Whether it's for watching endless reruns of Hey Duggee, or playing with the latest educational app, your grandchildren will love having their own tablet.
And, you'll be happy they're not constantly borrowing your iPad and getting it covered with jam. But which tablets for kids are best? Which ones are worth investing in - or should you just buy the bargain one?
Whichever one you choose, make sure it has an indestructible case for when they chuck it over their shoulders or down the stairs... (speaking from experience, here).
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Our shortlist of the best tablets for kids
In a hurry to keep the grandkids occupied? Here are some quick links to buy the best tablet for your little one:
How much screen time should you allow for kids?
There are no official guidelines in the UK as to how much screen time a young child should be allowed, but it's something we're becoming more mindful of.
The NHS recommends no more than two hours of screen time a day, and that all screens be removed from your grandchildren's room before bedtime.
As well as how much time they spend on their device, it's important to consider how your grandkids use it. They should still actively play offline, avoid using at mealtimes and bedtimes, and make sure usage is controlled so it doesn't interfere with family time.
Like everything, make sure they use it in moderation so it doesn't affect sleep or wellbeing.
Are tablets beneficial to children?
According to the NCT, tablets are a great way of boosting your grandchildren's development with high-quality TV shows and apps helping toddlers to boost and improve:
• Language skills
• Numeracy and literacy skills
• Shape and colour recognition
• Problem-solving
• Visual thinking
• Imagination
• Fine motor skills through touchscreen interaction
It can also provide a bonding experience with your grandchild if you're using the device together, much like reading a storybook, and it'll improve their digital interaction which will be invaluable in the modern world.
If you're busy, you can also use a tablet as a means of keeping a child distracted or to give you a breather if grandparent duties become a little overwhelming. It's especially helpful if you have more than one child to deal with at once, and they're sure to love the perceived independence playtime on their device brings.
Our pick of the best tablets for kids
Best tablets for kids
1 of 7Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet
A fully functioning Amazon Fire tablet, this isn't just a toy but the same as your own tablet, just in a super-protective case. It includes a two-year guarantee, so if your little one breaks it, you can return it and get a replacement for free. Also includes a year's subscription to Fire for Kids Unlimited, with loads of apps, games, videos, and audiobooks.
Review: "The Kindle Fire 7 for kids is just a gem! You can setup screen timing, books, apps, games are great quality, and they are contained in the kid environment safely. I couldn't recommend it more!"
2 of 7Pebble Gear
The Pebble Gear is the perfect addition to your grandchild's toy collection. With over 16 GB of storage, built in Toy Story 4 games, E-Books, with up to 500 games available on the Game Store Junior app, fun is practically endless.
But most importantly, it's incredibly safe and has full parental controls, so you can have peace of mind that your kids are safe and happy, and entertained.
And with up to nine hours of battery life, fun on the go is limitless.
Review: "This is absolutely brilliant, a year's worth of free educational apps toys story games and more. We brought this because his older brothers have tablets so we insisted on a kids one, did buy the screen saver and bag but missed the £20 off offer still worth it though, absolutely brilliant".
3 of 7Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet
This all-new Amazon Fire tablet for kids comes with a larger 8 inch display along with a kid-proof case in blue, pink or this cool purple. Using the Amazon Parent Dashboard you can create screen-time limits and even set educational goals to help with their development. Your grandchildren can enjoy up to 12 hours of reading, watching, gaming and learning with the great battery life and 1 year subscription to Amazon Kids+.
Review: "Whilst there's only one app my little boy has any interest in (he is only 2.5 years!) I've had a look through and it's great. There's so much you can do on it (as expected, to be honest) and it's a great little device to have on hand. I don't drive, so travelling on public transport can often be long and tiring, but with the tablet I no longer have a very bored, whinging toddler on the bus! It's robust and a really good size, too. The price is fairly decent, considering that it is a piece of technology for a child. Would definitely recommend. I could probably watch TV now, too!"
4 of 7Dragon Touch Kids Tablet
The brightly coloured silicone case will keep it safe, and your little one will also be safe thanks to the parental controls. There's a Kids' Mode and Android Mode, plus loads of built-in cartoons.
Review: "We are using this tablet to play games, learn, paint, listen to music, watch videos, and surf the internet. Connects to the WiFi easily on start-up and battery lasts a decent amount of time. Have used it in car journeys, at relatives and friends, and even in bed to distract a 2-year-old long enough. Also great quality of screen, nice and responsive. I'm positively surprised as I've been an Apple user for many years and never experienced such a good browsing experience on any other brand of device. The battery life on it is amazingly long lasting. I would definitely recommend it if you are buying for young children especially, my daughter uses hers constantly."
5 of 7Pritom 7 Inch Kids Tablet
This tablet is a powerful all-in-one device with security controls and behavioural restrictions with all sorts of filters to keep your little ones away from inappropriate content and advertising. The iWawa Kid's software comes with free pre-installed apps for kids for instant entertainment, and it's easy to operate with a hardy, kid-proof case.
Review: "I was looking for a tablet that was suitable for children aged 3-10 years, because I am working as an after school childminder. One of the 8-year-olds is a Minecraft fan, so we were happy to see that even after installing the paid version of Minecraft and also Blockcraft, the storage total still only took 30 per cent! We couldn't believe how many games, videos, songs, stories, etc. were already installed and how much storage there is still left. The preinstalled items are suitable for different age groups and the speed of the tablet is also very good. We are absolutely delighted, thank you!"
6 of 7FIVAHIVA Kids Tablet
This nifty little tablet is perfect for your little ones, It's packed with exciting games and apps, and is able to connect to Bluetooth and WIFI, so your kids can watch their favourite videos at the tap of a button. It's also loaded with plenty of parental controls, so you can carefully control what your kids can access at any time.
It's also got 32 GB of storage, so there's no end to the games they can play. As a great little plus, it's also got a camera, so your kids can start practicing their photography at a young age! This is a great value, all-round solid choice for your kids, it will not disappoint.
Review: "So good we bought a second one! This tablet is easy to use and a great alternative to spending a fortune on a "proper tablet" just for the younger kids to break! We bought one for our daughter's 6th birthday in November and she loved it. New games can be added through the Play Store, and the big winners are YouTube and iWawa installed there. My daughter loves the games in iWawa."
7 of 7Lenovo Tab M10
It's an adult tablet, and it's a little bigger than some of our other picks at 10-inches, but it's probably the most powerful pick of the bunch, meaning there's plenty of use for adults too. With 32 GB of storage, nine hours of battery life and a dedicated 'Kids Mode' that allows you to safely monitor app and web browsing access, so you can safely allow your kids to play without worrying.
App options for your kids are basically limitless with the Lenovo Tab M10, there are thousands of great educational choices available in an instant, including YouTube Kids, Netflix, and more.
Review: "I bought this tablet for my grandson as I have one myself. It is extremely reliable, perfect size for slipping into a handbag when travelling. The lightest touch does what you want to do. Colour is excellent! Games or video's never freeze! Excellent value for money. Highly recommended for anyone on a budget."
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Best tablet apps for keeping kids entertained
Once you've bought your grandchild a tablet, there's a whole new world of tech for them to discover and enjoy. We can sit back on our laurels and say, "Why do they need a tablet? Can't they just read books as we did?" But there's no denying that tablets, smartphones, computers, and other smart tech are all part of the world our grandchildren live in now. We can't ignore it, but, we can embrace it and make sure it's a safe, manageable place for them to learn and enjoy.
Here are some of the best apps for toddlers that they can learn and develop with (rather than just browsing YouTube all day long). Some of these are completely free, and all are less than a fiver!
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Elmo Loves 123s Lite
This colourful app is free to download and is full of games, activities, and videos which help your child's development. The games include number tracing, counting objects, and problem-solving. It's suitable for ages 4+ and you can download the full version for a small payment.
Download from: iTunes and Google Play
Lego Duplo ® World Preschool Learning Games
Lego Duplo World is carefully aligned with the 'Headstart Early Learning Outcomes Framework' to ensure each activity targets key learning goals for toddlers and preschool kids. Your grandchild can explore each open-ended play experience to find out what’s in it, discover how everything works, and build structures using 3D bricks. It'll inspire their creativity through learning and imagination.
Download from: iTunes and Google Play
ABC Kids Tracing & Phonics
A simple education game that's suitable for ages five and under. The kid-friendly app is brightly coloured to help to teach your toddler how to trace the alphabet and learn phonics.
Download from: iTunes and Google Play
Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets
With this fun free game, your kids can enjoy hours of creative play customising adorable, colourable, and washable pets. With more than 30 pets to adopt, it'll encourage empathy as your children care for their pets, as well as sparking their imagination and exploration.
Download from: iTunes and Google Play
Playtime Island
There is something for everyone on Cbeebies Playtime Island and it's jam-packed full of fun games for kids - for free! With games from all the Cbeebies characters, the game is suitable for ages 4+.
Download from: iTunes and Google Play
My Very Hungry Caterpillar
Eric Carle’s much-loved character, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has won the hearts of millions of children around the world for more than 50 years. Now with this toddler-friendly game, your little one can care for him and unlock new activities as they go. With the right care, play and fun, he'll transform over time into a beautiful butterfly!
Download from: iTunes and Google Play
Gruffalo Games
With six Gruffalo-themed mini-games, this educational app is designed to develop logic, problem solving, and reactions for children aged three and above. There are no in-app purchases so your little ones can enjoy everything on the app.
Download from: iTunes and Google Play
Teach Your Monster to Read
An award-winning phonics and reading game that's designed to help your kids to read! Let them create their own monster and play games that help their understanding of phonics and word blends! It covers the first two years of learning to read, from matching letters and sounds to enjoying little books.
Download from: iTunes and Google Play
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Cbeebies Storytime
Free books with the Cbeebies characters that parents and children can enjoy together, with guided interaction points that your children will love!
Download from: iTunes and Google Play