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Original poster

best tablets for 5 and 8 yr olds?

25 replies

PavlovtheCat · 25/11/2014 17:19

Under £100 ideally.
considering getting one each.
kindle fire is the plan for 8yr old, is this the best one? What about Kurio, any good?

Thinking of leap pad or innotab for 5 year Old? Ok? Waste of Money? Old style for £50 ok or not worth it?

Or, what else for 5 year Old?

OP posts:
bryonyelf · 25/11/2014 17:47

Innotab would be a waste of money I think. Too restrictive and when the 5 year old sees what the 8 year old has that will do much more there may be tears!

lucysmam · 25/11/2014 17:52

I agree with bryony. Having said that, we got a Nook HD (I think) and Innotab 3s last year between our 4 and seven year olds and both get used regularly.

The Innotab Internet function is a bit shitty mind, doesn't really do very well at all. But, they both enjoy and make use of downloadable games and stories.

We've an Innotab 1 lurking under the fish tank as well that still gets played with a fair bit & that's been dropped/thrown/battered a fair bit over 4(?) years so they do stand up to a fair bit of wear and tear Smile

lucysmam · 25/11/2014 17:54

Should have said, Nook was £79 and Innotab around £69 ish but can't remember exactly.

Nook doesn't have a camera but they both play about with the Innotab one & photo editing stuff on there Smile

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 25/11/2014 19:32

DS would enjoy the photo and editing option of the innotab.

The thing is, we are unsure about buying two. I would prefer one between the two, however DD needs her own one - she has saved and saved her pocket money and has enough to buy a Kindle for herself and she absolutely wants this. DH and I had said that because she has worked so hard, we will buy it for Christmas and let her open an account with her money, and get one for DS too so there is no fighting.

However, I am wondering now if we should return to the original plan - DD buys her own with her own money, and we can buy her some things for it, case etc. And then DS can continue to use ours. DD will let him use it, they will learn to share, he will learn that DD earnt this herself, and when he is older he can do the same. If we could get him a small version of something for less than £50 that would work well, it would be different I think.

Maybe we can buy him mine craft to play on our iPad instead. I don't want to spend £70+ on something that may be outdated within months when he can't do what he wants to on it. And I don't want to buy him a kindle when DD worked so hard for it. Perhaps she needs to buy it after all.

OP posts:
PesoPenguin · 25/11/2014 20:15

I'd buy them both a kindle fire tbh. It's a bit mean to say you'll buy her it, then change your mind and I'm sure your DS would get loads of use out of one.

lucysmam · 25/11/2014 20:16

My youngest's learned to use the Nook from watching dd1 so that might not be a bad idea. Plus if your dd has saved for it and really wants it he might pick up on the achievement of saving for something so 'big' and buying it yourself.

We're debating a cheap second hand (CEX or similar) tablet for dd2's birthday shortly after Christmas. They had some for about £40 in there last time I looked.

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 25/11/2014 22:16

peso she doesn't know we were thinking of buying it for her. As far as she knows, after christmas, in the sale, we will go with her pocket money to buy the Kindle Fire. We were thinking of getting it for her as a present and not tell her. not hugely into christmas presents that are not surprises yet!

So not being mean.

OP posts:
Brittapieandchips · 25/11/2014 22:19

I'm looking at spending about £35 each on tabs for mine - could be an idea for your youngest?

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 25/11/2014 22:19

lucysmam DH and I have been talking about it since starting the thread. And yes, think that he will see the advantage of saving as he learns about money. Also, I have realised that it might not look great to DD if she has saved all this time and then her 5yr old brother gets one same as her without any effort.

I would get one for his birthday, but it's on friday! So, tricky there as DS will then have something and she won't. And I don't want to get her Kindle before Christmas, at the same time he gets his presents for birthday as I don't want his birthday to be clouded with her Kindle excitement. And I don't want the kindle before Christmas to be bigger than christmas! Oh the dilemma Grin

I will take a look a the one you are talking about getting second hand, thanks for that suggestion. I don't mind secondhand/reconditioned as DS is quite rough with toys and gadgets and is just learning to take care of things.

OP posts:
Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 25/11/2014 22:20

britta I would be happy to spend that much, what are you looking at buying?

OP posts:
mejon · 25/11/2014 22:26

We've just bought DD1 (also 8) a Galaxy Tab 3 for £99 in Currys. I'd originally considered a Kindle Fire as they were on offer on Amazon but DH looked at the reviews and they're quite restrictive in what you can access on them - though it depends on what you want to do with it. DD had originally wanted a Nintendo 2DS to replace a 3DS that broke earlier this year but we gave her the choice of that or a tablet and she went for the tablet.

PesoPenguin · 25/11/2014 22:31

Ah ok sorry, I read it as you had said it to her, not each other. In that case I'd let her but it in the sales as she's happy with that.

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 25/11/2014 22:41

Oh that's not bad for £99 mejon. She does have enough money saved. What are the restrictions of access on it? Can you get mine craft on it? (that appears to be the main topic of conversation between her and DS at the moment).

I had heard good things about Kindle due to the parental restrictions available on it, and the timer for turning off at a set time etc, but if this is available on the Galaxy tab, will look at that too.

OP posts:
MissWimpyDimple · 25/11/2014 23:01

We've been very happy with the Tesco Hudl. DD has old version and I have no complaints. Her friend has the new one and it is even better.

I have an iPad and I think the hudl is just as good really

ChippingInAutumnLover · 25/11/2014 23:10

Does DD want a 'reader' or a tablet though?

I think the 'readers' are better for actually reading, whereas something like a Hudle is multifunctional but not 'as good' for reading. I'd probably get them something like that each for Christmas if they want them for games music etc and let DD buy the kindle if she is a keen reader and still wants it.

SoonToBeSix · 25/11/2014 23:12

Kindle fires are no great, I would go for last years hudl or a galaxy for the 8 year old and an leapad/ innotab for the five year old.

SugarMiceInTheRain · 25/11/2014 23:17

Hudl, my 8 and 6 year old have them and they are so much better than the tablets aimed at children. My IT geek DH really rates them too

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 25/11/2014 23:21

oh thats interesting as a friend has the hurls and dd enjoys playing on it. She is a big reader, but actually really enjoys reading 'real' books. I am not sure I want to discourage that yet! Will have a look at the hudl. Last year's is fine really, don't think she has enough for the new one, although perhaps we can top it up as a 'christmas present' in a card that she can open on christmas day if we really prefer the newer one.

OP posts:
ChippingInAutumnLover · 26/11/2014 03:40

I wouldn't bother with the innotab or leap pad, they're really not great. I'd Just get a hurdles and a bomb proof case for DS.

None of the kids I know, who really enjoy reading, use their kindles etc they all prefer 'real' books and only use them if they have to, ie when going on holiday etc. whereas they'll all use the tablets for homework, mine craft, silly photos etc.

wigglesrock · 26/11/2014 07:22

My 9 and 7 year old have the original hudls. We've been really pleased with them. My eldest has had hers almost a year and it's been great.

Celestria · 26/11/2014 07:28

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00LGUSP82/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?qid=1416986580&sr=1-6&pi=AC_SX110_SY165

I am considering getting the above. I know it's cheap but I have four to buy Shock and as a lone parent it's going to have to be. Has good reviews though and the google play store so can get things like minecraft, Netflix etc.

sparkysparkysparky · 26/11/2014 07:29

asus memo pad for about 50 quid on ebay. Brand new. All set up and waiting for her with some free apps that are currently clogging up my phone and restrictions set up wherever I can manage them.

HoHoHappyHolidays · 26/11/2014 07:33

I highly recommend the Hudl 2. Not the cheapest, but it is lovely to use :)

JYJ 7 Inch Android Google Tablet PC with only 512MB of RAM must be very slow to run :(

Celestria · 26/11/2014 07:57

Hoho it shouldn't be. The iPad mini which I have has 512 ram and that's ddr2 not 3. It's not just about the internal ram, processing speed as well as actual storage space are all factors.

(Geeky IT person)

RedButtonhole · 26/11/2014 22:36

DS has an Acer Iconia tablet that he got last Christmas. It runs on Android and I got it in Argos for less than £100. It's a good size for his 5 year old hands and isn't too slimline so I find it quite sturdy. There are lots of free games and apps for it and it can run Netflix if he wants to watch a film on it. I'm happy with it and DS has had great use out of it - I don't anticipate having to upgrade it any time soon.

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