Tablets for Kids? Amazon Fire vs. Apple Ipad
 

We spend a lot of time in the car, and are planning a few plane trips coming up with my 19month old. It's probably time to get him some sort of electronic tablet to keep him occupied when he's strapped into a car seat.

My wife and I are fully submerged in Apple's products/apps, and have no experience with a Fire tablet, which appears to be considerably cheaper.

I'd like to be able to download a few shows (many/most of which are on Amazon Prime). and maybe find a few interactive games he can play without wifi/internet.

While I know both devices are capable of this, what is y'alls thoughts/experiences between these two devices?

Price with a kid resistant case is definitely in the Fire's favor but that's not always the end all be all of a decision.

when i was a kid, we counted cows or spotted out of state license plates, or played Mad Libs, or played the alphabet game (spot something that starts with an A, and then a B....has to be in order)..... trying to read while in a car is tough on the eyes.

He’s not quite old enough for that, and honestly I’m more concerned about keeping him quiet/occupied around the other air travelers than I am about anything else.

I don't have a lot of experience using the Fire, although I did get one for my mother-in-law and she likes it just find. Uses it mainly for reading eBooks. It has an OK web browser and plays videos no problem, and integrates seamlessly with Prime. Plus it is A LOT cheaper than an iPad. So I see no reason not to pick one up for the kid.

Chris,
Snag yourself a cheap iPad and get one of the thick rubber covers for it.
Wife got one that has a strap for mounting over the car seat; also protects it from drops which will happen.

Be sure to download some good ones ahead of time so you don't roast your data plan.

Most combine fun with education like identifying colors, shapes, animals etc.
Keep an eye out for cartoons that look cute on the outside but use rough language. I'm amazed at how many "kids" cartoons, aimed at the under 8 crown, use language about death, violence etc.


Some shows our little ones enjoy including our 20 mo old:

Netflix:

Octonauts
Larva Island
Planet Earth doc series
Lego series cartoon

Amazon Prime:

Animal Favorites
Paw Patrol
Wallace & Grommit
Shaun the Sheep
Dino the Dinosaur
Stinky & Dirty show

I hear ya and we are a pretty digital limited family. We don't have video game consoles (except for standup arcade with orig 80s games like Pac Man)
Never watch tv.
Cell phones are kept in a basket in the kitchen when kids are in the house.
Phones and computers are not allowed in rooms.

We set rules about watching cartoons only when the trip is over an hour.
We don't watch them in restaurants or other places where they can be occupying themselves with an alternate activity.

People used to be a lot more tolerant of kids and many would step in to help entertain other's kids but not very much anymore.

What I find is a lot of animosity and stink-eye faces when kids are being kids.

We are quite strict about rules and receive compliments every time we take them out as they always say please, thank you etc.

Seems many people are opting not to take the journey of having kids and when you haven't walked that path, you don't understand the trials involved and are understandably less tolerant.

Try taking a 6 hour flight with 3 kids under the age of 6 and a moody teen. We do it regularly and it's no picnic.
Scott

Just got back with the Grands - each had an Amazon Fire. Costwise, very desirable vs. the Ipad and did all the things ( movies, games, etc.) they need. They also had bulletproof cases.

Ages are 9,9,11 and 13. Not ready for the expensive iPad option yet, IMO.

Electronic babysitter? :kick:

https://memegenerator.net/img/instan...-my-f-ipad.jpg





http://www.quickmeme.com/img/c8/c829...90c8782148.jpg

We have at least 4 Fire tablets that I'm going to convert into smart home remotes, because the kids never used them. They only play on the iPads.

How many kids you got? :bigears:

Only for allotted times, but great for travel.

I think we still have a brand new Fire somewhere around the house. Brand new, wife bought it a Christmas or ago for herself, but we ended up getting her a tablet. In Key West this weekend, but will dig it up and send it to you if you want it.

2

Thanks Ron! That'd be cool to play with!

plus you...:leaving:

PM me your address and I will get it to you sometime next week.

We have the cheapest fire tablets and the girls love them! We usually stock up on Prime Day and Black Friday. Can usually get them for $40 or less.

They don't have full HD (kids don't care) and they are damn near indestructible. Definitely feels sturdier than the iPads I've used. Don't waste the money on an ipad when he's likely to drop 1000x.

The one drawback to the Fire tablet is the lack of onboard memory, but it also kind of works out. They can't download endless apps because they run out of room. There's also parental setting where you can choose what apps they have access too.

We like them. A lot. And if/when they break there isn't a huge replacement charge. We don't even put cases on them. Our oldest one is a few years old, has a cracked screen and body but it keeps on ticking.

And that makes 4...

Wally World has come out with their own line of tablets.