iPad for young kids - advise me

[Yogafire]

I'm considering getting an iPad for the learning apps, as I figure this will keep learning fun over the summer (I have one quite reluctant learner). It's a huge outlay and wanted to ask anyone who has an iPad with Educ apps - is it worth it? I have a 5 and 6 yr old and am thinking 20-30 mins a day with learning games for maths & spelling over the summer would be good? (I'm sure I'll use it too, but I don't need one so it's kids educ that is motivating me)
Also any educational app recommendations v welcome!

Android tablets are much cheaper and you can also buy educational apps for them.

Why an ipad in particular?

We had an amazon tablet a couple of years ago and the apps seemed much slower than on my mums iPad at the time. The kids didn't get on with it. iPad seems less clunky / more user-friendly? Can you recommend any particular android tablet? All our tech is Apple but it doesn't have to be of alternatives are as good

Don't get one. Your children are too young for devices.

Get one of the smaller ones. You do not need the big screen of the large iPad Pro for this type of work. Also, as long as you get a recent-ish model, save some money by getting a refurbished one. The model before current is often a sweet spot balancing price and running new iOS.

You need to seriously constrain use to a time period you control and with apps you approve of. If either you or your partner have an Apple device you might consider enabling family sharing and control of apps you install. My kids are older with iPhones and we have to approve what gets installed.

There’s no harm in allowing limited supervised use of an iPad by a child of 5/6. You need to guard against gadget addiction especially with a younger kid.

I’d have a look around for iPad forms of Scratch to get into basic coding. My DD started using the web version at 7. There are variations for younger kids using a friendly drag and drop interface.

Thanks rogue that's good advice.
I have already taken the plunge and got an iPad (arghhh). So far have installed Reading Eggs and DS6 has done 30 mins on it the last two days (maths seeds, which he likes). I think that's all we'll do. He doesn't know about google yet and reading eggs has plenty to keep going (maths & phonics). It's just for a bit of independent learning over the summer. Will check out family sharing.
DS will love coding when the time comes, I predict. Thanks for the heads up on scratch

If used properly and time is well controlled then I am all for using educational apps at this age.

My son started in a similar fashion at about 4 years old. Now at 10 years old, his knowledge and thirst for it is frightening.

BTW

this morning my son started a conversation with me about the “the tragedy of the commons”. Last week he wanted to discuss “The greater good” and “Benthamite utilitarianism”

Haha viet! Inquisitive DS!
Is his insatiable thirst due to having a tablet at a young age? Tho I just bought an iPad and started DS on an app, the other half of me is craving digital detox and I'm terrified of social media as my kids get older.

Yoga: I believe that having an iPad at, what’s was regarded at the time, as being such as early age has been an important tool for generating his now inquisitive mind.

Being years ahead in reading, partly because of the iPad, and a very positive home environment have been much more important, but I don’t see how he could have got to where he is today without his early use of many many educational apps.

Not saying he is perfect or even a wonderful student, but is very knowledgeable and has a very i quisitve mind.

I use an ipad as part of my range of tutoring activities.

Hit the button and Maths Skills
Builders Primary are great maths apps that are suitable for 5-6 year olds. Not free though unfortunately.
I have found it harder to find good english skills apps though.
There are quite a lot of phonics apps and spelling ones which are good. Squeebles is a good one for spelling.

I was going to recommend Maths Seeds and Reading eggs but see you got them
Already. They’re really good. My children play them on the computer tho not the iPad.