Tablets are growing in popularity. Ably brought into the mainstream by the market leader that is the iPad from Apple, tablets have found an audience in old and young alike. It’s difficult to foresee where the tablet market is headed — as many people are rejecting the form factor as are sticking by it — but for the time being it’s here to stay.
There’s a certain novelty factor to tablets, which invariably means that if one person in the household owns one, they’ll be continually fighting off calls to share. Not only is this annoying, it has the potential to end in a family feud if an expensive tablet gets dropped or otherwise destroyed by a younger member of the family.
The answer is, of course, to provide alternative kid friendly tablets; ones that you’re comfortable with them using to their heart’s content. What follows are five Android tablets that fit the bill. If we’re completely honest most cannot really compete with the grown-up tablets, but they’re certainly fit for purpose, and cost a lot less money to buy.
Oregon Scientific Meep!
Specs: 7-inch Screen, 512MB RAM, 4GB Storage (Expandable to 32GB), Android 4.0
The Meep! tablet from Oregon Scientific is, on paper at least, the underpowered option of the five listed here, specifically owing to a lack of RAM. However, the annoyingly named Meep! potentially makes up for it in other ways.
Parents can track their child’s use of Meep! from any computer or mobile device. They can also add virtual funds to the tablet which the child can then spend on apps and other content (all pre-approved, naturally) in the Meep! store. Which could help children learn about the value of money.
Price: Approx US$150
Kurio 7
Specs: 7-inch Screen, 1GB RAM, 4GB Storage (Expandable to 32GB), Android 4.0
The Kurio 7 is a tablet sold with the tagline, “Loved by kids, trusted by parents.” While we cannot vouch for the statement, all of the ingredients are there, with comprehensive parental controls and pre-loaded content the order of the day.
The tablet can be used with or without the protective bumper, and other child-friendly accessories are also available for the Kurio 7. This looks to be a great option for parents who need ultimate levels of control over what their kids do and see online, with a frankly bewildering number of options in this department. These add up to suggest a suitability for younger children.
Price: Approx US$150
Toys ‘R’ Us Tabeo
Specs: 7-inch Screen, 1GB RAM, 4GB Storage (Expandable to 32GB), Android 4.0
The Tabeo is a tablet from Toys ‘R’ Us, which just shows how far into the mainstream the form factor has now penetrated. It comes in lurid colors with a sturdy bumper designed to protect the device if it gets dropped.
The device comes equipped with 50 apps pre-installed — which includes games, books, and educational content — and parental controls designed to always keep the child using it free from harm. Toys ‘R’ Us has also seen fit to produce a number of accessories for the Tabeo, including earbuds and folio cases/stands, giving children ample opportunity to spend their allowances.
Price: Approx US$150
Fuhu Nabi 2
Specs: 7-inch Screen, 1GB RAM, 8GB Storage (Expandable to 32GB), Android 4.0
The Nabi 2 is built with children in mind. It features a robust bumper to absorb shocks from falls, an integrated learning system, a task and reward system, a music library chosen for its family-friendliness, and an app store packed full of pre-approved apps.
Parents will like the wireless syncing, free cloud storage solution, and easy over-the-air updates. The kids will like having a tablet that is clearly for them and them alone, with a range of content that is guaranteed not to include anything unsuitable for youngsters. In terms of features the Nabi 2 is very much on a par with the previous tablets.
Price: Approx US$150
Google Nexus 7
Specs: 7-inch screen, 1GB RAM, Up to 32GB Storage, Android 4.2
The Google Nexus 7 isn’t, as you’re probably already aware, a tablet made specifically for children. However, it’s highly affordable and has made the list for those seeking to purchase a solid Android tablet for an older teenager or a mature-for-their-age child.
This is the perfect choice for those who trust their children implicitly. The Nexus 7 is a grown-up tablet featuring the full Android experience. While it’s solid and sturdy, dropping it onto a hard surface isn’t likely to bring a positive result.
Price: Approx US$220
Alternatively…
Aside from the five Android tablets mentioned above, there are several other options parents looking to buy their children a tablet should explore:-
Buy A Cheap, Generic Tablet — I bought a cheap tablet for myself, and was very pleased with the device I got for my money. If it’s good enough for a 30-something geek, then it’s good enough for a vaguely tech-savvy 12-year-old. Parental controls are going to be lacking though.
Buy Them An Old(er) iPad — Buying your children a brand new iPad probably isn’t an option. They’re expensive devices, and they’re not exactly robust if mishandled and mistreated. But an older, pre-owned iPad may be an option. Yaara turned her old iPad into a cat toy, so the kids really shouldn’t complain.
Buy Them A Phablet Or Smartphone — A tablet may not be the best option for your offspring. It really depends what they (think) they’re going to use it for. Buying them a phablet or smartphone may be a better option as you’ll have the added peace of mind from knowing they’re always contactable.
Conclusions
Tablets can be good tools for children of all ages, helping them get used to technology and often coming equipped with educational apps. They’re also good sources of new content, with games, movies, and music all able to keep the little ones occupied and, if you’re lucky, quiet for a few minutes.
Have you bought or given your children a kid friendly tablet? If so, which one did you choose and why? If not, are you planning on doing so in the future? We’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject in the comments section below. And we’re always keen to find out if this article proved useful to you, so, please, let us know.
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