Best kids tablets for learning and play, tested for safety, durability and ease of use

Smart tech plays a huge role in our lives these days so choosing the best tablet for your kids can make all the difference in both their lives, and yours.

With much debate regarding staying safe online and many people asking how much screen time for kids is bad, it's natural to wonder if your child really needs a tablet, and you may have concerns that it might have a negative effect on them. However, when monitored, an age-appropriate tablet can keep your little one entertained and also be a useful educational tool if you're able to apps for toddlers that are educational and fun

A carefully chosen, durable tablet that's easy to use, and equipped with appropriate parental controls is crucial for ensuring a safe digital environment. Additionally, you may want to consider other factors like screen size, battery life, cost, and portability which all contribute to the overall convenience for both children and parents. Ultimately, the best tablet strikes a balance between functionality for the child and security for the parent.

To gain expert insight, we spoke to child psychologist, Dr Amanda Gummer to get her tips on managing screen time for kids. She believes that tablets, when managed appropriately, can be a valuable part of a child's daily life. "Embracing a balanced approach to screen time can help parents navigate the modern digital landscape with confidence and support their children’s growth and learning."

How we chose and tested these tablets for kids

To fully put these tablets through their paces, each tablet was tested by parents for a month with their children aged between 3 and 7 years old. We asked them to consider various factors including how easy they were to use - kids need something that is simple and straightforward that they can use independently. They also looked at the parental controls, durability, the apps and entertainment, battery life (important for everyone's sanity!), the camera quality and value for money. We also asked them to give each a score out of 5. Some of the tablets were used at home and some were used on holiday giving us a better idea of how portable they were and how well they work outside of the UK.

By thoroughly testing these key aspects of a kids' tablet, we’ve been able to compare and contrast each one to be sure that you’re getting the most in-depth and firsthand feedback from parents just like yourself.

Best tablets for kids 2025

How to choose the best tablet for your child

Durability: Think about how clumsy kids can be – you definitely want something durable and luckily for you, many are designed with this in mind. Some come with built-in cases and for others, you can buy one.

Parental controls: High on your list should be parental controls. Some tablets give you control over how long they are used, as well as restricting access to sites and apps as you want to be able to keep an eye on what they're doing and set limits. You may also want to consider features like content filtering, app restrictions, and screen time limits and these will all help keep your child safe online.

Ease of use: Remember, these tablets are for kids so they need to be easy and simple to function - look for ones that kids can get to grips with easily. Some parents may not want an all singing all dancing one just yet for this reason.

Age Appropriateness: Check with the manufacturer to see what age they recommend the tablet is suitable for. You may also want to double check the privacy and safety features at this stage to ensure it's right for your child.

Choose a child-specific or standard tablet – Depending on the age and ability of your child, you'll want to consider if a kid-friendly tablet is right which often come with a durable design and pre-loaded educational, age-appropriate content or if you want to get a regular tablet with parental controls which can grow with your child.

Screen quality and size: This is important especially if some children have specific visual needs as you don't want them straining their eyes. Similarly if you think that a bigger screen will be better will it be tricky for little hands to hold?

Storage: If your child loves taking pictures on their travels or gaming, then think about how much storage it has and don't forget all those entertainment apps/features that take up memory too.

Battery life: Remember to check this, no one wants a tablet that dies halfway through a long plane ride or road trip.

Consider operating system and apps: Android and iOS both have their pros and cons, so do your research and choose the one that best suits your needs. Be sure to check if it supports popular apps like YouTube Kids, Netflix, and learning tools. These can be a life saver when you're on long trips.

Price point: Tablets can vary in cost so set it could be worth setting a budget and seeing what you can get for it. The more features that are packed into a tablet means it's going to be more expensive.

Camera: This one may not be important to everyone, but if they'll be video calling grandparents regularly, you'll want a decent camera especially for little ones who have visual impairments.

Warranty and support: As with all tech, it's worth checking what the warranty covers and for how long. If you feel it's necessary, it could be worth looking for extended warranties and damage protection plans that can give you further peace of mind.

Entertainment features: Let's be honest, once your child gets hold of a tablet, they're going to feel like a kid in a candy store. Check to see what the tablet comes with as some are preloaded with games, streaming apps, educational content, music, and drawing tools or you can download apps for toddlers that are educational and fun, which will keep them entertained for hours (we hope!).

Educational content: Some tablets have access to more educational content including many of the ones we've featured in this buying guide. Depending on the age of your child, you can want something that can grow with them and help them as they progress through school.

Do kids need tablets?

A lot of families were introduced to the educational benefits of tablets during Covid and it has stuck; some schools send homework via apps like Teams which helps children build their confidence with these devices. Kids can also read, colour, play games on tablets so it can keep them entertained when really necessary. The key is finding a tablet that also lets parents keep things safe, with features that control how long they use it and what they can see.

What age should kids be using or not using tablets?

Most of a baby's brain develops in the first two years of life so experts recommend waiting until after they are two before introducing them to a tablet. If you can wait longer, that's even better, but we know when their friends or older siblings get a tablet, they'll probably want one too. You know your child best and if you're still on the fence, the best thing would be to get an age-appropriate model as they are designed to be durable and made for little hands.

Screen time advice and limits

Recommendations for screen time limits, as issued by Health Professionals for Safer Screens are as follows:

• 2-5 year olds: 30 minutes per day and not to be used two hours before bed.
• 6-10 year olds: 1-2 hours per day and nothing within the first hour of waking or an hour before bed.
• 11-17 year olds: up to 2 hours per day and nothing within the first hour of waking or an hour before bed.

The World Health Organisation also recommend that children under five should spend less time sitting watching screens, or restrained in prams and seats and have more time for active play.

It's fine for children to have some screen time, but allocate time to play with toys, do jigsaws, read kids’ books, and stretch those legs outdoors. Studies have shown a clear link between excessive screen time and certain issues such as delayed speech and language development, short-sightedness, communication difficulties, poor sleep and mental health problems.

Dr Amanda Gummer recommends having screen-free zones around the house to promote a more healthy relationship. "If you’re fortunate to have the space, then dedicate an area for drawing, music or reading, and if space is limited, then consider making certain times of the day screen-free, but make it so that everyone in the household complies - for this to be effective it can’t be just about the kids!"

Balance is key when kids start using tablets, it's worthwhile for parents to set clear limits and boundaries early on to help children develop healthy digital habits.

Staying safe online and parental controls

Whether you choose Apple or Android, your kid's tablet should have an option to add controls. Apple suggest creating an Apple ID for your child to set aged-based controls limiting the content they can access. Also consider keeping track of usage, setting time limits, not forgetting setting a bedtime to make sure your little one has screen-free time before they sleep.

Also, consider the physical impact of screens on children’s eyes and ensure your little one regularly has enough distance from the screen.  Apple has introduced new Vision Health features, including Screen Distance on Family Sharing, which automatically sets a screen distance for children under 13 and blocks the screen if they use it too closely for too long.

As with all aspects of your child's life, it's important to communicate and show interest in what your children are watching, learning, and being intrigued by online. Dr Gummer says, "If they are old enough to be on social media, then take an active interest in their platforms, be within their network and tackle challenging topics together. Involving children in their own screen time planning and activity will foster independence, responsibility and self-awareness, which are all really important for developing healthy screen habits later in life."

Should my child be watching YouTube Kids?

It's pretty hard to avoid and most children start off with watching familiar shows like Bluey and Peppa. It is also great for education and crafty videos where kids can learn new things and learn to draw or make things.

YouTube introduced YouTube Shorts, their version of TikToks and Instagram Reels: short-form videos that last a few seconds. These appear throughout and children can easily click them to watch which may eventually expose them to content that is not suitable. The best thing to do is use parental locks and watch videos with them if you can. It's also a good idea to openly communicate with them about some of the potential dangers.

How to make screen time educational and fun?

Obviously, tablets have to be fun too. It can’t be all controls and limits, but there are lot of ways children can learn using their tablets and also be entertained. As Dr Gummer told Mother&Baby, "engaging in age appropriate shows, interactive games and content can really be beneficial to learning and overall well-being." Her practical tips on CBeebies offer guidance on screen time and how parents can embrace the screen and use it to actually empower learning. 

Consider streaming services such as kids' favourite Disney+, where they can watch films and TV shows when they need to have a rest after a busy day or on a long journey. There are lots of educational apps for toddlers, which include interactive games supporting development with maths and shape and colour recognition. something like the Apple Pencil is a great tool to both entertain and educate. Tablets give kids independence to learn and play while at the same time providing parents with an opportunity to monitor and limit what they see and do.

Why you can trust us

At Mother&Baby, our mission is to provide accurate and reliable reviews, ensuring our readers receive honest and transparent information about the best products available.

Our testers are either pregnant, or real parents with a baby or toddler. This could be members of our editorial team, freelance parenting journalists or external reviewers from the Mother&Baby awards.  Our Mother&Baby Awards are renowned in the industry and are among the most highly respected product awards for baby and parenting products. Every year, we arrange for thousands of independent parent reviewers to test the latest products on the market.

We don't accept payment from manufacturers for product reviews, and maintain our editorial independence. While we do work with commercial partners on advertorials, these will always be clearly labelled.

Our writers have full control over their content, ensuring that products are selected based solely on the needs of our readers. While we may earn commissions or other compensation from links on our website, this does not affect our product choices. These links allow us to continue offering valuable consumer advice, without compromising the integrity of our reviews. We are always honest in our reviews, and we won't recommend products that we wouldn't spend our own money on.

Read more about how we test and why you should trust us.

About the expert

Dr Amanda Gummer is a child development expert who founded The Good Play Guide in 2012. Amanda has a PhD in Neuropsychology, a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and over 20 years of experience working with children and families. Having worked in children’s industries for many years, Amanda is now widely considered as the UK’s go-to expert on play, toys and child development.

About the author

Laura Healy is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mum-of-two girls and loves writing about all things parenting, she is particularly interested in the toddler years and eco-friendly baby products, as well as children’s literature. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and has published short stories in the UK and Ireland, as well as previously writing freelance for her local paper.