With Apple being one of the biggest and most innovative computer and electronics company out there, this Apple iPad review for kids was a must. The iPad offers a touch screen that is able to connect to the internet via wi-fi. Without further ado, let’s go over the pros and cons of the iPad for children.
Rating-Apple iPad Review for Kids
All things considered, the iPad gets a 4.5 out of 5.
Age Appropriateness
The iPad is excellent for children due to the fact that they are still learning and primarily will use their hands.
Most people start off as very tactile learners and there is no right or wrong way to hold the iPad. All you have to do is swipe the screen.
If you are worried about the content your child will be able to access via the internet all you have to do is enable the administration lock to block obscene, profane or lewd material.
There are also no highly intricate controls to use the basic functions of any given iPad so there should be a very short and lenient learning curve for your children, no matter how young they are.
Affordability
It is impossible to say whether or not any given iPad will be affordable for you or your family. Everyone has a different budget for these kinds of things but in relation to other touch pad devices most iPads are relatively inexpensive, while the upper tier, most expensive one’s are nearly as much or more than the best laptops out there. Prices for a iPad range from between $429 to $899.
The iPad is offered in a 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. Because you aren’t able to add memory, depending on how many movies or TV shows you add or if your child is interested in gaming, go with as many GB as you can afford at the time.
Durability
So, how durable are iPads? Well given the fact that they are inherently delicate devices they hold up pretty well. If dropped from a shallow height unto grass, carpeting or other soft surfaces the iPad should not be damaged. If dropped from taller heights unto such soft surfaces the iPad may get little blurs of pixelation on the screen, though it should still operate fine. The screen itself is exceedingly durable and is nearly impossible to scratch. This is likely the most important part as the screen itself will be in constant contact with finger nails, but don’t worry, this won’t be a problem. There are many cases available that can protect the iPad along with a screen film that will protect from scratches.
Customer Service and Warranty
There is a rather comprehensive customer service warranty for all iPad models. These come with 90 days of complimentary phone service as well as a one year limited warranty. For an additional fee, you can purchase an extended warranty from Apple called the Apple Care Protection Plan.
Battery Life
In the most energy intensive scenario of running both high graphic games, streaming high quality video, turning the brightness on to full and putting the speaker all the way to full will net you about five and a half hours of battery life. You can normally get about nine to ten hours out of it, however, with more conservative methods.
Ease of Use
The iPad is very easy to use, all you have to do is touch the screen and swipe. Even toddlers figure it out rather quickly. The fact that one app purchase can be downloaded to any other Apple product on the same iTunes account (up to 10 devices) for no additional charge is certainly a big plus. This means when an app is downloaded to my girl’s iPads these apps also load onto my other Apple devices and iPhone.
Educational Value
There is a lot educational content on the iPad, many of these applications are free to download and play at one’s leisure. This is often the most economical way for your child to grow intellectually – through fun games! Some of the free educational game titles include, Road Trip USA, a map skill oriented game focused on geography, Ansel and Clair: Paul Revere’s Ride, an action focused history learning game, and finally, Eye Paint Animals, an artistically focused app.
Growth Potential
This isn’t something your child will outgrow any time soon, they will be using it well into their teens and probably beyond that.
Games and Entertainment
The iPad has a wide range of apps with which your children can play, many of which are absolutely free to play, such as Buddyman, Barbie Fashion Designer Maker, Disney Story Central and Star Wars Scene Maker. It should be noted that these are only a handful of free games and there are many others, often with much larger production values, that can be purchased for download. iTunes offers many TV shows, books (even books that will read out loud to your children,) music and movies that you can load onto your tablet. These are all great options for long trips in the car and other times that you want your kids to be content instead of telling you how bored they are.
Is the iPad Right for Your Family?
If you are looking for a tablet that can grow with your child and provide hours and seriously, years of learning and fun, and if it fits in your budget, the iPad will be just perfect for your family.