I have £250-£300...

[BruthasTortoise]

To get my DS's (9 and 6) their main present for Christmas. I'd like to get them a tablet but can't decide whether to push the budget up and get them an ipad or whether to split it and get them a kindle each. Any advice? Or alternative suggestions?

[milk]

What do you want them to use the tablet for?

[SugarHut]

iPads smash like buggery. DS 5 has one and I wince every time he walks round with it, swinging it in his hand. He also has a Blackberry Playbook, which is a lot more robust and drop proof. They are both permanently covered in gunge and constantly needing a clean.

I'm getting him a leappad ultra this year in the hope that he'll see the ipad as more of a tool for school research and the leappad for games. The blackberry is really looking like it's seen better days, but as a tablet for a 6yr old boy, that would be the one I would recommend.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

iPads don't smash like buggery unless you treat them like buggery. We have three, one which is used solely by my 5yo and occasionally by the 20mo and we haven't lost one yet. They don't wander round with them and DD1 knows that if she mistreats it she loses it.

I'm not a fan of the Kindle fire but think that two children sharing a tablet is asking for trouble. There must be a better one than the fire for that sort of budget. Not sure what though as we're an Apple household.

[Pointeshoes]

See I think go for a second hand iPad , they have loads more app games for both learning and fun. Which a lot of them are free.
Yes , they will have to be careful not to drop them- aged 6 and 9 they should know how to take care of their things. My 3 year old only goes on mine when he's sitting on the sofa so I know it's safe! He has a leap pad, but the graphics and use ability just don't live up to the iPad. I'm sure you can get ones off eBay for around £200.

[soundstrue]

We're an android house. My guys 6,5 & 3 have nexus 7s. Plenty of apps. Nice size for them.

[curiousgeorgie]

I'd say get an iPad. We have 3 which are all choc full of things for kids to do and my DD is 2, has been playing with them since she was old enough to hold one and has never broken one.

I don't honestly think any other tablet compares, and I don't know about your DC's school, but the schools I've looked at for DD have iPads that they encourage the children to use and I know that she'll be really good at it when the time comes.

[DesperatelySeekingSedatives]

DD aged 6 just got an ipad mini for her birthday and has a case for it like this which will hopefully protect hers. DP has one for his iphone5 and its worked for the numerous times he's dropped his phone so I'm hopeful.

[BruthasTortoise]

I'd like it for games and learning apps, just the usual really, but I just can't figure out if all tablets are basically the same to kids. I know Tesco are launching their own tablet next week and if it's any good I would consider it as my DH gets staff discount. That's for all the advice so far, it seems that ipad may be the way to go

[LegoAcupuncture]

Kindle fires are £99 ATM?

[everydayaschoolday]

I second a Griffin case. DH has one on his iPhone5 and they really are robust.

[Jellyrollgumdrop]

What about the Samsung galaxy tab2, there's also a galaxy tab 3 out. My dd got 10" tab 2 From Santa last year, its great :-)

[everydayaschoolday]

Jelly The apps that you can get for apple products, can you get all the same ones for Samsung galaxy? Does it all work the same? at how uninformed I am.

[Jellyrollgumdrop]

Google play store and Samsung's own app store have loads of apps free & paid for, not all the same as Apple's one's, still great though imo!! Wouldn't recommend kindle for kids, I have one & find you are limited to apps Samsung's tab is better. Money off @ tesco too atm!!!

www.tesco.com/direct/technology-gaming/samsung-galaxy/cat20150048.cat?catId=4294816690&sc_cmp=ppc_g_samsung%20galaxy%20tab%202%2010.1_p&gclid=CLKQrKSQ6rkCFW3KtAodcEQAJw

[Jellyrollgumdrop]

Ps it comes in a 7" too which is similar size to kindle

[everydayaschoolday]

for link & info. I'll look into it.

[MoominMammasHandbag]

People really buy iPads for their 5 year olds?

[everydayaschoolday]

MoominMammasHandbag Your head shaking and tutting has not derailed me in considering that, yes, a tablet/iPad may be an excellent interactive stimulus to develop my DD's fine motor skills, speech, and cognitive skills. My DD has cerebral palsy and has difficulties with movement and communication.

But, no, she's not 5. She's 2. Would you like to hoik up your judgy pants further given that new information?

Any other (relevant) questions?

[MoominMammasHandbag]

I am not judging anyone Every, I am an old codger and constantly amazed at the level of technology people see as essential to their lives. Yes we have an iPad, a fantastic piece of kit, but we have one in our house, my children certainly don't need one each.
Obviously you are the best person to judge your own child's specific requirements.

[StupidFlanders]

I think iPads are a great learning tool- it just sucks you have to pay for so many apps to discover they're crap!

They will be the norm in schools pretty soon.

We bought a cheap android while we monitored how careful dcs were with our iPad. Cheap one's crap- iPad still great.

A good quality android would be ok as usually the apps are free.

everydaysisaschoolday I work with someone who has cp and the iPad is brilliant for him.

[MoominMammasHandbag]

Well to be honest my four just pass the iPad around and play Minecraft and Clash of Clans on it, and having one means that no one gets it for ages - I am not a big fan of too much screen time.
I don't think there are any educational apps on ours at all. It was bought for business use anyway, not as a learning tool.

[Snoopytwist]

DH and I are having this exact same conversation. Would love to get an ipad for DS (9) and DD (7) but can't afford one each and to be honest, getting them to share an ipad would just not be worth the pain.

Having done shedloads of research, we chose to ignore the kindle and we were going to get a Nexus 7 for them each - not the new one, too pricey, but Carphone warehouse do the old one for £139. But now Tesco are bringing their version out, at £119. Some good reviews, some a bit "meh" .... now we don't know what to do!!! As long as they can watch Tracy Beaker on your tube and play minecraft + club penguin, they will be happy!

[VoldemortsNipple]

Ds has an ipad. I can't say he's uses it for anything that he "needs" an iPad for. If I had my time again, I'd buy a cheaper model for him. I have a Kindle Fire HD and dh has a Galaxy tab 2. They all serve their purpose for what we use them for.

If I was you I would buy two cheaper models. In a few years time they might need something more sophisticated, but by then technology will be on another level and you would find yourself replacing whatever you choose to buy now.

[serin]

We have an iPad and a Kindle Fire HD and I am going to buck the trend and say that our DC's play games on the Kindle far more than the iPad.

[BruthasTortoise]

So DH has had a look at the new Tesco tablets and tells me they look well and the operating system is as good as any. Now I'm even more confused - I can get them 1 each for £195 all in but have to decide this week! Aargghhh! This used to easy