BEST TABLETS FOR KIDS
BEST KID'S TABLETS THAT ARE STURDY, AMUSING, AND EDUCATIONAL
Purchase one of these highly-rated tablets that are suitable for children and parents.
Most of us were fortunate if we were able to use a Game Boy while growing up. Kids today are more technologically savvy than ever, and their first exposure to technology is frequently a tablet for children. A kids' tablet gives your youngster access to both entertaining and instructive functions and is more reasonably priced and robust than the tablet you're used to. They offer more thorough parental settings that stop your child from using the unfiltered internet and downloading apps.
With the use of children's tablets, parents can quickly download a variety of amusing and educational apps to keep their kids occupied. Since you can easily download several hours' worth of music or videos, they are useful for extended road trips as well. Additionally, their touchscreens may be used to read books and look at pictures simultaneously. They can also be used to maintain contact with family and friends.
Best Tablets for Kids in 2022
Best Overall
Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet
Amazon
amazon.com
$139.99 $69.99 (50% off)
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KEY SPECS
Screen Size: 8 in.
Storage: 32GB
Battery Life: 11 hours
Due to its durable construction, 2-year guarantee, 10-hour battery life, and comprehensive set of parental controls, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is without a doubt the greatest kids' tablet you can purchase. The tablet is shielded from drops and scratches by a foam case, which is available in yellow, pink, or blue.
Even better, Amazon's 2-year "Worry-Free Warranty," which covers accidental damage, is included with the Fire HD 8. As a result, if your child destroys it by dropping it in the toilet or jamming a candy bar into the charging port, Amazon will replace it with no questions asked.
A feature the iPad lacks is the ability to alter the user experience depending on who is using the tablet, whether it be a child, teen, or parent. Parents can configure choices to restrict usage, prevent purchases, and block access to content that isn't acceptable for their children.
Additionally, Amazon offers customers a 1-year membership to Amazon Kids+, a content hub with thousands of kid-friendly movies, books, games, and applications. The tablet has 32GB of storage, and it also accepts microSD cards to expand the amount of space for games and movies.
Best iPad
iPad mini
Apple
$499.00
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KEY SPECS
Screen Size: 8.3 inches
Storage: 64 or 256GB
Battery Life: 11 hours
The iPad mini offers a superior operating system, a large 8.3-inch display with great resolution, and a battery life of up to 10 hours. There are many tough cases to pick from that will keep it intact when your child drops it, and it feels sturdy yet is not heavy. Most significantly, Apple's App Store offers the industry's largest assortment of apps, games, and instructional materials.
But even with all of this, I don't believe an iPad is the greatest tablet for children. Parental controls for the iPad mini are more difficult to access and set up than on Amazon's tablets, but they do exist to block access to explicit content and in-app sales. Furthermore, the iPad does not accept multiple user accounts, making it more challenging to share with adults and siblings who likely have varied usage requirements.
On the iPad, you can thankfully establish a daily time limit for a particular app or app category (think games, social media, entertainment, etc.). The iPad stops allowing access to certain apps after the timer expires. Your kid might send you a notification asking for a time extension using your own iOS smartphone. However, these reminders quickly become obtrusive and make it simple to give in.
It's also important to note that the 10.2-inch iPad 9th Generation is more expensive than the iPad mini. Because of its smaller size, double storage capacity, and ability to rapidly jot down notes or sketches with Apple's useful Pencil accessory, I believe the iPad mini to be the superior choice. However, you might not think the price difference is worthwhile.
The Big-Screen Pick
Fire HD 10 Kids Tablet
Amazon
amazon.com
$199.99 $139.99 (30% off)
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KEY SPECS
Screen Size: 10.1 inches
Storage: 32GB
Battery Life: 13 hours
You won't be let down by this tablet from Amazon if you think bigger is better. It has a battery that lasts 20% longer (2 hours longer) and a 2-inch bigger display than our Best Overall selection.
In addition to having a bigger screen, it has a speedier processor than the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids, which enables it to run power-hungry programs like Zoom and Microsoft Office Mobile.
The tablet's 1,920 by 1,200 resolution display and its potent front-facing speakers both improve the quality of movie viewing. Your kid can view Netflix, Twitch, and Disney+ videos with ease. The larger screen will also be useful for seeing picture books, reading comics, and playing games like Minecraft.
The slimmer-cased Fire HD 10 Kids Pro, which still has a kickstand case but is constructed of tougher plastic and isn't nearly as huge or bouncy, is recommended for parents of older children. With the exception of their removable cases, the two tablets are identical.
The Fire HD 10 Kids has simple parental controls and access to Amazon's Kids+ service, which is filled with thousands of kid-friendly apps, games, and books, just like our best overall pick. Its 2-year worry-free guarantee is even better.
Best for Toddlers
BEST FOR TODDLERS
LeapPad Academy Tablet
LeapFrog
amazon.com
$139.99 $87.54 (37% off)
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KEY SPECS
Screen Size: 7 inches
Storage: 16GB
Battery Life: 8 hours
What could be more beneficial for children's intellectual development than a virtual world? This tablet will adapt to your child's learning level by changing the level of difficulty for the many games and activities available as apps. Additionally, it has a shatterproof screen to accommodate slippery fingers and temper tantrums. Even a kickstand for watching videos is included!
Your child will be challenged to solve problems by using the Leapfrog tablet as they learn arithmetic, coding, spelling, reading, writing, and science-related themes. There are plenty of activities for your child to try out, but if they get bored with the ones that come preinstalled, you'll need to shell out $8 per month for a subscription to additional material or buy separate apps.
This tablet, like those made by Amazon, runs a modified but user-friendly version of Android with parental settings and a kid-friendly web browser. It's important to note that Leapfrog tablets have slower, weaker CPUs than an iPad or an Amazon tablet, making them occasionally difficult to operate with some programmes. Thankfully, the tablet has Bluetooth, two cameras, 16GB of expandable storage, and a 7-hour battery.
Best for Teens
best for teens
Samsung Tab A7 Lite
Samsung
amazon.com
$144.99
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KEY SPECS
Screen Size: 8.7 inches
Storage: 32 or 64GB
Battery Life: 14 hours
A lightweight Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite with a brilliant 8.7-inch display is ideal for Netflix marathons or reading in bed at night. Teenagers who wish to install social media apps, play games, or operate several programs at once should choose it. However, compared to Amazon's tablets, its parental controls are less comprehensive.
The good news is that parents can install Samsung Kids, a vast collection of kid-friendly educational games, books, and videos. Samsung Kids is also simple to monitor and regulate. It's important to note that the Tab A7 Lite does not come with a bumper case, but you can get one that works with it on Amazon in a variety of colors.
A 32GB or 64GB storage option is available on the gadget, which is ideal for parents who want to load it up with lots of videos and apps before a long road trip. Additionally, it features two cameras that are useful for recording YouTube videos or Skyping the grandparents. The tablet's 13-hour battery life, up to 4GB of RAM, and expandable memory are just a few of its further strengths, which together make it a strong and versatile choice at an affordable price.
I also suggest Samsung's 10.4-inch Galaxy A7 tablet if you don't mind spending a little more for a bigger screen and better performance. The Galaxy A8, a technically more recent big-screen tablet from Samsung, is more expensive than the A7 it packs a faster processor.
What age is appropriate for giving your child a tablet?
Like with any gadget geared toward children, you should err on the side of caution and be aware that the device may be hacked to spy on your children or used to gather and sell data. Therefore, it's up to you as a parent to decide whether giving your kid access to a tablet is in their best interests.
Children under the age of 18 months should avoid screen usage, with the exception of video calls, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The group recommends that children between the ages of 18 and 24 months watch television with an adult at all times.
How much screen time is advised for children?
- For children ages 2 to 5, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests limiting daily screen time to no more than one hour.
- The group states that parents should set time restrictions and limit consumption to "high-quality" programming and apps for children ages 6 and older.
- The majority of experts also concur that tablets shouldn't be given to kids right before bedtime, at meals, during exercise, or during family time.
- I suggest reading The New York Times' helpful guide on how and when to restrict kids' access to technology.
How should you choose a tablet?
The age of your child should ultimately determine which brand of tablet you buy.
Younger children can use tablets made by companies like LeapFrog and Amazon because of their modified operating systems and drop-proof bumpers.
The array of children's tablets offered by Amazon runs a simplified, easier-to-use version of Android and doesn't have the Google Play app store preinstalled. Instead, it has the Amazon App Store, where you can download apps made by third parties that are appropriate for children.
You'll have to go through more hoops on the majority of Amazon kids' tablets than you would on a Samsung Android tablet or an Apple iPad in order to install apps like YouTube, Netflix, or TikTok.
The New York Times produced a useful article on if all of this is confusing for you how to configure a child's tablet.
Your children will likely desire a tablet that resembles yours when they are older and more mature. Of course, you can "open up" Amazon and LeapFrog tablets at any moment to provide users access to standard Android apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. Even the user interfaces of Amazon's Fire tablets vary depending on the profile type you chose when setting them up (Child, Teen, or Adult).
But no matter how many settings you tweak, the tablet's kid-friendly, vibrant, and well-guarded exterior won't alter. Your child has almost undoubtedly borrowed an iPad or Android tablet in the past from a friend, a cousin, or even a stranger, so they are likely already familiar with what a real tablet looks like.
Thankfully, Amazon offers tablets with smaller and more mature-looking casings, such as the Fire 7 Kids Pro, Fire HD 8 Kids Pro, and Fire HD 10 Kids Pro. When your child outgrows any bumper case from Amazon, you can also take it off.
Which apps are offered?
Kids' tablets frequently have kid-friendly browsers and apps pre-installed, and some even include parental settings to restrict usage and stop in-app purchases.
For children aged 10 and under, Amazon's Kids+ program provides immediate access to hundreds of books, educational apps, movies, and games. The service, which is available in English or Spanish, costs $2.99 per month, but you receive a 1-year subscription for free when you purchase an Amazon Kids tablet.
A learning program called LeapFrog Academy is available for $7.99 per month with a two-month free trial and is designed for preschoolers between the ages of three and six. In order to encourage creativity, problem-solving, and social skills, it is jam-packed with books, games, puzzles, movies, and music that are all oriented around conventional school subjects. For additional discounts, LeapFrog also offers a $24.99 6-month plan and a $39.99 annual plan.
Samsung Kids is appropriate for children ages 3 to 8 and costs $7.99 per month (or $59.99 per year). A vast selection of instructional games, books, and movies are included with your subscription, many of which feature some of your child's favorite characters from shows like Super WHY, The Octonauts, and My Little Pony.
The iPad comes to mind.
The iPad has the largest selection of apps of any tablet, but it lacks a kid-focused subscription service unless you count its game-focused Apple Arcade service.
A standard iPad costs more than $300 (after tax), which you may believe to be too much for your child. I believe that iPads have the best assortment of apps, games, and educational materials available, but given their high price and dearth of parental restrictions, you should only purchase one for your child if they are mature enough to handle one.
The iPad 9th Generation, which costs a little less than the iPad mini but has a bigger 10.2-inch screen, 64GB of storage, and compatibility with the Apple Pencil, is available from Apple.
The iPad is without a doubt the greatest tablet for learning because it has the most powerful CPU and can run practically any program. Not to mention that iPads are widely used, making it simple for your child to seek tech support when they require it.
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