Tablet help for special needs children

[snowbunnies300]

I have three DS's all with autism. They have iPads with their communication app (Proloquo2Go). Our problem is that they also have "fun" apps and YouTube on the iPads. Thus they don't see the iPad as their communication device but a play device. We want to buy inexpensive tablets that can play their music, watch YouTube and play game apps. With three special Need kiddos I just don't have a lot of time to research options.
Please share your tablet purchase(s). Any help you can provide is very much appreciated!

[blue]

Hi snowbunnies300. I do not know much about tablets, but my husband has been looking into them and has some suggestions. So, I will let him take the keyboard... On the really cheap end, Amazon's Fire 7 and Fire HD6 are hard to beat. The Fire 7 is only $50, and other than the low-end screen resolution (1024x600) is fairly well equipped for its price. Both tablets have Kids Edition version that is more expensive, but comes a durable bumper case, and a 2 year, replace it for any reason, no questions asked, warranty.

[happymommyof2]

We bought each of my kids (ages 5 and 7) the Amazon fire 7 for Christmas. We chose it because we can use the Amazon freetime app and it was only $45 (buy 5 get 1 free offer - we ordered with a friend).

From Amazon:
Limit screen time, so they don’t just play
With Amazon FreeTime, parents can set daily limits for tablet use, or restrict certain categories—like games and video—while leaving unlimited time for reading.

[snowbunnies300]

Thank you so much for the recommendations. I spent yesterday Christmas shopping and looking at tablets. It is frustrating that the cheaper tablets do not come with more protective cases. To get a tablet where I can add on an Otterbox case the price jumps up to $129.99-$250. I can get a mini iPad for around $200 (adding an Otterbox) and I won't have to pay for any new apps etc like I would with an Amazon Fire or Samson Galxey as we already have iPads. Sigh... So much for a cheap option. My boys are so tough on their iPads I feel like I would be throwing away $150 if I bought the Fires. I already get a discount as a repeat customer at the place that replaces our smashed iPad screens. And we have expensive protective cases on them!
One additional option is to go through our cel provider. We could get $250 tablets for $50 each, our bill would increase by $15 a month and we would get another gig for that $15. Ahhh if I could go back and NOT put anything on the iPads other then their communication all I WOULD!

[LBW]

Maybe look into cheaper cases? I have cases like these on our tablets. They're very durable and have protected the tablets even when they've been dropped. The handles are great for carrying and can also be used as a stand. The only negative is that they make the tablets big, which my kids don't mind.

[niccig]

I've never had to do this on an iPad, so I'm not sure how to do it, but I was told by an AAC specialist she would recommend guided access for a student I work with so he would be limited to the communication app on his ipad. Maybe it's in the settings of Proloquo or the iPad? It would mean you would have to turn off the guided access for them to use the tablet for something else, then turn it back on etc...just a thought.

[kristac]

We used guided access to lock into the communication app as well.

[NCGrandma]

Maybe look into cheaper cases? I have cases like these on our tablets. They're very durable and have protected the tablets even when they've been dropped. The handles are great for carrying and can also be used as a stand. The only negative is that they make the tablets big, which my kids don't mind.

My family has this one on an iPad and it is definitely DGD2-proof. Yes, it IS big, but it seems super-sturdy and is very easy for her to carry and use.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[o_mom]

Ds3 has an Asus MeMo tablet which works great and was not expensive. I researched by googling "best budget Android tablet" or something similar. We got a Bobj silicone case on Amazon for $23 that is as good as the high-end cases from my perspective (we have had Otterbox and Survivor cases). They have cases for most of the bigger brands of tablets.