https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 14:06:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablet-for-a-5-year-old#post-2921814 Sun, 03 Jan 2021 23:44:37 +0000 Grace 2921814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure if it’s cause I’m in Canada, but Audible is not available for my kindle. I was in such disbelief that Amazon would do that, that I contacted them. Was sure I was doing something wrong, but nope. Not available for kindle. I recommend you check which apps you want before purchasing and check that they are compatible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablet-for-a-5-year-old#post-2921731 Fri, 01 Jan 2021 09:32:30 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2921731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would not buy a fire tablet again. For battery life, screen lock, ease of downloading, longevity, etc etc etc absolutely an iPad mini if you can swing it. We just got a galaxy tab as a second option for my youngest because we’ve had nothing but issues with our two fire tablets. Not worth the low price tag. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablet-for-a-5-year-old#post-2921705 Thu, 31 Dec 2020 11:23:22 +0000 woodentulip 2921705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always just got ipads, as I didn't want to have to replace devices with any regularity. Our kids are still using their original ipads that are about 4 years old and use it for everything educational to entertainment. It will be needing replacement before too long, but we wanted a one and done device. (and note we are an all apple product family) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablet-for-a-5-year-old#post-2921699 Wed, 30 Dec 2020 20:01:58 +0000 lady baltimore 2921699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you for all of the reviews and recommendations! It sounds like we need to think a little more specifically about exactly what we want to be able to do, both short- and long-term, and then research compatibility. </p> <p>I will also look at the Samsung tablet, which I wasn't even aware was an option, so thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablet-for-a-5-year-old#post-2921695 Wed, 30 Dec 2020 15:06:28 +0000 MrsSRS 2921695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love our regular fire, but I don't think we can put Libby on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablet-for-a-5-year-old#post-2921692 Wed, 30 Dec 2020 10:35:16 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2921692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: agree with this 100%. If it's just for audio books/ ebooks the fire is fine. That's all we use it for. Actual apps a samsung is a good. Both of our devices are super old but they work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablet-for-a-5-year-old#post-2921691 Wed, 30 Dec 2020 09:40:12 +0000 HappyBaker 2921691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids (8 and 6) have had Kindle Fires with Freetime for a few years. We got them primarily to use during our 8 hour drives to visit their grandparents, so mainly wanted to be able to download movies, shows and games. I think they’re overkill for what you need and frankly hate the Kindle interface now that I’ve seen an alternative! My daughter has a Samsung Galaxy Tab A for school and I’d totally recommend that for your needs! It’s a similar interface to an iPad or iPhone, and the only apps on it are the ones you’ve explicitly added. Plus it supports all the zooming / webexing better than the Kindles we have. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablet-for-a-5-year-old#post-2921690 Wed, 30 Dec 2020 08:05:48 +0000 charm55 2921690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My girls both have Kindle Fires and it does everything we need them to do. I would get them again ! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablet-for-a-5-year-old#post-2921689 Wed, 30 Dec 2020 06:57:40 +0000 catgirl 2921689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD has a kindle fire tablet. She actually just got a new one because her old one was 4 years old and having a ton of issues. It does what we want it to do for the price. But it doesn't work with all apps. I'm also a apple product user so the fire really doesn't make sense to my brain :silly: . DH has a slightly easier time getting it set up and programed. It just doesn't feel intuitive to me. I do like Amazon Kids+ (formally freetime), the kids kindle come with one year free but it's pretty affordable after that. If you do decide to get one make sure you find a sale. Sales happen frequently so it would be a shame to pay full price. </p> <p>DD's school provides tablets for kids her age so all of her school apps are on her school iPad. So school apps aren't a concern for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablet-for-a-5-year-old#post-2921688 Wed, 30 Dec 2020 06:35:13 +0000 caitcat 2921688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have Kindle Fires for my 3 year old and almost 6-year old and I have mixed feelings about them...I loved the price point for what my kids were using them for originally. They've definitely served our purposes for the last couple years (audiobooks, limited video watching when we went on trips, a few basic handwriting apps), but we've had trouble getting them to play nice with some apps we wanted to use for homeschooling for kindergarten this year. We ended up getting a samsung galaxy tab a to use with our kindergartener. It's worked well for Epic (she reads a ton now!), still works well for audiobooks when she wants to listen, and works with the other handwriting/reading/math apps we're using. It seems like our schools provide tablets for kids, so I'm not sure we would have "needed" the upgrade if she'd been enrolled in school, but it's been a great switch for us for what we're doing for homeschooling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tablet-for-a-5-year-old#post-2921687 Tue, 29 Dec 2020 21:48:02 +0000 lady baltimore 2921687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our newly 5-year-old LOVES to listen to audiobooks. Since last summer, she has been doing so through Audible and Libby on an old cell phone of mine, but that phone is starting to be hard to charge. DH and I have been discussing what the best next option for her is. At the moment, we are not interested in introducing her to interactive apps or games - we only need a device for audiobooks and watching videos while we do her hair (likely Disney+ and PBS Kids). However, we are mindful that she will be in kindergarten next year, and may use certain educational apps for school, so it seems to make sense to to select something that will be able to accommodate that when the time comes.</p> <p>What do your children use for media at this age? My first instinct is to get one of the Kindle Fires for kids, as that should be easily compatible with Audible, but I have never owned a tablet, so I am coming into this fresh. Can anyone recommend for or against the Kindle Fire? Other comparable options? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine/page/2#post-2914725 Wed, 29 Apr 2020 17:02:59 +0000 periwinklebee 2914725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Daniel Tiger has been working great - thank you guys! I'm sure we'll need to try some of the other recommendations too as this goes on indefinitely... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine/page/2#post-2914619 Mon, 27 Apr 2020 09:43:17 +0000 Becky 2914619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally depends on the day. We have had some absolutely awful weather recently and they get a lot more those days. I’m pregnant and struggling with insomnia and low iron so the other day I just let them sit and watch kids YouTube for 2 hours while I slept. If it’s nice out they spend lots of time outside. I’d say they’re averaging 2-4 hours per day (not counting educational screen time). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine/page/2#post-2914618 Mon, 27 Apr 2020 08:23:22 +0000 Mommy Finger 2914618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My boys are 7 and almost 5. They get screen time in the morning from when they wake up until we start school time at 9. Yes, school work is on screens but it's educational! :) And then it's nothing until 1 hour at 3 if they've done their chores and other things. Then maybe a little before dinner. There are other random school zoom calls during the week. Friday night is always family movie night. And weekends are dependent on the family and the weather. We have to try to limit it as DS1 gets migraines and screen time is his main trigger. We got those blue light glasses and hopefully that helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914611 Sun, 26 Apr 2020 16:58:45 +0000 delight 2914611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: don’t feel bad. We are in the same boat. We are both working from home. DH is a teacher and I’m an SLP. I spend most of my day doing video speech therapy sessions. Our 3 and 6 year olds are on their screens for hours each day. I feel sick about it but we need to work and I can’t have them barging into my office when I’m doing therapy. </p> <p>We do outside activities daily as well and the 6 year old completes her school assignments when DS is napping. </p> <p>We are all just trying to survive! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914597 Sun, 26 Apr 2020 12:41:25 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2914597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Oreo: my oldest would sit to watch a show at 12 months and he watched a couple shows every single morning so I could shower etc. Do NOT feel bad. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914580 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 20:20:29 +0000 periwinklebee 2914580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: @Mrs. Champagne: @ilovepie: @DesertDreams88: Thank you so much for the suggestions!!!</p> <p>@Mrs. Oreo: Not at all, Sesame Street is educational! I'm pretty sure I watched it (and various other stuff) every single day as a kid, my mother never thought twice about it, and I turned out (arguably - hah hah) fine. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914574 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 18:24:43 +0000 DesertDreams88 2914574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee:<br /> youtube: little baby bums and Blippi<br /> Netflix: little baby bums, octonauts, masha and the bear, any animal shows </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914573 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 17:45:24 +0000 crazydoglady 2914573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Oreo: Why??? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914571 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 17:19:16 +0000 Mrs. Oreo 2914571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man. :shocked: My 15mo gets about an hour of Sesame Street in the AM since I need her to be quiet while I'm on a phone conference. DH is usually sleeping due to working overnight. </p> <p>I'm feeling like a total bonehead now. :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914563 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 15:20:45 +0000 ilovepie 2914563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: the only thing my 5 and 3 year olds watch is Shawn the Sheep (also on Amazon). They love it because it's silly, I love it because there's no talking so I don't worry about them learning words I don't want them to know yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914561 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 14:08:17 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2914561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: the first thing we ever got my daughter interested in is Blippi on YouTube. I think he’s great. It is the only thing my 21 month old will watch too (for maybe 10 mins. He’s insane). Give it a try! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914560 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 13:53:59 +0000 jhd 2914560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: my two year old has enjoyed @lady baltimore:’s suggestion! We just found the little kid episodes on YouTube now I need to check out the ones on prime. My big kid likes Go Noodle for getting energy out </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914559 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 13:39:44 +0000 periwinklebee 2914559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: @lady baltimore: @MrsSRS: @jhd: Thank you so much, these are great suggestions! </p> <p>Didn't realize so much was available through Prime, which I already have, so that's awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914558 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 13:31:20 +0000 lady baltimore 2914558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: Maybe try Cosmic Kids yoga? A season or two of episodes are included with Amazon Prime, and the presenter, Miss Jamie, tells a story to correspond with the series of yoga poses. That was the first thing my daughter watched regularly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914551 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 10:24:43 +0000 wrkbrk 2914551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don’t have an iPad or kindle and only one tv so it’s pretty well controlled by DW and me. That said - we are giving our four year old a lot more kid movie time now that we are both trying to work full days from home. I think I’ve bought 6 new movies to stream on amazon in 6 weeks!! 🤦🏻‍♀️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914550 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 10:23:01 +0000 MrsSRS 2914550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: what about Vooks? It's books in animated video format. A bit reminiscent of reading rainbow. My kids weren't into longer shows at that age either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914547 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 09:42:14 +0000 jhd 2914547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: have you tried any of the pbs kids shows? I have a newly 2 year old who loves Daniel Tiger and Sesame Street. He also enjoys Super Why.</p> <p>ETA we watch through Prime, the pbs kids app on our Apple TV or kindle, and have also purchased Daniel Tiger dvds from Target!</p> <p>I have never been super duper strict about screen time but I am stricter about what my children watch. Daniel Tiger is very calming to both my boys.</p> <p>Also Thomas the train? New épisodes on Netflix now </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914546 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 09:36:41 +0000 catgirl 2914546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: at that age the only show we let DD watch was Daniel tiger - and she loved it! (Still occasionally wants to watch it at five). We always watched it on Amazon prime, the first two seasons are still included with a prime membership. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screentime-during-quarantine#post-2914545 Sat, 25 Apr 2020 09:34:49 +0000 catgirl 2914545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Some days it’s our normal amount, which is 30-60 minutes. Some days it’s none. And some days it’s 5+ hours. Screen time is normally something I am super strict about but right now it just is what it is. Nothing about this is normal. And there are just some days we are all in a funk and want to zone out. </p>