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 Strong Willed Woman
Posts: 6577
      Location: Prosser, WA | My parents want to buy an Android Tablet for my daughter's 7th birthday. How easy is it to install parental controls on them? We don't want her to be able to just randomly Google things. |
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 Chicken Chick
Posts: 3562
     Location: Texas | We have a kindle fire and it is very easy to set up passwords and lock things you don't want them doing. There is also a password you have to put in before you can buy anything.
The only thing is half of the games my son has you have to be connected to the internet to use them, so we have to turn on the internet if he wants to play those games.
ETA: Just to clarify, those games are an app for the Kindle, but they won't load if the internet isn't turned on. Once you get on the game you wouldn't know it was connected to the internet, it just runs like a regular game. He does have games that don't require internet, and I am sure we can find more. I didn't realize some of those games needed internet to run until we were out and about one day and some of his games wouldn't work.
Edited by pinx05 2014-02-28 2:49 PM
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Hungarian Midget Woman
    Location: Midwest | I think it is pretty easy
They do make tablets for kids now as well: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/ipads-children-kid-friendly-tablet...
ETA I looked at them and they kind of are not great. LOL
however, putting passwords on stuff is not too difficult I imagine.
Edited by barrelracr131 2014-02-28 2:13 PM
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  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
         Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | I'll never understand why kids need tablets, but then I'm not a parent. I just remember never even getting my first cell phone until I was 25 and still had to be drug into the store :)
But yes, you can set very strict parental controls on most tablets, including how much time they are on it and whether or not they can even get online. There is plenty you can put on your tablet for your child where they should not have to be online at all while they are using it. Definitely check out the tabs made for kids, unless it's something you want to be able to use for yourself.
My friend uses a Kindle for her 7 year old daughter but only for games and movies while on the road. When we get to the barrel races she plays with friends, has a scooter (not motorized) and other stuff but we all pitch in and keep an eye on her too. People ask me sometimes why I don't mind helping with other ppls kids, but it's worth it for me to have a hualing partner, and I do like kids :) |
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 Strong Willed Woman
Posts: 6577
      Location: Prosser, WA | We weren't going to allow her to get anything where she could get on the internet, but when she goes to my parent's house she likes to play on my parent's Tablet. So my dad wants to get her one. We do let her play a few games on the internet at home, very limited. Her time on it would be very limited an very supervised. We are very against our kids constantly playing computer games, but on the other hand computer skills are good to develop as well.
Thanks for the advice, keep it coming. |
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 I too, shall remain nameless!
Posts: 2248
    Location: Wearing a winter coat...... | My 7 yr old son is better on my IPad then me....LOL. I have it locked up pretty good. The BEST thing for those of us who travel a lot or commute long miles. We are on our second one. |
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 Chicken Chick
Posts: 3562
     Location: Texas | My son doesn't "need" a tablet, he also doesn't need a horse, a dirt bike, a tv, a radio, a swing set or any of the other things we buy him. We want to buy those things for him. There is a difference in getting things for your kid, and getting things for your kid to babysit them so you don't have to pay attention to them. I know plenty of people that shove an electronic in their childs face every time they want attention, in turn when you try to talk to the kid they hiss at you or make angry bird sounds... or just straight up ignore you.
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  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
         Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | kakbarrelracer - 2014-02-28 3:32 PM We weren't going to allow her to get anything where she could get on the internet, but when she goes to my parent's house she likes to play on my parent's Tablet. So my dad wants to get her one. We do let her play a few games on the internet at home, very limited. Her time on it would be very limited an very supervised. We are very against our kids constantly playing computer games, but on the other hand computer skills are good to develop as well.
Thanks for the advice, keep it coming.
If I understand tablets correctly, which I don't. I own an Ipad but use it so little that it only has to be plugged in like twice a month :), but if I do understand it, you can put some really neat educational games on them! And I for one believe a child can never learn too much! |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
    Location: Midwest | missroselee - 2014-02-28 2:46 PM
kakbarrelracer - 2014-02-28 3:32 PM We weren't going to allow her to get anything where she could get on the internet, but when she goes to my parent's house she likes to play on my parent's Tablet. So my dad wants to get her one. We do let her play a few games on the internet at home, very limited. Her time on it would be very limited an very supervised. We are very against our kids constantly playing computer games, but on the other hand computer skills are good to develop as well.
Thanks for the advice, keep it coming.
If I understand tablets correctly, which I don't. I own an Ipad but use it so little that it only has to be plugged in like twice a month :), but if I do understand it, you can put some really neat educational games on them! And I for one believe a child can never learn too much!
A lot of schools are moving towards incorporating iPads into their curricula
Next year, my HS Alma mater will be requiring every student to use an iPad for classwork. There are, however, a surprising number of subject specific applications for students these days. |
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Sideways Riding Expert
Posts: 11371
        Location: ND--it snows, it floods, it snows, it floods | Ask your parents to get her a Kindle Fire. Then you can set the parental controls plus she can do her reading ect. My sister and BIL got one for my niece and everything is set so that she can only access certain things and what not. Plus it's been a huge help to her reading. She's a 3rd grader reading at an 8th grade level. Just a thought..... |
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 Chicken Chick
Posts: 3562
     Location: Texas | missroselee - 2014-02-28 2:46 PM kakbarrelracer - 2014-02-28 3:32 PM We weren't going to allow her to get anything where she could get on the internet, but when she goes to my parent's house she likes to play on my parent's Tablet. So my dad wants to get her one. We do let her play a few games on the internet at home, very limited. Her time on it would be very limited an very supervised. We are very against our kids constantly playing computer games, but on the other hand computer skills are good to develop as well.
Thanks for the advice, keep it coming. If I understand tablets correctly, which I don't. I own an Ipad but use it so little that it only has to be plugged in like twice a month :), but if I do understand it, you can put some really neat educational games on them! And I for one believe a child can never learn too much!
Books also. I made the mistake of getting a free joke book on our kindle. I have never heard so many 3rd grade level corny jokes in my life lol.... we will stick to regular books from now on haha.
We also have backgammon and checkers on ours so we can play against each other if we are sitting somewhere bored. |
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 Strong Willed Woman
Posts: 6577
      Location: Prosser, WA | barrelracr131 - 2014-02-28 12:49 PM missroselee - 2014-02-28 2:46 PM kakbarrelracer - 2014-02-28 3:32 PM We weren't going to allow her to get anything where she could get on the internet, but when she goes to my parent's house she likes to play on my parent's Tablet. So my dad wants to get her one. We do let her play a few games on the internet at home, very limited. Her time on it would be very limited an very supervised. We are very against our kids constantly playing computer games, but on the other hand computer skills are good to develop as well.
Thanks for the advice, keep it coming. If I understand tablets correctly, which I don't. I own an Ipad but use it so little that it only has to be plugged in like twice a month :), but if I do understand it, you can put some really neat educational games on them! And I for one believe a child can never learn too much! A lot of schools are moving towards incorporating iPads into their curricula Next year, my HS Alma mater will be requiring every student to use an iPad for classwork. There are, however, a surprising number of subject specific applications for students these days.
I'm hearing more and more of this. We do not want our kids to turn out like our nephews where the back of their heads playing a video game is a lot more recognizable than their faces. On the other hand I don't want to be so crazy strict as to prevent my kids from learning how to use a computer.
In doing more research it does look like their are some pretty good parental controls out there. |
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 Strong Willed Woman
Posts: 6577
      Location: Prosser, WA | docschic - 2014-02-28 12:50 PM Ask your parents to get her a Kindle Fire. Then you can set the parental controls plus she can do her reading ect. My sister and BIL got one for my niece and everything is set so that she can only access certain things and what not. Plus it's been a huge help to her reading. She's a 3rd grader reading at an 8th grade level. Just a thought.....
What's the difference between the two? I only have my phone and a desktop now so I'm out of the loop. I know with the Kindle you can download books right? |
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| Got my two grandkids Kindle Fires for Christmas and it was the perfect thing for them. 4 and 8 |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
        Location: Gainesville, TX | I have a Kindle Fire. They are great media devices for videos, apps, & books. I think setting up parental controls on them is supposed to be easier too, from what I've heard and also seen in my own Kindle settings. I do not have kids though. |
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Sideways Riding Expert
Posts: 11371
        Location: ND--it snows, it floods, it snows, it floods | Ask for the Kindle HD which is $129 or the HDX which is $229. Both you can set parental controls on them and you can download books, music, games, movies ect. My niece has the Kindle Fire HD and I have the HDX. The biggest difference between the two is picture quality which your daughter probably doesn't need. Go to Amazon and browse the free games and apps they have if you are interested. I have a Kindle Fire HDX, a samsung Galaxy tab and an iPad and I prefer my Kindle to the other two but I read a lot as well. My husband uses my iPad more and the Galaxy is more for work. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 729
    Location: south central usa | when buying one - consider the following:
which app store are you most familiar with/have accounts with (ITunes/Google play/Amazon) most of the run of the mill android tablets use google play which has probably the same amount of apps (or more) than iTunes (apple store). Not sure about the availability of apps through amazon.
then decide how much you want to spend. we look at kindles and nooks and the nook wasn't really in the running and liked the kindle, but not going through the amazon store (they may now have access to google play).
ended up going with an ASUS android tablet and paid ~$120.
as far as passwords, we make sure everything that is downloaded doesn't require the internet and just make sure wifi is off all the time. for our purposes, it has been great.
I just think of these the same way as an old Gameboy, just enhanced quite a bit.
as far as the ones made for kids, they are a good way to spend a ton of $$, each game for some is like $20-25 with no true app store. we've downloaded about 15 apps on the kid's tablet, most are educational, and they were all free. |
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10D Crack Champion
         
| Check the Nabi tablets. They are designed specifically for kids, but adults could use them as well. You set it up under parent name & then log your child's name in....this is initial set up. Lots of parent control options. It is an Android operating system. Not terribly expensive. |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
     
| I am thinking about getting a Samsung Kids tablet for my son's birthday. He will be 6. Those of you dissing the tablet for a kid thing....I totally get it but I won't load anything that isn't 100% educational and my kids aren't allowed to use anything like that when we have family gatherings, or guest over, or before bedtime, or anytime its sunny outside! My kids both have a Leap Pad with educational games only and you wouldn't believe the amount of learning kids can accomplish from something interesting and cool like a tablet. |
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 I Prefer a Beard
Posts: 1944
      
| My 8 year has the android tablet made for kids. It is bright orange and it has kid mode or you change it to regular mode. My inlaws bought it for him and I wasnt really excited about him having it at first but it's been fine. My husband put parental blocks on it and we limit his time on it. He uses it mostly to play a few games and does his math flash cards on it. |
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