HOW DO VIRTUAL REALITY GLASSES WORK?

Technology has made some terrific progress in the past few years. Of the many great – the invention of virtual reality glasses is surely one that truly staggers people. 

Virtual Reality Glasses work by using two pictures, just like 3D goggles. They do this by using enthralled central focuses which demonstrate two pictures, one for each eye. The specific name for this is stereoscopy. But Virtual Reality Glasses are more than that in that they fuse sound, video and head following to create an immersive experience.

What is virtual reality?

Before we get to the question of how it works- let us talk a little about what virtual reality is?The meaning of virtual reality comes, normally, from the definitions for both ‘virtual’ and ‘reality’. The meaning of ‘virtual’ is close and the truth is the thing that we encounter as people. So the term ‘virtual reality’ essentially signifies ‘close reality’. This could, obviously, mean anything besides it for the most part alludes to a particular sort of reality imitating.

We know the world through our faculties and observation frameworks. In school we as a whole discovered that we have five detects: taste, contact, smell, sight and hearing. These are anyway just our most clear sense organs. Actually, people have numerous a larger number of faculties than this, for example, a feeling of adjust for instance. These other tactile contributions, in addition to some unique handling of tangible data by our brains guarantees that we have a rich stream of data from the earth to our psyches.

Everything that we think about our world drops by method for our faculties. As it were, our whole experience of the truth is basically a mix of tactile data and our brains sense-production systems for that data. It makes sense at that point, that in the event that you can give your faculties made-up data, your view of reality would likewise change in light of it. You would be given a rendition of reality that isn’t generally there, however from your point of view it would be seen as genuine. Something we would allude to as a virtual reality.

Along these lines, in rundown, virtual reality involves giving our faculties a PC produced virtual condition that we can investigate in some form.

Also read: the best Virtual Reality Glasses to get

What makes VR glasses work?

Virtual reality glasses or goggles are twisting up continuously standard in the gaming and diversion circles. They are lighter and more pleasing to wear than the standard head mounted show (HMD) and a critical number of them join an extent of astute devices.

Instances of these fuse sound, video and head following.

virtual-reality-glasses-work-with-head-following

These glasses bear on likewise to two or three 3D goggles in that they demonstrate two pictures. Ordinary glasses show a lone picture anyway 3D and virtual reality glasses contain enthralled central focuses which demonstrate two pictures, one for each eye. These photos appear to give a mind flight of significance which is a particular segment of CAVE circumstances.

The specific name for this is stereoscopy

Additionally, created adjustments of these glasses contain head following structures. This structure is related with a PC which sends signs to change the photos seen by the wearer as they move around their condition. Without a doubt, this is a particular piece of CAVE totally immersive virtual reality.

These glasses engage the wearer to see three dimensional pictures which give a dream of significance of perception. For example, if the wearer is using virtual reality for compositional purposes then they will have the ability to see a working at different focuses and walk around or around it.

Various sorts of glasses contain a following structure which maps the wearer’s advancements and adjusts the photos in like way. Each time the wearer moves his head, walks around a particular course or makes some other sort of move, the scene before him changes as he does in that capacity.

The accompanying system is related with a PC which changes these photos so the wearer is exhibited a useful area with a sensible significance of wisdom. The accompanying ought to be as exact as it can be or else the misdirection isolates.

the-technique-behind-vr-glasses

The glasses enable the wearer to see two separate pictures which the cerebrum solidifies into one. This is the thing that gives the dream of 3D significance. This is every now and again joined by video and also strong which add to the experience.

The fact is to give the wearer a world which is sensible and carries on additionally to this present reality. Any delay or latency will cause a separation between the two and now and again, assumptions of development contamination. This by then bombshells their experience.

These are the best virtual reality goggles with a remote

A brief history of Virtual Reality Glasses

In the event that we center all the more entirely around the extent of virtual reality as a methods for making the fantasy that we are available some place we are not, at that point the most punctual endeavor at virtual the truth is without a doubt the 360-degree wall paintings (or all-encompassing canvases) from the nineteenth century. These works of art were proposed to fill the watcher’s whole field of vision, influencing them to feel exhibit at some authentic occasion or scene.

In 1838 Charles Wheatstone’s examination exhibited that the cerebrum forms the diverse two-dimensional pictures from each eye into a solitary protest of three measurements. Review two one next to the other stereoscopic pictures or photographs through a stereoscope gave the client a feeling of profundity and submersion. The later advancement of the famous View-Master stereoscope (protected 1939), was utilized for “virtual tourism”. The plan standards of the Stereoscope is utilized today for the mainstream Google Cardboard and low spending plan VR head mounted presentations for cell phones.

Morton Heilig’s next creation was the Telesphere Mask (protected 1960) and was the primary case of a head-mounted show (HMD), but for the non-intuitive film medium with no movement following. The headset furnished stereoscopic 3D and wide vision with stereo sound.

In 1961, two Philco Corporation engineers (Comeau and Bryan) built up the primary forerunner to the HMD as we probably am aware it today – the Head sight. It joined a video screen for each eye and an attractive movement following framework, which was connected to a shut circuit camera. The Head sight was not really created for virtual reality applications (the term didn’t exist at that point), however to take into account immersive remote survey of hazardous circumstances by the military. Head developments would move a remote camera, enabling the client to normally check out the earth. Head sight was the

initial phase in the development of the VR head mounted show yet it did not have the coordination of PC and picture age.

Virtual Reality Glasses in the market

Virtual Reality is an intriguing method to movement utilizing just the energy of innovation. With a headset and movement following, VR gives you a chance to check out a virtual space as though you’re entirely. It’s additionally been a promising innovation for a considerable length of time that is never really gotten on. That is changing with the present rush of VR items.

Oculus has the well-known Rift, HTC and Valve have the Steam-accommodating Vive, Sony propelled the magnificent PlayStation VR, Samsung as of late added a different controller to its Gear VR, and Google’s Daydream is consistently developing from the remaining parts of Google Cardboard. In the interim, Microsoft’s Windows 10 blended reality stage and an assortment of equipment producers taking a shot at it are gradually crawling into the market with their own brought together stage. At that point there are the new independent headsets, similar to the Oculus Go, Lenovo Mirage Solo, and the up and coming HTC ViveFocus.

Fastened headsets like the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR are physically associated with PCs (or on account of the PS VR, a PlayStation 4). The link makes them somewhat cumbersome yet putting the greater part of the genuine video preparing in a container you don’t have to straightforwardly lash to your face implies your VR experience can be significantly more unpredictable. The utilization of a committed show in the headset rather than your cell phone, and also inherent movement sensors and an outside camera tracker, definitely enhances both picture devotion and head following.

The exchange off, other than the cumbersome links, is the cost. The slightest costly fastened alternatives are as of now around $400. Also, that is before you address the preparing issue; the Rift and the Vive both need quite intense PCs to run, while the PS VR requires a PlayStation 4.

Independent VR headsets are new and offer a helpful contrasting option to telephone based and fastened headsets since they don’t require any extra equipment to run. In a general sense, they’re portable VR headsets with Android cell phones and shows worked in (without the cell work). The Lenovo Mirage Solo depends on Google Daydream and uses a Snapdragon 835 CPU, and the Oculus Go keeps running on a stage fundamentally the same as Oculus’ Gear VR store and uses a Snapdragon 821 processor. You can expect comparable execution on these headsets as you would get on a Daydream View or Gear VR with a perfect telephone, and you can utilize them on the off chance that you don’t as of now have a lead cell phone in your pocket. You can also check specialty glasses for the iPhone. Check out best-virtual-reality-glasses.com for a range of great VR glasses.

Also read: the best VR goggles for iPhone

The Best Toddler Tablets | Educational Tablets for Toddlers

Being a parent is a life long goal for so many people and the day we welcome them into this world is always memorable. Once you get to hold them for the first time, you instantly feel the connection and thus the life long journey begins. But as they grow older, they start to be clumsy and break a thing or two in the house.

As they claw around or when they are learning how to walk, they stumble upon your precious phone and before you even reach it, they drop it and the whole screen shatters. That’s not all, they never leave you in peace every time you are using your phone. So, you come to an anonymous conclusion, you must buy them their own tablet (and preferably a good tablet case if it doesn’t come with it).

But where do you even start? Which tablet will be good for your children? In as much as tablets are all fun and educative, they can expose harmful content to your kids and this can have a bad effect on them. This means you must find a tablet with the right content and at the right price.

two toddlers sitting on sofa while using tablet computer

Here we will review 5 toddler tablets give you insights as to the best tablets:

The Kurio Smart tablets

First up on our list is this uniquely built Kurio tablet. Unlike other kid’s tablet, this one comes with Windows 10 OS and its exteriors brightly colored with blue and white covers. Another feature that makes this tablet very authentic is the detachable keyboard which makes it easily adaptive for kids.

The detachable keyboard also makes it easier for the kid to use the tablet for either playing or doing homework. Kurio seems to have done a good job with this tablet which comes with an HDMI connector meaning that your kid can connect it with a big screen for optimal visual effects. The tablet has a battery life that averages 6-7 hours with a single charge giving your kids maximum usage before the battery dies down.

None the less, this tablet has its fair share of shortcomings top among them being the lack of a USB port which is very limiting. The tablet also has 1ntel Atom processor which is very limiting and vendors can find this very frustrating when you want to open a handful of tabs on the browser or even a few basic applications. However, the tablet can accommodate several games, as well as child friendly-content, make it fit into most of the kid’s needs. The tablet does not have strong resolution screen making a bit hard to get clear viewing when using the tablet.

Kurio Smart tablets are very authentic and kids can get excellent service from this tablet. Its long battery life as well as its detachable keyboard makes it a bit unique and gives users more versatility when using the tablet. However, this tablet has several shortcomings that one should check to know if they will be comfortable using them. That said, the experience from using this tablet is quite good and it serves its purpose.

iPad Mini 2

Even though Apple discontinued this tablet series, iPad Mini 2 is still worth the mention. This tablet was built so well that it continues to offer noteworthy services to customers. For starters, this tablet comes with the iOS operating system that enables it to host a number of features and thus its ideal for kids.

The tablet also has good battery life and its screen is also amazing. Apple, as we all know, is about premium products that are more often than not, expensive. This tablet is not different and is stocked with a wide range of games suitable for children as well as applications and child-friendly e-books. However, you must buy and install them from the App Store.

iPad mini 2

Additionally, this tablet comes with a web browser, Safari, that gives parents the ability to control what a child can surf from the internet. Parents also have the ability to restrict their kids from installing applications on the tablet. That’s not all, you also get to control the type of music, podcasts and any other adult-related content that you don’t want to expose your child into.

Though iPad Mini 2 is a bit expensive than the other tablets, it still offers quality service. This tablet is ideal for someone who has no interest in using the latest technology from Apple since there are other updated Apple tablets out there.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

Amazon has taken the Kids tablet game a notch higher. With the Fire HD 8 kid’s edition, Amazon seems to have noted some of the issues that customers with this tablet experience top among them being their advanced parental controls. While most kids tablet come with parental controls that give the parents the sole rights to add an application, the Fire HD 8 Kids edition comes with something better.

The tablet allows the parents to control exactly how they would want their kids to use the tablet down to the very moment the kid goes to bed. The parental control allows the parent to set the specific targets and usage of the tablet. For instances, the parent can set a daily screen time of two hours and then dictate how the two hours will be used. The parent can also set the time that the tab can be used and also the age limit. Interestingly, the vendor can choose to use this parental controls or leave it as it is.

Additional features you can expect to find from this tablet include: 32 GB internal storage which is expandable with external storage slot. Another amazing feature from this tablet is the 2-year “no question asked” warranty. This is an amazing feature that gives parents great peace of mind since they will get a replacement if the kids smash or dips the tablet in water albeit accidently.

The goodies don’t end there as this tablet comes with a 1-year subscription to FreeTime Unlimited, a Netflix-like platform, that has thousands of child-friendly contents that will keep your child glued to the screen. The tablet also has long battery life as well as a sturdy case for protection purposes. That said, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is an ideal kid tablet and it is very affordable.

Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition

Another tablet from Amazon is the incredibly cheaper Fire 7 Kids Edition. Even though the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is a better improvement that this tablet, the Amazon Fire 7 Kids edition is still a force to reckon with. The tablet comes with a blue or pink
case and its 7’ screen has a 1024×600 resolution which may not be ideal for reading. This version has 16 GB internal memory but it also has an external MICRO SD slot.

The tablet comes with extensive parental controls giving parents the powers to control what a child reads and watches from the tablet. Amazon has also included the FreeTime Unlimited service that allows your child to access thousands of eBooks, applications and other child-related content at a fee. Though the feature is charged, it is worth every penny and vendors can trust that by using it, their children will not only be entertained but also educated.

Another amazing feature from the Amazon Fire HD 7 Kids Edition is the 2-year accidental damage warranty that customers get with no question asked. Amazon have also stocked this kid’s tablet with Fire for Kids application which is an amazing app that is loaded with tons of child-friendly content that parents cannot fear exposing their children to. The tablet also gives parents the right to control how a child uses the tablet. The parent can set the number of hours the child uses the tablet, the amount of time spent reading, playing games among other activities.

None the less, this tablet does not have a screen protector nor does it allow someone to watch offline video. The tablet does not have a good battery life allowing only 4 hours of playing games but that could double with simple usage only. Compared to the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition, the Amazon Fire HD 7 Kids Edition is a bit wanting on several areas such as the battery life, low screen resolutions and of course the storage capacity. However, the Amazon Fire HD 7 Kids Edition is cheaper thus making it desirable to customers on a budget.

LeapFrog Epic Academy Edition

Last on our list is this beauty from LeapFrog. This tablet has unique features that makes it stand out from the rest of the pack. The tablet comes with an access to the LeapFrog academy, which is a requires subscriptions to access, but it is worth the payment. The LeapFrog Academy feature, which has a 3-month free trial, is stocked with an array of child-friendly content that allows your kids to both learn and play.

This feature has among others, a wide range of applications, games, music, e-books and other content that will help your kid to grow intellectually. The LeapFrog Epic academy edition tablet is stocked with parental controls that enables the parents to control what the child sees, plays or even interact with. The parents are also able to
control the time their child uses the tablet and when they shouldn’t.

The tablet is uniquely built to help your kids grow and express themselves appropriately. For instance, the tablet has a customized home screen that allows your kid the set it up the way they want.

The LeapFrog Epic Academy Edition comes with 16 GB internal storage and once the kids connect to the LeapFrog Academy, they can be able to install up to twenty-four applications offline. This is a welcome addition since most kids’ tablet don’t have this feature and thus the need of internet connection all the time. Another unique feature from this tablet is the presence of two cameras giving your children the joy of taking pictures and videos.

The tablet also comes with removable bumper protector giving you piece of mind when the tablet falls. The battery life is also decent giving your kids ample time on the screen without irritating power shortages. Another stand out feature is the ability of the LeapFrog Academy feature to track your child’s progress as they unlock more levels on games. The feature is able to detect the child’s strengths and weaknesses and help them improve accordingly.

Bottom Line

money inside a wallet

There you have it, the top 5 toddler tablets. Even though the list is in no particular order, the tablets are well worthy of trying out. Generally, most parents are concerned with the battery life of a tablet, the parental controls available as well as the storage capabilities of a tablet. There is also a general concern that most parents have about what they expose their children to.

The internet is a wild place and thus the need to be careful not to expose your children to harmful content that may derail their growth. This is why parental controls are very important in choosing the right tablet. We all know that kids can be clumsy and therefore there is need for protection features on their tablets. Covers, screen protectors among other security features are as important as the tablet themselves in ensuring that the tablets last longer.

Most of the kids tablets these days come with preloaded education content that helps educate kids as they use the tablets. It is paramount that the parents are aware the kind of content available and whether or not they are age-appropriate to their kids. Lastly, another important aspect in buying a tablet for your young one is the cost.

Even though most kids’ tablets are pocket friendly, there are add-ons that can push your budget way higher than you expected. Before you buy that tablet, just know if there are other additional costs that may be incurred and if you will be able to comfortable pay for them. Hopefully, the article has helped you know a thing or two about kids tablet and will help you make informed decisions in the future.

Also read: 8 educational apps to help them learn

Best Kids Tablet Case for Different Sizes from iPad to Android

Tablet PCs or simply tablets are designed to be robust, rough and durable electronic gadgets with their scratch and damage-resistant Gorilla Glass display and high grade metal or plastic external covers.

However, as durable as they may seem these tablets can only handle too much impact forces and sooner or later they will get damaged or even breakdown from a fall.

In order to mitigate this problem third-party companies started manufacturing and selling rubber protective tablet cases. Today people with kids would include a rubber protective casing in their list of purchases aside from buying a tablet.

Built for Entertainment Not for High-Impact Resistance

If people expected their iPads or Android tablets to be as tough as those main battle tanks of the US Army, then they should ask Ford Motors to work with Apple to create the high-impact resistance casing for their tablets while Apple provides the edgy electronics for it.

After all Ford Motors would know a lot about crash tests and what high velocity impact does to cars and people. But smartphones and tablets are not made to be super tough otherwise they wouldn’t call them “smart” phones. I don’t know, maybe they’ll call them combat phones or something.

No, these high-tech gadgets that are being marketed to us are meant for entertainment purposes, so we’d expect them to be small, lightweight, has incredible processing capabilities, is essentially a pocket computer, make us happy and takeaway our boredom and durable to some degree.

But don’t expect Apple or Asus to build tablets with depleted Uranium casing or modular armor casing, because by then their devices won’t be sold to the public anymore, but instead they’ll be marketed to soldiers and security contractors.

Hardened Parts vs. Vulnerable Parts of Gadgets

Basically almost all electronic parts of modern devices, especially the printed circuit board (PCB) are extremely tough materials. As a matter of fact, these things go into temperature tests in ovens and kilns that go as high as 1,500° Celcius as well as getting sprayed with -50° Celcius frozen liquid nitrogen.

This is done to determine how long the device will last which is why you may notice that your smartphones and tablets last for more than 5 years before they breakdown. In some cases, gadgets malfunction only due to OS (operating system) upgrades when in reality their PCBs are still in good condition.

The real vulnerable parts of modern gadgets are the things that are marketed to the public as the “protective” covering assembly of the device, which is essentially a mininformation of sorts. But they do serve as a protection from water contamination, shortcircuits and falls.

Another issue with adding extra protection to these gadgets is that it undermines the gadgets sleek design as manufacturers would want to show how “shiny” their products are, because people are generally attracted to shiny things like diamonds and polished gold.

It just appeals to our brains too much that it becomes almost irresistible to ignore a shiny new tablet sold for $1,000.

The cost to manufacture protective cases and include it in their products is insignificant, but the manufacturers just decide to let other companies produce them as they feel that it’s unnecessary.

Kids and Gadgets

a girl play with her gadget

Kids love anything new, techy, colorful and shiny, well, actually all humans in all ages have similar attractions to objects and, in some cases, even animals and other people as well. In fact, it’s not just tablets that kids love to play with, but all other electronic media that’s available in the market today including smartphones, PlayStation Portable (PSP), mp3/mp4 players, China- made handheld gaming gadgets and other portable entertainment devices.

In 2013 Dailymail reported that 29% of children use tech gadgets as toddlers and 70% master them completely by primary school age. That’s equivalent to 1 in 3 children in the United States are able to learn how to use a smartphone or tablet before they could learn how to talk!

This is an unprecedented turn of events and the future, which we are experiencing now, is quite impressive and sometimes worrisome. Experts say that giving gadgets to kids prior to them learning how to talk is not good at all for their development.

They also said that parents need to be more involved in child-rearing as gadgets can only affect their intellectual and cognitive needs and it is human interaction that helps develop their emotional needs. So, it may be best to allow your kids to be exposed to modern gadgets around their toddler years (at 4 years old and older).

Here are the best rubber, plastic and synthetic tablet protectors for kids:

Amazon FreeTime Kid-Proof Case

Amazon is unique among tablet manufacturers as it cared enough about its customers to produce its own tablet protective case, which is the FreeTime Kid-Proof Case. Amazon actually has a whole range of kid-proof cases for their product line which are sold under $30 and is suggested to you each time you’ll make a purchase.

However, if you do not have kids, then you can just decline purchasing this along with the Fire HD tablet. There are kid-proof cases for their 5th (2015), 6th (2016), 7th (2017) and 8th (2018) generation Fire HD models that are sold together with the tablets.

i-Blason ArmorBox Kido Series

Apple’s subsidiary, i-Blason exclusively manufactures and distributes iPhone and iPad cases with the purpose of adding extra impact protection to any Apple handheld consumer electronics products. The ArmorBox Kido Series was specifically designed for children from 4 years old and upwards which is constructed of of highly protective TPU (thermoplastic polyurathane) materials.

The i-Blason ArmorBox Kido Series for the Apple iPad 9.7 (2017/2018) edition is built to withstand drops, falls and throwing within a maximum distance of 50 feet! It means that your clumsy toddlers can use it with the iPad and you won’t have to worry about it. It also comes with a convenient kid-size carrying handle and a kick-stand at the back stand for hands-free movie watching.

BMOUO Kids Case for Samsung Galaxy Tab E 8.0

BMOUO is an independent tablet case manufacturer that builds protective housings for Samsung, Apple and Amazon mobile gadgets. This one that we’re highlighting in particular is a tablet case for the Samsung Galaxy Tab E 8.0. Constructed from impact-resistant polycarbonate and double-enforced lining with a shock absorbing silicone inner-sleeve.

Take the tablet with you anywhere you go and let your kids feel what it’s like to be given a responsibility (to take care of the tablet) as they hold it from the handle that is a convertible stand that converts into easy to use carrying case. This is an insta-peace of mind for your Samsung Galaxy Tab E 8.0 for only $13.99.

HOTCOOL PU Leather Case for the LeapFrog LeapPad Ultimate

HOTCOOL which is an Amazon retailer created a polyurathane leather cover/casing with a kick- stand at the back for hands-free tablet operation.

Designed specifically for LeapFrog LeapPad Ultimate Kids Tablet the premium quality polyurathane leather gives the tablet a classy look and feel, as well as keep dirt, finger prints and scratches to appear on the tablet’s external cover.

The polyurathane leather is also padded with foam for extra cushion against impact velocities and at the back is a huge hard plastic support, which not only makes holding the tablet comfortable, but also make it durable.

The PU leather case has also been cut out precisely for the external buttons, 3.5mm jack, firewire charger port and other functions, so you won’t have to take the tablet out of the case and use it conveniently as is.

This polyurethane leather protective tablet cover is available for only $19.99 at HOTCOOL on Amazon. Get it now if you have a LeapPad Ultimate!

Cooper Bounce Strap Drop Proof Rugged Case w/ Shoulder Strap, Hand Strap & Kickstand

This protective tablet case is designed for a variety of tablet brands and it’s so functional and trendy that your kids will absolutely love it! The protective cover is made of reinforced silicone plastic and is durable enough to withstand high-velocity impact forces like throws, falls and hard bumbs on the wall or against hard surfaces and objects.

This drop-proof case is made for kids’ clumsy hands and it also comes with a shoulder/hand strap to allow for them to carry it along anywhere they’ll go. It makes for a fun on-the-go companion for your iPad or Samsung Tablet and like most of the child-proof housings here it too has a kick-stand to let your kids enjoy hands-free Netflix and YouTube video streaming.

Pure Sense Buddy Antimicrobial Rugged Kids Case

Perhaps the most thoughtful of all the tablet cases ranked in this list, Pure Sense kids case is the only one of its kind to include an antimicrobial feature in their product, which already makes them a winner in the sales department.

The case is also built only for the iPad Air 2 and is treated with patented SteriTouch® coating to provide non-toxic protection against invisible bacterial hazards (it’s a world’s first antibacterial protection on a tablet case).

Pure Sense Kids Case is made of super tough Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam that essentially makes it shockproof. It also features a 2-in-1 handle + stand convertible bar as carry-on handle and for hands-free operation and the case also comes with a shoulder strap for easy on-the-go activities. Get it now for only $29.95!

Finite 9.7 Inch iPad Case

The Fintie iPad case pretty much looks a lot similar to other kiddie tablet casings that we’ve featured in this list and it looks as good as it is functional.

Just like the previous tablet protector case mentioned above the Fintie case also has a convertible handle bar that has a secondary function which is a stand for hands-free tablet operation.

This tablet protector cost just under $16 which is the cheapest among all the other tablet case included in this list and is highly recommended if you have kids and own an iPad 9.7 inch 2018 model.

This cover is composed of a heavy-duty EVA foam to endure wear and tear over time. It comes in different color schemes that your kids will love.

TFY Kids Car Headrest Mount Holder

The tablet’s glass display and metalic or plastic external housing can become easily slippery when wet. Our palms secret oils and sometimes sweat also goes into our hand and such scenarios could easily happen to your children, then the chances of them accidentally dropping the tablet is more than likely.

However, even if their hands are not wet or oily if they are in a moving vehicle and are holding the tablet as watching some YouTube videos or movies on it, they could still drop it every time the driver hits the breaks or turns around a corner.

The TFY car headrest mount case holder is the perfect solution for this kind of problem and it neatly tucks the tablet at the back of the driver’s or passenger’s seat keeping it safe and immobilized as your kids watch their favorite shows on it.

The TFY case holder features easy to hold grips at the side make holding the iPad Mini easy and confortable for even young children.

Laugh and Learn Apptivity Case

Last but not the least is the tablet protective case that’s favored more by toddlers – the Laugh and Learn Apptivity Case from Fisher-Price Co.

According to the tablet case manufacturer their product is designed for the Apple iPad 2; however, given its simplistic design, it can be concluded that other Android tablets will fit in it also.

If your baby toddler doesn’t do much with the iPad or Android tablet, then you can just flip both legs out for rocker base to let him/her watch cartoons or some educational material on it. The iPad will be safely operated behind a clear film to protect the screen from dribbles & drool, so you don’t have to worry about liquids spilling onto it.

How You as a Parent can Create a Meaningful Gadget Experience for Your Children

There are things in this world that you shouldn’t encourage your kids to learn about, or at least not at the tender age that they are in. However, sometimes some things offer a huge benefit if they are learned and understood more than the potential harm that they would cause.

A good example of this is teaching your kids who are below 18 years old to drive a car. Now there’s a good chance that they’ll be tempted to take the car at night or when you’re not around and take it out for a spin – maybe even to show off to their friends.

The problem is that they might encounter a vehicular accident which could threaten their lives as well as the lives of the passengers in the other vehicle(s). But the benefit is that they’ll turn out to be good law-abiding citizens and defensive drivers one day when the time will come for them to get a driver’s license and own a car.

This of course is assuming they won’t have belligerent actions during the time that you’re teaching them how to drive. The same is true when giving them tablets and other electronic gadgets and the potential danger for them to get addicted to such devices is high, but the educational benefits is also worth the risk.

man driving straight on pathway during day time

So how should you, as a parent, approach this delicate matter?

Well, there are a few things you can do to not turn your kids into gadget zombies and just make them the educated younglings that you want them to be.

1.) Install only Quality Apps

In reality children do not get that stimulus in the nucleus accumbens region of their brains (the brain’s pleasure center which is linked to all sorts of addiction including gadgets) when you give them a smartphone or a tablet.

No, the kind of apps that you allow them to use or play with is much more of an addictive factor than the tablet itself. Therefore, the first thing that you need to be absolutely cautious about when handing your kids gadgets is the kind of apps you will install in them.

So make sure that the only apps that your children are using are either educational (e.g. Kids Piano Games Pro, Where’s My Mickey? Smart Kids Puzzles and other similar apps) or entertaining but with zero violence, sexual and/or otherwise explicit content.

2.) Get Involved

It’s not good to let a pre-programmed software teach your kids stuff as it might mislead them or your kids will misinterpret what they learn. Sit down with your children every time they’ll use the tablet and be a teacher or a guide with each item that interests them.

Do research if you have to, but be sure to be knowledgeable enough about the things that they will ask you. Dissuade them from learning inappropriate stuff and lead the conversation away, then focus on the more helpful things.

Not only will your children idolize you for being a smart parent, but the time you’ll spend together will create a stronger bond between parent and child and your kids will see you as someone trustworthy and will not hide things from you, but instead would always consult you for things that they have little knowledge about.

3.) Be a Role Model to Your Children

a mom and her child

You must have heard about the saying, “children do what you do and not what you tell them what to do.” Well, that is true in every sense of the word, so here are some further tips for you to do in order to be a role model for your kids.

  • Limit screen time to not more than 30 minutes to an hour a day.
  • Do not center all your activities around gadgets or the technology you use for convenience, instead diversify your daily activities with outdoor playing, go for walks and explore your neighborhood and read them bed time stories.
  • Take note that you’re not only a parent, but also someone’s husband or wife, so divide your time accordingly with your partner and children. You don’t have to feel guilty when at times you’ll let your kids use the tablet unsupervised while having some quality time by yourself or with your partner.
  • Teach your kids about online safety from a very young age, especially with regard to information-sharing, spending and questionable content.
  • Encourage your kids to have open discussions in the family about gadgets and technology.
  • If you have kids that are 8 years old or older, then set strict house rules about using gadgets, accessing content online, how long they should use the device and all the other minute details related to it.
  • Do your homework and look up for safe and age-appropriate apps that is available for download and ones that are also child-friendly.

Also read: the best tablets for Toddlers

Best Kids Tablet Holder | from kitchen table stand to car mount

Kids, particularly toddlers, love toys especially those that are shiny or ones that glow like the tablet display.

It gets more interesting for them once they realize that they could actually interact with the tablet by pressing some buttons and making gestures on the touchscreen, then before you know it they spend hours with the tablet.

The only problem with toddlers’ little hands is that they have not yet been fully developed to hold stuff firmly and the result of which could have them accidentally dropping the gadget multiple
times over the times that they spend with it.

The solution is to get it out of their hands!

No, I don’t mean to not allow them to use it, but putting the tablet on a tablet holder than can be placed on the floor with a kick-stand or mounted on the wall or the seat of a car.

At least this way your children can convenietly watch their favorite cartoons and other videos without getting their hands and arms tired of holding the device all the time.

Reasons Why You Need a Tablet Holder

a black tablet holder

Buying a tablet holder has plenty of benefits, especially if you have kids. Even though the smartphone and the tablet are gadgets that were specifically designed to be hand-held our hands could only function for up to so long before it experiences fatigue – just like all our muscles do.

This is why we talked about synthetic ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam on our previous topic about tablet cases and some of those tablet cases even has a kick-stand feature for hands-free operation!

However, tablet holders can do more than what tablet protectors were made to do and below are some of the benefits of having a tablet holder.

  1. Protection – tablets are built with certain durability, but they are not impervious to all impact forces such as throws, falls and being smashed by something hard or against a hard surface. A tablet holder would offer an ample amount of protection to it aside from the other features included in it.
  2. Convenience – tablet holders were built by and large for convenience of use. If you look at each one from different brands, then you can see that they are either mounted on the wall, or the back of the car’s driver and passenger seats, or they come with a stand where you can erect the device from the ground or any other available surface.
  3. Uninterrupted enjoyment – don’t you just hate it when you are obliged to do something while in the middle of your favorite show or movie? Well, that’s what happens when the tablet is streaming movies and you’ve just let it stand on its own on the floor and allow it to rest on the side of the wall. Eventually, the vibrations from its speakers or the wind will knock it down and you’d have to stop munching on the popcorn and prop it up again, and you’ll probably do it more than once. Whereas if it was mounted on the wall or something, you’d have no problems whatsoever.
  4. Lessen the effort to hold it for a long time – biology says that our hands are designed to be flexible and if you’ll just keep holding the tablet for hours on end, then you’re not really doing any flexing which is defying the natural rhythm of your body. Thus you’ll get tired and either turn off the tablet, miss out on your favorite show and go to sleep, or get a tablet holder and never have to deal with this kind of issues again.

You wouldn’t want your top kids tablet to drop and crack, so here are our top picks for the very best holders:

High Quality Kids Tablet Holder

CTA Digital, Kitchen Tablet Mount Stand

Amazon store and tablet mount stand manufacturer, CTA Digital, has come up with a clever tablet holder design for adults and kids alike!

Built with high quality aluminum steel this tablet holder can be made to stand on its legs over the counter top or mounted on the wall, underside of a cupboard or cabinets in the kitchen.

It has an adjustable neck/arm to help you position the tablet for the best viewing pleasure. Equipped with multiple flexible joints Plus a 360-degree rotating headpiece, this stand covers every Display angle.

This slide-adjust tablet holder holds tablets between 6-8.75 inches in width which means it can accommodate tablets with display sizes from 7 – 13 inches wide. Get it now for only $32.25 on Amazon!

Aibocn Upgraded Multi-Angle Aluminum Stand for Tablets Smartphones

a wooden tablet holder

If you have heard of the phrase, “there is beauty in simplicity,” then the Aibocn multi-angle stand would fit that idea.

The stand design is a simple 2-aluminum slab (one straight and the other curved at the edge to hold electronic gadgets) where you can place your tablet or smartphone over and adjust the angle from 20 – 160 degrees.

The two aluminum flat slabs are connected by a hinge that allows the device to bend and fold within a range of angles to give you the best viewing pleasure from your tablet.

It is compatible with smartphones, tablets and e-readers and is great for watching videos, viewing photos, reading, video recording, photo taking and much more.

Okra Universal Tablet Air Vent Car Mount Holder

If your job or business lets you touring around in your car most of the time, then the Okra air vent mount holder would be helpful in keeping you entertained through those long hours of driving.

This car mount tablet holder has a special design ensures the mount will not damage the air vent, while keeping your iPad secure in place.

The Okra car air vent tablet holder has a 360° rotating swivel on the base of the mounter which will allow you to have either a portrait or landscape viewing.

It has been designed to be easy to use with its side gripping technology and quick release functionality that makes installation very easy and you don’t even need tools to mount your tablet.

The mounter or cradle is very stable even in bumpy roads and will not unhinge your tablet easily, so you can trust it to keep the tablet in place under any road conditions.

You can get the Okra car air vent tablet holder for less than $11 on Amazon.

Macally Car Headrest Mount Holder

Now this is a rather incredible tablet mount holder for your car as it allows for a 360° rotation of the tablet and 180° horizontal panning angles, which allows for the best viewing angle from where you’re seated while in the car.

The Macally tablet holder does not need any tools to set it up in the brackets of your car’s headrest, simply twist the knobs to quickly attach or detach the mount to the headrest posts (2 inches and 7.25 inches wide).

This tool is great for keeping kids at the back of the car entertained for the duration of your trip. Whether you’re picking them up from school, going to the grocery store, or taking them camping in the park you can rest easy knowing they won’t be so rowdy while on the road.

The tablet cradle can be adjusted to fit just about any device (between 4.5 inches to 10 inches wide) and keep it secure at all times.

At $19.99 you’ll get a lot for your money’s worth with this device and it adds value to your daily life as well.

ChargerCity Music Mic Microphone Stand Tablet Mount with 360° Swivel Adjust Holder

It seems that the ChargerCity tablet holder was designed for people who want to record themselves singing or podcasting in front of the tablet and upload the video recording in Instagram, YouTube and other relevant social media sites.

The tablet holder has a tripod stand and may not be suitable for placing it inside a moving vehicle, but rather on stationary places. So if you’ll take this outdoors just be sure to find a flat spot to place it on, then start recording your video.

The ChargerCity Music Microphone Stand Tablet Mount is a universal tablet holder and can handle tablets such as the Apple Ipad Pro, iPad Air, iPad Mini to Galaxy Tab Pro 12.1 & other tablet brands.

With the microphone stand you can record yourself or someone important that you’d like to interview for your YouTube channel, podcast or Patreon channel.

Since the tablet holder and mic stand are sold individually you may have to spend around $30 to get all of this kit together.

Nbryte, Tablift Tablet Stand

Okay, here is a tablet holder design that’s borderline creepy; however, even though the Nbryte tablet holder looks similar to a giant spider it is quite the useful item you never knew you needed.

The Nbryte tablet holder is designed to be universally mountable with any tablet size that’s available in the market and its flexible legs will not only keep the tablet stable in any surface (even on uneven surfaces), but it also folds neatly for easy storage.

You can use it while sitting down and you place it on top of any flat or uneven surface. You can also use it while lying down in bed and place it over your belly as you lay your head over a stack of pillows to get the perfect viewing angle.

This is a very nifty device that you can get from Amzon for only $40!

Also read: the best VR glasses this year

How to Use Parental Controls on an Android Tablet | Use these top tips

As technology continues to grow, many people are now using smartphones and tablets more than ever. Parents who have bought their kids Android tablets should always ensure that they set up parental controls to prevent their kids from accessing inappropriate content. Today, there are various methods that you can use to apply parental controls on an Android tablet.

Why should you use parental controls on an Android Tablet?

a person is holding a watch

Today, many parents have the challenge of weighing the advantages and disadvantages of giving their kids digital freedom. Most parents know that limiting their kid’s access to the internet affect their learning skills as well as their ability to develop. Especially when you get kids’ tablets with access to streaming video youtube and netflix.

However, there is still a threat of exposing your kids to the internet since they can access information that is beyond their ability to handle. Here are some of the reasons why kids should have parental control on their tablets:

  • Cyber safety – since a kid’s brain is continually developing and learning new content. In their attempt to learn more things, there is a possibility that they can engage in risky online activities, and they end up disclosing private or too much information. As a result, the kids can end up compromising their own security or the security of others. Parents can, therefore, set use parental controls to prevent their kids from accessing content that poses a security threat.
  • Time management – many kids have been addicted to screens and they have not been able to manage their screen time. Research has revealed that this can lead to poor eyesight, bad posture, poor sleeping patterns, or even lack of physical activity, which is very important for kids. However, you can use parental control to determine the amount of time your kid shall be spending on their Android tablet.
  • Prevents your kid from accessing inappropriate content – today, the Android devices are full of different content, which might be inappropriate for your kid. There is a possibility for your kid to access adult or explicit apps if they use an Android tablet without parental controls. However, setting up parental controls helps in preventing your kid from accessing this content.

Also read: the top Android tablets for kids for this year

How do you use parental controls on an Android tablet?

four person holding pink TECH balloons

Creating and Using Restricted Accounts

These are the steps to creating a restricted account

  1. Go to the settings icon on the device. To do so, find the gear icon on the notification panel, app drawer, or home screen, and tap it. This will take you to the settings menu.
  2. Scroll down and open “Users.” Doing so will open a menu that shall allow you to add new uses to the tablet.
  3. Now, you can add a restricted profile. Tap “Add profile or user” and then select “Restricted Profile” from the available options.
  4. Create a password for that account – just in case you haven’t created one yet. To create a password, choose the security option of your choice (Pattern, PIN, or Password), and then enter your preferred PIN, pattern, or password. When you finish, a new screen will appear with a list of all the apps that are installed on the device. Each app will have an ON/OFF button next to them.
  5. Create a name for the profile. To do so, tap the three-line icon just next to the “New Profile,” which is at the top of the device’s screen. This will open a dialog box. Make sure that you enter a name, which can your kid’s name. Tap “OK” once you are done.
  6. Now, you need to choose the apps that you can enable for the new profile. Select the applications that the profile use will be able to access. For example, if you want your kid to access games only, then select the game apps. To choose the apps, tap the toggle button adjacent to the app ON. Make sure that you don’t tap ON the apps that you don’t want your kid to access.
  7. Now you can use the new restricted account. You will need to exit the settings account and then lock the device’s screen. Once you activate the device’s screen, you will be on lock screen now. This screen will be displaying different usernames. Choose the user name of the restricted account, and then unlock the screen using the set password, pattern, or PIN you set.

When you access the apps, you will only be able to see the applications that you have selected for that profile. Your kid will be able to access these apps only.

Also check out these ways to limit the screentime of your kids

Using Parental Control Apps

a woman who use her phone is smiling happily

How to use parental control apps

  1. For this to be possible, you should download and install a parental control app. There are various parental control apps that you can download from Play Store. To do this, open the Play Store, and then search for “Parental Control” apps. You will get different options for parental control, like Screen Time, Kids Place, and others. Tap any of these apps to view their description. Once you find the app that you can use, install it on the device.
  2. Once you download and install the parental control app, launch it from your device. You can locate the icon of parental control app from the app drawer or home screen and then tap it. When the application launches, it will have different options like growth, education, games, and others. These categories will allow you to add applications for your kid. Whenever you kid uses the tablet, they will always experience the home screen with the apps you have chosen.
  3. Set PIN. Most of the parental control apps will need to set a PIN. This will always be required to install unrestricted apps, make new changes to the settings, and the leave the parental control settings. The pin will prevent your kid from making unwanted changes to this mode or leave it accidentally. To create the PIN, go to the Settings menu, and then choose Create PIN. You can now enter the PIN of your choice, and then select OK. Some parental control apps come with additional security, and they will as you chose a preferred security question and then give an answer. This is very important just in case you forget the set PIN.
  4. Now you can add your kid’s information. You will find this option in the app’s settings menu. This will require you to enter your kid’s name, gender, age, or birthdate. Tap OK once you enter the required information.
  5. Add applications. Go to the settings menu, and choose the option for selecting applications. This will bring a list of all the apps installed in the device. You can go through all the applications, and select the ones that you want your kid to
    access. Tap OK once you are done.
  6. Always make sure that the device is on the parental control mode whenever your kid is using it. When you try to launch the parental control application, you will be prompted to enter its PIN code. Once you enter the PIN, the device will only display the applications that you’ve allowed your kid to use. This will allow the kid to use the device safely, and you won’t have to worry about them accessing inappropriate content.
    The most interesting thing about parental control apps is that your kid cannot exit the parental control mode. This is because they will need a PIN to exit, and they cannot access the settings menu so long as they don’t have the PIN.

Also check out these top tips for making your tablet more child friendly

Using Parental Controls in the Play Store

a padlock

How do you set parental controls in Play Store?

  1. You need to open Google Play.
  2. Go to the settings menu, and then tap the three-lined icon, which is found on the top left. This will bring a menu, where you can tap “Settings.”
  3. Next, find the Parental Controls option. You will find this option under the User Controls. Tap the option in order to access the Parental Controls Menu.
  4. Now, you will need to activate the Parental controls. You will be able to find a toggle switch, just under the Parental Controls heading. Tap this switch in order to set it ON.
  5. You will be prompted to set a PIN. This will be a 4-digit pin, which will be required whenever you need to make any changes for parental control. Now, you will have to enter the PIN you need to use and then tap OK. You should confirm the pin by entering it again and the tapping OK.
  6. Set your preferred restrictions. On your screen, tap Apps & Games. This will give you an option, which allows you to choose app ratings for different age levels. For example, if you choose an application with ages 3+ rating, Google play will display apps for kids within the age brackets of 3 and 7. If you choose 7+ rating, it will only display applications for kids between 7 and 12 years only. What you need to do is to select your preferred rating, and then activate it.

The Best Kids Tablets for YouTube and Netflix

Okay, so after all the rhetoric of what an ideal tablet should be as you’ll read in the manufacturer’s brochures and online ads, it all comes down to functionality and ease of use.

But when you talk about streaming videos from YouTube, Vimeo or other video streaming sites as well as watching your favorite Netflix movies and shows, you’d have to have a big display.

Preferably one that is at least 8 inches wide (display size), has a 16:9 aspect ratio and at least 1280 x 720 pixels resolution (720p HD or HD Ready) for the clearest images and videos.

So the question is which tablets are most suited for movie viewing and video streaming? Let’s find out below!

Display Size and Screen Resolution

Standard tablet size (or more accurately screen width) offered in the market today is around 6.8 inches (rounded up to 7 inches in the ads) which is small enough to fit in your pocket, but large enough to enjoy doing multimedia activities with.

Personally, I think that 7-inch tablets are ideal for when you’re living the “always on the go” lifestyle; however, if you’ll use a tablet for your kids at mostly at home to enjoy watching cartoons, play games and or watch films and TV shows, then an 8, 10-inch or a much bigger display size is preferable.

Screen resolutions ranging from 1280 x 720 (720p), 1920 x 1080 (1080p), 2048 x 1080 (2K) and 2560 x 1440 (1440p) are also great for enhancing your kids viewing pleasure. This is especially true if they’re watching those action-adventure films like The Avengers or The Mummy or if they also want to watch animated movies like The Incredibles or Wreck It Ralph or Shrek.

Netflix offers HD and QHD streaming as well as Bluray movies that they’ve acquired or developed in their own studio like Bird Box or Spectral. You may want to purchase a multi-angle tablet stand so your kids can enjoy watching lots of movies and cartoons without getting tired of holding the tablet up for hours.

netflix time!

CPU, GPU, RAM and Battery Capacity

Another important thing that you need to know about tablets is that they are not at all different from desktop and laptop computers and they operate the same way.

Whenever a computer runs a program – whatever kind of program it is (e.g. opening a .txt file, a word document, image file, audio or video file) – the flow process goes from the hard drive (if the file is already saved in the system’s hard drive) or from its RAM if you’re trying to launch a browser and see, read, watch or listen to something from it.

The core processor is the primary device that does the “hand shaking” between other devices to make the computer work (i.e. core processor to RAM or to GPU or to HDD or all of them simultaneously at the same time trillions of times per millisecond or even microsecond).

For instance, when you want to stream videos from YouTube or open a video file for a movie, then the processor accesses the hard drive, the RAM and then the graphics processor to make your viewing experience excellent, when you have great wifi that is!

Likewise it wouldn’t be as much fun to play your favorite games or enjoy watching your most anticipated films on the tablet if the battery capacity cannot take you for at least 3 hours on continuous viewing, no wouldn’t it?

Therefore you’ll also need to choose a tablet that has over 2500 mAh battery capacity besides having a powerful CPU, graphics processing unit and system memory or RAM.

In other words, a high-end tablet brand is what you should buy for your kids.

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro

The first entry on this list is actually not an ordinary tablet, in fact, you could call it a tablet PC or a notebook as it has its own removable keyboard and it has a whopping 13.3 inches wide display that will make watching movies your kid’s favorite passtime.

It’s called the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro and it is entirely made in China by a Chinese electronics manufacturer located in Haidian District, Beijing, China. Lenovo, by the way, constantly beats US brand Apple in South East Asia as well as other markets, so that says a lot about the quality of the products they produce.

The Yoga Tablet 2 Pro has a 1440p QHD or Quad HD resolution to match its huge screen size and it’ll make your kids point and chase around extremely clear details on the screen as they watch their favorite anime TV shows and movies.

The Yoga Tablet 2 Pro technically isn’t for kids, but if your children only wants to watch movies on it as the option to make them watch a movie on a bigger flatscreen TV isn’t available, then you can allow them to do that but it has to be done always under your supervision.

Specs:

  • CPU: 1.3GHz quad core processor
  • GPU: Intel Gen 7 (Ivy Bridge)
  • Chipset: Intel Atom Z3745
  • Display size: 13.3 inches
  • Display resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels, 16:9 aspect ratio (1440p)
  • RAM: 2GB
  • ROM: Internal storage space 32GB with an expandable microSD slot up to 64GB
  • Camera: 1.6MP selfie camera and 8MP main camera
  • WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, hotspot
  • Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 9600 mAh battery

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0

someone is using her/his Samsung tablet.

Another bitter rival of Apple in the consumer electronics industry is Samsung and their rivalry has produced the most innovative smartphones and tablets that has become the envy of every person on the planet since the tech revolution began back in late 2000s.

Today we take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 which is marketed as a child-friendly electronics hardware by the Seoul-based electronics manufacturer. The sleek and lightweight Galaxy Tab A by Samsung sports a bright 8-inch display with a 1280 x 800 HD resolution that’s perfect for Netflix binges or reading under the covers at night.

This 8-inch tablet is perfect for kids between 8 – 12 years old, although you may need to buy a rubber protector case if you’ll let your toddlers use it for their educational apps.

Its screen size is just the right size for a solo or group of 4 movie viewing session in the living room, the tree house or bedroom when your kid’s friends visit your house for a sleepover.

Be sure to prepare plenty of snacks and milk for your tiny visitors as they will be hungry after watching some interesting films on Netflix.

Specs:

  • CPU: 1.2 GHz quad core processor
  • Operating System: Android 5.0 (Lollipop)
  • Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE (the tablet is able to send/receive SMS and calls)
  • Display size: 8 inches
  • Display resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels
  • RAM: 1.5GB (3G Wi-Fi) 2GB (4G LTE)
  • ROM: Internal storage space 16/32GB with an expandable microSD slot up to 256GB
  • Camera: 5MP main camera and 2MP selfie camera
  • WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, WiFi Direct, hotspot
  • Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 4200 mAh battery

Amazon Fire HD 10

Nearly all Amazon Fire tablets have a kids edition on them and for a good reason, because they’d rather parents subscribe to their service than send them somewhere else (potential customer/potential profit loss).

The Amazon Fire HD 10 is the best big tablet from Amazon that costs more than one third the price of an iPad while on sale. Kids will absolutely love the bigger 10-inch display, speedier performance, and the handy (hands-free) Alexa voice-activated AI (artificial intelligence) assistant.

Having an Amazon Prime account isn’t such a bad thing and if you’ll use it wisely, you won’t have to spend much on stuff that you don’t like. But what’s great about the Amazon Fire HD 10 is that you can use it in tandem with Amazon Echo, which really raises the bar on things!

So basically you can do all those awesome things on the Fire HD 10 that you did with Echo like fill up your to-do list, set timer and alarms, do shopping and grocery and so many other fun stuff.

Specs:

  • CPU: Quad-core processor (2×1.8 GHz Cortex-A72 & 2×1.4 GHz Cortex-A53)
  • GPU: PowerVR G6250
  • Chipset: Mediatek MT8173
  • Display size: 10.1 inches
  • Display resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels (1080p), 16:10 aspect ratio
  • RAM: 2GB
  • ROM: Internal storage space 16/32GB with an expandable microSD slot up to 256GB
  • Camera: 2MP main camera and VGA selfie camera
  • WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
  • Battery: Non-removable Li-Po 3830 mAh battery

Microsoft Surface Pro 6

Microsoft tablet

Basically the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is just a portable laptop with a touchscreen UI, but children can still enjoy watching Netflix movies and YouTube videos on it nevertheless. Microsoft’s Surface Pro 6 is faster, longer lasting and now comes in a sleek, new black shell but still no significant upgrades in features that we were hoping for this new model.

The 12.3-inch, 2736 x 1824 pixels (which is between 1440p and 4K UHD resolution) is much clearer and better than the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro that will make kids want to watch their favorite movies and TV shows here non-stop! There’s also a kick stand at the back so you can lay the tablet on any flat surface while streaming videos on it.

The QWERTY keyboard may not be much but it makes web browsing easier compared to typing on the virtual keyboard on the screen of the tablet.

Microsoft set the price tag on this tablet/netbook at $899 (some versions are sold at over a thousand dollars and by comparison the iPad 9.7 starting cost is $450, although it does go up to almost $800 too in some cases), which is probably the only discouraging thing about it.

But in their defense they said that the Surface Pro 6 is designed for work or business and not for general use or for kids. It’s still a great tablet though!

Specs:

  • CPU: Intel 8th Gen Core i5-8250U/Core i7-8650U
  • GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620
  • Display size: 12.3
  • Display resolution: 2736 x 1824 pixels
  • RAM: 8GB/16GB RAM
  • ROM: Internal storage space 16/32GB with an expandable microSD slot up to 256GB
  • Camera: 8MP rear camera and 5MP selfie camera
  • WLAN: Wi-Fi ac (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.1
  • Battery: Non-removable Li-Po 8700 mAh battery

Also read: how do VR goggles work exactly?

Conclusion

While there are many other noteworthy tablets out there that are good for kids we determined that these 4 listed here in this article are the best for children to watch movies and stream videos from YouTube and Netflix on. The main factors for our rationale includes the display size, pixels resolution, aspect ratio, core processor, graphics card and system memory.

The 4 tablets on this article have some of the most powerful quad and octa-core processors to date! They also have excellent GPUs and double the RAM size that accentuate the images and visuals on the multi-touch display producing vibrant colors and bringing characters to life.

Each of the tablet brand and model mentioned here will not disappoint you even if your expectations are too high. While children will be happy with any gadget regardless of their size
or processing power any of the tablets listed here will significantly show their satisfaction as you look at their faces while they’re viewing some YouTube videos or watching Netflix on it.

Sure the price of these tablets may very well be beyond what you’ve planned for; however, these tablets are multipurpose and adults can enjoy using them as well – some are even designed for work and business!

So if the kids are limited to using them only 2 hours a day, then you can use it for the remaining hours and it’s like getting 2 items for the price of 1. It’s a very aggreable deal if you ask me and considering these tablets are almost the size of an average netbook and functions pretty much alike, I’d say it’s more than what your money’s worth.

Also read: our top tablet picks for this year

Best Pink Kids Tablets | Your daughter will love these top picks!

There aren’t many Android or Apple tablets out there that come with the pink color variant, which are designed to be attractive to kids. Kids love the light colors, especially the pink, yellow and blue ones like the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition, Kurio Tab Advanced and LeapPad3 as well as the LeapPad Ultra XDi’s casing.

However, looking at eBay and other online retail stores we found an abounding number of 7, 8 and 10 incher tablets with pink casings and are heavily marketed for children! But let’s look inside first if they are really kid-friendly devices or just some second rate knock offs.

Why Kids’ Tablets have to be Different from Those for Adults

I think I speak for everyone when I say that the primary reason why we allow children to enjoy having a handheld device like a smartphone or a tablet is because we want them to be educated by it and enjoy using it for games and leisure.

Tablets that are designed for adults would have no parental controls or restrictions in viewing or accessing inappropriate content, which in due course might damage the child’s mind and have an adverse effect on his/her development.

If They were Not Designed for Kids, Can You Customize Them?

The answer to that question is a definite, “yes” and you can install enough apps to limit your child’s access to the web, although I highly recommend that you sit down with your kids and guide them as they study, watch movies or play mobile games.

That’s because it helps develop a stronger bond between you and your children. Here are some good parental controls apps that you can find in the Playstore and the App Store that you can install in your kid’s tablet to make it more child-friendly.

And remember, tablets and other gadgets are basically like crystal meth if you do not control how your kids use it or how much time they spend using it. This article will explain the link between addiction and modern handheld entertainment devices.

So make sure to limit your kid’s use of the tablet (or any other electronic gadgets) to a maximum of 2 hours a day. It would be better also if they’ll not use it every day and you can encourage them to do other healthy physical activities to help in their physical and mental development (e.g. play games out in the sun, play scrabble and chess, learn how to hike and camp, learn how to sail, etc.).

Android HD Tablet 7 Inches for Kids

As seen here, this pink tablet would be very appealing to children between 4 – 9 years old and as edgy as it looks it didn’t actually come from any known brand. In fact, this tablet could be considered as “generic” as it doesn’t even have a brand name!

It’s just an Android-based tablet that has good specs and dynamic colors to it. Upon reviewing its product details it was quite clear that the manufacturer didn’t really geared this device towards the benefit of children, instead they’ve just labeled it as “for kids and adults.”

However, since it is an Android phone, then that means you can access the Google Playstore and download a couple of parental controls apps to make it kid-friendly.

pink tablet from China

Specs:

  • Brand: China Generic Android Tablet
  • CPU – Allwinner A33 Cortex A7 1.5GHz quad-core processor
  • GPU – ARM Mali 400MP2
  • Operating System – Google Android 4.4
  • Display Size – 7 Inch 800 x 480 Pixels
  • RAM – 1GB DDR3
  • Capacity – 16GB with expandable microSD slot of up to 32GB
  • Camera – 0.3 MP Front, 0.3 MP Back (Dual Camera)
  • Battery Pack – 3.7V/2000mAh Li-Polymer rechargeable battery

XGODY T702 Android 4.4 Dual Mode Tablet PC for Kids Bundle Case

At least this next entry in our list has a name and it is designed for kids too! This China-made cute little tablet comes in four different colours namely pink, red, sky blue and purple. You can get it for only $47 and although it’s made in China it does sport some powerful specs which guarantees enjoyment for your kids as they use it.

The XGODY Android tablet also has a protective rubber case and the manufacturer even went as far as placing a sturdy curved rubber handles on each side too! Toddlers and kids can grip it by the handle as they move along or sit down and watch some videos on it.

The tablet is designed with a high resolution HD 1024 x 600 pixels resolution, but with minimal backlight which eases the long-term use of visual fatigue. It also has two modes (one for adult and one for children) that you can switch between modes in case you’ll use it or you’ll let your kids do.

The children mode is built with kiddie themes and child-friendly as well as educational apps that’s great for your kids! Apps such as learning different languages, learn math, learn how to play and sing songs, learn how to spell, play games and watch cartoons are just among the ones that your children will absolutely love.

Specs:

  • Brand: XGODY T702
  • Processor: Quad Core
  • Processor Speed: 1.33GHz
  • GPU : MALI-400MP2
  • Hardware Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • RAM: 512MB
  • Storage Capacity: 8GB
  • Internet Connectivity: Wi-Fi
  • Screen Size: 7 inches
  • Resolution: 1024 x 600
  • Features: Bluetooth, Built-In Front Camera, Built-In Rear Camera, LCD Display, Media Player
  • Operating System: Android 4.4.X Kit Kat

Vismo 7 Inch Android 6.0 Tablet PC (Pink)

An Australian electronics firm called Vismo is also competing strongly in the Asia-Pacific, the United States and the rest of the consumer electronics markets in the world. Dubbed simply as “Vismo 7” as its manufacturer didn’t have time to give it a model name this tablet is very friendly to children.

While the Vismo 7 does not have a rubber protective case you can simply purchase one from Amazon or eBay. It also has all the basic refinements of an entry level 7-inch tablet and it already has the stylish pink color that kids love.

pink theme gadget

Looking for more entertainment? Look at these Virtual Reality goggles as well

However, you may have to download and install all the parental controls, educational apps, animated learning videos for toddlers and kids and the whole 9 yards to be able to cater to your kid’s needs, otherwise it is still just another tablet for adults.

Specs:

  • Brand: Vismo 7
  • Processor: Quad Core
  • Processing Speed: 1.3GHz 64-bit CPU
  • RAM: 1GB
  • Storage Capacity: 16GB expandable up to 64GB microSD external
  • Camera: 0.3MP Font facing camera
  • Colour: Pink
  • Hardware Connectivity: Bluetooth, Headphone Jack, Micro-USB
  • Internet Connectivity: Wi-Fi
  • Manufacturer Colour: Pink
  • Type: Tablet
  • Screen Size: 7 inches
  • Battery: 2500 mAh

Ainol AM-7C08 HD Kids Tablet

Shenzhen Ainol Electronics Co., Ltd is the manufacturer of Ainol tablets and other electronics devices and it looks like their AM-7C08 model is quite promising and it’s also pink, but it also comes in a yellow color scheme.

This tablet makes the phrase “child-friendly” an understatement as you can see here the protective rubber case alone is extremely appealing to toddlers and young kids!

a cute pink protective rubber case

You won’t even have to tell your kids to use it to watch animated educational videos, or learn school stuff, no, they’ll beg you to let them doodle with the Ainol tablet, because it’s so adorable to play with it.

Besides the well-thoughout kiddie design of the tablet plus the rubber protective case it also features a plethora of kids propreitary software which are both educational and fun that your children will love.

Ainol decided to put the 3000 mAh battery on this tablet despite it being only in the 7 inches range (most manufacturers could only put a 2500 mAh battery), but has proven to be useful as it gives kids more time to use the tablet compared to other tablet brands of similar size and specs.

Specs:

  • Brand: Ainol AM-7C08
  • CPU : RK3126C ARM Cortex-A7 1.3 GHz quad-core processor
  • GPU : MALI-400MP2
  • Displaying Screen : 7 inches HD IPS multi touch capacitive touch panel, 5 touch point
  • Resolution : 1024 x 600
  • Memory Size-RAM : 1GB DDR3
  • Memory Size-ROM : 8GB internal storage + an expandable slot microSD up to 32GB
  • Operating System : Android 7.1
  • Camera : Built-in Dual Camera (front 0.3MP and back:2.0MP)
  • WiFi : 802.11b/g/n

The Takeaway

These pink kids tablets are not what you’ll usually find in popular American smartphone and tablet retailers or online stores, but just because they are made from unpopular manufacturers in China, Australia and elsewhere doesn’t mean that they’re not quality.

Their rubber protective casings and pre-installed kiddie apps are the real takeaways when compared to the Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition or other tablets that were designed for kids, because their specs are quite similar, although Amazon and other manufacturers have the advantage of having their own cloud services like the Amazon Appstore.

Still, making a side by side comparison will make anyone choose the China-made tablets when price becomes the ultimate factor in the decision-making process of the customer.

Also read: the best children’s tablets to get this year

The 5 Best Kids Tablets with WiFi to choose for the best connection

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States as he was best remembered, valued knowledge and education more than anything in his life.

Sadly though the academic excellence or the enthusiasm to seek it out as a personal achievement among many kids these days is deteriorating. So it begs the question, why do we need to educate our children when information can be easily accessed by a simple Google search?

Well being properly educated and learn wisdom from a young age makes people civilized, intelligent, respects one’s self and others, which obviously a child won’t become if you just let him or her browse the web from their tablet all throughout their lives.

In fact, without your guidance as a parent, they would become the opposite of being an educated person, which would make them problematic citizens of the community. Being educated is a state of mind, not just having a bunch of certificates and it is your duty to guide your child’s state of mind in order to bring out the best in him/her.

Kids and WiFi

Kids these days always play with their phones whenever and wherever they are.

Kids these days basically cannot be separated by modern “fun” gadgets like smartphones, tablets, laptops and other devices that can connect to a WiFi, for apps, chatting and streaming video like youtube or netflix.

Although I encourage parents to limit your children’s exposure to handheld electronic devices to a maximum of 2 hours a day, you can give them a free pass on certain days like the weekends.

However, I do recommend that you let them be entertained by educational content so that it’ll pay off instead of just let them wander off of YouTube videos or other pages that might lead them to inappropriate content.

Google Maps, for instance, can really be fun to play around with as kids will be able to tell where they are exactly or approximately by turning on the tablet’s GPS. Pretty soon they’ll be the ones to tell you that “we’re here at (insert the name of the park or special place here),” instead of asking where you are located.

Make Learning Fun for Them

I think I don’t have to tell you that the reason why you’re going to the beach or park to hangout is to have fun. Kids especially take these matters to heart, so don’t be the guy to ruin it all for them, but you can make camping or hiking in the park educational without being too obvious about it.

As you go along use the tablet to make Google searches on the variety of plants and animals in the area’s ecosystem that live there. Even though kids are on the web most of the time, they may not know a whole lot of things yet, so you can use this opportunity to teach them and make learning fun with apps too!

"FUN" written with several colors of lego

Take a look at these 5 tablets for kids with WiFi access:

1.) Volkano A730

It’s no good to give your kids a tablet that is not at least 3G or has no WiFi access as the primary reason for having one is to connect to the world wide web.

The tablet can both be used for educational purposes, meaning you can search the web for just about any kind of information that you’re curious about or want to know more about.

The other use of the tablet is to pass up the time and entertain yourself with tons of game apps from Google’s Play Store and The App Store from Apple. Some mobile games are actually quite educational and can help sharpen your kid’s cognitive abilities.

Speaking of a competitive tablet brand the Volkano A730 is winning in sales in the African consumer electronics market! And the reason is because it is competing very well with well known brands like Apple and Samsung.

This tablet has a 1.2Ghz dual core processor which is not as intimidating as the quad core or octacore processor that a lot of China made and South Korean made smartphones and tablets is built with now, but it can still deliver the quality that you’d expect from a tablet in this category.

Its 1024×600 16:9 aspect ratio resolution makes picture and video quality great and allows your kids to read content from educational sites without making any complains about poor screen resolution quality or hard to read texts. They can also make video calls on this tablet with the front and rear cameras. Overall it’s a great tablet for a very affordable price and it’s made in South Africa too!

Pros:

  • Locally produced in South Africa
  • Innovative design
  • Competitive price
  • Has standard Android and Google apps
  • Easy to use
  • Long battery life

Cons:

  • Specs are not for long time video streaming or gaming
  • Overheats and may damage internal parts
  • Non-HD screen resolution

Looking for a tablet for your daughter? Take a look at these top pink tablets

2.) Amazon Fire HD 8

Apple isn’t the only tech giant that dominates the United States consumer electronics market, because Amazon is also taking a huge chunk of that market too! Even in African online retail stores Amazon is among the top brands that customers go to for tablets for their kids.

The Amazon App Store has a lot of interesting stuff to check out and you can access that if you’ll get an Amazon Prime membership; however, if you’ll purchase the Amazon Fire HD 8 kids edition, then it will come with a one year subscription. It’s a great way to expose your kids to child-friendly educational material on the web!

The Fire HD 8 is built with the 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 quad-core processor and is paired with the equally powerful Mali-T730MP3 GPU. This plus its 1.5GB of RAM makes video streaming and game playing very smooth with no chance for the screen to freeze or the device working slow.

You’ll also be entertained so much with the 8-inch 800 x 1280 pixels (16:10 ratio) display and the Dolby Atmos sound loud speaker. You’ll get a lot of features from this tablet for only $125! Not a bad deal if I should say so.

Pros:

  • Good value
  • Loud speakers
  • Dual-band Wi-Fi
  • Ease of use

Cons:

  • It’s not a lot of fun if you don’t subscribe to Amazon services
  • Google Apps is missing but you can download and install it manually
  • A single 2MP camera is not well-thoughtout considering it was released in 2017

3.) Apple iPad

iPad by Apple

Despite being overpriced Apple’s products still rank number 1 in the United States and the world over. The latest iPad was released in 2018 instanly became a hit among Apple products enthusiasts and for a good reason!

Apple competes with its unrelenting rival, Samsung, all the time when it comes to new mobile technology and sometimes Samsung releases new proprietary innovation in their smartphones and tablets, then sometimes Apple takes them to the courts to file a patent infringement lawsuit claiming that the tech was stolent or otherwise copied via shady corporate espionage or some other dubious means. Bottom line is these tech giants are essentially the leaders when it comes to new technology and you can experience it in their products.

Total display size is 9.7 inches which will give you great viewing and playing pleasure not to mention the texts of the articles and blog posts that you’ll read for research and learning is very sharp and clear.

Built with the powerful 2.34 Ghz (2x Hurricane + 2x Zephyr) quad-core processor which works together with the 2GB RAM and PowerVR Series7XT Plus (six-core graphics) GPU to give you the best of the best screen resolution at 1536 x 2048 pixels!

It also comes with a 32/128 GB internal storage space although Apple didn’t include an expandable slot as obviously there is no need for it. It’s got a very high quality 8MP camera on the back which rivals other smartphones and tablets today.

Pros:

  • Price to quality ratio is very acceptable
  • Elegant, high-quality apps
  • Supports Apple Pencil

Cons:

  • Not rugged enough and may not survive falls
  • The price is successively increased depending on the additions that you’ll get it with.

4.) Kurio Tab2

This tablet was specifically designed for children and it is one of the few tablets that cater to this kind of demographics among their customers, but Kurio made the right decision in focusing on
the kids share of the market.

This is a decent-looking 7in Android tablet that comes with a protective rubber bumper that’s more streamlined than usual. It cushions the fall and reduces the force of impact to a minimum, which helps make the tablet last longer even under the care of somewhat clumsy children.

This means that kids can enjoy watching movies on it, play games with it and doodle on it as much as they like.

Also read: setting parental controls on an Android tablet

The Kurio Tab2 only has a 7-inch 1024×600 capacitive touchscreen display which is boderline HD quality for streaming videos and games. Reading texts from this display should be with ease and comfort which makes learning easy as well.

Built with the Android 5 (Lollipop) OS and can be updated to the latest Android OS whenver necessary. It sports the 1.3GHz Mediatek MTK8127 quad-core processor that’s paired with a 1GB of RAM plus a credible GPU and will make the UI very easy to work with.

Pros:

  • Handy, lighweight and easy to use even for children
  • Good price for quality
  • Has bumper protection designed for toddlers and small kids
  • Loaded with software, features and child-friendly content
  • Has a 2-year warranty

Cons:

  • Smaller compared to other tablets in this price range
  • Sharing it with friends would be a hassle
  • Lacks Android and Google apps

5.) Asus ZenPad 3S 10

Last in this list is the Asus ZenPad 3S 10 and like its competitors, it also brings a lot to the table without asking you for a lot of money. Based on our research, we found out that this tablet is great for kids even though it was originally for the adult sector of the demographics.

Your kids can do web research from this tablet and find out what they need to learn with a few gestures and presses of the screen. If used properly, your child’s academic excellence can be greatly enhanced not to mention his IQ as well. If he/she gets bored after long hours of studying, then you can let them play games or watch their favorite movies and TV shows on it too!

The Asus ZenPad 3S 10 has an iPad-like design, but not quite the quality. But having the hexacore processor (combined quad and dual core ARM Cortex 1.7GHz and 2.1GHz), a 4GB RAM (the largest among the lot) and the IMG GX6250 graphics with ASUS TruVivid technology gives the 9.7-inch 2048 x 1536 resolution display the greatest viewing experience anyone could ever have!

I could hardly complain about it; however, at $449.77 it does ask for too much when you can get the iPad 9.7 (2018) model for less than $400, which is roughly the equivalent of this model.

Pros:

  • Brilliant 2K display
  • Hi-Res audio support
  • Fast chipset

Cons:

  • Mediocre battery life
  • Build quality has issues
  • Speakers poorly positioned

Read more: where do people buy their tablets in South Africa

Honorable Mentions

Of course, those five tablets for kids that has WiFi access designed to suit children that we’ve mentioned above are not the only ones that we think you should buy for your kids.

No, in fact, there are other tablets that deserve to be in this list and so, we’ve decided to have an “honorable mentions” space just for them. That way you can have more options to choose from if you want one for your kids.

Here they are:

VTech InnoTab Max

The InnoTab MAX is VTech’s latest top-of-the-line toy tablet that’s aimed at the specific demographics of kids between ages 3 – 9 years old. It improves upon the previous iteration of the tablet which now comes with a better processor, a bigger touch screen, and double the memory capacity, but also has a larger price tag. Vtech also included 14 built-in apps in the tablet which includes;

  1. Wonder Cam MAX
  2. Movie Maker
  3. E-Reader (with story dictionary)
  4. Calendar
  5. Clock
  6. Calculator
  7. Videos
  8. Family Bulletin
  9. Notes
  10. Music
  11. Play Games
  12. Art Studio
  13. My Magic Beanstalk Game
  14. My Wishes

The InnoTab Max was clearly not designed for power gaming as it niether has the processing power nor the graphics interface to support high-end gaming.

However, reading children’s stories, watching videos, TV shows and movies for children is absolutely no problem with this tab. Its 1.4GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 dual core rocessor and 1GB Ram plus 8GB of internal storage space are more than capable of giving the best images and video streams on its 7-inch 1024×600 display resolution.

It also has an expandable micro SD slot that you can upgrade up to 32GB. The 2MP 180- degrees rotating camera is an attention-grabber, especially for kids as they love to play with it while taking photos and selfies.

Pros:

  • Larger RAM and added display length which gives a wider screen view and better resolution.
  • 180° rotating camera
  • The tablet cover can be adjusted to become the tablet’s kickstand that allows you to watch movies and stream videos like doing it on a laptop or desktop PC.
  • Built-in handle
  • 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
  • Still compatible with game cartridges used in previous iterations.

Cons:

  • Despite having a 1.4GHz processor and good RAM the OS loads slow (at 8 seconds which is not accurate to the product description of 4).
  • My Wishes app is way too much of a marketing material than an education app that kids can use.
  • Unlike in the previous iteration, the rechargeable battery is not removable.

RCT- M835 Tablet

Another locally made tablet that deserves to be in this list is the RCT – M835 8 inches multimedia tablet. Its large capacitive lulti touch 1024×768 resolution LED display is great for doing some e-book, article reading and studying. It is built with a 4800mAh Li-on battery which should last for 5+ hours if you stream movies or play mobile games on it.

Its 802.11 b/ g/ n WiFi connectivity is as good as other high-end WiFi access systems and will connect to the internet almost immediately once the WiFi app is turned on. It also incorporated a 1GB RAM and an expandable slot micro SD up to 16GB of external storage space.

Pros:

  • Affordable yet has competitive specs
  • Great for studying and watching educational content
  • Long battery life
  • HD display
  • Great for watching movies and TV shows
  • Works well with light mobile game apps

Cons:

  • 3G technology which is not fast internet
  • Floats mostly in the African market and is not recognizable in other regions
  • Processor, graphics and RAM speeds not ideal for high-end gaming

Also check out our post on the best overall kids tablets to choose from

5 Ways To Limit The Screen Time Of Your Kids on their tablet

Experts recommend that you should not let your kids have more than 2 hours of screen time every day. However, some kids do spend even more than 8 hours every day staring on one form of a screen or even Virtual Reality screens.

Yes, you know that your kids need to have less screen time, but you don’t know how to make them stop being slaves to these screens. As a parent, you should understand that it is your responsibility to set healthy screen time limits. Even though it might not be that easy, it is important for your kid’s health and well-being.

What Is The Recommended Screen Time Per Age?

As your kids age, they need to have more and more screen time available for them. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t limit screen time. There should be certain limitations for screen time, which you should relax gradually. Let’s look at the recommended screen time by age.

Newborns to 18 months old

a girl with her baby brother/sister

Kids younger than 18 months should never be exposed to digital media on a daily basis. This assists in preventing the stimulation caused by digital media. Screens have too much noise and light, which can cause your kid to experience distress or even have trouble in sleeping when you expose them to screen time when they are young.

In addition, it is important to know that screen time can delay brain development for kids at this age. The only thing that digital media can do to your kid is to slow down their brain development. Also, it can even cause some behavioral issues, which is something you would like your kid to go through. Even though it can be a challenge to limit screen time for your kid entirely, you should make sure that it is not part of their routine until the kid attains 18 months.

2 – 5 years

Children between the ages of 2 to 5 years should only have one hour of screen time every day. Rather, you should emphasize outdoor and creative play. You should use screen time when you need a break or as a reward for the kid.

However, you need to be careful with that you watch during screen time with your kid. Your kid will have a hard time in comprehending and deciphering adverts. In addition, they don’t understand the difference between fictional and real characters. Therefore, you should make sure that you stick to educational programs designed for kids at this age. When you watch the educational videos with your kid, make sure that you ask what she or he has learned.

6 to 18 years

There is not defined screen time limit for kids above the age of 6. However, you should always make them concentrate on productive activities, like educational activities, physical activities, restful activities, and social activities.

There should always be a structure for the time they spend on screens. For instance, some parents have prohibited screen-based entertainment during school days to allow their kids to concentrate on school work as well as other productive activities. Others usually allow a set amount of screen time during weekdays and weekends.

However, it is always advisable to emphasize productive screen activities rather than entertainment activities for kids in this age bracket.

Five Apps That Will Help You Limit Screen Time For Your Kids

Parental control apps assist parents to monitor and manage screen time for their kids effectively. This is very important, especially at the time when every kid has access to smartphones, tablets, and even TVs. These are very valuable gadgets for kids as they assist them to learn, but they have their downside since kids can easily get hooked to these gadgets, thus affecting their performance in class. That’s the reason why parents need to control screen time for their kids since it’s a very important step towards protecting the kid’s health and improving their happiness. The following are 5 parental apps that will help you limit screen time of your kids

Boomerang Parental Control

This is a unique app that allows you to control your non-iOS gadgets remotely. You can also access this app on the iOS platform, but it comes with some limitations. The application has a 14-day trial, and once the trial period is over, you can subscribe to different packages like Single Device License – for one device or Family Pack – which supports up to 10 devices.

This app has powerful features, including location tracking, monitoring text messages, call blocking, and safe internet surfing. The app will definitely give you a good value for your money.

Parental Control And Kid Tracker

This is a screen time control app for parents, which allows them to block apps, track their kids, and manage their kid’s screen time using the family locator. This family locator also allows them to locate their family members. This app allows you to monitor the applications installed on your kid’s device. In addition, you can block certain apps or even set different riles for the educational apps installed on these devices. The app also allows you to block social media platforms installed on these devices.

Screen Time Parental Control

This app, which is available on both Android and iOS platforms, allows to manage the time your children spend on their smartphones and tablets. As a parent, you can encourage positive behavior by setting tasks for your kids to complete and then award them with extra screen time. The app has a very interesting pause feature, which allows you to pause the kid’s device whenever you don’t want them to be using it. In addition, you can block any apps that you don’t want your kids to access and also restrict certain activities during class hours.

ESET Parental Control

This a more comprehensive parental control app that is very effective when it comes to keeping your kids safe online. It has age-based filters that assists you to manage the apps your kids can access depending on their age. In addition, the app assists you to block websites and website categories that are not appropriate for your kid. Furthermore, you can determine the time limit for games and apps that you have allowed your kid to use.

Norton Family Parental Control

Norton Family Parental Control is ideal for families with several kids, and it can protect up to 10 devices. It allows age-appropriate setting for every gadget, web filtering as well as location tracking. The app comes with a wide range of parental monitoring and
control features, which every parent needs for today’s super connected kids. The app will let you know the sites your children are visiting, and it blocks the inappropriate or harmful sites. In addition, you can schedule screen time limits for your kids by scheduling specific times during the week or day and how many hours your kid can spend on their device every day.

Tips for Setting Clear Guidelines about Screen Time

cuteness between a mom and her kid

One of the best ways to limit screen time for your kids is to teach your kids to play. However, as a parent, you need to set on-the-ground strategies that will assist you to achieve the balance. At the end of the day, every parent desires their kids to grow up, as well as create a healthy balance for themselves. However, many kids will need some guidance for this to happen.

This is not a simple thing to do since there are no universal rules that are appropriate for a year old kids and teenager. These rules should be set according to the kid’s age, and they should be rethought often as the kids continue to grow and as the technology changes. There are few tips for setting clear guidelines about screen time:

  • Be the example – always be careful with how you use your gadgets, especially when your kids are around. Adults should not have the same rules like their kids. However, you need to follow the screen time rules you have set for your kids. Be very careful when it comes to multi-tasking with screens when you are with your kids.
  • Set specific days when screens should be off-limits – this can be until the kids finish homework or when they have visitors around or even after dinner. This assists your kids to understand they are not supposed to use electronics at certain times. School days and holidays are different, and you should consider setting different rules for every time.
  • Don’t allow screens everywhere – you can set some rules about the dinner table or even when you don’t want your kids to use their devices without supervision. This assists in sending the signal that screens should not be a burden in their lives.
  • Always monitor what your kids are doing on those screens – as your kids grow older, they will always want to know more. However, you need to understand the technology if you want to understand what your kids are doing. So, you should always know whether the device your kids are using has parental controls. Also, you can install certain apps to assist you monitor your kid’s activities on the screens.
  • Encourage variety – even though you might want to limit screen time, it is important to ensure that your kids are not obsessed over one activity or social media platform or spending their entire day watching the television.
  • Always advice your kids – be open about the concerns you have, and why you want to set those rules. When your kids understand the reasons you have concerns, they will know how to regulate their screen time. In addition, you should make your kids aware about the negative effects of the internet and electronics before they even encounter them. When you address some of these issues, the kids will find it easier to approach you in case they encounter the issues down the line.
  • Be observant – whatever guidelines or rules you set, make sure that you stick to them. It’s challenging for parents to enforce some of these rules. However, it can be much easier if you become consistent.
  • Be flexible – as your kids grow, so does the technology. Therefore, you should be ready to set new rules or change the existing ones. However, you should have a guiding principle of balance when readjusting the rules.

Here Are Tips to Limit the Screen Time of Your Kids

Encourage a Healthy Use of the Electronics in Your House

It is important to encourage your kids to use the electronics in your house in a more responsible and healthy manner. Therefore, before you sit down and watch your favorite TV show, don’t forget to set that good example. Keeping your TV on whenever it is not in use or even using your phone whenever you have some spare time teaches your kids bad habits.

Teach Yourself about Electronics

an old people is using his phone

As technology grows, our kids continue to become tech-savvy. It might not be surprising to realize that most kids are more familiar with electronics than their parents are. Therefore, parents should always ensure that they are up-to-date with the latest phone apps or even the newest craze on social media.

You cannot teach your kid about the risks or a certain app or social media if you don’t understand the risks yourself. In addition, you cannot stop them from playing those violent games unless you understand their ratings. This shows the importance of learning more about electronics and how they can affect your kids.

Do Not Allow Electronics Everywhere

Make sure that you set zones in your home where you do not allow any form of electronics like laptops and smartphones. For instance, you can set the dining area to be a technology-free area, which is reserved for family conversations and meals.

a family who wants to eat donuts together.

Use Parental Controls

It is important to protect your kids from inappropriate and explicit online and TV content. With parental controls, you can monitor and control whatever your kids are doing online and watching on TV.

Make Screen Time to Be a Privilege

Your kid should not that screen time is not his or her right, but a privilege. Therefore, you should withdraw privileges like a computer or TV use whenever your kid misbehaves. Whenever you have set a screen time limit for your kid, never allow them to have an extra screen time as a reward. Rather, stick to the set screen time and give them other rewards.

Also read these tips to make your tablet child friendly

9 Tips To Make Your Tablet Child- Friendly

In the last few years, we have experienced massive growth in technology, and as a result, tablets have become an important part of our society. Today, many tablets have the same specifications as laptops and computers, but they are much easier to use, particularly because of their size and usability.

From schools to hospitals to companies, tablets have been adopted in many places. In schools, they assist our kids to learn and to do their assignments. In addition, you can also find a tablet in nearly every household. Because the use of tablets has become so prevalent nowadays, it’s understandable for kids to be in contact with tablets almost every day.

The difference in education between then and now, chalkboard and a chalk, and now an ipad.

Most parents don’t care about their children being in contact with these devices, particularly because they can’t monitor what their kids do on these gadgets. However, there is a fear that kids might be exposed to things that are not appropriate for them to see, which is very reasonable. However, parents should not be worried about this since there are different options today to make tablets child-friendly.

So, How Do You Make A Tablet Child-Friendly?

Google Family Link

Kids must attain a certain age for them to own a Google account. For most countries, they must be over 13 years old. In South Korea and Spain, a child must be at least 14 years, while in the Netherlands they must be over 16 years old. However, most parents tend to create an account for their kids using a fake age to avoid this problem. This works for many parents, but it doesn’t meet the terms and conditions set by Google. As a result, Google can suspend or close these accounts.

To deal with these issues, Google has developed a service known as the Family Link. This service allows you to create and manage an account for your kids. However, it has two limitations:

  • It can only be accessed in the US, Ireland, and New Zealand
  • You must be using Android 7.0 versions and higher, and it works on ios.

With this service, you can control the apps that your children use, the things they can search online, the amount of time they spend on their devices, and you can also lock the tablet at night.

Setting up Google Family link

First, you need to download that Family Link Application from Google Play Store. When prompted, now create a Google account for your child, and make sure that you verify your payment method as you do this. You will be charged $30 on your credit card, but it will be cancelled once the confirmation is made.

Using your child’s phone, log into the account and then install the Family Link in the phone. The family link can allow you to:

  • Approve the apps that your kid can download
  • Monitor and limit screen time
  • Monitor the app activity on the tablet
  • Create child-friendly filters
  • Set bedtime for your kids.

This service works for kids under 13 years, meaning that they can control their own account once they attain the age of 13 and above

Also read: setting up parental controls on your kids Android tablet

Parental Controls in Play Store

Children over the age of 13 years or those with accounts set for over 13 years old cannot use the Family Link. However, you should not worry about this since you can use the parental controls in Google Play Store. This setting lets you limit the applications, movies, games, and TV shows your kid can download, depending on a set age rating. You can also restrict magazines and books using a safe-search filter, even though it is not 100% foolproof. In addition, your kid cannot access any music categorized as explicit.

To set up parental controls, go to the Play Store application, then to settings and open Parental Controls. Now, switch on the setting and enter the 4-digit pin once prompted. Next, select the type of content you want your kid to access and set the age limit you want. You can also choose to activate the explicit filter and then save the settings once you are through. This will restrict your kid from playing or buying anything that doesn’t
fall under this category.

This setting can only be applied to individual tablets and phones instead of an account. Therefore, you might have them for each account in case your kids have more than one tablets.

Google Chrome Parental Controls

The safe search filter in Google Chrome can assist you to protect your kids from some of the dirtiest corners of the internet. This setting is available in Google Chrome, where the kids will need to log in. However, this setting might not be effective in case your kid is using a third-party browser.

To activate the setting, you need to open the Google Application, go to setting, and then select Accounts and Privacy. Next, you need to activate the safesearch option.

Use Family Library to Share Content

A girl play a tablet accompanied by her mother and her little sister

The Family Library service allows everyone in your home to own a Google account, but they can only share paid Play Store content and apps with each other. In addition, this service also allows you to share one payment method.

That means you don’t need to purchase the same movies or apps more than once. Also, you can do this exclusively, meaning, if you don’t want your kids to access some stuff, then you don’t need to share it. Also, it means that your kids can buy stuff in the Play Store with your credit card, but you must approve every purchase.

To set up the family library:

  • Go to the Play Store > Account >Family >set up Family Library
  • Select the preferred payment method that you can share with your family
  • When asked to share your content, choose to Add all or One by one
  • Lastly, invite all your family members to the group when prompted. You will need to add their Gmail accounts for this to be possible.

Any family member under 18 years will need to get an approval whenever they try purchasing anything. You will receive a notification on your phone to either decline or allow the purchase. The setting is also applicable to in-app purchases too.

Use YouTube Kids

Most kids love using YouTube nowadays, but the biggest worry is that there is a lot of content that you don’t want your kids to access. However, you don’t need to worry anymore since you can replace your normal YouTube application with YouTube Kids. This is a family-friendly option, with controlled content.

First, you will need to disable the YouTube App by tapping Disable on the App Settings. Doing this will hide the app’s icon, meaning your kid cannot access the app.

Next, you will need to install YouTube Kids. In the Settings section in this app, you can choose what you want your kids to search and also limit the time the kids can spend using the app. In addition, you can filter any unsuitable videos found in the app.

In case your kids are old for YouTube Kids, you can activate Restricted Mode in the Standard YouTube app. This setting will hide any videos that contain inappropriate or adult content. To activate the setting, open the YouTube App, >tap the Account icon on the top right of your screen. Next open Settings >General and then activate the Restricted Mode.

Track Your Children

A tablet gives you the perfect opportunity to monitor where your kids are whenever they or you are not home. This can give you peace of mind, and you can do it easily with Find My Device service from Google.

This service is specifically designed to track lost phones, which means you can use it to monitor the location of your kids. However, you need to make sure that your kids have their tablets with them and that has an active data connection. When using the family link for kids under 13 years, then you can access their Google account details and set it up yourself. What you will need to do is to log into the account with any web browser to locate them.

When your kids attain a certain age, you might start balancing security with privacy, which means you might not be able to have full access to your kid’s Google accounts. However, you can create a new account for the purposes of tracking them whenever the need arises.

The good thing about this setting is that you can use for all your children. You need to create the account and then set it up on their phone. Then, you can log in using a PC and then open google.com/android/devicemanager, and you will be able to know their location.

Also read: the best kids tablets with Android OS

Kid Zone App

A boy is playing with his gadget

Installing a special kid zone app is another great way to ensuring that your kids can use their tablets safely. When you install one of the Kid Zone Apps, the tablet switches over to an entirely new and safe environment that has apps and materials appropriate and safe for kids. In addition, these apps are educations. Therefore, your kids will be entering into a zone with fun stories, funny videos, and educational games for kids. The Kids Mode is one of the best kid zone app that is developed by Samsung.

You can download this app from the Play Store, and when you install it in your kid’s tablet, it will direct them to a safe playground where they can enjoy numerous entertainment activities for kids. This environment has kid-friendly 3D figures. However, these apps cannot be accessed by people using the ios platform. However, ios has lots of similar apps available to download.

Installing Special Internet Browsers

It is important for parents to understand that internet browsers are some of the most dangerous zones for kids. In most of the internet browsers, your kids can search whatever they want, and they will not have any limitations to what they can search. However, you can easily limit what your kid can access on the internet.

What you need to do is to download an internet browser that is child safe. People using Android tablets can download safe browser apps from the Play Store. Once you install the application on your tablet, you will be able to do things like set a password on the internet or block certain sites that you don’t want your kids to access. This way, you will be sure that your kid will be browsing safely on his or her tablet.

If you own a tablet running on the ios platform, then you can use the metacert Browser application. This application automatically blocks over 700 million unsuitable sites, and it also filters videos and images. As a parent, you can easily monitor whatever your kid is browsing on the internet. Very interesting indeed.

Secure the App Store

someone is counting the bills

It doesn’t matter whether your kid’s tablet runs on Windows, Apple, or Android platform. Each platform has with an app store that allows you to download different applications for your tablet. However, there is a challenge in this since your kids can download whatever they want, even if you don’t want them to do that. Also, your kid can easily purchase apps without him or her realizing it.

Most parents don’t realize this until it is too late or they have to pay that huge credit card bill. However, parents can easily prevent this. Even though every app store is different, you can prevent these things from happening.

What you need to do is to open the app store, go to settings and then select content filter. This allows you to choose what you want your kid to download on the tablet and the things they cannot download.

Bottom Line

As a parent, it is OK to be worried that your kid might be exposed to inappropriate content on their tablets. However, this is an issue that should not make you lack sleep. Of course, it is always important to be cautious, especially when your kids use devices that are connected to the internet.

But if you follow the tips mentioned above, you won’t have to be worried whenever your kid is using his or her tablet. Also, you should note that these settings are completely free, and you won’t have to pay anything to make your tablet child-friendly.

You can make any one of these top picks for kids very child-friendly