Whether we realize it or not, many of the gifts that we purchase for our loved ones during the holiday season are based on the social trends. As we approach the end of 2013, there is no doubt that among many other things, it has been the year of the tablet, and an even further increase in mobile activity with new apps emerging pretty much every day in every category imaginable.
Having said that, there is no reason kids should be out of the loop. Even if they don’t say it, I’m sure every kid wants to own a tablet, so why not reward them for a well-behaved year (I hope) with one of the following selections:
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Kids
If only for the look (bright yellow with a bright orange bumper case), there would be very little doubt that this is indeed a tablet for children. Pre-loaded with child-friendly apps and parental controls, this tablet is certainly among the list of must-haves for many parents preparing their shopping list. Additionally, I would totally be at fault not to point out that the device features one of Samsung’s latest offerings – the Kid Store – that is filled with apps that facilitate not only playing but learning as well.
Fuhu Nabi 2
Though not as colorful as the aforementioned device, the Fuhu Nabi 2 is certainly not wavering in durability – it is argued that it can survive up to a 7 feet fall (thankfully there aren’t many kids that tall). Powered by the Wings Learning System, the tablet is able to deliver real-time information on the activities of kids and even provide recommendations for areas of improvement. Notably, the app was the recipient of 4 Gold Awards from the National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA).
Are your kids big on music? Then they will be enticed by Spinlets+ Music. The library boasts over 9,000 kid-friendly albums with their favorite songs. Another feature worth mentioning is the Nabi Cloud. Whether it’s their movies, apps, photos or games, the Nabi Cloud stores all the content that kids can then access from their devices once synced.
LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra
This tablet is fun for parents and fun for kids. For many years, LeapFrog has been one of the leaders in the industry in providing fun and interactive products that assist with the development of children, so it’s no surprise that their venture into the market has been a success. Boasting a 7-inch screen and Wi-Fi capabilities (like the Galaxy Tab 3 Kids), kids can access over 800 apps, videos, eBooks etc that they won’t be able to get enough of.
For a select number of games, they can automatically adjust to match the skill level of the child. Therefore, as they continue to grow and become more comfortable, the bar is raised to ensure that they are constantly being challenged and motivated to develop.
Amazon Kindle Fire
Though not a “kid tablet†through and through, the Amazon Kindle Fire has to be a part of the list. Whether it’s running multiple apps at the same time or streaming movies, kids will have plenty to do to keep their bodies and their minds occupied. Aside from that, everyone knows Kindle’s are one of the best eReader products in the market.
With the Kindle Fire FreeTime, there is also a welcoming element of parental control available. This option makes it possible for you to create multiple profiles for your kids and streamline all the books, videos, games etc that you want each to be exposed to. Thus, you can make selections for your 5-year-old and have more appropriate content on the profiles of your 10-year-old. Unlike some of the other devices available on the market, this isn’t a “one app fits all†offering.
Apple iPad Mini
As with the Kindle, this is not necessarily a “kid tablet†in the basic sense of the term, but it is certainly one that kids can embrace and grow with. It is not too big so it won’t seem overwhelming for their little hands, but there is still the opportunity to download and utilize apps that they can learn from or simply have fun with. As they get older and their interests change, the tablet will still be appropriate and have that cutting edge look, and it won’t be a case where they have grown out of it because it looks too “childishâ€.
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If there was to be any concern, that would be it. Unlike some of the other mentions in this list, the hardware design isn’t built to be sustaining dents and falls. There is the option to utilize the Parental Controls features that are available in the general settings area so tracking their activities and implementing time controls won’t be a problem.
I’m sure you were probably busting your brains trying to decide what to get your kids this holiday season. Why not give them a tablet? Not only is it fun, but it will help them academically as well.
5 Tablets to Consider for Your Kids This Holiday Season
