Recommend a tablet for my toddler?

[Username721]

I’m looking for recommendations for a tablet or similar device. It would just be for any long periods of travel in the car where they tend to get bored and impatient. I wasn’t keen on getting one but saw a kid in a restaurant recently happily watching one and maybe it’s a good idea.

Would need it to play Netflix and YouTube so they could watch a show, and ideally be somewhat indestructible.

I don’t really have a budget.

Thanks!

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Please don’t let your kid watch YouTube. Its full of awful content disguised as kids shows. It’s really not a safe place for kids.

I've just given my DS an old iPad (well, I used it as an excuse to buy myself a new one really). The only apps he has are iplayer and Reading Eggs (and the ability to look at pictures of himself in the photo app which is what he mainly does). We have a protective case for it and it's been pretty indestructible thus far.

If you want something cheap and cheerful then a children's Kindle is pretty good. My 6 year old has one, she uses it for Cbeebies games and you can watch iPlayer on it. It can download most apps I think, so you should be able to get YouTube or Netflix on it if that's what you want.

iPads have more to them, but are far more expensive and I would be happy to have a toddler toting it around and dropping it. Our Kindle was about £50

Honestly..don't.

An Amazon kids kindle fire sounds your best bet. They have very good parental controls so you wouldn’t need to worry about inappropriate content.

Don't give your kid a screen! Please don't. YouTube and the like are terrible for kids.

I know. He likes to dance along with Ms Rachel, which as far as I can see does seem genuinely wholesome and fine for him. I do appreciate there’s lots of rubbish on there though.

Happy to be corrected but is 30 minutes of Ms Rachel or similar genuinely going to harm them? I know Cocomelon gets a bad reputation.

Fire Hd10 plus a kids case, better value than the kids version.

DVD player in the car and colouring, interaction with the rest of the table, other small toys etc (we used to have finger puppets) for when you eating out. Also pick the restaurant carefully so it’s family friendly and you’re not waiting for ages for your food.

we still have a phone ban at the table and ours are older teenagers now. It’s basic manners I think.

Just use something you already have and keep it for very occasional use.

Amazon fire is great for young kids. Ours is just for car / plane journeys. We don’t do screens when we’re eating out - we take toys and colouring etc, although I don’t begrudge parents trying to grab themselves five minutes to eat in peace to be honest!

100% agree with this! Colouring, little fiddle toys, books and interaction are all you need. If they are young, they might need to go for a little wander outside. Children don’t need tablets at the table. Communication really suffers these days with more and more young children entering school with limited vocab. Books and interaction are the way to avoid this!

My toddler loves his toniebox, bought it for him because he was asking for the TV a lot and now he never does, he just turns on his toniebox and chooses a story/songs etc and plays alongside it. Haven't tried it in the car yet but I definitely would take it if we had a long journey coming up.

FGS screens aren’t the devil.

We don’t typically let our DC watch screens when out at dinner but do always take colouring books/pens and sometimes a small travel game (orchid are good).

My DC both have an iPad, they aren’t slow unrestricted use, just an hour or so a day. We’ve downloaded a wealth of educational games for them and they love it.

Mine have kindle fire (if I bought again I would spend extra on the kids version as I have had to replace a few times over the years). I really rate them for younger ones. Simple to use. My 9 year old is wanting something more sophisticated now but my 6 and 7 year olds love them.
For YouTube I would be super careful about allowing a child to watch it away from your supervision. I've removed it from mine after my youngest went to click on a video called 'iggle piggle has a fiddle' or something like that a few years ago. Gross.

The only other point I'd make is that if you have a child that has a tendency towards travel sickness, be careful with letting them watch a screen in the car. It makes my DS vom which is not ideal.

Kindle Fire cost about 50 so not huge cost if broken.
Parental controls allows limit time and times cannot play it.
6yo in my house has one. Every now and then I hide it for few weeks.
Out of sight out of mind but when they have it hard to turn off.

Your toddler does not need a tablet.

DC needs your time and toys to play with.

Not a tablet.

You act like I’m considering a tablet so that I don’t need to interact with him. Nothing is farther from the truth.

I talk to him constantly. My knees are black and blue because never off of the floor playing with him. We invent games, make a mess and practice walking/jumping etc. Even the minuscule things I do involve him “Let’s get your hat. What colour is your hat? Grey. Can you say grey?” and so on. I’m pretty sure people in Tesco must roll their eyes at me as I go past.

If we’re out for a meal he has crayons, a toy, my attention. I let him feed himself, offer him my food, talk about the things around us.

However, when I’m driving and can’t give that level of attention, I think he would enjoy 30 mins of the Wheels on the Bus or Hickory Dickory Dock. That’s all.

Fortunately mine were young before tablets were a thing. Long journeys were taken up with games ( you know where you have to engage with your child...) and audio books and songs. At the table we had picture books, colouring, little games and small toys such as Polly Pockets.
Small children do not need screens. There is a reason why issues with speech and language are currently such a problem in young children.

A bit off the point but, do you know, sometimes tablets and earphones etc are a complete godsend for a child with SN?
They allow the child and the child's family to access a place that may otherwise be inaccessible to them. They can help calm and relax a child until they settle and get used to a space. Yes, sometimes you do get 'judgey' looks' because autism isn't always obvious and people don't understand. No, I no longer care.
(I lie. I actually found reading some of the comments here upsetting as I know the people who wrote them would judge my family, and me as a parent, even though they know nothing of what my child needs)
I like our ipad and Amazon Fire OP.

@Username721

You don't need to justify yourself to anyone on this thread. The judgement and scorn are off the charts. Ignore it.

We have an old Kindle with some episodes of Thomas the Tank engine and Postman Pat on them. Mine is 18 months old. He gets to watch some cartoons on two occasions: half an hour in the morning before breakfast while he has a cup of milk, and if we're on a car journey of over half an hour in length where he's not napping. If it's just half a hour he is happy with books. Over that, he has cartoons on the tablet.

The tablet is behind a clear plastic pocket on the back seat. He can't touch it or interact with it and there's nothing else on it. No games etc.

It's a godsend.

Thanks. You’re right. I actually knew the thread would bring out the judgement. I’m in awe of these mums who can drive somewhere whilst playing a board game in the backseat with their 2 year old. I must’ve missed that training session. 😏

I appreciate you posting - my son is similar in age to yours and I know how mental they can be. 😂

@Username721

I think cartoons etc are great in moderation. I grew up with far more television than my son will grow up with and that was long before tablets were a thing. We had a cathode ray tube tv and I have fond memories of all the programmes: art attack, Bodger and Badger, Rosie & Jim, Funhouse, Pingu.

I'm a successful woman with a professional career and family. It's clearly done me no harm. My childhood was a balance of school, tv, playing out with friends, after school clubs, time playing at home, and time with my family. My son will have the same.

Enjoy more peaceful drives with some cartoons! I recommend a back seat cover that has a clear panel to put the tablet in.