Working Dads gift and gadget guide May 2022

INTRO

Sennheiser CX True Wireless Earbuds

I’ve always been an over-the-head guy when it came to wireless headphones, worried about comfort and slippage. So it was with slight trepidation that I tried these earbuds. Luckily, I wasn’t disappointed. The box came with an assortment of rubber tips so I was able to mix and match (right ear small, left ear medium) and they sit comfortably inside my ear. Of course, being Sennheiser you don’t have to worry about the sound – it’s fantastic, rich in quality and with great noise cancellation. They pair very easily too, plus the box fits nicely in your pocket.

Buy here

Planet Buddies Tablet Cushion Stand

If you’re anything like us, your child wanders around the house with a tablet desperately trying to prop it up against a book, or a vase or, well, anything so they can watch Netflix and eat their cereal. This is a great solution that looks good, wipes clean and will help your kid’s posture as well. And now we’re not worried about the youngest smashing the glass container she previously used.

Buy here

RED5 Gaming Nova Microphone

If we’re being perfectly honest, we don’t really do multi-person gaming. But rather we attached this to our desk to use for home-working and it’s excellent. Previously, if we wanted to sound professional we had to dig out a posh mic which requires lots of fiddly wires. This clamps to the desk and swings in and out of position as you see fit. The sound quality is great – listening back to recorded meetings or podcast recordings and it was clear (the built in pop-shield helps. The flexible housing means you can manipulate it easily too. The microphone is omni-directional and it’s only £40.

Buy here

Build Your Own’s Pirate Ship

Eco-friendly and made from 100% sustainable and cardboard, this piratical model is an excellent crafty thing to do with your young one. The instructions are simple, it’s not that hard to put together (the box suggests 8+, but six is fine with some family help!). Intended to promote STEM learning, the cannon fires and the mast ‘explodes’. It’s super-fun, with some education thrown in.

Buy here

Flow Neuroscience Headset

This one is not just for anybody, but this headset promises to address depression without medication. It does this primarily through electrical pulses administered onto the forehead – basically brain stimulation. That’s backed up with lots of app-based relaxation and therapeutic support. We tried it and it was a slightly discombobulating experience – the pulses stung a bit initially, but was perfectly manageable. And thought we’ve experimented only briefly, it’s proven to be a good start. You’ll need to do your research if you want to investigate further, as obviously there are medical issues at stake and it’s only suitable for certain users. But as we face a mental health crisis, the fact people are exploring ways to combat it is comforting at least.

To find out whether it’s suitable for you, look here

Readly magazine subscription service

Love magazines and newspapers but want to either save on all that paper or can’t afford the subscriptions? Readly is a great option – an all-you-can-read subscription service which you access through an app for a tenner a month. They have partnerships with hundreds of mags and papers in all genres and the reading experience is great. This really feels like reading the paper version on a screen – way better than browsing the website instead and looking longingly at the shelves in the newsagent. They do a whole bunch of trials too, so you can give it a go.

Buy here

Planet Buddies Car Seat Organiser

For those of you whose car is full of, just, STUFF, this is a great option, particularly on a long journey. They can hold a 10.2′ tablet and will also organise all the bottles and packets that your kids normally shove down the side of their seat. A simple solution that looks good and does what you want it to.

Buy here

Read more:

Mindfulness round-up: gadgets and stuff to help your mental health

Timewise flexible working project produces positive results

• Vote  
• 0
• 0
• You already voted!

• Tags:
• fatherhood