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Ronald
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This is the latest version of the one we tested. While the specs are similar and we expect the latest edition to perform as well, if not better, we will be testing the 13th generation shortly and will update any differences in our review.
The Fire tablet also provides different accounts for parent and child, allowing for robust parental controls that allow you to limit your child's screen time and what they can play, as well as view all their recent activity.
If you're planning to use the Fire HD 10 for watching movies or listening to music (parent-approved, of course), you'll be pleased with the quality of both the sound and the picture. And if your child is partial to art and design apps, they will be very happy with the crisp, bright colors of the display.
When we recently put the 13th generation of the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet to the test, we loved the increased processing speed, especially for watching videos and playing games. This tablet is geared at slightly older kids, ranging in age from 6 to 12. That's a big range so the parental controls help you easily tailor the content by age, set time limits, and block content you don't want to be accessed.
This version comes in a sleek case that's still protective, but not as bounce-proof as the Amazon Fire 10 Kids. Our tester accidentally dropped it, and it survived just fine, but we still wouldn't recommend letting it hit the ground from much distance.
This is the latest version of the one we tested. While the specs are similar and we expect the latest edition to perform as well, if not better, we will be testing the 12th generation shortly and will update any differences in our review.
The Onn has a whole bunch of cute features that cater to younger kids. The home screen is more of a welcome screen, with different tabs that open up and tell the user a joke, the weather, and what apps were previously used. It feels very kid-friendly, and my 4-year-old preferred it over the other tablets, even though he knows the Fire tablets well.
The LeapPad Academy tablet is the latest in a long line of tech devices created by LeapFrog, and is different from the other devices we tested in that it has its own operating system that is specially designed for LeapFrog. It does not venture into iOS or Android territory, though some Android apps are available to download.
Samsung used to make a Galaxy tablet that was just for kids; the Tab E Lite came equipped with a cushioned case and was pretty similar to the Fire. It appears that the tablet is now discontinued and instead Samsung users can add a function ga4_link134() window.dataLayer.push(JSON.parse('"event":"default_event","link_location":"product_widget"')) kids profile to other Samsung products including their Galaxy Tab A7.
I tested each of the tablets for about a week. First, I set each one up, which includes charging, establishing accounts, and depending on the device, setting up a separate child account. I then downloaded apps and set up parental controls.
Lastly, my kids performed their own tests. I gauged their interest in the pre-installed and downloaded apps, how easily they were able to navigate and use the tablet and how quickly they lost interest in it. I took notes each time they used a tablet and wrote about their experiences after each test.
An important consideration when choosing a tablet is the operating system it runs on, and what companies, if any, are already linked. For example, if the parents or caregivers use Apple products, a Samsung or other device that runs on Android software may not initially be as desirable. Along similar lines, the Amazon Fire tablets are linked with your Amazon Prime account, which makes managing them very simple if you use Prime regularly.
These considerations did not affect our rankings, as everyone uses different products in their lives. For me, I use Apple products: iPhone, MacBook, etc. And while the Android tablets gave me some pause, I was able to use them with little effort and enjoyed them more than just giving my children an iPad.
Another consideration is whether you want a tablet that comes ready to use or one that needs to be set up with apps and content first. The Amazon tablets and the Onn came pre-installed with lots of apps, games, and more. Linking the Fires with my Prime account was also extremely simple. The Samsung, on the other hand, had the additional step of setting up the Kids portion of the device.
The age of your child also comes into play. An iPad or function ga4_link138() window.dataLayer.push(JSON.parse('"event":"click_inarticle"')) iPad mini is better suited to older kids who will be able to appreciate its quality and may be less in need of assistance when it comes to downloading apps. The Fire, Samsung, and Onn are good for all ages as the apps that are available span age ranges.
November 2012 marked the four year anniversary of my leap into self-publishing. When I published my first title way back in 2008, I didn't know what a Kindle was, no one read digital books yet, and self-publishing was about as cool as a canker sore.
At the time, the only thing I had to show for my writing was a computer full of stories and a binder full of rejections. I taught during the day, worked for a catering company on the weekends, and wrote as often as possible. I did what writers were "supposed to do":
Writing wasn't paying the bills, and I had two young children to provide for. I'd read a bunch of Jim Cramer books on options trading after which I convinced myself I could figure it out. I wasn't terrible at it, but I wasn't that good either. I'd managed to skim a bit of a profit trading stock on Marvel Studios when it announced it would create an Iron Man movie.
One day my wife read an article in a local paper about a writer who'd self-published a book using a print on demand service. She convinced me it was time to stop investing in stock options based on comic book character movie hunches and start investing in my writing. I took my Iron Man money and invested it in self-publishing. As usual, my wife was right.
When my book, Sweet Farts (don't judge, kids love it), released in November 2008, my wife and I crossed our fingers and hoped we'd be lucky enough to make our money back some day. We never dreamed that Sweet Farts would hit the Amazon Humorous Bestsellers list by February 2009 and stay there for four years running! At the time, I couldn't have imagined that in only four year's time I'd have eight titles out in the U.S., half a dozen foreign deals, and film offers for my books.
Last year, I launched my new series, School Is A Nightmare. I wanted to write a fun series for kids and bring titles to market quickly. Partnering with Createspace for the book creation services and KDP to reach my readers digitally has been the perfect combination. I've utilized free promotions, participated in the lending library and released an omnibus edition called Quadzilla to help expand the reader base for the series. I'll release several more titles in the series this fall.
I've found that more and more kids are reading digitally on Kindle and Kindle apps. Self-publishing the series allows me to provide content to readers when I want and without delays. The ease of working with Createspace and KDP helps me experiment with new ideas and keep up with a rapidly changing market.
Going forward, I see myself self-publishing some titles and traditionally publishing others. The next installment of my School Is A Nightmare series is in edits right now at Createspace, I just signed a deal for a fun new series with a traditional publisher, and I have several titles completed and ready to go. The most exciting thing about right now is that when I'm writing a book, I know it will be released. I no longer have the dread that the work may never see the light of day.
The days of crossing my fingers and toes are over. I've also given up trading stock options. Self-publishing proved to be a better investment offering very low risk and extraordinarily high reward. I guess those Jim Cramer books paid off after all.
I started writing professionally while I was still teaching and serving as Science Department Chair in a large New York City public junior high school -- nearly 40 years ago. My career as an author began by writing a monthly science supplement for Scholastic magazines, and I soon began writing science books for children. Many of my books, like my popular Einstein Anderson: Science Geek series, are based on the projects I was doing every day in my classroom. Eventually, I had so many writing contracts that I retired from teaching to write full time. At this point I have written so many books that I am not sure of the exact count....but I know it is getting close to 300!
I speak often to groups of children and they ask me how long it takes to write a book. I always answer this way: Abraham Lincoln (who was very tall) was constantly asked: "How tall are you, Mr. President?" And he would always answer: "Just tall enough for my feet to reach the ground." So, I answer that by saying that it takes just long enough to finish the book. Of course, I have to study and do the research before I write a book, and often I've been reading about the subject for many years.
I have been interested in independent publishing ever since the first color tablets came out in 2010. It is clear to me that a color tablet like the Kindle Fire is an ideal delivery device for children's books, and we know that today kids - digital natives - love gadgets. So I immediately decided that I needed to deliver my books in digital form, as well as in print.
As of this writing I have 90 books in the Kindle Store. I have published 78 of those with KDP through my own digital publishing company, StarWalk Kids Media. I love the fact that KDP presents me the option to both update and republish some of my beloved science books that had gone out of print (like my Planet books) and also to write, design, and publish digital original books, of which I have 17 (like Why Do Puppies Do That?). I've always been very connected to kids and what excites them about science and it's great, as a writer, to be able to write books that I know children will love and reach that audience directly via self-publishing. And since I have published books for children of all ages, it's a big plus that the Kindle Store helps parents find books by their kids' age range. It's an exciting new era for authors!
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