It would appear that most kids from a very early age are now having a jab of their sticky fingers on your touchscreen device.

But it’s your shiny gadget and their jam-covered digits need another outlet.

There are plenty of devices and hundreds of apps with tots in mind that combine fun and education to feed their curious minds.

Here’s our round up of tech that’s ideal for kids.

Drops And Dribbles – Apptivity Case – £12.99 from www.firebox.com

Leave your phone lying around for a moment and there is little doubt that any toddler who spots it will try to get their hands on it. Preventative measures to the inevitable can be found by placing your iPhone inside this rubberised device. Not only does it protect your phone, there are numerous baby-friendly apps available to download and no way for your little one to make an erroneous call to Australia. Chunky handles, a rattle and mirror on the back will amuse them even when the battery runs out, or when mum needs the phone back!

Apple Biter – LeapPad Explorer – £79.99 from www.elc.co.uk

Billed as a learning tablet for kids, this smart-looking device from LeapFrog is ideal for children aged from three years old. It includes a camera and video recorder and offers a fun learning experience through ebooks, games, videos and more than 100 apps. This new genre of plaything looks set to be big this Christmas.

Tots Tablet – Vtech InnoTab – £59.99 from www.smythstoys.com

Even with the omission of camera and video capabilities, the InnoTab is still worth a look. Compatible with the Kidizoom camera range, children can view images on the five-inch touchscreen and access more than 100 apps for fun and learning combined. The InnoTab features an SD-card slot and MP3 player, which may, for some, edge it ahead of the competition.

Artistic Tendencies – Griffin Crayola ColorStudio HD iMarker – £19.95 from www.johnlewis.com

This iMarker digital stylus is the crayon-like device that brings the ColorStudio HD app to life. It acts as a marker, crayon, pen and paintbrush in one and creates Crayola colours within the app. There are pictures to fill in, animations to interact with, sound effects and music too, and the app always updates with the latest pictures when you sync your iPad.

Screen Rider – Disney Cars 2 AppMates – £12.95 from http://store.apple.com/uk

Fans of the antics of the animated inhabitants of Radiator Springs will be open mouthed when they see this app in action. After the app has been downloaded onto your iPad, take the car to the screen to race around courses and complete missions. The on-screen action as you drive through mud, water and dirt roads is utterly brilliant. The kids may struggle to prise this from your hands!

Pure Fun – IMotion Radio Control Car – £29.99 from www.play.com

For pure grin-inducing fun, grab this radio-controlled car, build a course on the kitchen floor and let the race begin. The car, which is also available in red, is controlled via an interactive steering wheel, so make your move and watch as the whopping 32cm-long racer manoeuvres around indoor and outdoor tracks.