When picking the right tablet for your child, it’s important to keep the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) suggested guidelines for screen time in mind. Toddlers from 18 to 24 months can start to enjoy some screen time with an adult. Children ages two to five should be limited to one hour of supervised educational screen time a day, which includes computers, tablets, television, and gaming devices. And “consistent limits” on screen time are recommended for kids over six. The AAP also suggests establishing screen-free zones, like the car or the dinner table, which should apply to all family members. Whether you’re introducing a tablet for the first time or are upgrading to a newer device for an older kid, consider durability, parental controls, age recommendation, and your kid’s particular needs when picking the best option for your family. When reviewing tablets for kids, we researched popular options from trusted brands with these criteria in mind and considered recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. We also spoke with Dr. Lyndsey Garbi, MD, a pediatrician and the co-founder and chief medical officer of Blueberry Pediatrics. Price at time of publication: $200
The tablet also functions as a laptop. To convert between the two modes, simply flip the screen up or down. Since it does not have Wi-Fi capabilities, parents need not worry about kid-proofing this device. Caregivers can also customize the battery-operated tablet to help their little ones learn to spell their own names.  Price at time of publication: $28
If you’re a Samsung family, you’ll appreciate this tablet’s ability to connect seamlessly with the brand’s other devices, so your kid can start watching a show on a Samsung smartphone and pick it up in the same spot on their tablet. Caregivers will also appreciate the parental controls, available through the Google Family Link app, which allow them to set screen time limits, filter content, and more. If a younger sibling is using the tablet, the Samsung Kids app provides a safe, family-friendly environment for kiddos to explore the device. Bonus: This tablet comes with two months of free YouTube Premium. Price at time of publication: $160 This advanced tablet is compatible with Apple keyboards (which attach magnetically and connect automatically) and with the second-generation Apple Pencil for easy drawing and sketching. These features essentially allow the iPad to morph into a laptop, so it’s useful for all that high school homework. Available in five metallic colors, the iPad’s display is 10.9 inches (diagonally). The HD front and back cameras, video features, and stereo speakers will impress your high schooler, while the Touch ID feature offers additional privacy and security. (Make sure to discuss digital boundaries with your teen before using this tablet.) While it is a major investment, this iPad can work as an all-in-one tool for your high school student, and it may just get used by the rest of the family, too. Price at time of publication: $599 This thin, lightweight tablet has adjustable backlighting for indoor or outdoor reading, and the high-resolution display is glare-free for sharper text and images. Since the battery isn’t powering tons of apps, it lasts for up to six weeks, not just days or hours. The tablet can help grow your kid’s reading skills with the Vocabulary Builder and Word Wise tools, and there’s also an option to read in OpenDyslexic, a font that may be helpful to some readers with dyslexia. If audiobooks are your kid’s thing, the Kindle Kids also includes access to Audible (with a membership), so they can switch between reading and listening via speakers or headphones. While this tablet doesn’t connect to the internet, there’s really no match if your kid can’t get enough of books or if you want to encourage more reading in your family. Price at time of publication: $120
Price at time of publication: $110 In addition to long battery life and first-rate audio quality, this tablet has an impressive 128GB memory, Bluetooth capabilities, and facial recognition. Caregivers will appreciate that it has an independent kids’ account with Google Kids Space, which is a library of over 10,000 teacher-approved apps and games, and hundreds of free children’s books. This tablet is a touch larger and heavier than some of our other top picks, but if battery life is a priority or if you’re an Android family, we recommend it.  Price at time of publication: $250 What sets the iPad mini apart is its small footprint, ideal for your elementary schooler or middle schooler to read, play, and draw on. It also comes in handy for caregivers, who may want to use it to play music or refer to recipes while cooking without taking up much precious counter space. The iPad mini is still an investment, but it’s more affordable than the larger iPad Air. While we wouldn’t recommend it for a high schooler who uses their tablet to do schoolwork, if you’re looking for an introductory iPad for a younger kiddo or a device that is easy to throw in your bag and carry around, this is a high-quality option. Price at time of publication: $499

Durability

Most kids are rough on stuff, so look for a tablet that’s built to withstand spills, drops, bumps, and everything else kids can do to electronic devices. When picking a tablet, make sure “that it is durable,” says Dr. Garbi. “Put a cover on it to prevent it from breaking if thrown on the ground (because kids will do that).“ 

Parental Controls

Age Recommendation

While tablets that are designed specifically for young children are likely to have age-appropriate features right out of the box, tablets with more capabilities may offer additional options and can grow with your child. However, when choosing a tablet with a more open-ended age recommendation (like the Apple iPad Air), remember that this type of tablet will likely have more internet access and the ability to download a variety of apps. This means that you’ll likely need to spend more time setting parental controls and adjusting them as your child gets older.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s a mom of a 9-year-old son, 6-year-old son, and 2-year old daughter. She was given a Kindle when her first son was born and has never looked back. The joy of reading one-handed in a dark room has forever changed her life. Her kids sneer at her app-free Kindle and prefer the lights, sounds, and games of an iPad. To each their own.  When navigating screen time, keep in mind kids’ other developmental needs. “Parents should optimize the time kids spend interacting with their friends and themselves at home,” says Dr. Garbi. “[Kids] should be active and outdoors. Downtime when a child may be ‘bored’ is a wonderful time for them to have the chance to fill time with [activities that promote] their imaginative and critical thinking skills.” Great alternatives to screen time include STEM activities, imaginative play, board games, sports, and more. For school-aged children, there is evidence that access to learning through a smartphone or tablet can improve learning outcomes across a range of subjects, including language and STEM. However, the age at which you introduce a tablet as a learning tool is important.  While there is no recommended age at which a child should start using a tablet, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends against screen time entirely for children under age 2. On the other hand, the AAP suggests a limited amount of screen time may be appropriate for 18-month-olds, provided they are watching educational material alongside a caregiver. You may also want to set screen time limits with mealtime and bedtime in mind. “In general, kids shouldn’t use screens an hour before going to bed or while eating,” Dr. Garbi says. When it comes to protecting a child’s eyesight, “Some experts recommend the 1/2/10 rule—1 foot for mobile devices, 2 feet for tablets and laptops, and 10 feet for TVs,” Dr. Garbi notes. “The American Optometric Association recommends the 20/20/20 rule: Look away from the screen every 20 minutes, then focus on an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.” Tablet use “certainly puts strain on different muscular groups of the body,” says Dr. Garbi. “If your child is complaining of muscle pain or is displaying poor posture, study how they engage with screens to see if changes need to be made.” Another study found that toddlers who frequently use electronic media—such as smartphones and tablets—were at a heightened risk of suffering from emotional and behavioral problems by the time they turned 5. When introducing tablets and other electronic devices to your toddler, ensure that you are following screen time recommendations from your child’s pediatrician or reputable organizations like the AAP and WHO. Make sure to purchase an age-appropriate tablet for your toddler, such as the LeapFrog 2-in-1 LeapTop Touch, which is designed for kids ages 2 to 5. Phoebe Sklansky is Verywell Family’s Associate Commerce Editor. As a commerce writer and avid shopper herself, she enjoys helping readers find the best products for their unique needs. Prior to joining the Verywell Family team, Phoebe Sklansky was a freelance writer for multiple home and entertainment outlets. She holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University. When she’s not at her desk, you can find her taking a walk on the West Side Highway, catching up on reality TV, or attempting to cook in her countertop-less kitchen.