeable Battery) that can be used instead. Customers recommend purchasing rechargeable batteries.
These walkie talkies come in black, camo, red, or silver colors and are 6.2 x 2.1 x 1.1 inches in size.
Pros
- VOX communication available
- Rechargeable battery pack available to purchase separately
- Two belt clips included
- Channel and keypad lock
- Earpiece connection
Cons
- Batteries not included (3 AA)
Main Point
The Retevis RT628 Walkie Talkies walkie talkies are a good “big kid” walkie talkie option for young children.
QNIGLO FRS Walkie Talkies
The QNIGLO FRS Walkie Talkies are suited for ages 3 years and up.
These walkie talkies have a lot of modern features, such as being rechargeable units. Rather than purchasing batteries over and over, all you need to do is use the micro USB (included) cord to charge the battery back up. With a rechargeable lithium ion battery, the battery will last for 24 hours of talking and 5 days of stand-by.
In addition, these walkie talkies include a built-in FM radio, which is a rare find among kid’s walkie talkies. Each unit can be held in-hand or worn as a necklace (lanyard included) or on the wrist (strap included). The wrist strap can also be used to strap the unit onto bikes or other objects.
When the push-to-talk button is pressed, colorful lights will glow from the “eyes.” Children are able to communicate on 22 different channels up to 2 miles in an open field setting.
These come in pink/green, pink, or green colors and are 8 x 4.8 x 1.3 inches in size.
Pros
- Rechargeable battery (24 hours of talking + 5 days of stand-by)
- 18 month warranty + 45 days money back
- Built-in FM radio
- Can be worn as necklace or on wrist
- Colorful lights
Cons
- Kitty cat look could be a hit or miss for kids
- No VOX function available
Main Point
The QNIGLO FRS Walkie Talkies have a lot to offer to make them stand out among the competition. The rechargeable battery alone makes this a great purchase.
Best Waterproof Walkie Talkies for Kids
Obuby Walkie Talkies
The Obuby Walkie Talkies are made for ages 3 and up.
These push-to-talk (VOX function also available) walkie talkies include the option of broadcasting over 22 different channels to either a second walkie talkie or multiple walkie talkies. Auto-squelch is included so that background noises are muted when speaking to each other. The length of range is up to 3 miles in an open field setting.
Obuby prioritizes the safety of children by reinforcing 99 CTCSS sub-codes during communication which helps minimize the chance of a stranger getting on your child’s channel frequency and talking.
Other features include keypad lock, backlit waterproof LCD display, low battery alert, and the option of 10 different call tones.
Many customers say that their children love the bright colors of these walkie talkies and the size is great for smaller hands. The downside is that batteries are expensive to replace since each unit takes 4 AAA batteries.
The Obuby walkie talkies come in blue/green, yellow/blue and pink colors and are 5 x 2 x 1.5 inches in size.
Pros
- Built-in flashlight
- Waterproof LCD display
- Adjustable volume
- Helps protect children from unwanted communication
- VOX function available
- Earpiece connection
Cons
- Batteries not included (4 AAA) and expensive to replace
Main Point
We love the safety of the CTCSS codes during communication as well as the fun colors and ergonomic shape of the Obuby Walkie Talkies themselves.
Best Walkie Talkies for Kids
While all of these walkie talkies require batteries that are not included, the Walkie Talkies for Kids 3 Pack uses 3 AAA batteries and the Walkie Talkies for Kids use 4 AAA batteries that are suggested to be removed when not in use.
Walkie Talkies for Kids 3 Pack
The Walkie Talkies for Kids 3 Pack are suitable for children ages 3 or older.
These walkie talkies offer an available range of 22 channels and a 3-mile range (open field) and 0.5-1 mile range (residential) of communication between each unit. Car Guardiance mentions a radiation power of 0.5w per unit and claims that to be safe for children. I would research this further if interested.
Perks of the unit include the built-in flashlight feature, channel lock and belt clip. A flashlight feature is especially cool for children to play hide and seek or other games where they’re sneaking around in closets or in a fort.
These are classic push-to-talk walkie talkies with available VOX option and include an auto-squelch function that helps mute background noise and tones when speaking. Another one of my favorite features of these walkie talkies is the low-battery alert. Perfect to remind children (and adults) that the batteries need a change before taking them out to a park or to a neighbor’s house.
Many customers love the small size of these units, especially for small hands, but some say that the talk button is hard to push down for littles.
Car Guardiance’s WT-48 walkie talkies come in standard blue/black as featured above and are 5.6 x 3.4 x 2.3 inches in size.
Pros
- Built-in flashlight
- Small for little hands/younger users
- Low-battery alert
- VOX communication available
Cons
- Batteries not included (3 AAA)
- Push-to-talk button may be hard to press for littles
Main Point
The small size of the Car Guardiance WT-48 Walkie Talkies are convenient for younger users and portability. The built-in flashlight makes these units even cooler.
Sun-Team Walkie Talkies
The Sun-Team Walkie Talkies are recommended for ages 3 years and older.
Sun-Team has created a set of walkie talkies that include fun features such as a built-in flashlight and LCD backlight display for night time use. Users are able to access 22 channels to communicate on, limiting the risk of other users crossing communication paths. Within an outdoor field setting, the range of clear communication is said to go up to 3 miles.
The option to use the VOX (voice-activated) function is available rather than using the PTT (push-to-talk) function which is convenient for kids if they don’t have a free hand to click the PTT button to speak. There are 10 call tones to choose from and each walkie talkie will alert the user when the battery life is getting low.
If dropped, these walkie talkies are said to be durable enough to withstand pressure of 1.2m, which is comforting to note. In addition, there is a 12-month warranty that is included free with the purchase of each set. Four AAA batteries are required per each unit (not included), which can be a hassle and an expense to replace every time, especially if replacing in multiple walkie talkies.
These come in pink, blue, blue/pink, or green and are 5.7 x 3.1 x 2.6 inches in size.
Pros
- CTCSS (mutes background noise)
- VOX function
- Fun colors and ergonomic shape
- 1.2m drop resistant
- Built-in flashlight
- 12-month warranty included
- Belt clips
Cons
- Requires 4 AAA batteries (not included and expensive to replace)
Main Point
Other than the expense of having to purchase and replace 8 batteries per set, the Sun-Team Walkie Talkies bring parents comfort for their durability and 12-month included warranty.
Tintec Walkie Talkies
The Tintec Walkie Talkies are suitable for ages 3 years and older.
Push-to-talk, as well as the VOX function, is available on these units. They also include CTCSS function which helps silence background noise when speaking. Up to 22 channels are available for communicating on and the communication range is said to reach about 3 miles within an open field setting.
A flashlight is included and can be used simply as a light or even as a nightlight. The LCD display has a backlight as well so that kids can see and play at night. Other specifications include a keypad lock, a variety of call tones (10), and a low battery alert when it’s time to switch them out.
Unfortunately, these units do take four AAA batteries each, which can make replacing batteries pretty pricey especially for more than one walkie talkie. These batteries are not included with purchase. Tintec does suggest removing the batteries completely if the units are not going to be used within a 24 hr period to avoid battery power loss.
The Tintec walkie-talkies are sold in a multi-color pack and are 5.5 x 0.8 x 2 inches in size. These are not the only available colors for the set of three; Tintec does sell packs of three in other colors.
Pros
- Built-in flashlight
- VOX function
- Fun colors and ergonomic shape
- 3 mile range
Cons
- Takes 4 AAA batteries
- Supposed to remove batteries when not in use for 24 hours
- No volume control
Main Point
It worries us that the company suggests removing the batteries when the unit is not in use over 24 hours, which is very inconvenient. Other than that, we love the fun bright colors of these Tintec Walkie Talkies.
Comparing Kids Walkie Talkies
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.
| QNIGLO FRS Walkie Talkies | 9.6 | 9.0 | 36.99 |
| Walkie Talkies for Kids 3 Pack | 9.1 | 8.6 | 24.99 |
| Retevis RT628 Walkie Talkies | 9.9 | 9.0 | 21.99 |
| Sun-Team Walkie Talkies | 3.9 | 8.8 | 20.23 |
| Obuby Walkie Talkies | 8.9 | 9.0 | 19.99 |
| Tintec Walkie Talkies | - | 8.8 | - |
Kids Walkie Talkie Buying Considerations
Here are some things to consider before purchasing your next kid’s walkie talkie set:
- Space. If you’re planning on using the walkie talkies in open areas, the said range of communication should work quite well. If you’re planning on using these in more obstructed areas (e.g. inside/outside the home), keep in mind the said range of communication may be less than stated (e.g. 1.5 miles instead of 3 miles).
- Battery life. Many walkie talkies require batteries. If you would rather forego having to replace batteries in each walkie talkie each time they die, you’ll want to purchase the QNIGLO brand, which features a rechargeable lithium ion battery. You can also invest in rechargeable batteries.
- Number of users. How many people will want to communicate with each other? All of our ranked walkie talkies include a set of 2 units but some brands feature sets of 3. Consider how many sets you may need for everyone to speak with each other together.
- Age. If your child is younger and has smaller hands, you may want to consider what size of walkie talkies you are purchasing. Smaller sized walkie talkies will be easier for smaller hands to hold and carry around without help.
FAQ’s About the Best Walkie Talkies for Kids
What do the walkie talkie PTT and VOX terms mean?
PTT is short for push-to-talk. The PTT button is the button that is pushed when a child wants to speak and send a message to another walkie talkie.
The VOX function is a voice-activated sensor function. This means that instead of pushing a button to speak and send a message, the user can simply start talking and the sensor will pick up on this automatically and send the message to the other walkie talkie.
If I buy more than one set, will all the walkie talkies work together?
Yes, sets of the same brand should still work together as long as all parties are communicating on the same channel.
Are batteries included with these walkie talkie sets?
Unfortunately, all walkie talkies above do not include the required batteries, except for the QNIGLO FRS walkie talkies, which feature a rechargeable lithium ion battery.
Are walkie talkies safe for children?
Many walkie talkies feature a high number of different channels that children can communicate on. The higher the number of channels available, the less likely the chance that a stranger will be on the same channel as your children and be able to speak to or listen to them.
It’s always recommended that you scan and check the channel(s) that your child is going to be using to make sure that it is clear of any other communication.
Other than that, walkie talkies are a great way for kids and parents to communicate with each other without having to use a mobile phone. No worrying about a cell phone having “low-to-no signal,” because walkie talkies will be available for us regardless.
Can my child use headphones with walkie talkies?
Many of the walkie talkies include a headphone jack on them. This is a great alternative for keeping communication a little quieter.
How well do walkie talkies work in a crowded environment?
The range of communication definitely dwindles the more obstruction there is between each walkie talkie. But if there is limited obstruction and just a lot of people nearby, the walkie talkies should still work fine and communication should be clear. If anything, it could be harder to hear the recipient’s message depending on how loud of a crowd you are in. Headphones are a good solution to that problem.
Can my child change the channels on the walkie talkies after I’ve set them up?
Depending on the walkie talkie, your child could figure out how to change the channel easily. Fortunately, most walkie talkies do include a channel lock feature. This helps ensure that a child will not change the channel to another frequency after it has already been set. This also helps keep communication safe from outside strangers.
Will these walkie talkies be fun for my older child?
Most of these walkie talkie sets are smaller in size which could feel too small if used by older children with bigger hands. On the other hand, older children may have no problem with the size and may find enjoyment being able to slip them into their pocket easily.
For a list of toy or gift options for older children, check out the Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys and the Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Girls.
