Top 6 electronic laptop and tablet toys
Our favourite electronic laptop and tablet toys around now
Why buy one?
We all know the arguments against too much screen time for children, but even the experts agree that exposure to this type of technology can be beneficial, if it’s handled in the right way. Hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills and even language development can be stimulated by interactive and educational apps and games.
What to spend
There is a vast range of price points for this type of kids’ device, from around £20 to well over £100. The cost of course depends on the features and functions, from more ‘toy-like’ models to fully-blown devices that just have kid-friendly content.
What to look for
Depending on your child’s age, you’ll need a wide range of content to keep them entertained, a child-friendly browser, plus an educational slant and content, too. The device also needs to be intuitive for kids to use independently.
My Laptop, £23, V-Tech
A very easy-to-use first laptop for children aged three years old and up. It’s the ideal mix between toy and tech and a great introduction to computer skills, with its own mouse and brightly-coloured keyboard. The laptop has great learning value too, with phonics, spelling and counting games to play.
Child’s Tablet, £17.50, John Lewis
An entry-level simple toy tablet ideal for very young children who you don’t want to let loose on a real device yet! It has lots of sounds and pictures to discover and it perfect for younger siblings who want to feel as grown up as their big brother or sister. Requires two AA batteries.
Epic tablet, £129.99, LeapFrog
One of the biggest names in kids tech, the Epic is the first of LeapFrog’s devices to run on the Android operating system. The Epic had a selection of 20 apps from LeapFrog’s best games, eBooks and learning areas and is a chunky, robust tablet, ideal for very young children to use.
Innotab Max 7, £/114.99, VTech
This tablet has Wi-Fi connectivity meaning that your child can surf the web, but with a kid-friendly browser so they’ll never visit unsuitable sites. It’s designed for children as young as three, with an intuitive touch screen and lots of apps and educational games. There’s even a camera so they can take photos and even record video, too.
Kurio Tab Advance, £99.99
Cased in a sturdy knock-proof case, the Advance is the latest Kurio tablet and has access to an array of apps and games, plus Google Play. It has Wifi and Bluetooth connectivity, plus you get a year-long subscription to educational STEM and coding apps. It’s ideal for children aged 3-6 who are starting on their tech journey.
Kindle Fire for Kids, £99, Amazon
The original kids Fire tablet that has 16GB of storage and comes in a drop-proof case. The beauty of the range is the breadth of content - you’re automatically signed up to Kids Unlimited for a year’s worth of games, apps, books and videos. Amazon also promise to replace any device for free within it’s two year guarantee period.