Kid-Approved Tablets: How to Choose the Perfect Device for Your Child's Learning and Play
May 4, 2023
7 min read
Kids are increasingly exposed to screens at a younger age than ever before. With tablets being a popular form of entertainment, choosing the right one for kids that promotes healthy use is essential.
Choosing the best tablet for kids with parental controls, content filters, and eye protection features can ensure a safe and healthy experience. Tablets designed for kids often have educational and engaging content, making them a great learning tool.
Selecting a tablet that caters to your child's age range, interests, and needs can provide a fun and safe way for children to explore technology while promoting healthy screen time habits.
Top Tablet Choices for Kids
1. Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition
The Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition is a fantastic choice for children, designed specifically with them in mind. This tablet features a durable, kid-proof case that can withstand drops and accidents. In addition, it comes with a 2-year worry-free guarantee, meaning that if the device breaks, Amazon will replace it at no extra cost.
The Fire HD Kids Edition also offers a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, providing access to a wealth of child-friendly content, including books, movies, and games. In addition, parental controls allow for customized screen time limits and content filtering, ensuring a safe digital environment for kids.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab Kids
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Kids is another excellent option for children, featuring a colorful, child-friendly design and a rugged case that can handle rough play. This tablet is preloaded with Samsung Kids, a curated library of educational and entertaining content for children, and parental controls, to manage usage and access.
In addition, the tablet offers a long battery life, making it ideal for on-the-go use. The Samsung Galaxy Tab Kids also supports multi-user profiles, allowing each family member to have their own personalized experience on the device.
3. Apple iPad
The Apple iPad is a versatile choice for kids, offering an extensive range of apps and games through the App Store. With a high-resolution Retina display and high performance, the iPad can handle demanding tasks such as video editing and gaming. The iPad's compatibility with Apple Pencil adds another dimension of creativity for children, enabling them to draw, write, and create.
In addition, the built-in parental control, Screen Time, allows parents to set usage limits and restrict access to specific apps or content. Although the iPad is not specifically designed for kids, a sturdy case is recommended to protect it from accidental drops.
4. Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Kids Edition
The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Kids Edition is a budget-friendly tablet for children, featuring a dedicated Kids Mode and a child-safe bumper case. The tablet comes with preloaded content and games and access to Google Kids Space, which offers a curated library of age-appropriate apps, games, and videos.
In addition, parental controls allow for screen time management and content filtering, ensuring a safe digital experience for kids. The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Kids Edition also supports multi-user profiles, making it suitable for families with multiple children.
5. Leapfrog Epic Academy Edition
The Leapfrog Epic Academy Edition is an educational tablet for children aged 3-9. It features a customizable home screen, allowing kids to create their digital world with interactive widgets and a customizable avatar. The tablet has a 3-month subscription to LeapFrog Academy, an interactive learning program offering engaging, age-appropriate content.
In addition, it has a built-in Just for Me learning technology, which personalizes select games and activities to suit each child's unique learning needs. With comprehensive parental controls and a focus on learning, the Leapfrog Epic Academy Edition is an ideal choice for fostering early educational development.
Best Budget Tablets for Kids
Vankyo MatrixPad Z1
The Vankyo MatrixPad Z1 is an excellent budget tablet for kids, offering a 7-inch 1024x600 IPS display, 1GB RAM, and 32GB storage expandable up to 128 GB. The device runs on Android 8.1 Oreo Go Edition, providing a smooth user experience and access to Google Play Store.
With its parent control feature, parents can set usage limits and block inappropriate content. The tablet also has Eye Health mode, reducing blue light emissions and providing a comfortable reading experience. In addition, the MatrixPad Z1's durable construction and affordable price make it a solid choice for children.
Dragon Touch Y88X Pro
The Dragon Touch Y88X Pro tablet is designed for kids, featuring a 7-inch HD IPS display, 2GB RAM, and 16GB storage, expandable up to 128 GB. Running on Android 9.0 Pie, the tablet comes preloaded with the Kidoz app, which offers a child-friendly interface, parental controls, and curated content.
In addition, the Y88X Pro has a sturdy kid-proof case to protect it from accidental drops and spills and an adjustable stand. The combination of performance, durability, and budget-friendly price makes the Dragon Touch Y88X Pro a top choice for kids.
Contixo V8-2
The Contixo V8-2 is a budget-friendly tablet tailored for children, with a 7-inch 1024x600 IPS display, 1GB RAM, and 16GB storage expandable up to 128 GB. Running on Android 8.1 Oreo, the V8-2 comes with pre-installed apps like iWawa and Kidoz, offering kids a safe and educational environment.
Parental control options allow for usage restrictions and content filtering. In addition, the tablet has a durable silicone case to protect against drops and spills. With its long-lasting battery life, affordability, and robust feature set, the Contixo V8-2 is an ideal tablet for kids.
RCA Voyager Pro
The RCA Voyager Pro is a budget-friendly option for kids, sporting a 7-inch 1024x600 display, 1GB RAM, and 16GB storage expandable up to 128 GB. Running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, this tablet provides access to many kid-friendly apps and games.
The Voyager Pro comes with a detachable keyboard, making it a versatile choice for kids who can use it for entertainment and learning. The built-in parental controls ensure safe usage, and the tablet's compact size and lightweight design make it easy for kids to handle. The RCA Voyager Pro offers great value for its price.
Accessories and Extras to Enhance the Tablet Experience for Kids
Protective Cases and Screen Protectors
Investing in protective cases and screen protectors is essential to ensure the longevity of a tablet and safeguard it from accidental drops and spills. Kids' tablet cases often come in bright colors and kid-friendly designs, featuring shockproof material and raised edges for added protection.
On the other hand, screen protectors shield the tablet's display from scratches and cracks while maintaining touch sensitivity. These accessories provide peace of mind to parents, knowing that their child's tablet is protected from daily wear and tear, and create a worry-free environment for kids to explore and learn.
Styluses for Creative Play and Learning
Styluses allow kids to enhance their creative play and learning experiences on tablets. These handy tools encourage the development of fine motor skills, as children can practice drawing, writing, and interacting with apps more precisely than with their fingers.
Styluses are available in various sizes, styles, and materials, catering to different age groups and preferences. Some models even have built-in features like tilt sensitivity or pressure recognition, allowing children to explore other artistic techniques. Ultimately, a stylus can turn a tablet into an engaging, interactive platform for children to express their creativity and learn through play.
Headphones and Audio Accessories
Headphones and audio accessories are essential for an immersive and focused tablet experience for kids. Child-friendly headphones often feature volume-limiting technology to prevent hearing damage, ensuring that audio levels remain at safe volumes. In addition, noise-canceling or noise-isolating headphones can help kids concentrate better by blocking background noise.
Many children's headphones are designed with adjustable headbands, cushioned ear cups, and colorful themes to appeal to their tastes. Bluetooth speakers or audio splitters can also facilitate group learning or entertainment sessions. Overall, these audio accessories provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience, allowing kids to engage with their tablet's content fully.
Educational Apps and Content Subscriptions
Educational apps and content subscriptions can greatly enhance the tablet experience for kids by providing age-appropriate, interactive learning materials. Many apps are available that cater to various subjects, such as math, science, language arts, and social studies.
These apps often gamify learning, making it more engaging and enjoyable. Content subscriptions, like e-book libraries or streaming services, offer curated and regularly updated material for children to explore. Providing diverse resources, educational apps, and content subscriptions help transform tablets into versatile learning tools that can support children's growth and development.
