As parents, you love spending time with your kids. Unfortunately, while you’d rather help finish that massive Lego tower in the living room or make creatures out of Play Doh, there are times when you have to work, attend to the house or make an important phone call.
While you don’t necessarily want to plug your kids into technology, the fact remains that laptops, tablets and other electronic devices tend to keep even the most rambunctious preschooler happy while you get your stuff done. At the same time, you are understandably cautious about handing over your personal smartphone or tablet to your rough and tumble kids. There are plenty of kid-friendly durable devices that will stand up to the stickiest and roughest hands with ease.
nabi DreamTab HD8
The nabi DreamTab HD8 is the company’s top-of-the-line kid’s tablet that is produced in conjunction with Dreamworks Studios. Available on Amazon for just over $100 on sale, this affordable tablet was built with kids in mind. The Wi-Fi-enabled device comes with an 8-inch display and a 16GB flash memory, along with 2GB of RAM that will allow your kids to store and play plenty of movies, games and more. The external appearance of the nabi is as impressive as its interior hardware. It comes with a red silicone sleeve along with pegs on the front side that keep the screen from getting scratched when your kiddos accidentally place the tablet face down on the coffee table or sofa.
Thanks to the pre-installed Dreamworks content, kids can use the stylus pen to draw in DreamPro Studio or practice handwriting. The innovative nabi Coin system lets your kids earn virtual currency by playing educational games on the tablet. They can then use their earnings to get more apps and content. If you are on a deadline for work, tell your kiddo that it’s time for both of you to earn some “money” and see how much nabi Coin he or she can earn while you finish your project.
ThinkPad 11e Laptop
If your kids love playing on laptops but you are hesitant to let them go at it on your pricey model, consider investing in an affordable yet rugged model from a company like Lenovo. They offer a wide range of durable laptops that can withstand anything small kids can dish out. The ThinkPad 11e laptop is a durable and budget-friendly choice that has the power kids need for their games and movies. Everything that Lenovo sells must pass the company’s strict reliability standards and are stress-tested for endurance. This includes eight military specifications for ruggedness under extreme hot, cold, humid and dusty conditions. In other words, the ThinkPad 11e laptop can probably hold its own against the grape Popsicle, Goldfish cracker crumbs and the rough handling of a curious 5-year-old who is intent on making it to the next level in her game.
LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra XDi Learning Tablet
For years, LeapFrog has been known as a leader in interactive and durable technology for kids. Thanks to the LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra XDi Learning Tablet, which is available at retailers like Toys R Us, kids will enjoy a tablet with a 7-inch screen, 1024 x 600 display, a kid-friendly stylus and a front and rear facing camera that will take plenty of goofy selfies. For younger kids, the LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra features uber-sturdy casing that will stand up to kid-tough conditions. As a bonus, the tablet comes pre-loaded with 11 apps, including Art Studio Ultra and Pet Chat. LeapFrog also sells plenty of additional game cartridges that will work with this device.
Alison Stanton
Alison Stanton has been a freelance writer for the past 18 years. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Alison thoroughly enjoys writing about a wide variety of people and topics. When she is not writing, Alison can be found hanging out with her family—which includes three wonderful rescue dogs—and sipping a caffeinated beverage from Starbucks.
