Outline:
Choosing the Right Tablet for Your Child
Smart technology has become an integral part of daily life, and choosing the best tablet for your child can have a significant impact on both their development and your experience as a parent. With growing concerns about online safety and screen time, it’s natural to question whether a tablet is necessary for your child. However, when used responsibly, a tablet can be a valuable tool for entertainment and education.
Navigating the tablet market for children can be overwhelming, with prices ranging from as little as £30 for basic models to over £350 for premium devices. While cheaper options may seem appealing, they often come with low-end processors and low-resolution screens that may not meet the needs of growing children. These devices can quickly become outdated and frustrating. Instead of giving your child a standard adult tablet, which may be too fragile or complex, look for purpose-built tablets designed for durability, safety, and performance.
To simplify your search and ensure you find the perfect match for your child’s needs, we have thoroughly researched every tablet in this guide—combining our own hands-on testing with other parent testers.
Best Tablets for Kids at a Glance
• Best tablet for kids overall: Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro Tablet
• Best tablet for kids for various ages: Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet
• Best tablet for toddlers: PRITOM Kids Tablet 7 Inch Android 11
In addition, we spoke with child psychologist Dr. Amanda Gummer to gain expert insight and tips on managing screen time for kids. She believes that tablets, when managed appropriately, can be a valuable part of a child’s daily life. “Embracing a balanced approach to screen time can help parents navigate the modern digital landscape with confidence and support their children’s growth and learning.”
Key Considerations When Choosing a Tablet
Durability: You definitely want something durable, and most tablets are designed with this in mind. Some come with built-in cases, and if not, you can buy one.
Parental Controls: High on your list should be parental controls. Some tablets give you control over how long they are used, as well as restricting access to sites and apps. You may also want to consider features like content filtering, app restrictions, and screen time limits.
Ease of Use: They need to be easy and simple to function—look for ones that kids can get to grips with easily.
Age Appropriateness: Check with the manufacturer to see what age they recommend the tablet is suitable for. You may also want to double-check the privacy and safety features at this stage to ensure it’s right for your child.
Choose a Child-Specific or Standard Tablet: Most kids’ tablets come with pre-loaded educational and age-appropriate content, but for older kids, you may want to consider a regular tablet with parental controls, which can grow with your child.
Screen Quality and Size: This is important, especially if some children have specific visual needs, as you don’t want them straining their eyes. Similarly, if you think that a bigger screen will be better, will it be tricky for little hands to hold?
Storage: If your child loves taking pictures on their travels or gaming, then think about how much storage it has and don’t forget all those entertainment apps/features which take up memory too.
Battery Life: Remember to check this; no one wants a tablet that dies halfway through a long plane ride.
Consider Operating Systems and Apps: Android and iOS both have their pros and cons, so do your research and choose the one that best suits your needs. Be sure to check if it supports popular apps like YouTube Kids, Netflix, and learning tools. These can be a lifesaver when you’re on trips.
Price Point: Tablets can vary in cost, so it could be worth setting a budget and seeing what you can get for it. The more features that are packed into a tablet, the more expensive it’s going to be.
Camera: This one may not be important to everyone, but if they want to video call grandparents regularly, you’ll want a decent built-in camera for kids, especially for little ones who may have visual impairments.
Warranty and Support: It’s worth checking what the warranty covers and for how long. If you feel it’s necessary, it could be worth looking for extended warranties and damage protection plans that can give you further peace of mind.
Entertainment Features: Check to see what the tablet comes with; some are preloaded with games, streaming apps, educational content, music, and drawing tools, or you can download apps for toddlers that are educational and fun, which will keep them entertained for hours (we hope!).
Balancing Screen Time and Learning
A lot of families were introduced to the educational benefits of tablets during the pandemic, and it has stuck; some schools send homework via apps like Teams, which helps children build their confidence with these devices. Kids can also read, color, and play games on tablets, so they can keep them entertained when really necessary. The key is finding a tablet that also lets parents keep things safe, with features that control how long they use it and what they can see.
Balance is key when kids start using tablets. It’s worthwhile for parents to set clear limits and boundaries early on to help children develop healthy digital habits.
Most of a baby’s brain develops in the first two years of life, so experts recommend waiting until after they are two before introducing them to a tablet. If you can wait longer, that’s even better, but we know when their friends or older siblings get a tablet, they’ll probably want one too.
Recommendations for screen time limits, as issued by Health Professionals for Safer Screens, are as follows:
• 2-5 year olds: 30 minutes per day and not to be used two hours before bed.
• 6-10 year olds: 1-2 hours per day and nothing within the first hour of waking or an hour before bed.
• 11-17 year olds: up to 2 hours per day and not the first hour of waking or an hour before bed.
It’s fine for children to have some screen time, but allocate time to play with toys, do jigsaws, read kids’ books, and stretch those legs outdoors. Studies have shown a clear link between excessive screen time and certain issues such as delayed speech and language development, short-sightedness, communication difficulties, poor sleep, and mental health problems.
Dr. Amanda Gummer recommends having screen-free zones around the house to promote a healthier relationship. “If you’re fortunate to have the space, then dedicate an area for drawing, music, or reading, and if space is limited, then consider making certain times of the day screen-free, but make it so that everyone in the household complies—for this to be effective, it can’t be just about the kids!”
Whether you choose Apple or Android, your kid’s tablet should have an option to add controls. Consider keeping track of usage, setting time limits, and not forgetting to set a bedtime to make sure your little one has enough screen-free time before they sleep. Here are a few more tips that may help:
Be Transparent: Primary schools promote online safety in school, but if your children are younger, you can monitor and confirm the sites you are happy for them to use. You can talk to them about staying safe online, including not talking to strangers online, and start by setting screen time limits. Dr. Amanda says, “Involving children in their own screen time planning and activity will foster independence, responsibility, and self-awareness, which are all really important for developing healthy screen habits later in life.”
Check Parental Controls: Use built-in parental settings to create an age-appropriate profile. These tools are essential for blocking unverified sites and disabling in-app spending.
Keep an Eye on Them: For young children, digital exploration should be a shared activity; show genuine interest and regular “check-ins” allow you to guide their behavior and ensure they are navigating the web responsibly.
It can’t be all controls and limits. There are lots of ways children can learn using their tablets and also be entertained. As Dr. Gummer says, “Engaging in age-appropriate shows, interactive games, and content can really be beneficial to learning and overall well-being.” Her practical tips on CBeebies offer guidance on screen time and how parents can embrace the screen and use it to actually empower learning. There are also lots of educational apps for toddlers, which include interactive games supporting development with math as well as shape and color recognition. The Apple Pencil is also a great tool to both entertain and educate.
At Mother&Baby, our mission is to provide accurate and reliable reviews, ensuring our readers receive honest and transparent information about the best products available. Our testers are either pregnant, or real parents with a baby or toddler. This could be members of our editorial team, freelance parenting journalists, or external reviewers from the Mother&Baby Awards. We don’t accept payment from manufacturers for product reviews, and maintain our editorial independence. While we do work with commercial partners on advertorials, these will always be clearly labelled. Our writers have full control over their content, ensuring that products are selected based solely on the needs of our readers. While we may earn commissions or other compensation from links on our website, this does not affect our product choices. These links allow us to continue offering valuable consumer advice, without compromising the integrity of our reviews. We are always honest in our reviews, and we won’t recommend products that we wouldn’t spend our own money on.
About the Expert
Dr. Amanda Gummer is a child development expert who founded The Good Play Guide in 2012. Amanda has a PhD in Neuropsychology, a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, and over 20 years of experience working with children and families. Having worked in children’s industries for many years, Amanda is now widely considered as the UK’s go-to expert on play, toys, and child development.
About the Author
Laura Healy is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mum-of-two girls and loves writing about all things parenting. She is particularly interested in the toddler years and eco-friendly baby products, as well as children’s literature. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and has published short stories in the UK and Ireland, as well as previously writing freelance for her local paper.