Tablet: Is it fun for your child and what should you pay attention to?

by Joost Nusselder Updated on: July 6, 2022

Is a tablet fun for kids? A children's tablet is a tablet that is specially made for children. A children's tablet is therefore more fun than a regular tablet.

In this article I explain why.

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What is a children's tablet?

A playground for your child

A children's tablet is a kind of playground for your little one. It's a colorful, child-friendly version of a regular tablet, with fun and educational games, videos and educational apps. Parents can usually lock the tablet with a password or PIN.

Advantages of a children's tablet

A children's tablet has many advantages:

• Often cheaper than an iPad or Samsung tablet.
• As a parent little to worry about.
• Also suitable for the youngest children (from about 2 years old).
• Child-friendly & playful appearance.
• Usually included protective cover.

Disadvantages of a children's tablet

But there are also disadvantages:

• Slow operation and not suitable for graphically intensive games.
• The quality often leaves much to be desired.
• Don't expect too much from the screen and speaker(s).
• Little storage capacity, often no more than 16GB.
• Limited shelf life: your child will be done with it faster than with a regular tablet.
• Usually outdated (Android) software that is not or hardly updated.

When is it time for a tablet for your child?

What does the WHO say?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it's best to wait with screen time until your child is two years old. Looking at a mobile phone or tablet screen is not recommended for toddlers. If your child is a bit older, a personal tablet can be interesting.

Entertainment and education

A tablet is not only a source of entertainment, but also an educational tool. It also makes contact with family and friends easier.

Parental supervision

If you give your child their own tablet, make sure you set the parental control settings properly. Also, teach your child about online safety.

Why a tablet is the perfect sidekick for toddlers

Digital resources for young children

We are increasingly using digital resources in our daily lives. A tablet is a fun way for young children to get acquainted with the digital world.

The perfect replacement for parental hands

Do you need your hands free to cook or entertain your little one during a long holiday trip? Then a tablet is the perfect replacement. With games that match the development of your toddler, the children's tablet can be a good support for the learning process.

Educational games for toddlers

The tablet offers a lot of educational games for toddlers. From language, numbers and colors, to puzzles and other fun activities. There is something for everyone!

A fun way to get acquainted with the digital world

With a tablet, your toddler gets the chance to get acquainted with the digital world in a fun way. This way your little one can play, learn and discover in a safe way.

Can a tablet be harmful to children?

Some parents wonder if using a tablet and other media is harmful to their children. But what does science say about this?

Proof

Research shows that being busy with this type of media does not necessarily stimulate the development of young children. There is no known research that shows that the use of a tablet is actually bad. However, there are indications from a study by Erasmus MC that frequent or prolonged use of a tablet can lead to nearsightedness in young children.

How do you deal with this?

It is therefore most important that you guide your child properly when using a tablet: do not let him stare at a screen for too long or too often and watch what he is doing.

Tips for parents

Here are a few tips to keep your baby healthy:

• Make sure your child does not stare at a screen for too long.
• Watch what your child is doing on the tablet.
• Give your child regular breaks between using the tablet.
• Make sure that your child does not spend too much time using the tablet.

Not in the mood for a child-friendly tablet? Choose a regular tablet!

Do you already have a tablet or would you prefer one that you can also use as a parent? No problem! You can also use a regular one Androidtablet or iPad child-friendly. This way you decide for yourself what your child can and can't do.

How do you set restrictions?

Setting restrictions on your tablet is a piece of cake. Below you will find a step-by-step plan for both Android and iPad tablets:

• Android tablets: Go to settings, click on 'Users and accounts' and select 'Child lock'. Here you can block certain apps, set time limits and more.
• iPad tablets: Go to settings, click on 'Screen time' and select 'Limit usage'. Here you can block certain apps, set time limits and more.

What apps and content can I offer my child?

There are a lot of options available, but it will take you some time to set everything up. And you have to look for fun apps and other content yourself. Fortunately, we have a list of tips for apps for kids. This way you can offer your child a safe and educational tablet experience!

How to keep your kids safe with a tablet

Choose the right tablet

If you are looking for a tablet for your child, it is important that you choose the right one. Some tablets have a separate area for children, where parents can restrict access. But unfortunately not all tablets have this option. Some require a paid subscription to set up a password or PIN. If you choose a tablet from Kurio or a paid version of KIDOZ, you have more control over what your child is allowed to do:

• You can set time limits
• You can indicate which apps and websites your child can and can't use

How to manage your child's tablet use

As a parent, it is important that you manage your child's tablet use in the right direction. For example, you can limit the time your child can spend playing games or watching videos. You can also block certain apps and websites that your child is not allowed to use. If your child is older, you can also make agreements about what is and what is not acceptable.

Choosing the right tablet and taking proper control measures will help keep your kids safe while they enjoy their tablet.

What should you know before buying a children's tablet?

The right cover

A good tablet for children has a sturdy and elastic cover that fits well around the tablet. A bumper cover or tablet bumper is a somewhat thicker, elastic cover that optimally protects against accidents. If the material of the cover is too hard, the tablet will not be sufficiently protected against drops or bumps.

Screen Protector

In some cases you get a screen protector with the tablet. We recommend that you definitely apply that extra layer because it offers additional protection against cracking. Most tablets from our audit have a scratch-free screen.

Kids mode

Most of the tablets in this list have a built-in child mode. This allows you as a parent to set time limits to control screen time. You can often choose from a number of pre-installed profiles what your child may or may not see when surfing. You can also enter your own preferences and thus retain full control over the use of the tablet.

Control

In many cases, the software allows you to log in as a parent and check what your child has been doing on the tablet. You can request statistics of which apps your child uses, how long and which websites they have visited. If such software is not built-in, you can download an external app for parental control.

Format

The screen of a tablet for children is quite compact so that your child can easily hold it. 7 to 8 inches is an ideal size for children's hands. A scratch-free screen is useful. By means of a coating, the screen is extra protected against greasy fingers or bumps.

Bluelight Filter

A blue light filter is not a luxury to protect your child's eyes. Blue light is a natural phenomenon, but the artificial blue light in screens can disrupt the biorhythm. That is why most tablets for children are equipped with a blue light filter.

Resolution

What is striking is that the screen resolution of children's tablets is not always optimal. The toppers, the tablets from Apple, Samsung and Lenovo, are doing very well, but the rest often does not exceed a resolution of 600 x 1024 and that needs to be improved.

Performance

The apps on children's tablets usually do not demand very high performance from the device. Therefore, many children's tablets are equipped with a basic processor. For older children, it is a good idea to look for a tablet with a better, faster processor. The working memory of your tablet is also important. For younger children, a working memory of 1 to 2 GB will suffice. For older children who want to play demanding games, this is not enough. In terms of storage space, there is a big difference between the top brands and the rest. The top brands achieve a good capacity with 64 to 128 GB. The other brands have a storage capacity of 16 to 64 GB, with 16 GB being too little.

Advantages of a children's tablet versus a regular iPad

Extra strong casing

Children's tablets are often provided with an extra sturdy casing, which makes them less likely to break. This is a great advantage if you have children who like to play with their tablet.

Happy colors

Children's tablets are often available in cheerful colors, which children like extra. This also makes it more fun for children to play with their tablet.

Child-friendly environment

Many children's tablets have a special "child-friendly" environment, which reduces the chance that your child will end up in strange places. This is a great advantage if you have children who like to play with their tablet.

Child lock

Many children's tablets have a child lock, which prevents your children from surfing on websites that are not suitable for children. This is a great advantage if you have children who like to play with their tablet.

Set time limit

Many children's tablets have the option to set a time limit. This is a big advantage if you have kids who like to play with their tablets as you can prevent them from spending too much time on their tablets.

Children's headphones

Don't forget to also buy a pair of children's headphones if you buy a child's tablet. This is a must if you have kids who like to play with their tablets as it will prevent them from making too much noise.

Conclusion

A tablet is a fun way for children to learn and play. Children's tablets are specially made for children, with simple parts, colorful boxes and included protective covers. They are often cheaper than an iPad or Samsung tablet and have a separate children's area with fun games, videos and educational apps. But beware: the quality of these tablets is often not very good, they have little storage capacity and the software is often outdated.

If you want to buy a tablet for your child, it is important to consider what your child wants to do with it. If your child mainly wants to play, a children's tablet is a good option. But if your child also wants to play graphically intensive games, a regular tablet is a better choice. Also don't forget to secure the in-app purchases, so your child can't just order anything. In short: a tablet is a nice gift for children, but make sure you choose the right one!

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.