Children's game tablets. Which do you recommend for age 5 &7?

[Prosopopeia]

They are used to Apple products iPad/Pod/Phone and I like them because there's hundreds of free games, but they've smashed the iPod screen and also cracked my iPad screen, so I am considering something more robust.

I like the Meep as it has a rubber grip surround, but their website is slow and I don't have the patience. But I know nothing else about the product.

My 7 year old DD enjoyed what I think may be a handheld Nintendo at the Butlins games portal (transparent blue case), but again I know zero about any of these products.

Obviously price is a factor especially the ones that require separate games cartridges.

And before anyone asks, yes they've tried my old Gameboy and got bored of Tetris and Mario within half an hour

If they've already broken an ipad and an ipod, personally I would be providing and replacements.

If you are looking at a nintendo, the 2ds is pretty indestructible. Both of mine are currently into Tomodachi life.

For the older child, have you thought of a Raspberry Pi?

Do not get a meep or kurio. They are so slow, crash a lot and they don't support a lot of the games the dc like to play.

I'd recommend either a Tesco Hudl or a Samsung Galaxy kids tablet.

None buy them a book or a puzzle or a game! Sorry can't stand electronics for children.

Don't wNt to be judgy but your children have broken two tablets and you going to rewards with new ones!

My DD is younger (2) and was brought an Innotab 2 for last Christmas - in my opinion its an expensive waste of money. Its so slow she loses interest! Heck I loose interest.

With that in mind; I let her use our iPad under supervision and will probably invest in this www.zagg.com rather than something buying another tablet.

We bought ds3 (8) a HUDL for Christmas last year. It developed a fault within a few months as did the (refurbished) replacement we were given. We got him an iPad mini with the Tesco refund and vouchers I had and it is far superior. He has lots of educational apps which he loves as well as Minecraft. I wouldn't look past Apple products for anything I bought in the future. That said he is a careful 8 year old and I considered the risk of damage to be fairly small. It is an expensive item if they don't take care of it.

Crowen Accidents happen.

And yes, I agree with you on the electronics v. traditional. The modern compromise is that they also have books, puzzles, games and that old faithful, the completely empty large cardboard box (aka Den, dinsoaur hideout, etc etc)

It's important that today's children are familiar with such devices. Their primary schools use 5ft interactive 3D monitors instead of blackboards, desk tablets, laptops and kindles in class.

JiltedJohn Yes the Pi is a great idea in theory, but that's a differerent kettle of fish to a device solely required for babysitting entertainment rather than education.

The Nintendos look promising so far.

You can get robust cases and covers for tablets. If they are used to Apple products, stay with Apple and get a good quality case so the tablet is less likely to break.

Apple released new iPads last night so the previous gen should have gone down in price. Maybe worth finding a good deal and waiting until Christmas to give it to them?

I do agree accidents happen but twice!
Children need to learn condiquences and to respect people's property.

And the problem is once you buy an iPad in my own experience they no longer want to do anything but ipad.

Kindle fires are brilliant my 3 year old can use mine easily, and although she has dropped it several times it is still working fine and without a scratch. Plus its half the price of an iPad.

Crowen Two different devices, not the same device broke twice.

Yeah they broke two devises that's worse I'm sorry but its not good lol

prosopeia rise above it my friend, rise above it.

I would get them an iPad or an iPad mini with the gorilla type cover - they're pretty indestructible (ie they stand up to being thrown).

If they are used to Apple stuff, anything else is just going to be frustrating for them & more expense for you (nintendo games are £30 quid each. The ones on special are never the ones that they want and are still £15).

The basic iMini is down to £199 now.

Yeah that's much better that they broke two separate ones.

RiSe above what? Me having an opinion? So unless everyone agrees with everyone their being unpleasant?

at Crowen. It is sooo much better that they've broken two expensive gadgets and get rewarded with replacements.

I realise Crowen is baiting and I don't need to defend anything, but I'd like to learn more about this accident/reward replacement idea.

Taking undue care of a device and being heavy handed with it for it then to break is unacceptable, but tripping over and dropping the thing is an accident, and I replace broken items. Tell me more, Crowen..

i've got a hudl that my 4 year old uses. I got it before last christmas as you could double up your club card points to buy one so it cost £60 of clubcard points

I don't think that Crowen is baiting, as you call it and for me! I wouldn't be replacing broken items if they had tripped over. If my DC couldn't sit still with a gadget and then broke it, there is no way I'd replace it for them.

We have a family ipad, which the DC are allowed to use but only if they ask, and still in one place with it, not move around. If they can't follow the rules, they don't get to use it and my DC are older than yours.

Also, I think it is ok to come in to MN and stare my views on this, surely that's what MN is all about?

It is not necessary to have all these electronic devices at such a young age. That's just an opinion, my opinion, not baiting. .. but I think kids are better off without tv and computers while they're little. There is so much more to life.

I just love the fact that people who are against it seem to think it's either TV/technology OR everything else in life

Chipping can you make it more clear who you are referring to?

[Chipping here]

Anyone who thinks it's either technology OR playing outside & playing with other toys.

Clear enough?

*[Chipping here]

Anyone who thinks it's either technology OR playing outside & playing with other toys.

Clear enough?*

Not really. Usually when you are criticising other posters its usual to copy what they say and post underneath or to name them in the post. You seem to be saying that everyone who is saying not to replace the broken tablets is against the OPs chikdren having technology, but if you read through the thread that's simply not true.