ipad for kids - real ipad too fragile and expensive but are alternatives just rubbish

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My daughter loves technology and computers but the thought of her breaking an ipad stops me from getting her one. I will admit I know nothing about Android or other operating system "pads".

So I looked at the much hyped Leappad http://www.leapfrog.com/en_gb/families/leapster_explorer/platform/LeapPad_Pink.html but it seems as though there is nothign with it, not even a battery or a charger. Then new software is not 99p but rather £19.99 http://www.leappadgames.co.uk/ and I remember back to when I bought a console and never used it because the cartridges were simply far too expensive.

I see Vtech have an alternative http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9364974.htm but I suspect that is a similar thing.

I don't want to give a child a £400 ipad but I don't want to give the child a £80 machine which needs £50 of accessories immediately and then multiple £20 games and software downloads, taking the whole price to easily over £200 and maybe up to the £400 that the ipad costs.

Any ideas ?

butterfriends

have you thought about an ipod touch?

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butterfriends wrote: »

have you thought about an ipod touch?

Not consciously and until today I did not even know it could do more than music but it looks very small, around iphone size. I don't want my daughter straining her eyes and I don't let her play games on our smart phones too long.

The size of the ipad is attractive.

sealady

Have you seen these! http://www.misco.co.uk/Search/Keyword/fizzbooks They are expensive but are built specifically for kids and are very child frendly

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sealady wrote: »

Have you seen these! http://www.misco.co.uk/Search/Keyword/fizzbooks They are expensive but are built specifically for kids and are very child frendly

All I see is a vastly overpriced notebook. Am I missing something ?

My child is a bit young for programs but too old for the pretend computers. I think these look a little too like regular computers and I am not sure she is ready for a keyboard, though she is fine with a mouse.

vandanfc

The cases for the ipads are very sturdy, so it isn't that easy to break. You would really need to abuse it. You should be able to pick up an original ipad for under £300 I would have thought - check out the store outlets on ebay, like currys/argos/tesco.

susiecm3

I am a childminder and one of the things we need to cover for children under 5 is ICT, I wanted a ipad but after talking to a few people and hearing how flimsy they are I could not justify spending on something that would not withstand any kind of battering, after a good look around I went for the galaxy tab and so glad I did, it does everything I need for myself, and has plenty of things on it for kids of all ages via downloads which loads are free, been dropped etc and upto now withstood it all, coming up to 11 months now.

The fact apple are battling with samsung shows they are worried about something!!

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vandanfc wrote: »

The cases for the ipads are very sturdy, so it isn't that easy to break. You would really need to abuse it. You should be able to pick up an original ipad for under £300 I would have thought - check out the store outlets on ebay, like currys/argos/tesco.

Best I have is ipad 2 for £399 with 8% cashback on TCB which is £367.

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susiecm3 wrote: »

I am a childminder and one of the things we need to cover for children under 5 is ICT, I wanted a ipad but after talking to a few people and hearing how flimsy they are I could not justify spending on something that would not withstand any kind of battering, after a good look around I went for the galaxy tab and so glad I did, it does everything I need for myself, and has plenty of things on it for kids of all ages via downloads which loads are free, been dropped etc and upto now withstood it all, coming up to 11 months now.

The fact apple are battling with samsung shows they are worried about something!!

How have you found the ongoing cost and usefullness ? Do the kids still get involved or has interest waned ?

I don't need another laptop so if it wasn't being used, it wouldn't be used so to speak.

I'm also concious about kids eyes and the long term harm that such toys can do - any comments ?

kyleleonard

How about a kindle?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-Wi-Fi-6-Ink-Display/dp/B0051QVF7A/ref=sr_tr_sr_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319682382&sr=1-1

But I don't think you get games, internet browsers, etc.. just depends what you want from it.

susiecm3

Not been any ongoing costs unless my older kids have downloaded a film for holidays etc, it gets used as much as any other gadget, you sometimes dont see it for weeks then other times its out everyday

As for eyes its like tv it is limited in this house