Some of the newest kids’ tablets on the market
NEW YORK: Want to get your child a tablet computer? Here’s a look at some models designed for kids. All of them feature parental controls and can toggle back and forth between kid and adult modes, so parents can use them to check their email or post on Twitter after their little ones go to bed.
LEAPFROG EPIC
This is LeapFrog’s first Android tablet. Like its toy-like predecessor, the LeapPad, this tablet has an educational focus. Content is based on a child’s age. Various apps communicate with each other as they track a child’s progress, helping to create a more customized experience. Each day, kids are presented with a new vocabulary word when they sign on. A connected stylus, familiar to LeapPad users, helps with writing practice. Web surfing is limited to a 10,000 kid-safe sites.
Online: http://www.leapfrog.com/enus/products/leapfrog-epic
KURIO XTREME 2
Similar to the Epic, the Extreme 2 has a sharp screen, fast processor and a decent amount of storage. It comes with games and apps, including a handful of motion games that are controlled by your child’s movements as they pretend to do things like ski or swim. Kids can access the Internet, which can be filtered as much or as little as their parent desires.
Online: http://www.kurioworld.com/k/us/parents/products/tab/
KURIO SMART
Geared toward older kids, this is something that they can type book reports on or do online research for a school project. It is the first kids tablet to run on Windows 10 and includes a free year of Microsoft Office. Parents can filter the Internet and set time limits on use. The device comes with a slew of games and apps, including the same motion games on the Xtreme 2. The device is a laptop whose keyboard detaches to become a tablet. When closed, the keyboard acts as a hard, protective case.
Online: http://www.kurioworld.com/k/us/parents/products/smart/
AMAZON FIRE KIDS EDITION
This is Amazon’s bare-bones $50 Fire tablet packaged with a colorful protective bumper (pink or blue), a year’s subscription to kids’ content through Amazon’s FreeTime Unlimited and free replacements for two years if the tablet breaks. FreeTime Unlimited, which normally starts at $3 per month, is what really shines. Kids have unlimited access to 10,000 kid-friendly books, videos and games. Ads and in-app purchases are disabled.
Online: http://www.amazon.com/FireEdition-Display-Wi-Fi-Kid-Proof/dp/B00YYZEQ1G
VTECH INNOTAB MAX
Yes, VTech is the company that got hacked in November, exposing personal information on more than 6 million children. Nonetheless, the Innotab Max is a decent product, particularly for younger children. The tablet folds to close, creating a hard, protective case with a handle for onthe-go use. Little kids may like this, but older children will likely be turned off by the look. Because this tablet uses Google’s Android, it has access to a variety of content made for that system. But it also features content designed by VTech. However, VTech’s app store remains shut because of the data breach.
Online: http://www.vtechkids.com/brands/brand_view/innotab_max
FUHU NABI ELEV-8
Its sharp screen and fast processor give it the look and feel of a premium product. And while it comes with a hefty amount of built-in games and apps, kids can get more through Nabi Pass, a $5-per-month subscription service similar to FreeTime Unlimited. But the company has run into financial problems, so its Elev-8 tablets have been tough to find.
Online: https://www.nabitablet.com/elev8. — AP