2 birds one stone :)

cjgardens · 17 Nov 2021 at 17:26

Hey

So, with black Friday coming up I'm looking to get my 4 year old a tablet.

I think £150ish is reasonable amout? What would you guys recommend for that sort of money?

Next one, recommendation for a radio app? I used to use TuneIn many years ago but it's a subscription now. Anything that's good that's like having DAB in the car?

Thanks for any input

BigBoy · 17 Nov 2021 at 22:09

Get an Amazon kids tablet, it's the only one you will have full control over as an adult.

All 4 of my kids have had them (eldest is not 16 youngest is 3) and the parent Portal allows you to set access times, work requirements and restrict web/app store access (so no unknown buying or hidden costs). The first year of Amazon kids is included in the purchase as is a 2 year anything happens insurance that will replace the tablet like for like no matter what.

If you have prime then Amazon kids is extended for the life of your prime membership.

The tablets interface is specifically designed to make it easy for kids to see what they want and for you as the adult to make it happen. The interface also grows with the child so becomes more grown up looking and interface similar to normal android to break them into more adult surroundings. On the plus side the tablet can be used by an adult in adult/parent mode as a fully fledged Amazon tablet.

For kids it's a no brainer. We picked up all of ours during Black Friday over the last 10 years or so. Price usually drops by £35-50 check camelcamelcamel for a rough idea. We have also found the 8 inch version with bump case to be the best size for small hands.

BigBoy · 17 Nov 2021 at 22:10

As for radio, what stations do you listen to? The BBC Sounds app is great (we use it a lot) other than that each station usually has its own app or web service.

kration · 18 Nov 2021 at 09:11

I've got the Radio Garden app on my phone after it was recommended to me. I tend to rely on BBC Sounds, so haven't used Radio Garden much. But it does seem to have a big selection of independent radio stations from around the world.

Haze · 18 Nov 2021 at 09:49

Don't forget cyber Mon

SixTwoSix · 19 Nov 2021 at 08:01

BigBoy said:
Get an Amazon kids tablet, it's the only one you will have full control over as an adult.

All 4 of my kids have had them (eldest is not 16 youngest is 3) and the parent Portal allows you to set access times, work requirements and restrict web/app store access (so no unknown buying or hidden costs). The first year of Amazon kids is included in the purchase as is a 2 year anything happens insurance that will replace the tablet like for like no matter what.

If you have prime then Amazon kids is extended for the life of your prime membership.

The tablets interface is specifically designed to make it easy for kids to see what they want and for you as the adult to make it happen. The interface also grows with the child so becomes more grown up looking and interface similar to normal android to break them into more adult surroundings. On the plus side the tablet can be used by an adult in adult/parent mode as a fully fledged Amazon tablet.

For kids it's a no brainer. We picked up all of ours during Black Friday over the last 10 years or so. Price usually drops by £35-50 check camelcamelcamel for a rough idea. We have also found the 8 inch version with bump case to be the best size for small hands.

Just grabbed the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro for £110, missed it by 2 days last year. Lad is 5 in May and currently using a 9 year old Nexus 7 that is horridly slow.

cjgardens · 19 Nov 2021 at 19:46

Thanks for the recommendation's I'll look into the fire HD.

cjgardens · 19 Nov 2021 at 19:49

kration said:
I've got the Radio Garden app on my phone after it was recommended to me. I tend to rely on BBC Sounds, so haven't used Radio Garden much. But it does seem to have a big selection of independent radio stations from around the world.

I'll try both of them Monday. Cheers

teenwolf · 19 Nov 2021 at 20:03

4 year old a tablet ?
Surely at that age your prepping for pre school must be better options than tech

cjgardens · 20 Nov 2021 at 07:53

teenwolf said:
4 year old a tablet ?
Surely at that age your prepping for pre school must be better options than tech

It's 2021, most kids have them. As long as he's not on it 24/7 then I see no wrong. Plenty on learning apps you can get to.

cjgardens · 20 Nov 2021 at 08:09

Just about to buy the Amazon hd 10 kids pro and it's saying delivery is Jan 22nd.

Any more recommendations?

Radio garden is exactly what I was looking for, thanks chaps!

EDIT: found it at Curry's, £74.99 with code FREENEXTDAYDELIVERY

BigBoy · 20 Nov 2021 at 12:08

Wait until black Friday/cyber Monday and the price will be £50-70 less

cjgardens · 20 Nov 2021 at 17:19

BigBoy said:
Wait until black Friday/cyber Monday and the price will be £50-70 less

Not going to drop to £5, surly ?

I think it's already dropped as much as it will do going off previous prices

BigBoy · 20 Nov 2021 at 19:18

Didn't realise they had already reduced them :cry:

SixTwoSix · 22 Nov 2021 at 12:20

teenwolf said:
4 year old a tablet ?
Surely at that age your prepping for pre school must be better options than tech

A lot of the educational apps are very good. Sure if you're just plonking your kid in front of netflix for hours on end, it's not great but used in the right way, a tablet can really develop learning a lot.

cjgardens · 24 Nov 2021 at 19:40

SixTwoSix said:
A lot of the educational apps are very good. Sure if you're just plonking your kid in front of netflix for hours on end, it's not great but used in the right way, a tablet can really develop learning a lot.

Even a short time when it's wind down time, watch a film and nod off. Or on a long car journey. They do get addictive, my older son is never off his PC,and that's my fault. So lesson learnt,I'll limit my younger son.