Is It Time to Get Your Kid Their Own Tablet?

Yahoo

08-07-2025

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Once your kids are 3 or older, it's likely your circle of parent friends will stop debating whether kids should have their own tablet and will go straight to discussing the best tablets for kids. They're useful for everything from educational apps to travel entertainment and, of course, can keep kids from hijacking your own TV, phone or computer.
For more than six years, our Good Housekeeping Institute Lab experts have been testing kids' tablets with our own children and collecting feedback from home testers. In addition to evaluating performance such as battery life, we prioritize tablets with a wide selection of apps and robust parental controls that allow for limiting screen time and unsuitable content. We also factor in affordability, so many of these are less expensive than adult tablets.This popular version of the Amazon Fire, with a 10-inch display, comes with a durable case in blue, pink, Mickey Mouse red and black or Disney Princess pale blue and lavender, so you can breathe a little easier about potential breakage. "The thick bumper makes it easier for my 4-year-old to grip, so I don't worry about it slipping from his hands," a tester said.
✔️ TESTING NOTES: We've had Lab pros with young kids rave about the built-in filters, age-appropriate apps and robust parental controls. They like Amazon Kids+, for ages 3 to 12, which is free for the first year when you buy the tablet. After that, the service is $6 per month. It has thousands of ad-free children's e-books, Audible books that kids can listen to plus shows from Disney, PBS Kids, National Geographic and more.
Online reviewers report mixed results when trying to download apps from outside the Amazon Kids+ universe. I've read tales of families who can't make Roblox work at all, those who can get it but have lag issues and those who say the game works just fine. Our testers were able download popular apps but different Fire versions and home Wi-Fi speeds can affect performance.
✔️ LAB NOTES: Parents can set educational goals and enforce time limits depending on the content. You can allow unlimited e-books, for example, but limit game time to half an hour, all accessed from the Amazon Parent Dashboard. (So you'll need a parental Amazon account.)
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Parents who intend to use the parental controls, and who like what Amazon Kids+ has to offer.
RELATED: Best Educational Apps for Toddlers
$104.99 at amazon.comSave more than $50 compared to the cost of a bigger tablet with this budget version of the Fire tablet. It has a small screen, about 7 inches, a plus if you want something super portable or discreet, but a potential minus at times, for instance when you're using your large adult hands to set it up. There's a protective case included, in red, purple or blue.
✔️ TESTING NOTES: The setup isn't easy, according to Lab parents who use the Fire. If you are used to using iOS devices, working a Fire 7 tablet will come with a learning curve. There are helpful tips on this YouTube video.
✔️ LAB NOTES: There's so little storage that there's no playing big, downloadable games like Minecraft or Roblox on the Fire 7. But this version of the kids' tablet still has many of the same features we love about the Fire HD 10, our best overall choice.
For instance, you get a free 6-month subscription to Amazon Kids+ with its rich trove of thousands of ad-free e-books, audiobooks and shows. (Or pay $20 more and get Amazon Kids+ for a year. Either way, after the free trial, the subscription will automatically renew every month for $6. Kids can also access over 1,000 pieces of content in Spanish.
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Preschoolers, especially ages 3 and 4, and parents looking to spend as little as possible.
RELATED: Best Kids' Headphones
$49.99 at amazon.comThere's no tablet I've found that's as easy to use, holds as many apps and has as many useful features as the iPad. One bonus is the iOS "find my" feature that lets you locate the tablet when your kid misplaces it. (Memorably, for us, one was lost deep in the cushions of a couch in a rental house.) iPads are what I gave my kids, and iPads are what my nieces use now.
✔️ TESTING NOTES: An iPad is equipped with Touch ID and you can enable parental controls by using a passcode for certain apps. But truthfully, an iPad is not the best if you are looking for a lot of control. "You can limit apps, but kids can find a workaround, like getting on an online version via the browser," my brother said. For instance, you can leave off the YouTube app but your kid might search and find YouTube on the Web anyway, so parental supervision is required.
My sister-in-law both appreciates that she can set screen time limits on my nieces' iPads and gets frustrated with them. It's all good on a weeknight, but come the weekend, "my kids are pinging my phone all day requesting more," she said.
✔️ LAB NOTES: On this version there's an 11-inch screen, a nice size for watching shows while still fitting in a bag when you travel. The graphics are gorgeous. The 128 GB storage is enough for a few big games like Minecraft and Roblox.
iPads don't come with a protective case, so you'll want to purchase one to make it more durable. There are kid-friendly designs, durable ones from top brands like OtterBox and affordable choices starting at $10.
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: People of nearly any age, including kids, tweens, teens — and adults, if you want to consider this a whole-family purchase.
$279.99 at amazon.comWe get excited about anything that gets our kids reading longer. The newest Kindle Paperwhite for Kids has a splash-resistant, glare-free screen that makes it easy to read anywhere, and the battery life lasts seemingly forever — we're talking months instead of hours!
✔️ TESTING NOTES: "It definitely got my 9-year-old excited about reading. As soon as she got it in her hands, she was busy browsing the thousands of books that are available," said Senior Parenting & Relationships Editor Marisa LaScala. "She's also tearing through a book series right now, and it's helpful for both of us when she can get on to the next one immediately."
There are no games, apps or other entertainment on this e-reader. Purchasing this comes with six months of Amazon Kids+, as described above — thousands of titles, and after the free trial period access to all the content costs $6 a month, billed automatically.
✔️ LAB NOTES: Setup is a thing, with this and most tablets, honestly. You'll want to make a child profile within your adult Amazon account. "It was difficult to set it up so that two parents could add books to her library," LaScala said. My own son, age 20, grabbed this out of my hands when I brought it home and claimed it for himself. Truly, a Kindle appeals to all ages. But I notice he hasn't synced it yet to our shared account, because, alas, setup is not fun at any age.
The Kindle Paperwhite for Kids comes in three possible designs: Starfish (shown), Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Cyber City.
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Avid readers, and kids you hope to encourage to read more.
$129.99 at amazon.comI loved using a LeapFrog tablet with my kids when they were in preschool and early elementary school — it did a lot to reinforce basic phonics, letter recognition and early math skills.
✔️ TESTING NOTES: Some online reviewers have complaints about the battery running down quickly. If you'll be traveling all day, be sure to have the charger with you.
Testers raved over the stylus pen, which is attached to the device so it doesn't get lost. Kids can practice writing their letters with the stylus, and it's great for doodling and art games as well.
✔️ LAB NOTES: The LeapPad comes with 20 preinstalled apps and a three-month free trial of LeapFrog Academy, a learning program that guides children through progressively more challenging games and activities — there are thousands of them. (It costs $8 a month after that.) Parents can set time limits and choose which apps or websites can be accessed.
You can also download more games and apps using the Android operating system, but with only 16 GB storage, you won't be able to download anything very large.
The 7-inch screen is nestled in a removable silicone case with bumper sides in either green or pink, both under $100. The case has a kickstand, too, so the tablet can be propped up.
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Preschoolers and early-elementary kids who are cementing their literacy and math skills, learning to problem-solve and practicing their writing.
$81.99 at amazon.comThe kids' version of the popular Galaxy tablet debuted in 2024. It comes with a durable case and three kid-friendly styluses called Crayo-Pens (though, as far as we can tell, there aren't a ton of uses for them). Unlike the adult version it also has built-in parental controls, including time limits and downtime (hours when kids can't use it).
✔️ TESTING NOTES: Online reviewers are happy with the durability and ease of use. Especially if you're a family that uses Android phones or other Android tablets and you already have favorite apps from the Google Play Store, this will be intuitive for you to set up.
Other reviewers are happy that they can make this purchase from Best Buy, which offers Geek Squad Protection for $70 per year.
✔️ LAB NOTES: The storage capacity, 64 GB, is higher than most Amazon Fire tablets but lower than the iPad on our list, so somewhere in the middle. It's enough for most young children's games.
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Preschoolers and early-elementary kids who might be tough on a tablet, or households with lots of kids and pets increasing the risk of a tablet being knocked off a table, dropped down the steps or otherwise abused.
$269.99 at bestbuy.comYou can save some money buying the adult version of the Galaxy Tab A9, though without the durable case that's on the one for kids, you'll want to give this to a big kid, tween or teen who can be careful with it.
✔️ TESTING NOTES: If you're used to Samsung and Google controls, this tablet will be easy to use. And if your kids' school uses Google Classroom, this tablet should work seamlessly with that.
There's the option to set parental controls, so caregivers can monitor learning progress and set limitations on what kids can access. Of all the tablets on this list, this is the most iPad-like without the full iPad price.
✔️ LAB NOTES: The 11-inch screen, vivid graphics, fast refresh rate, Dolby sound and large storage capacity appeals to gamers. The Samsung Kids app comes pre-installed with little kid-friendly content including everything from STEM to Sesame Street lessons, in case kids of different ages are sharing this tablet.
Samsung Kids automatically blocks ads and in-app purchases. We recommend adding the separate tablet cover or a protective case.
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Gamers, but also young kids — this can be ideal as a shared tablet for kids of different ages, if they're able to share nicely.
RELATED: Review of Samsung's The Frame TV
$189.99 at amazon.comThe Lenovo brand might be less of a household name, but its tablet is a solid Android choice. The graphics and sound quality match those of more-expensive devices, yet the 8-inch screen is child-friendly — and helps keep the cost way down.
✔️ TESTING NOTES: This comes in a clear case with an integrated stand, nice for fidgety kids who can sit the tablet up on a table while it plays a show. It's "good, basic and inexpensive," wrote one online reviewer.
At 32 GB, there's not enough storage for a big kid's games, but this will hold plenty for the younger ones. Many reviewers say it is easier to put apps on the Lenovo compared to the Amazon Fire, but the parental controls are not as robust.
✔️ LAB NOTES: This works with Google Kids Space for apps, e-books and videos appropriate for kids under age 9. There's an Eye Care mode you can turn on to limit blue light, especially if your child is doing a lot of reading.
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Younger kids, and parents who want a small-size tablet for the least amount of money.
$49.99 at amazon.comAt the Good Housekeeping Institute, our staff regularly tests tech products. "We appreciate children's tablets because they're designed specifically for smaller hands and can usually withstand frequent drops," says Senior Reviews Writer & Analyst Olivia Lipski, who was consulted for this story. "As for the child-friendly content, which is often preloaded, we look for a vibrant and varied selection that can both entertain and educate."
We test tablets from leading brands with a proven track record of customer care. Our technicians rigorously review and rate them, and we conduct home tests to assess real-life usage. Editors also sift through online reviews and attend industry events to stay ahead of the latest innovations.
In our evaluations, we consider a tablet's size, storage, processing speed (how quickly do apps and videos load?), battery life, available content, parental controls and more.✔️ Storage: Kids love to load up on apps and photos, which can eat up the internal storage space quickly. If you know they will want to download a lot of content (like games), we suggest a tablet for kids with 16 GB of storage. More storage is better, but it also increases the price.
The ability to expand the storage with an external SD card can be advantageous. Many tablet manufacturers offer paid cloud-based options for expanding storage as well.
✔️ Battery life: To ensure that the tablet will last during a long road trip or an airport-heavy travel day, you want the battery to last for at least 8 hours, but ideally longer.
✔️ Parental controls: These help you manage how your kid uses the tablet, whether that's a limit on total screen time or restrictions on content. You can look for tablets that filter out content based on age or that have apps that let you keep tabs on what your kids are using or searching.
✔️ Built-Ins: Most tablets have a built-in camera, something to be aware of as you work to guard your child's privacy. The Kindle Paperwhite, an e-reader, does not.
Similarly, these all have a headphone jack, except for the Kindle. That means your kid can listen to their show or game without everyone else needing to hear it, too.The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends for kids under 18 months, with the exception of video chatting. (You gotta let those far-flung friends and relatives see the baby.) For this reason, we don't list a best tablet for toddlers.
For preschoolers, the AAP says it's ideal is to limit screen time to one hour per day. But even more important than quantity is the quality of the screen time. The AAP urges parents to choose high-quality, educational content. Parents should also make sure that screen time doesn't interfere with sleep or physical play.
If you're shopping for a first "real" tablet for a school-age kid closer to age 10 — a child who is going to be gaming and watching videos and who may need it to do schoolwork — read up on the iPad and the grown-up Samsung Galaxy choices.For more than 100 years the Good Housekeeping Institute has tested consumer products and made recommendations to families. Read more on how we test toys and gifts for kids.
Jessica Hartshorn has covered technology and toys for Parents magazine and for Good Housekeeping, where she's recently tested the best 3D pens for beginners and the baby headphones for noise protection. She's a mom of two.
You Might Also Like
67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile
The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper