Best Kids Full-Featured Tablet: Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition

Disclosure:  I was provide with a sample for the purposes of review.  All thoughts and excitement are my own.  Links included in this post are affiliate.

Your kids are ready for a tablet and with so many options out there the hunt begins. There’s price to consider, features, ease of use, and the all important parental controls.  But which tablet to choose?  This guide will help you navigate through those important questions and highlight why the Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition is my top pick for the price. 

Price

How much a tablet costs is more than just the unit itself.  The cost of a kid-proof case can tack on an additional $20-100.  It’s important to protect that investment, but what happens when it breaks.  A protection plan will provide you with peace of mind.  Then comes content.  With most tablets you’ll have to load it with content at cost ($.99-$15.99), YIKES!

The Amazon Fire Kids edition starts at  just $149, comes with a protective bumper case, 1 year Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, and a 2-year worry free guarantee.

Ruggedness

What kind of case should I get?

This question depends on the type of tablet.  Most are equipped with a shatterproof display like Gorilla Glass.  Your case should protect the edges, corners, and screen.  A good case or bumper will absorb shock on impact as well.

The Amazon Fire Kids comes with a kid-proof case equipped to take drops, bangs, and anything life throws at it.  Amazon understands that sometimes things happen so they offer a 2-year worry-free guarantee with all new kids edition tablets.  If they break it, return it and get a replacement for free!

Parental Controls 

• Usage limits- Set a total time limit (1 hr/day) or limit how much time they can spend on apps, videos, and books.  We leave books at unlimited to encourage reading.  
• Educational goals- FreeTime allows you to set the device to require all educational goals to be met before entertainment content is accessible.
• Content access- Set a “bedtime” to limit when your kids can actually log onto the device.  During those hours FreeTime profiles will not be available.

• Color coded profiles makes it easy to see from across the room.  Blue for younger kiddos and black for the older crowd.  A lock code is needed to enter into a parent profile.
  • 8 and under – A FreeTime profile that locks the tablet to portrait orientation.   
  • Teen Profile – A fully functional FreeTime profile with the look and feel of a Fire Tablet.  Time limits and educational goals are still accessible in this mode.

Features

• front and rear cameras
• Dolby Audio
• multiple profiles

FreeTime Unlimited is an additional feature that provides your children access to 1,000 of apps, videos, and books.  With new purchases 1 year access is provided.  After the initial trial period FreeTime Unlimited can be accessed with a paid subscription starting at just $2.99/month with PRIME.

Books- A fantastic selection of fiction, non-fiction, and board books.

• Sandra Boynton
• Easy Readers
• Disney
• …and 100’s more

Apps- Carefully curated app library with a great selection of educational content.  Many of the great apps found on Android and Apple devices.

• Toca Boca
• Disney
• PBS

Videos-  Your kids can find their favorite characters and Amazon Original shows.

• Thomas the Tank Engine
• PBS
• Dora the Explorer
• Sesame Street

full-featured Fire HD tablet-  This is an Amazon Fire HD boxed ready to use as a family and kid friendly tablet.  Enter into parent mode to access these great reading resources.

• x-ray- Key information (plot, characters, terms) 

• Whispersync- Add the audio companion to a text to enjoy 
• text to speech- Allows you to have the story or story elements read aloud.  A fantastic feature for pronouncing difficult and unfamiliar words.

• Word Wise- show hints above challenging words

Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition retails starting at $149.  Grab a 7″ for an additional $40 or double the storage space for $20.  As a household that owns several tablets targeted at kids the Amazon Fire HD is a favorite for the price and features!

Checkout my full video review below to see the features in action.