A karaoke machine is one of the best ways to keep your kids entertained. It’s also a great way to spice up special occasions such as birthdays and dinner parties.
A karaoke machine is not just for fun. As they sing along to the latest pop tunes or songs from their favourite movies, they are boosting their confidence. For younger kids it can also help with language development.
And if you have an especially voice-talented little one, then a karaoke machine is the perfect starting point.
If you are thinking of getting a karaoke machine for your kids we have five great recommendations for you. All of them are designed specifically for kids meaning they are super fun and have plenty of kid-friendly features.
1. Disney Frozen Karaoke Set
If you can’t stop them singing ‘Let it go’ for the thousandth times you might as well make it more fun for them.
This Frozen karaoke set by Disney is perfect if your kid absolutely loves Elsa, Anna, Olaf and all the other characters from the movie.
It has a beautiful blue frozen-y design with the images of Anna, Elsa and Olaf at the front. A bar around the machine produces flashing lights when you switch on a button.
The set includes a Frozen CD with two songs: Do You Wanna Build A Snowman? and of course Let It Go.
But you are not limited to just these two songs. You can pop in your own karaoke CD and even connect the machine to your TV to see the lyrics. Another option is to connect it to an MP3 player or your smartphone using the included cable.
There’s a microphone included plus buttons for master volume, mic volume, echo effect and flashing lights.
For power you can either plug it into an AC outlet or use 6 C batteries (not included).
What we like about it – Overall, this is a great karaoke machine for kids. It’s fun, versatile, easy to use and affordable.
2. VTech 178503 Kidi Super Star Toy, Multi-Coloured
If your kid fancies herself a superstar this is the perfect birthday or Christmas gift. It doesn’t have a CD player like the one from Disney but there is a 3.5mm jack that you can connect to an MP3 player or smartphone and play any song you want.
There are also 8 built-in songs to get started plus a ton of karaoke games including tongue twisters, playing virtual instruments and dancing.
That’s not all. There is a button for reducing the volume of the source music to make your kid’s voice louder. They can also use various built-in sound effects and switch on fun disco lights.
For power, it comes with demo batteries that don’t last long. Make sure you have spares. You can also buy an AC adaptor separately.
What we like about it – We really like how versatile it is in terms of the different types of fun things kids can do. The games, lights, silly sound effects and ability to connect to an external music source ensure your kids will never run out of things to do.
But the feature we like most is the ability to record songs. Your kids will have a blast with this one. They can record 5-minute snippets, add in sound effects and then play back the recording.
3. Singing Machine SML-383 Portable CD-G Karaoke Player and 3 CDGs Party Pack
When you need to take the fun on the road this is the best karaoke machine. It’s compact but sufficiently loud and can work either via an AC adapter or using 8 C batteries.
It comes with two microphone jacks (but only one mic is included) with separate buttons to control the volume of each. This is perfect for karaoke duets.
You can pop in a karaoke CD and connect the machine to a TV to read the lyrics. It comes with 3 karaoke CDs to get you started. The kids’ disk contains 20 songs including London Bridge, This Old Man and Skip to My Lou.
There are two additional disks with famous pop hits ideal for teens and adults. They include songs by Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande and Katy Perry – 36 songs in all in the two disks.
For a complete party mode, the karaoke machine includes disco light effects and an echo sound effect button. There is also a balance button which changes the volume level of the recorded music or the singer’s voice.
What we like about it – Overall, we love the duet microphones, the bonus CD with a long list of songs and the easy portability.
4. Singing Machine SMK250BG Bluetooth Sing Along Karaoke Machine
Another great choice if you have two kids who’d love to do duets.
You can’t put a CD in this one nor can you connect it via cable to an MP3 player. Instead, it comes with Bluetooth. So you can wirelessly play any song from your phone or tablet.
There are two mic jacks (only one mic included) and you can either plug it into an AC outlet or use batteries (batteries not included).
For the complete party effect it comes with mood lights that automatically change depending on the song playing.
What we like about it – While not as versatile as some other karaoke machines, we love the duet microphones, the Bluetooth connectivity and the fun mood lights.
5. Foxom Kids Karaoke Machine
If you are looking for a cheap karaoke machine for younger kids, we recommend this one.
For less than £20, you get an adjustable-height stand, 10 built-in kids’ songs and a 3.5mm jack to plug in your smartphone or MP3 player.
In addition to the ability to adjust the stand height between 45cm and 97cm, you can also rotate the microphone 360 degrees. The microphone sits in a bracket on the stand but can also be taken out and held by hand
The karaoke machine is powered by 3 triple A batteries (not included).
What we like about it – For younger pop stars (minimum 3 years) this is a great buy. It’s really to use even for a 3yr old and it’s hardy so you don’t have to worry about them damaging it.
How we choose the top picks
There are a gazillion karaoke machines for kids offering all kinds of features. We wanted the best karaoke machines that kids will find easy to use and provide loads of fun.
One of the things we looked at was the design. Most karaoke machines passed with flying colours. Most of them come in bright kid-friendly colours with fun disco lights.
Ease of use was a major factor in selecting the best karaoke machines. The ones we picked have clearly labelled buttons and one of them even has voice instructions for younger users who can’t yet read.
Another thing we looked at was versatility. All our five picks can be powered either using an AC adapter or using batteries. This gives you the option of using it virtually anywhere.
Most of our picks also come with built-in songs or a compact disk and you can also plug in your phone or MP3 player.
We of course considered customer reviews as well. All our picks have high ratings with mostly positive reviews from parents and guardians.
Things to consider when buying a karaoke machine for kids
The best karaoke machine will depend on your child’s age, what kinds of songs they like and how many kids you have.
Here are some things to consider when choosing the best karaoke machine for kids.
1. AC-powered, battery-powered or both
If you are going to use the karaoke machine mostly at home you can get an AC-only machine. But if you plan to travel with it, make sure it can also be powered using batteries.
Luckily, most karaoke machines for kids have both options. But remember to check whether they have included the batteries (most don’t) and AC adapter.
2. CD player
It’s completely up to you whether you need a karaoke machine with a CD player.
With a CD player you can pop in a CD + G (CD with graphics). There are plenty of karaoke CDs specifically for kids you can buy online. Most karaoke machines with a CD player also include a CD + G disk with sample songs to get your kids started.
One advantage of having a CD player is that you can hook up the machine to a TV and display the lyrics. This is great for karaoke nights.
3. External music source
If you want an unlimited source of songs without having to buy karaoke CDs then check that the karaoke machine has a 3.5mm jack. This allows you to hook it up to an external music source such as your phone or an MP3 player.
If you don’t want a karaoke machine with a CD player, then make sure it at least has the 3.5mm audio cable.
Alternatively get a Bluetooth karaoke machine. You get the same unlimited source of songs as you would with an audio jack.
4. One or two mics
This will depend on how many kids you have.
But a 2-mic karaoke machine comes in handy even if you have one child. They can sing along with a friend during a sleepover or birthday party.
If you decide to buy a machine with two microphone jacks, note that it will most likely come with just one microphone. You have to buy the second one yourself.
5. Ease of use
Finally make sure the karaoke machine is easy to use for your child. If they are younger (3-4yrs), get a cheaper karaoke with simple controls. For older kids (6+ years), you can get something with more buttons and features.
