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Kindle Fire for kids

Updated on August 21, 2014

Is Kindle Fire a good tablet for kids?

Are you thinking about buying Kindle Fire for kids and questioning whether it is a good electronic device for children? I completely understand your concerns. Video commercials provide just enough information to get your attention, and comprehensive product descriptions online might be confusing to say the least. Can you play games on the electronic device? Who makes it? Is it an Android Device? Does it have a camera? Are there parental controls to help adults monitor what children are exposed to on the tablet? Is the tablet easy to break? That's the kind of information you do need to know before handing a $200 device over to a toddler, a preschooler, or an elementary school-aged child. Here you will find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Kindle Fire HD for Kids. Do you have questions I haven't covered? Please feel free to leave your comments in the Guestbook at the bottom of this web page.

Photo Credit: Kindle Fire for Kids

Kindle Fire for kids Review

Kindle Fire at A Glance

Kindle Fire tablet was first introduced in November 2011 as an affordable Android tablet with Fast Internet Browser. Amazon's vision was to sell a high-quality tablet at a great price in order to increase digital product sales (Movies, Songs, Books, etc.). It turned out to be the perfect tablet for those who wanted a device comparable to Ipad but wasn't ready to pay the price of $500+ for a tablet.

Although Kindle Fire was not initially marketed as a "kids tablet", it became a popular gift for kids ages 7 and up. Parents who bought LeapPad and InnoTab tablets for their 7 and 8 year olds later realized that Kindle Fire Tablet was a far better long-term investment. When InnoTabs and LeapPads were selling for around $100-$150 a tablet, plus additional $20 per game, the Amazon tablet for around $200 turned out to be a great value. When compared to "little kids tablets", Kindle Fire had much more to offer - access to an abundance of Free Apps, an amazing MP3 player, fast internet browser, and access to Kindle Owners' Lending Library with Amazon Prime Membership. It was ready to play with straight out of the box with very little set-up required. But back in 2011, the first model of Kindle Fire lacked parental controls, and that was a cause of concern for some parents. The newer model of the device featured below is the best Kindle Fire for kids that is sure to please both, parents and children.

Kindle Fire HD 7 inch case and accessories

When shopping for a Kindle Fire HD case and accessories, be sure to check if they fit "Kindle Fire HD 7" model - not just Kindle Fire, new Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire 8.9", or Kindle Fire HDX - these are all different devices.

Kindle Fire HD Parental Controls

More power to the parents

So what makes the new Kindle Fire HD a good tablet for children? The new Kindle FreeTime service available for free on every Kindle Fire HD. Parents can now create kids' profiles on the device and decide what books, apps, games and videos each child can have access to. The controls are useful for parents who want to restrict access to certain categories - like video - while leaving unlimited time for reading and learning apps. When Kindle FreeTime is activated, the tablet's screen turns blue and the child only sees the content you want him or her to see, organized by categories in a carousel. Up to six individual child profiles can be created on one device. Kids can't exit Kindle FreeTime mode without a password. Be sure to watch the video below to learn more about the new great feature of new versions of Kindle Fire.

Kindle FreeTime service is Free and is not to be confused with KIndle FreeTime Unlimited - a paid monthly subscription that gives your child unlimited access to the most popular age-appropriate books, games, educational apps, movies and TV shows for a low monthly fee of $4.99 and up ($2.99 and up for Amazon Prime Members). The service is for kids ages 3 to 8.

Kindle FreeTime app comes pre-installed on the device. Simply Launch the app to get started with the set-up.

Does Kindle Fire HD break easily?

Durability and "Breakability" is certainly a point of concern when you hand a $200 electronic device over to a kid. That's why the new version of Kindle Fire HD is "built tough." According to Amazon, "Kindle Fire HD is designed to stand up to accidental bumps and scrapes. Our state-of-the art display is 20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic, so you can let your child play, without worry."

Want more protection for Kindle Fire HD Tablet?

OtterBox Defender Series Protective Case for Kindle Fire HD 7" (Previous Generation), Black (with built-in screen protection)
OtterBox Defender Series Protective Case for Kindle Fire HD 7" (Previous Generation), Black (with built-in screen protection)
Need more protection for your Kindle Fire HD? Get an OtterBox. Although a little pricey, Otterboxes are some of the best gadget cases available on the market. And if you are planning on letting a toddler use the tablet, Otterbox is a must have, just in case.
 

Video Apps for Kindle Fire HD

Please note that Netflix, PBS kids, Amazon Instant Video, and Kid Portal apps will only work when there is a Wi-Fi connection (paid subscription is also required for Netflix and Amazon Instant Video Apps). If you need videos to take on a road trip, you can buy cartoon episodes and movies or rent them for 48 hours. The movies you buy are yours to keep, the movies you rent will become unavailable 48 hours after you activate your rental. The purchase/ rental can be completed on Kindle Fire and movies can be instantly downloaded on to the tablet.

Amazon Instant Video for Kindle Fire HD - Amazon Prime Membership

Every Kindle Fire HD comes with a free 30-day Amazon Prime membership trial. So be sure to take advantage of the offer and see if Amazon Prime is right for you. What is Amazon Prime membership all about?

First of all, you get a free 2-day shipping on most items sold by Amazon (please note items sold by individual sellers through Amazon are not included - items eligible for free 2-day shipping will have Prime check-mark next to them). You can also share the Free 2-day shipping benefits with "up to 4 additional family members living in the same household, or up to 4 coworkers to shop for the related account."

Second, you get access to Amazon Instant Video and Kindle Owners' Lending Library (video and lending library benefits can't be shared). Amazon Instant Video is similar to Netflix Subscription. Hundreds of movies and TV episodes are available to watch for free (see a sample of movies you will be able to stream for free - featured below), and then you can also rent some of the newer releases for around $1.99 - $3.99 for 48-hour rental. As for Kindle Owner's Lending Library, you can borrow one book per month for free (thousands of titles are available), with no due dates.

Finally, if you are ready to give up your cable or simply would like to watch Amazon Instant Videos on your TV, you can invest into a Roku box (featured below) and use the Amazon Prime membership to watch movies both, on Kindle Fire and your TV.

If you are planning to sign up for the Kindle FreeTime Unlimited access to age-appropriate content on Kindle Fire HD for kids, Amazon Prime will also allow you to make the subscription more affordable.

Will you be buying a Kindle Fire tablet for your children?

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Other tablets for kids

Some of the other popular tablets for kids that are worth considering include LeapPad 2, InnoTab 2, Fuhu Nabi, Kurio, and Ipad or Ipad Mini. A LeapPad 2 or an InnoTab 2 is a good option for younger kids (please note that the tablets are toys without internet browsers, and free apps for them are pretty much non-existent). Fuhu Nabi and Kurio are Android tablets made for kids, but the reviews of the tablets are very mixed, and, in my opinion, Kindle Fire HD is a far better value. And as for Ipads, they are great, but obviously, expensive tablets. Kids do love them though :)

Best Tablet for kids

In your opinion, which tablet is the best tablet for kids?

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