Best Tablets for Kids: A Parent's Buying Guide for 2026

This guide is written for parents and caregivers deciding on a tablet for their child. All purchases must be made by an adult. We strongly recommend setting up parental controls before giving any tablet to a child.

A tablet can be an incredible educational tool — or a bottomless pit of YouTube videos. The difference comes down to choosing the right device and configuring parental controls properly. This guide helps you do both.

Before You Buy: Setting Expectations

No tablet replaces active parenting around screen time. Every device on this list has parental controls, but they work best when combined with clear family rules about:

• Daily screen time limits (the AAP recommends 1-2 hours for ages 6+)
• Content boundaries (which apps are allowed)
• Screen-free zones (bedrooms, dinner table)
• Educational requirements (many tablets can require learning apps before games unlock)

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids

The Fire HD 10 Kids is purpose-built for families. The included kid-proof case has survived our drop tests, and Amazon's 2-year worry-free guarantee means they'll replace it if your child manages to break it anyway.

Amazon Kids+ (1 year included) provides thousands of age-appropriate books, videos, educational apps, and games. The Parent Dashboard is the standout feature — you can set time limits, set educational goals that must be met before entertainment unlocks, filter content by age, and monitor usage from your phone.

Setup tip: Spend 15 minutes configuring the Parent Dashboard before handing over the tablet. Set daily time limits, enable educational goals, and review the content filters. This upfront investment saves headaches later.

Best Long-Term Value: Apple iPad (10th Gen)

If budget allows and your child is 8+, the standard iPad is the best tablet you can buy for a child who will grow into a teenager. The app ecosystem is unmatched — from educational apps to creative tools like GarageBand and Procreate.

Apple's Screen Time controls let you set app limits, downtime schedules, and content restrictions. Family Sharing means you can manage everything from your own iPhone.

You'll need a kid-proof case (budget $30-50 extra). The iPad is not designed for toddler-level durability on its own.

Setup tip: Set up the iPad under your Apple ID using Family Sharing, then create a Child Account for your kid. This gives you remote control over settings and purchases.

Best Budget: Amazon Fire 7 Kids

At $70, the Fire 7 Kids is the lowest-risk way to introduce a tablet. It includes the same kid-proof case, parental controls, and Amazon Kids+ subscription as the HD 10 — just with a smaller screen and more modest performance.

The 7-inch screen is actually well-suited for small hands (ages 3-6). For reading, educational apps, and videos, performance is adequate. Don't expect smooth gaming.

Setup tip: Same as the HD 10 — configure Parent Dashboard first, set limits, and enable educational goals.

Parental Controls Comparison

Feature	Fire Kids	iPad
Time limits	Yes, per day	Yes, per day
Education-first mode	Yes (learn before play)	No (manual only)
Content filtering	By age, automatic	By app, manual
Remote monitoring	Parent Dashboard app	Screen Time in Settings
Purchase controls	Disabled by default	Ask to Buy
Ease of setup	Very easy	Moderate

Our Recommendation

For younger children (3-7), start with the Fire 7 Kids — it's affordable, durable, and the parental controls are the easiest to configure. For older children (8+) who'll use the tablet for school and creativity, invest in the iPad. The Fire HD 10 Kids hits the sweet spot for families who want good parental controls without the iPad price tag.

Whatever you choose, the 15 minutes you spend setting up parental controls before gifting the tablet will be the most important part of the purchase.