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Christmas

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Original poster

What tablet type toy for a 5year old?

26 replies

ButtonMoonLoon · 20/09/2015 18:12

I've been looking at Leappads and Innopads and am getting a bit confused!
Any recommendations would be very welcome :)

OP posts:

PurpleSkyatthewateringhole · 20/09/2015 18:17

Ds had the innotab at 3yrs. Still plays with it a little but he got a cheap £30ish tablet last Christmas which he loved. Of course it didn't last so I'm looking at getting him a google nexus. He was 6 yrs old last month.
Dd is 4 yrs and may get a google nexus or an innotab. There's a huge character difference. Ds is careful and gentle, dd is a chaotic whirlwind. I know Ds will look after a tablet. Dd's Christmas tablet still works but that's because she has made a huge effort to look after it (a pro for buying her the nexus) and hardly ever plays on it (a con).

Lowdoorinthewall · 20/09/2015 18:20

Just get an ordinary one- like a hudl. DS 5.1 has commandeered my nexus and gets on really well with it.

I was considering getting him the kids' edition Kindle Fire for Christmas so I can have mine back but it get's some quite dire reviews. I am still considering it for the parental controls though. As DS is starting to be able to read and spell I worry about him having free range access to the internet.

YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 20/09/2015 18:21

Kindle fire. There's a new one out at the end of the month £50 or the kids version £100 with a 2 year guarantee. My 3 year old has inherited my old one and can use it easily. The parental controls are excellent as well. It has been dropped (and thrown) quite a few times and is still working as new

Littlemousewithcloggson · 20/09/2015 19:32

Can definitely recommend Hudl. Mine got theirs at 5 years old and although they play with their leap pads still the Hudl is definitely the favourite. Another advantage is that they can play all the learning games the school recommends - phonics play, hit the button etc without using my iPad!

Littlemousewithcloggson · 20/09/2015 19:35

I downloaded a free app of parental controls and they can now only play the apps on it I give them access to. Really easy to update. It also sets the times they can play on it eg 7am - 6pm (whatever you want) and will turn off after a maximum play time that you can set yourself - eg 20 mins max if games, 40 minutes of stories etc

glenthebattleostrich · 20/09/2015 19:43

We got a reconditioned iPad for DD(5) this year. It was £139 delivered from living social. They use iPads in school so it makes sense for her to have one at home.

BikeRunSki · 20/09/2015 19:49

Another vote for Hudl. DS got his for his 6th birthday, with a bump case and has treated surprisingly well.

daisydalrymple · 20/09/2015 19:59

Ds1 and dd both had leap pads 3 years ago, which they have had a lot of use out of and enjoyed. However, if buying now for the age they were then 3/5, I would go direct for a tablet of some kind and safety/ parental control it. They use the iPads in school for educational stuff and love them. They're having to do homework, which they need the Internet for and we're now progressing to a tablet for Christmas. (If you want to buy two second hand leap pads )

PesoPenguin · 20/09/2015 20:11

Agree with getting a 'proper' tablet at this age as you'll get a good few years out of it. DS had an iPad mini at 3 1/2 and we when replaced it this summer there wasn't a single scratch on it!

Fatrascals · 20/09/2015 20:13

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Original poster

ButtonMoonLoon · 20/09/2015 20:23

Oh why not go and post somewhere else, Fatrascals? Why click on a thread if you have no interest in posting helpfully?
It is my decision as to what is best for my child. I am fully aware of her needs and what will promote her development.
Where and when did I say that she would be using it 'constantly'?

Everybody else, thank you very much :) I kind of wanted something without (or at least not dependant on) Internet access if possible. She already has a storio which she loves and is great for long train/plane journeys. We have a few tricky hospital appointments coming up which she tends to find quite distressing so something new would be a really nice treat and a good distraction.

OP posts:

daisydalrymple · 20/09/2015 20:31

Oh well in that case I would recommend the leap pad then. And equally know other parents who bought the innotab, so I don't think you could go wrong with either. There are newer and better versions of both out now. Both come loaded with a few books/ games etc (and when I say games, they are educational) and of course you can buy plenty more 'apps' for them £££

Littlemousewithcloggson · 20/09/2015 20:40

I would still go for the Hudl. Mine have Internet access turned off 99% of the time and play it very happily.
I would recommend the leap pad but it works out a lot more expensive as you have to pay for all the games (as opposed to free apps) and they definitely outgrow it sooner

WongTobyWong · 20/09/2015 20:43

Sorry, I'm another one whose first thought was the same as fatrascals. It just seems so unnecessary at age five.

Fatrascals · 20/09/2015 20:46

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Original poster

ButtonMoonLoon · 20/09/2015 20:51

Read your post -you said 'screens as a constant distraction'.

My child, my choice. And if you'd have read the rest of my posts on this thread you would see that she has medical issues necessitating lots of appointments which we travel to on the train due to the distance. I can't carry lots of books for that reason, hence my choice of what to buy her.

I hope you both feel better now for having expressed such judgemental opinions.

OP posts:

Original poster

ButtonMoonLoon · 20/09/2015 20:54

Oh, and thank you Daisy and Littlemouse. I will do a bit of looking around as I think I'd quite like to try one and see what sort of games are available on them. I appreciate you helpful posts in any case!

OP posts:

PesoPenguin · 20/09/2015 21:05

You can always disable the Internet when you don't want her to have it. The thing with innotabs and leap pads are a lot of the apps are £££ whereas you can get tons of free educational (and not so educational) apps on all the different app stores.

Oh and ignore the moaners, ds's education and social skills have been in no way affected ( unless he was destined to be a super genius and now we've ruined it for him ).

Fatrascals · 20/09/2015 21:13

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ImperialBlether · 20/09/2015 21:15

I'm another who's going to annoy you, OP. I do a lot of babysitting for children that age and have found that those who have tablets are absolutely addicted to them. I wouldn't give my children a tablet if they were that age.

Fatrascals · 20/09/2015 21:19

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daisydalrymple · 20/09/2015 21:20

ahh, love the wide opinions on mumsnet. My children absolutely love riding their bikes, climbing trees, go to the park after school most days and we take beach /country walks on the weekend. They also use their leap pads once in a while, use iPads at school for learning and like watching tom and Jerry / scooby doo. IF iPads are good enough for the education system, they're good enough for me. Everything in moderation I say.

Aciderwouldbenice · 20/09/2015 21:24

My son has the kindle fire kids and we think it is brilliant, really pleased with it. He uses it when I feed the baby and get him to sleep, I know he can't purchase anything or go in anything unsuitable

Original poster

ButtonMoonLoon · 20/09/2015 21:24

Thanks Peso. I have an iPad that my daughter has used a handful of times in the years I've had it. She can take it or leave it really, but for hospital trips and stuff where there's lots of waiting around something similar would be great.

I'd definitely consider a second hand Leap Pad, Daisy- will PM you! That might be the way to go, especially if I'm going to need to buy something else for her to use for homework in a few years time :)

OP posts:

Saltedcaramel4 · 20/09/2015 21:32

You can always download a book or audio

I can't remember what time limit psychologists recommend screen wise for a 5 year old.

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