Meep and Vinci Tab II Best Kids Tablets for Christmas 2012?

We take a look at the new Meep, Vinci Tab II and some of the other best tablets for kids

Staff Report

MUNCIE, IN - If you are like most parents, there is a very good chance that you are tired of your small child sneaking your smartphone so they can play with it. Nevermind that a lot of young children know how to use devices like this better than their parents, you are probably ready to get them a tablet of their own. But which one?

The good news is that there are a lot of tablet computers designed just for kids. This can make it difficult to come up with which one is going to be the best, however. To help, we have a look at some of the best kids tablets for 2012. Generally most are designed from children age 3 years old to about 9 years old with some differences for each one.

VINCI Tab II M 5″ Touch Learning Tablet - Awesome but Expensive

Ages: 3 to 9 Years Old

There are a few different versions of this kids tablet out there, but you want to look at the Vinci Tab II, the latest generation. It comes in a 5″ or 7″ size and runs the Google Android OS. The one thing to note about this one is that it is the most expensive. Having said that, it is very well put together and has gotten many great reviews around the Internet.

The VINCI Tab II can be networked with other tablets which allows children to be able to play in groups. The newest version also has WiFi access, making it easy to get it online – with parental controls, of course.

Oregon Scientific MEEP Pad - New and Number Two on Our List

Ages: 6 to 10 years old

This is new and really hot for 2012 for good reason.It runs on the Android 4.0 operating system, which means you can get new apps for it (many free) from the Google Play store. This makes it a little different than most kids tablets because it is not a closed, proprietary system.

The MEEP! tablet is kidSAFE Certified, which is nice so you don’t have to worry so much.  From games to music to art to learning, there are a lot of different ways that the Meep really excels. Overall, it’s our number one recommended kids tablet this year.

Fisher Price iXL - Cheap but not Very Expandable

3 to 7 Years Old

This comes with built-in software. You get a Digital Reader, Game Player, Note Pad, Art Studio, MP3 Player and Photo Viewer. This is going to be more than enough for some children – especially for a first tablet.  The Fisher Price iXL is made from durable plastic and holds up well even for younger children.

Additional iXL features include an SD slot for more memory (built-in memory is up to 150 MB), and a standard headphone jack for long car rides! Unlike some of the other tablets, this one is really inexpensive because it doesn’t do as much as some of the tablets based on Google’s Android operating system.

Vtech InnoTab 2 - Good Midrange Choice and Balance Between Price / Features

Ages: 4 to 9 Years of Age

The original Vtech InnoTab was popular with a lot of children, but the new Vtech InnoTab II this year is even better. This kids tablet is really good if your child is into games and gaming. It comes with a digital camera, video camera, photo viewer, video player, MP3 music player, e-reader, art studio, plenty of games, and a microphone.

The tablet has 2GB of onboard memory with an expandable SD card slot if you need more. It is designed with nice, thick rubber corners all the way around so that if your child does drop it, there’s not much damage they can do.

LeapFrog LeapPad2 Explorer

Ages: 3 to 9 Years of Age

Available for around $100, this is a tablet from a company that has been making educational toys and games for children for quite a while. There is a library of over 300 hundred  cartridges and downloadable apps. These include games, videos, music, as well as apps for creativity.

Requires 4 AA batteries (which are not included) although you can (and should) get the charger so you don’t burn through a lot of batteries.  The basic tablet comes with five apps installed, but you can get more online or by buying special Leappad cartridges. This tablet is very versatile and a lot of fun for children.

Best Kids Tablet Breakdown

Here is a further breakdown of the various kids tablets that we have looked at.

See more at Top Toys Blog.