Marie's Sharebook 

If you have a toddler that’s into tech (what toddler isn’t?) then you should consider giving them their own gadget. Even if most parents complain that during their childhood they had nothing more advanced than a complete art set, today’s digital age advances so rapidly that it would be irrespomsible of you not to let your child participate.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to give your child the most advanced or current device and software. This just means that you need to prepare your child for what’s out there in their own generation. Giving them a gadget and some responsibility with its care and use is one thing they may be able to do at an early age. If you think that giving your child a device is a good decision, here are some you may want to consider:

1.       LeapPad

This is a tablet designed specifically for kids with native apps for most toddlers. You can get one for around $200. It comes with three pre-installed apps and a charger. You may notice that the screen size is small relative to the actual dimensions of the device. The device may be dropped and battered, especially with toddlers. The design of the device accounts for the grip of small hands and a few bumps and drops. Still, any device must be handle with care. You can get more apps for the LeapPad by purchasing app storage devices or cards from toy stores. For the price and what it does, it’s quite expensive and plays only on the tested brand of LeapFrog. If you’re looking for a decent touch screen device for your child, you may be better off with a cheap Android tablet instead.

2.       Media player

If you just want a way for your child to watch shows in the car or by himself, then you should get them a portable media player. These are much cheaper than tablet PCs since all they can do is view pictures, surf the net and play videos. They can’t run mobile applications except the ones that have been installed by the manufacturers. You can rip shows from their CDs or download from the internet to transfer to the device.

3.       Android tablet

If you want a portable media player that can run mobile apps, then you can get an Android tablet. It’s more expensive than a portable media player since it runs mobile apps. Take note that you can use these apps to play games and teach your child about pre-school activities and subjects such as letters, numbers and shapes. You can also use the device yourself for multi-tasking, managing a virtual office and reading books.

4.       iPad

If you want something easier to use than an Android tablet, consider acquiring an iPad. It’s great for toddlers because they can use it quite easily. Learning the controls is fun and the UI is very intuitive. It’s a better choice than an Android tablet if you’re looking for something that your child can understand.