When you dropped a small fortune on your own smartphone or tablet, you probably didn’t imagine yourself handing the thing willingly over to someone with sticky hands and maybe a full diaper. But if you have a smartphone or tablet and a little one, you’ve probably done exactly that at one point or another. (Perhaps telling yourself that, while the gadget will help keep the kid quiet for a little bit, it’ll also give her some valuable STEM time).
Unfortunately, while she’s enjoying herself with your gear (and possibly sending rude texts to your boss), you are offline. That may mean it’s time to get the young one a smartphone of her own — or, better yet, one of these tablets specially designed for little minds and fingers. They aren’t as breakable or expensive as yours, and they’ll keep her safe from inappropriate content while keeping your data safe from her.
Leapfrog Epic
If you have kids, you’re probably already familiar with Leapfrog’s toys and educational games. This brand-new Android tablet packs a wealth of Leapfrog content — developed by an in-house team of developers and educators — onto a 7-inch screen. It also runs a special version of Android, with a kid-safe browser that controls access to the wider digital world. The home screen interface is a fun, interactive village that changes with the seasons, the time of day, and the kid: The home screen and content a 3-year-old sees, for example, is more cartoonish than what an 8-year-old might get. (They each get their own log-in.) The integrated stylus and bumper-cover scream “kid’s toy!” — but as soon as your kid decides he’s too old for that stuff, they can be removed, making the Epic hip enough for fourth grade. $140; Leapfrog.
Fable
It’s hard to get into trouble with this tablet, even if you’re very young. There is no browser, so even little geniuses can’t hack their way into the Internet’s seamy underbelly. The app store is specific to this tablet and chosen by parents and teachers with education in mind. There is a camera, a stylus for drawing on the screen, and kids can share those drawings easily with just a couple of taps. You control who he can communicate with on the tablet, so there’s no danger there. And it’s loaded with books. The device itself is solid and elegant. Fable says it’s for kids 3 to 10, but we suspect that those at the older end of that range will expect a full-fledged browser and app store at $129.
Nabi Jr.
Fuhu makes a range of Android tablets for kids. The Nabi Jr. is specifically for kids 3 to 5, meaning it’s simpler to use and harder to break than other nabi tablets. Just like its older brothers and sisters, the Nabi is focused on education — in this case, getting tots ready for kindergarten. The content teaches as well as entertains. Kids can earn more screen time by reading, doing chores, or playing educational games. How cool is that? $100; Nabi.
