The Best Tablets for Toddlers to Keep Kiddos Engaged and Entertained
These days, kids are growing up as mini digital geniuses. After all, toddlers often have a better understanding of how to tap and swipe than most grandparents. And while limiting children’s screen time is crucial for healthy development, a toddler tablet can certainly come in clutch—especially when it’s crucial that your little one be entertained for a little while. Suffice it to say, a toddler tablet can help you maximize that time so your little one is not only entertained, but also learning in the process. “These devices enable participation in interactive active learning environments, which is different from passively watching TV,” says Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra, DO, the founder and president of the interdisciplinary research organization Children and Screens.
That said, tablets for toddlers aren’t toys, and you’ll want to make sure that whatever device you offer your child is safe, sturdy and loaded with age-appropriate apps. Here’s what to consider when shopping for the best tablet for toddlers, plus our top product picks to suit your family’s needs.
In this article:
Overall best tablet for toddlers
Best learning tablet for toddlers
Best tablet for 1-year-olds
Best tablet for 2-year-olds
Best tablet for 3-year-olds
Best non-WiFi tablet for toddlers
Best inexpensive tablet for toddlers
Best family tablet
A toddler tablet can offer some great learning opportunities. Some of the best tablets for toddlers come with educational apps that teach little ones how to read, write, do math and even learn a new language. “When kids use these for fun, the programs can help them learn a lot,” says Meg Meeker, MD, a pediatrician and creator of the “Parenting Great Kids” podcast.
Plus, whether they’ve earned a treat or you just need a few minutes to yourself, there are times when you’d like to let your toddler watch a fun movie or listen to songs—and having a kid-friendly tablet at the ready beats having to hand your own device over to your tot.
Another big benefit to buying a toddler tablet instead of giving your kid a standard tablet to use (aside from the inevitable destruction) is that tablets designed specifically for young kids come with features to ensure they’re protected from unwanted content that’s not age-appropriate.
A toddler tablet can also be useful for video chatting with faraway family and friends. “Positive uses enable social connections and act as a prompt to promote deeper engagement,” says Hurst-Della Pietra. “Emerging evidence suggests that at 24 months of age, children can learn words from live video chatting with a responsive adult.”
Still, she cautions that screen time can never replace the role of parents and caregivers in kids’ social, emotional and cognitive development—after all, toddlers learn best from engaging with people. It’s up to you as a parent to establish digital media guidelines to encourage healthy screen use. What’s more, Meeker emphasizes that having access to a tablet is a privilege, not a right for little ones. “The child needs to understand that parents make the rules around device usage,” she adds.
There are a number of things to consider when searching for the best tablet for toddlers. For starters, you’ll want to make sure it lives up the rigors of life with a little one. Here’s are some other factors to take into account:
- Price. You probably don’t want to sink a ton of money into a tablet for your child. As Meeker points out, not only are toddlers apt to be rough with the device, but it’s also the first of many tablets or laptops they’ll have over their lifetime.
- Durability. Expect your kiddo’s toddler tablet to be dropped, thrown and spilled on, so look for a screen that won’t crack easily with a protective case around the edge and a warranty.
- Parental controls. This is a must to keep your kiddo safe. Some tablets come with a daily or weekly report of use and how much time is spent on each app, which can be useful for parents of older children.
- Portability. Consider how easily the tablet can be held or carried by little hands.
Ready to start shopping? Here are some of the best tablets for toddlers on the market today.
Overall best tablet for toddlers
This is hands-down one of the best tablets for toddlers you can buy. It comes with a 10” screen, a kid-proof case (in fun colors) and front and back cameras for video chatting, plus a built-in stand (a nice feature to have, as Meeker points out that looking down at a tablet can lead to neck and shoulder pain). When you opt for the Fire HD 10 tablet for toddlers, you’ll get a year of free access to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited with over 20,000 apps, games, books, videos and other educational content from PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, Disney and more.
Product Specs:
- 10” screen
- 32 GB of storage
- 12 hours of battery life
- Two-year warranty
- With the use of a password, you can switch the app to adult content mode
- It has clear, effective parental controls that can be monitored through an app
- The Amazon Fire 10 lacks customization on the dashboard, causing you to have to filter through a lot of apps each time you want to find your child’s favorite
- The apps are all picture-oriented and don’t have names, which can complicate search.
Best learning tablet for toddlers
If you’re looking for toddler tablets that focus more on education than entertainment, look no further than this clever option, which was created in partnership with PBS. This learning tablet for toddlers is loaded with educational games and videos that feature your little one’s favorite PBS shows, like Sesame Street, Arthur and WordGirl. Strong parental controls including a timer to keep screen time to a minimum, and a silicone case to protect the unit from bumps and drops.
Product Specs:
- 7” screen
- WiFi ready
- Includes case, USB charger and wall charger
- With all content geared toward young children, parents don’t need to worry about filtering out potentially harmful or inappropriate content
- Many customers indicate the tablet is slow to turn on and load
- Battery life is not the best
Best tablet for 1-year-olds
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no screen time at all for kids under 18 months of age. So when it comes to the best table for one-year-olds, we’ve decided to stick with a toy that gives baby a tablet-like experience rather than an actual screen. The VTech Light-Up Baby Touch Tablet is a great choice for this age group, with plenty of fun, bright lights and “apps” that teach things like letters and numbers. Loaded with baby’s favorite songs, this tablet is sure to please.
Product Specs:
- 10+ apps and activities
- More than 160 songs
- Recommended age range is between 9 to 36 months
- Toddler tablet comes in pink, blue and orange options
- The VTech Baby Touch Tablet is a toy rather than a real tablet
- The “apps” are similar in nature to games found on many VTech light-up toys
Best tablet for 2-year-olds
By the age of 2, many little ones (and their parents!) are ready for a small amount of tablet time. This Android-specific tablet makes a great option, with many of the same features as the popular Fire 10 tablet. A 10” screen and robust 32 GB of storage space allow your little one plenty of options when it comes to the content they’d like to consume on this toddler tablet. Popular apps like Disney+, Khan Academy, Duolingo and ABC Mouse are available too. A kid-proof case (available in pink and blue), complete with a shoulder strap, round out the excellent features on this toddler tablet.
Product specs:
- 10” screen
- 32 GB storage
- WiFi ready
- Dual cameras
- The Dragon Touch comes preloaded with lots of Disney content, including 20 storybooks and four audiobooks
- The DragonTouch is available on the Android platform only
Best tablet for 3-year-olds
This is a slightly less robust version of its Fire HD 8 counterpart, but you still get an awesome toddler tablet for your money. It features a 7” screen with a kid-proof case, front and back cameras and a built-in stand. Like the Fire HD 8, you get yearlong access to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited with all its fun, educational content and a two-year warranty. It comes with 16 GB of easily upgradeable storage and up to seven hours of battery life, but it’s also cheaper than the Fire HD 8. All in all, it offers great bang for your buck.
Product Specs:
- 7” screen
- 16 GB storage
- Wi-Fi ready
- Comes with one year of access to Amazon Kids+ content
- Parental controls are easy to navigate on this device
- Parents can set time limits and content filters, or block certain sites altogether
- While the apps are quite responsive, some users indicate lag time when switching between accounts or performing administrative tasks
Best non-WiFi tablet for toddlers
This learning tablet for toddlers (and big kids!) is designed to inspire school success among children 3 to 8 years old. It comes preloaded with more than 20 apps ($175 worth of content) that teach math, reading, writing, coding, problem-solving and creativity skills. This option has a 7” shatter-proof screen with a built-in stand and an included bumper case, 16 GB of storage, seven hours of battery life and dual back and front cameras for video chatting. Plus, the included parental controls mean you can set time limits and select approved websites on LeapFrog’s kid-friendly web browser.
Product Specs:
- 7” screen
- 16 GB storage
- Dual cameras
- Download even more content from the LeapFrog library (750+ games, apps, videos and music) or other Android apps
- No free apps to download for this toddler tablet
Best inexpensive tablet for toddlers
Here’s proof that cheap tablets for kids can still offer quality and value. This is one of the most popular tablets for toddlers out there, and for good reason: It comes preloaded with Kidoz, an app that offers unlimited access to a range of age-appropriate, educational games and videos. Thanks to the parental controls, you can customize a profile for your child, handpick content, set screen time limits and approve specific websites.
Product Specs:
- Weighs less than 1 lb
- 7” screen
- 32 GB of storage
- 5 megapixel camera
- 8 hours of battery life
- WiFi ready
- Parental controls on this toddler tablet allow you to filter out ads and in-app purchases
- Available on the Android platform only
Best family tablet
For the tablet that does it all, Apple’s iPad is still the gold standard. That’s why we chose it as our pick for the best tablet for the whole family. Apple’s 10th generation tablet integrates seamlessly with other Apple devices, like phones, Apple TV and laptops, plus it delivers content on a crisp, sharp screen with almost no lag time. In the App Store, you’ll find a nearly limitless number of apps you can download, from toddler games to educational content to toddler yoga and dance options. Or, you can stream movies and shows from apps or websites.
Product Specs:
- 10.9” liquid retina display screen
- WiFi and cellular ready
- 64 GB storage
- 12 megapixel rear camera
- The multifunctional Apple iPad functions like a small laptop, allowing you to use for email, chat, photo storage, streaming content and kids apps
- Available in four colors
- It’s a pricier option
About the experts:
- Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra, DO, is the founder and president of the interdisciplinary research organization Children and Screens, she also serves as clinical assistant professor of pediatric public health at Stony Brook University School of Medicine. She earned her medical degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine.
- Meg Meeker, MD, is a pediatrician in Traverse City, Michigan, the creator of the “Parenting Great Kids” podcast and an author of several books on parenting children and adolescents.
