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Christmas gifts for kids who love drones (and what to know before buying their first one)
“My nephew is obsessed with drones. What should I get him?” is a common question in December, usually from someone who doesn’t fly, for a child somewhere between 6 and 14. This post is a practical answer. It covers a handful of gifts for kids who love drones from our own shop, some neutral advice if you are thinking about a first drone, and a short summary of what EU and US rules say about young pilots.
Gifts for kids who love drones from our shop
Most of what we sell is made for working pilots, so this list is short. These are the items I would put under the tree for a child.
Kids Drone Pilot Cap
The Kids Drone Pilot Cap (from €26.95) is the one product we made specifically for children. It is a youth-sized version of our adult Drone Pilot cap, in bio-washed chino cotton twill with a pre-curved visor and an adjustable strap with a brass-toned buckle. It fits head sizes from 53.3 to 54.8 cm (21 to 21.57 in), so measure around the forehead before you order.
Cat Aviator Drone Pilot Sticker
The Cat Aviator Drone Pilot Sticker (from €7.85) is a glossy vinyl decal in four sizes, from 2 × 2 in up to 5.5 × 5.5 in. Kids put it on a controller, a laptop or a water bottle. It sticks best to smooth surfaces used indoors. At this price it also works as a stocking filler.
Drone Pilot pin buttons
The set of Drone Pilot pin buttons (from €18.99) contains five buttons, each 5.7 cm (2.25 in) across, with a safety-pin clasp on the back. They go on a school bag, a jacket or a lanyard. Because of the pin, I would give these to the older end of the age range, or help younger kids attach them.
Drone Pilot Pillow
The Drone Pilot Pillow (from €23.95) comes with the insert included, and the cover has a hidden zipper and is machine washable.
An aerial poster for the bedroom wall
Kids who love drones are often more excited about the view from above than about the machine itself. The Dublin aerial view poster (from €11.50) is an original top-down photo of a residential area, printed on matte archival paper in 11×14, 12×18 or 24×36. For something ready to hang, the In the clouds at 37000 ft framed poster (from €34) comes with hanging hardware.
A mug for hot chocolate
The Premium Drone Pilot Coffee Mug (from €12) is ceramic with a colored interior, rim and handle, comes in 11 oz and 15 oz, and is microwave and dishwasher safe. Call it the hot chocolate mug and a 10-year-old will use it every morning. The What’s your superpower mug (from €14.50) is the funnier option.
If you are also shopping for the adults in the family who fly, see our list of gifts for drone pilots under €50.
Thinking about buying their first drone?
We don’t sell drones, so I have no brand to push. Here is what I would tell a friend.
Start small, light and indoor-capable
A first drone will crash, many times. That is how kids learn. A small, light model that can fly in a living room lets them practice in winter, with no wind, and with low stakes when it bumps into a wall. Look for propeller guards that fully surround each propeller. They protect fingers, furniture and the drone itself. At this stage, spare propellers and a second battery matter more than camera quality.
Why under 250 g matters
250 grams is where the rules change on both sides of the Atlantic. In the EU, a drone under 250 g with no camera, or one that is a toy under the EU toy directive, does not require operator registration. In the US, a drone under 250 g flown for fun does not need FAA registration. A lighter drone also does less damage if it hits someone. Check the take-off weight in the specifications, not the headline on the box.
Supervision is the real safety feature
No gadget replaces an adult standing next to the child. For the first sessions, stay within arm’s reach and pick an open space away from people, roads and animals. Agree on a few simple rules: land when asked, never fly over people, and keep the drone where you can both see it.
What the rules say for young pilots
This is a summary of the official EASA and FAA guidance as of October 2026. Rules differ by country, so check with your national aviation authority before the first flight.
In the EU (EASA open category)
- Minimum age: the general minimum age for remote pilots in the open category is 16. EU member states may set their own national minimum age for remote pilots.
- No minimum age applies when flying a toy drone with the C0 class label in subcategory A1, flying a privately built drone under 250 g, or flying under the direct supervision of a remote pilot who has met the competency requirements.
- Toys: EASA treats a drone as a toy when it is designed or intended for play by children under 14 and complies with the EU toy safety directive (2009/48/EC), as stated in its EU declaration of conformity. Manufacturers who want to stay outside that directive mark products “not for use under 14 years”.
- Operator registration: in the EU you register yourself as a drone operator, not the drone, with the authority of your country of residence. You don’t need to register if the drone weighs less than 250 g and has no camera or similar sensor, or if it has a camera but is a toy. A non-toy drone with a camera needs registration, even under 250 g.
- Who is the operator: EASA defines the operator as the person who owns or rents the drone, and notes that a drone given as a gift makes the recipient the operator. If you want to hold the registration yourself as the parent, ask your national authority how they handle drones flown by minors.
For the certificates adults need, see our EU drone pilot certification guide.
In the US (FAA)
- TRUST: every recreational flyer must pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) and carry proof of passing. It is free and online through FAA-approved test administrators, and every question can be corrected to 100% before the certificate is issued. If the certificate is lost, the test has to be taken again.
- No minimum age for TRUST: the FAA states that Congress set no minimum age, so a child flying recreationally takes the test too.
- Registration: drones weighing 250 g (0.55 lb) or more must be registered. Drones under 250 g flown under the recreational exception do not.
- Age for registration: the person registering must be 13 or older. If the owner is younger than 13, someone 13 or older must register the drone, which in practice usually means a parent.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need a license to fly a drone?
In the US, recreational flyers of any age need a TRUST certificate, which is free. In the EU, a toy drone with the C0 label has no minimum pilot age, and for C0 drones EASA asks the pilot to read the user manual carefully. Heavier drones bring more requirements, so check your national authority.
Do I need to register a small toy drone?
In the EU, not if it is under 250 g and is a toy, or has no camera. In the US, not if it is under 250 g and flown for fun. The child still needs to pass TRUST in the US.
