Your Experiences with Tablets for Kids or Help Me Choose One for Mine...

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gundar

488 posts

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#171117 7-Apr-2015 10:47

Hi

I do ask this question every few months and hope that technology that is current can cater for me. Last time I asked this, Android had some provision for profiles with a very few exceptions. I hope that this is now something that works as I expect.

I have two 5 year olds and I told them once they could read a bit, I'd get them some form of computer/tablet as 'all their mates have one' and I figured if they can read, they'd be better off navigating the tablet themselves rather than mindless icon clicking.

Hopefully there is an Android tablet out there that has some of these features:

- Profiles - Users are greeted with a login like screen on startup/unlock so that each kid and I can share any tablet in the household and our info is secure in the tablet itself.

- Parental Security - Kids profiles can be locked down and only some icons available as well as all in app purchasing restricted or blocked.

- Price - Not 'cheap' but they will be dropped and broken easily, so I'd like to replace them easily or with less wallet pain. They will be used primarily for edu apps, so they don't need to be high spec (no 3d gaming etc. required)

Each person/user will have a Google Apps account before the tablets arrive.

My motivation is to create a safe and modern learning environment for my kids, but if they are not around, I can log in and check email/browse without too much rearranging of the tablet settings.

I'd like to hear from people who have kids of similar age/level: what are your recommendations, experiences and what are you using for this? I have been told to get second hand iPads for this, but I want to stay with Google/Android as all my work/stuff is there already. Windows tablets are a no go as I'm not confident MS won't just drop this technology and I've already had some poor support experiences in this area already.

Thanks

Gund

ToPGuNZ

389 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1278261 7-Apr-2015 12:12

Hi Gund,

I just purchased a Samsung Galaxy 4 8.0inch for the family $286. I went with an 8inch as I think the size is great for ease of use. My kids are 10 and 7.

The other options I looked at were Asus memo pad 8 on amazon currently around nz$225 plus delivery. Reviews also recommend Google nexus but this was more than I wanted to pay. I was going to go for the Asus but I got a voucher for Westfield unexpectedly so went to jbhifi instead and they price matched Harvey Norman who had it on special. If you prefer the 10inch the asus memo pad 10 can go for $250 at pb tech.

I have set up 4 profiles with login security for each with varying access to apps etc. and it works really well. S oI have full access and the kids only have the apps I want them to have. I have not set up any further security so cannot advise on this but it is all on my account which kids do not know passwords for so they cannot purchase anything. The only thing I worry about is using the Internet and youtube as it is hard to secure those so we just monitor it by checking what they are doing and having good conversations with them. Even though I worry about it the kids do not stray far from Minecraft and dance videos (they are both girls) so all good so far.

Good luck with your search.

gcorgnet

1078 posts

Uber Geek

#1278279 7-Apr-2015 12:24

For Youtube, maybe this app from Google could help:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.youtube.kids&hl=en

Note: I haven't used it myself as my daughter is too young to be doing much on Youtube, but will definitely check it out in time.

sidkumar

84 posts

Master Geek

#1278281 7-Apr-2015 12:35

Hi
I use the restricted user feature of Android 4.3+to allow my daughter (7 yrs) to use my rooted and custom ROM'd Samsung Galalxy Tab2. You can actually chhose which apps they can run and which settings they can play with. Mine's got access to Aldiko eBook Reader, OverDrive for library book lending and some programming games.

I am waiting for YouTube for Kids to arrive in NZ, it is not available here yet.

Cheers

CutCutCut

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#1278291 7-Apr-2015 13:03

We recently got a Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 that has user profiles and also has some kind of kid safe features, none of which I've had a chance to play with yet. I saw it last week going for $384 at Dick Smith. Seems reasonable quality, definitely not high end and the screen is not nearly as nice as the Tab S screens. But then again we didn't want to spend too much knowing that the kids would be using it and thus the chance of breakages increases.

gundar

488 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1278317 7-Apr-2015 13:53

ToPGuNZ: Hi Gund,

I just purchased a Samsung Galaxy 4 8.0inch for the family $286. I went with an 8inch as I think the size is great for ease of use. My kids are 10 and 7.

The other options I looked at were Asus memo pad 8 on amazon currently around nz$225 plus delivery. Reviews also recommend Google nexus but this was more than I wanted to pay. I was going to go for the Asus but I got a voucher for Westfield unexpectedly so went to jbhifi instead and they price matched Harvey Norman who had it on special. If you prefer the 10inch the asus memo pad 10 can go for $250 at pb tech.

I have set up 4 profiles with login security for each with varying access to apps etc. and it works really well. S oI have full access and the kids only have the apps I want them to have. I have not set up any further security so cannot advise on this but it is all on my account which kids do not know passwords for so they cannot purchase anything. The only thing I worry about is using the Internet and youtube as it is hard to secure those so we just monitor it by checking what they are doing and having good conversations with them. Even though I worry about it the kids do not stray far from Minecraft and dance videos (they are both girls) so all good so far. Good luck with your search.

Perfect. I think that is exactly what I want and I think your and my Internet security access concerns can be solved with a personal OpenDNS account:

https://www.opendns.com/home-internet-security/

Thanks for the review and account of experiences, that is exactly what I wanted. I'll start shopping around for tablets....

SepticSceptic

2186 posts

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#1278500 7-Apr-2015 16:50

Ahh, THOSE kind of tablets.

These are not the tablets you are looking for ......

Must remeber to read the subject line in context ....

ToPGuNZ

389 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1278635 7-Apr-2015 19:49

gcorgnet: For Youtube, maybe this app from Google could help:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.youtube.kids&hl=en

Note: I haven't used it myself as my daughter is too young to be doing much on Youtube, but will definitely check it out in time.

Great idea but not available in NZ.

Equinox IT

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heylinb4nz

656 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1279674 9-Apr-2015 14:32

Mine (4 year old) has been using her Tablet (Asus Memopad 8") for almost a year now. Paid $200 for it and very happy in terms of performance, sound and screen quality. In terms of locking it down we simply just remove everything from the home screen that she doesn't need to use.

Biggest issue is them clicking into adverts and installing new things, so where possible get ad free paid for apps and dont have credit card details saved.

We find it great for things like learning to trace letters, memory games, jigsaw puzzles, musical instruments and of course cartoons when they need to be distracted at restaurant or friends houses (we use Handbrake and convert all her favorite DVDs).

Get a good leather stand case for it as well (protects it and makes it easier to use).

Glassboy

850 posts

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#1279684 9-Apr-2015 14:52

My kids have Paperwhite Kindles, and ipods. I've yet to see any Android\iOS app with enough educational value to make a tablet worthwhile for them.

Regs

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Snowflake

#1280499 10-Apr-2015 14:18

[warning: microsoft/windows ahead]

my kids use the windows tablets and laptop running windows 8/8.1. one is an RT, another is a cheap device running the full windows OS, third is the main 'family' laptop. the full windows OS isn't going away any time soon and in fact will be powering more and more low end devices.

they have their own logins designated as kids accounts with Family Security. I can configure what apps/websites they have access to (or choose a rating level and let them explore). browsing a website that's not on the list can be overridden with a parent login and added to whitelist easily. I can restrict hours (across more than one device). I can get a centralized report of browsing/app usage (across more than one device).

[/end warning]

Sales Engineer
Snowflake
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gundar

488 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1280513 10-Apr-2015 14:38

Regs: [warning: microsoft/windows ahead]

my kids use the windows tablets and laptop running windows 8/8.1. one is an RT, another is a cheap device running the full windows OS, third is the main 'family' laptop. the full windows OS isn't going away any time soon and in fact will be powering more and more low end devices.

they have their own logins designated as kids accounts with Family Security. I can configure what apps/websites they have access to (or choose a rating level and let them explore). browsing a website that's not on the list can be overridden with a parent login and added to whitelist easily. I can restrict hours (across more than one device). I can get a centralized report of browsing/app usage (across more than one device).

[/end warning]

[warning: burnt ex-corporate customer response ahead]

The organisation I work for develops on Windows tablets amongst other things and I have to say, as the owner of a few Windows powered devices and based on my experience and exposure at work and home, the reason I don't think a Windows tablet/slab/slate/nokia/phonephone/surface/zune will be a good idea is that it is a full Windows OS or trying hard to be. There are too many things that go wrong when an inquisitive child starts to click here and unlock there and the stack being so big is a huge surface area to worry about as a half decent somewhat protective dad. That, and all the hardware required to run a full Windows OS is heavy and I'm extremely confident that these devices will not survive even a small fall, let alone peanut butter and jam sandwiches.

My kids needs are in the $150-$200 range.

I don't think they (or I) should have to battle with vendor lock in or proprietry anything at present (or dealing with a vendor suddenly quitting a platform half way through a marketing exercise ala zune or WP7 etc.).

As I said, all our stuff is already in Google's cloud, having a heavy, expensive, partially supported device that is designed to make the Google experience as difficult and unreliable as possible is far from where anybody wants to be, certainly somebody who is already in Google's cloud.

That said, if you have a Windows device in mind, which is in the $200 area, is drop and splash proof, has guaranteed upgrades and support for years to come, is not hardware or software locked in anyway (including, just for example, the restrictions of Skype by your employer in cahoots with our Telcos) and fully supports Google web apps and services, I'd like to see it. I'd say everybody would probably like to see it.

[/warning]

Edited for clarity.

Glassboy

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#1280782 10-Apr-2015 20:58

What I didn't mention is my kids both have old laptops running Windows, Microsoft [Live] accounts, Xbox Gamertags, and we have Microsoft Family Safety set up. We have a Surface RT which has been pretty exceptional for the price I paid for it, and I even considered buying a couple more second hand. I don't consider the RT a tablet tho', and I think Microsoft did themselves a disservice pitching it at the tablet market.

But I still have not seen any apps with enough educational value to make it worth while giving children tablets. That said I am yet to see an adult with a tablet with software that realises the value they said they were going to get from it before they bought it.