The nine best tablets for kids

Not only does the Samsung Galaxy Tab have great battery life, but you can also add extra memory for increased storage. An easy racket to navigate, it has a useful ‘kids’ mode so parents can set limits and app icons on the Home Screen can be replaced with cartoon-style alternatives. Just a little something extra to make this tablet kid-friendly. The 10-inch screen is a good size for watching videos and the variety of apps means there’s something for everyone. While this tablet isn’t specifically designed for kids, it definitely has all the necessary features to keep your children occupied on long car journeys.

If you’ve stood in a long airport queue lately, chances are you’ve seen some kids in pushchairs engrossed at whatever’s playing on the screen of these tablets. A popular choice for younger children, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet can survive being thrown down the stairs, stepped on and more, all thanks to its protective kids proof case. This tablet is a Kindle designed especially for children and includes a year’s subscription to Amazon Kids+, giving your children access to thousands of kid-friendly books, films and TV shows. Parents can access a parental control dashboard to not only restrict content by age but also limit screen time.

If you’re on the search for a tablet that suits the needs of your older children, the Amazon Fire 7 is a perfect option. Like many of the others in this list, it has thorough parental controls and it’s easy to download all the apps and games your children may need. The kid’s version of the Fire is free on every tablet and aimed at children aged 12 and below. As with many electronic products, you’ll need to pop a case on this one, which you can purchase separately. Your kids can enjoy up to seven hours of battery life with this device which is plenty of time to keep them entertained.

A brilliant educational tablet, the Leapfrog LeapPad will give your kids the ultimate learning experience. It’s a great choice for younger children, aimed at young ones aged 3-9 years. Don’t worry about your little ones damaging this tablet as it’s very robust and has a shatter-safe screen, so will survive being dropped a few times. Parents can download hundreds of child-safe apps for their little ones so they certainly won’t be bored. The tablet also comes with a stylus so any sticky fingers won’t make a mess on the tablet, but most importantly it can help your child learn to write.

Looking for a small, palm-sized tablet? The Alba tablet is the one for you. It comes with two silicone cases to protect against everyday wear and is a really solid purchase. While it doesn’t have any in-built parental controls, you can actually download them manually. It has an easy to navigate display, front and rear cameras and comes with 16GB of storage. The built-in speaker also allows you all to enjoy their favourite films and TV shows, or just plug in your headphones and you are good to go.

The more luxury choice on the list, nothing compares to Apple’s trusty iPads. If you’re a household with multiple Apple products, you can also connect all your devices via Family Sharing. If you’re worried about the price, well we can assure you that the more expensive price tag is definitely worth it and the tablet will last for years to come. The iPad may not be specifically designed for kids, but there are parental control options so you can monitor which apps your child’s downloading. You can also turn this tablet into a mini laptop with a keyboard, available for purchase separately. Perfect for all that homework.

The Kurio tablet is pretty basic but perfect for the little ones as they specialise in making tech for younger users. It can survive the knocks and drops it may endure in your kids’ hands thanks to a protective bumper. With its extensive parental controls, you can lock it as much as you need to so your children can stay safe while using it. It’s Android-based so your child can access the Google Play Store and download all the fun apps they want to use. The tablet also features text and voice messaging, two-player games, remote access of the tablet and a front-facing tablet camera.

We’re back with another Amazon Fire, but this time it’s bigger thanks to its two-inch larger display and a larger battery that offers up to 20% better battery life. It also has a faster processor so can handle more power-intensive apps like Zoom and Microsoft Office Mobile, so it’s perfect for studying from home if need be. This Amazon Fire also comes with a similar childproof bumper case like other Amazon tablets. The 1920x1200 resolution display promises a better viewing experience, so you can load up Netflix, Disney+ and Twitch. The bigger screen is also great for reading and playing games. To top it all off, this tablet is backed by a 2-year worry-free guarantee.

If you’re looking for a tablet for your older children, this may be the pick for you. The lightweight device is perfect for bingeing through your Netflix watchlist and reading late into the night. You can use the Google Play Store to install social media apps, games and more. Parents can download Samsung Kids which gives you an array of kid-friendly and easy to monitor educational games, books and videos. You don’t need to worry about storage either as the device comes with either 32 or 64G of storage so you can fill it up with plenty of apps and videos for a long journey ahead.