A child’s first tablet is a gateway to endless educational apps and kid-friendly content (including the vast selections on YouTube Kids), but you need to determine how much you’d like to spend. You could head straight for the iPad, or you go with a more affordable option, such as the Amazon Fire tablets that are made just for kids.
Tablets can be easily loaded with apps and educational content, so it’s clear why children gravitate to them. Not only can kids listen to music, watch movies, read books and play educational games, but they can also learn the basics of using a computer and even learn how to code on a kid tablet.
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When you’re searching for the best kids tablet, it’s important to consider the affordability, battery life, durability and lifespan for a kid-friendly tablet before actually buying it, especially if you’re shopping for younger kids. Since children tend to be exceptionally sticky and a little more clumsy, it’s a good idea to invest in a child’s tablet with a sturdy construction or a durable kid proof case that can protect a delicate glass screen against any scratches or drops; a rubberized bumper case of some kind usually does the trick. Most kids don’t need top-of-the-line features, either.
With that in mind, it may be best to avoid pricey premium tablets like the Microsoft Surface Pro, iPad mini or Apple iPad Pro for young children. (It would be a particular type of heartbreak to watch an iPad Pro shatter on the ground, which they can do, even with a protective case.) Many kid-friendly tablets even offer robust parental control options that let parents monitor the amount of screen time and the content kids can access. Whether you’re buying a children’s tablet for an older child, younger kids or a little one, you’re sure to find a great tablet among our picks for the best tablet for kids.
Read more: The 4 best phones to get your kid in 2021
Amazon
The Fire HD 10 Kids Edition is the kids tablet version of the Amazon Fire HD 10 with the largest display in the lineup of Amazon tablet options. Just like its 7- and 8-inch screen size siblings, this Fire tablet features a ton of parental control options and a rubberized bumper case to protect the device against drops. This 10-inch Amazon Fire tablet also includes a two-year “no questions asked” replacement warranty and a one-year subscription to FreeTime Unlimited, a content library that gives kids access to plenty of books, games, app options and age-appropriate kid friendly content whether you are purchasing this Fire HD tablet for a younger child or older kid.
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The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is two inches smaller and $60 cheaper than the 10-inch version of the kids’ tablet, but it includes the same bundle of parental controls, rubberized bumper case to protect the device, two-year worry-free replacement warranty and a one-year subscription to FreeTime Unlimited. You can add a microSD card for additional storage. Compared to the Kids Edition of the Fire 7 tablet, the HD 8 Kids tablet is $40 more, but it’s packed with a higher-resolution screen, faster performance and more storage, making it a worthwhile upgrade.
Read our Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition (2017) review.
Amazon
Priced at $100, the Amazon Fire 7 is the most budget-friendly learning tablet option out of the lineup of Amazon Fire Kids Edition tablets. This kids edition tablet does a decent job at most tasks and apps and includes the same bundle of parental controls, padded tablet case, a two-year warranty and a one-year subscription to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited.
Read our Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition (2017) review.
When it comes to tablets, Apple’s iPad definitely has the more recognizable name, and in-app purchases are easy on an iPad. However, handing over an iPad with endless app options to young kids can be a nerve-racking experience considering that high iPad price tag. Compared to Amazon’s Kids Edition tablets, an iPad offers the versatility to adapt to a growing kid’s changing needs in a kid friendly tablet. The 2018 entry-level iPad offers all the benefits and smooth performance of an iPad at a more affordable price than a new iPad Pro or iPad mini.
Read our Apple iPad (9.7-inch, 2018) review.