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Several years ago, if you had asked me when my kids would have their first tablet, I would have easily guessed an age with double digits. I grew up in the 80’s…a decade characterized by the advent of groundbreaking technologies like the Sony Walkman, Nintendo’s first Entertainment System, and Apple’s first PC. And yet even with Atari’s first tablet-like product hinting at the possibility, it was a simpler time where kids played outside and the pace was just a bit slower. Technology has permeated so many facets of our lives, and unless I think really purposefully about what it was like to be away from home without a smartphone, I simply can’t imagine completing my work and home responsibilities without it. My kids are already more tech savvy than I was at their age and I can see the educational and practical benefits of spending some amount of time with carefully selected apps and programs as technology continues to be weaved into their school education.
Once again, technology topped both of their lists this year as the newest innovations in gaming, toys, and devices were introduced right before the holiday season. Likewise, tablets continue to top everyone’s lists this year and with so many models available from competing brands, how do you go about choosing the right one for your friends and family? Whether you have a preschooler who’s just starting to engage with digital content or a college-aged student in need of a tablet that can assist in their personal and professional goals, Walmart has a tablet for everyone on your list!
For the Preschool-Aged Child:
When my daughter discovered Sprout, it became the only channel on during our TV time. Classics like Sesame Street and Thomas & Friends are presented alongside newer, trendier shows like Stella and Sam and Astroblast. Designed for children ages 2-6, Sprout introduced the Sprout Channel Cubby tablet this Fall, available exclusively at Walmart. At just under $100, this tablet is the perfect starter device for even young tots because of its shape, size, and durability.
For the price, this tablet packs much in the way of value. The Sprout Channel Cubby tablet comes preloaded with 40 full episodes of preschooler’s favorite shows, 28 music videos, and 6 songs. The tablet also includes 28 “Sprout Recommended” apps that will give them access to coloring pages, educational games, read-along-books, crafts, recipes and more. Technically speaking, it also includes features you would find in a conventional Android-based tablet such as a built-in Wi-Fi, bluetooth capabilities, 16 GB of memory with the option of expanding that capacity up to 32 GB with a MicroSD card, dual cameras, and HDMI mirroring (which enables you to connect the tablet to your TV). It’s durable design is complimented by a silicone bumper which doubles as a stand.
Perhaps the single most compelling feature of this tablet outside of the price is the parental controls. Parents can set time limits and restrict content via the Parental Dashboard. The Sprout Channel Cubby tablet also features a child-safe web browser and it is kidSAFE+ certified, so parents can feel comfortable allowing even the youngest of tots explore and engage with the content available. It should be noted that this tablet can also be used as a conventional Android tablet via a password-protected parent mode.
For the Older Child:
For older children looking for enhanced capabilities and functionalities, the nabi DreamTab is my tablet of choice. It features some of the tightest parental controls while giving children seemingly endless freedom to engage and create. Also Android-based, this tablet was created in partnership with DreamWorks Animation and thus includes experiences you won’t find in any other tablet. My favorite feature of this tablet is the Dream Pro Studio, where children can learn to draw, animate, author their own books, and edit movies. The tablet even comes with a “Dream Pen” to give children enhanced precision while creating and through Creativity Island, kids can learn to draw from a real DreamWorks animator. This tablet goes beyond “entertaining” children and seeks to educate, engage, and inspire them to explore their own creativity.
Many parents (myself included) prioritize education as a prerequisite for purchasing devices like tablets. Beyond just providing access to educational games and apps, the DreamTab is equipped with an advanced adaptive learning system called Wings. The system adapts to the skill and proficiency of your child in subjects like math, reading and writing AND is aligned with Common Core State Standards. Parents can receive real-time analytics about their childrens’ progress through the parent mode.
School-aged children like my son, begin to discover that they can communicate with their friends outside of school with the touch of a button. Rather than hinder the development of those relationships, nabi Konnect introduces children to social networking in a safe environment created and managed by parents. Through nabi Konnect, kids can email and share photos solely with friends and family members approved by their parents.
This type of access to digital content and social networking can be daunting for parents striving to be involved and knowledgeable about what their children are doing online. nabi Time Controls allow parents to set daily screen time limits. But beyond just control of how much time a child is spending on this tablet, parents can teach their kids responsibility by creating rules that allow them to earn extra screen time. And soon, Fuhu, the creators of the DreamTab, will launch the nabiGator app which will give parents the ability to manage and monitor their childrens’ device usage remotely.
Featuring Wi-Fi connectivity, bluetooth capability, GPS, dual cameras, and 16 GB of expandable memory, nabi’s DreamTab is the world’s first Android tablet built specifically for kids. It doubles as a conventional Android tablet in parent mode but features technology unmatched in any kid or adult tablet on the market. You can purchase the nabi DreamTab at Walmart for $199.99.
For Teens and College-Aged Students:
Teens and college-aged students looking to stay connected will absolutely love the new Trio AXS 4G Tablet because it is one of the only tablets on the market that comes with free, lifetime T-Mobile data. As I mentioned earlier, each of us has our own tablets, none of which have any data plans attached to them. Because we pay for cellular service, I have never been able to justify such an expense, but that means we are limited by our Wi-Fi capabilities. Free monthly data (up to 200 M) is a fantastic incentive for purchasing this tablet plus there is no annual contract!
Currently available at Walmart for $149, this Android-based tablet is Wi-Fi enabled and features bluetooth connectivity, dual cameras, 16 GB of expandable memory, 6 hours of battery life, GPS and FM radio. Apps, music, books, games, and video can be downloaded via Google Play.
For Him and Her:
One of the main reasons why I still travel with a full-sized laptop is the limited capabilities of my tablets. Checking email and browsing the web is easy enough with a touchscreen device, but doing anything beyond that becomes a challenge. The brand new Nextbook 2-in-1 Windows tablet is a game changer in this space with its included detachable keyboard and a free one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal with 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage.
As the name suggests, this 2-in-1 device seeks to double as both a tablet and a small laptop. During the day, you can use the detachable, foldable keyboard to work on Excel spreadsheets, create and write reports in Word, check and respond to emails in Outlook, and work on presentations in PowerPoint. While traveling or during leisure time, you can use the touchscreen to surf the web, play games, stream videos, video chat and more.
The Nextbook 2-in-1 Windows Tablet retails for $179 at Walmart, which is an incredible deal given its dual-function capabilities. The tablet features a Quad-Core Intel Processor, 1 GB of system memory (32 GB on-board storage memory) and the option of expanding up to 64GB, built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth capability, dual cameras, and Microsoft 8.1 OS.
Whether you’re looking for a multi-purpose tablet for a friend or family member, or simply want a full-function device you can travel with, the Nextbook 2-in-1 Windows Tablet is an innovative, affordable option.
You can see Walmart’s extensive selection of tablets online or in-stores.
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