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The Independent
15-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
The best kids' tablets for homework, gaming and more
While there are plenty of tablets for adults on the market, models aimed at children have come a long way, too. In 2025, they can be powerful, playful and genuinely educational tools, when chosen and used with care. According to Ofcom, three-quarters of five- to seven-year-olds use a tablet or computer, and device use climbs steadily with age – more than half of 12- to 15-year-olds have their own. It's no surprise: tablets aren't just entertaining, they're also educational. Studies show that, when used with structure and intention, tablets can support early language skills, phonics and letter recognition, and help build a digital fluency that will be essential in later life. We spoke to Dr Tracy King, a clinical psychologist, to understand how to approach screen time with intention. 'Tablets aren't inherently harmful – in fact, they can be valuable tools for learning and connection, when used with care,' she says. 'But without structure and support, they can easily become overstimulating for young, developing nervous systems.' When it comes to choosing the right tablet for your kids, Dr King suggests prioritising intuitive parental controls, offline capabilities and a child-proof design. 'Screens aren't the enemy but children need structure, relational engagement and regular movement to balance their digital experiences,' she adds. With all that in mind, we spent weeks testing a range of tablets before whittling it down to the top eight. Our favourite – Amazon's Fire HD 8 kids pro (£149.99, – is easy to set up, durable, has parenting controls and brilliant battery life – all markers of a great kids' tablet. We've also found options for every age group and a range of uses, whether you want to encourage creativity or help them knuckle down with homework. Keep scrolling to find out which kids' tablets impressed us the most after we put several models through their paces. How we tested We put a range of tablets for children to the test across real-life scenarios – from quiet solo play to chaotic family travel. Devices were used by children aged 3-15, with input from their parents, guardians and (in some cases) tech-savvy older siblings. When testing, we considered many key factors, including: Ease of use: Kids' tablets need to be intuitive and frustration-free for younger users. We looked for simple, responsive interfaces and age-appropriate navigation. Tablets that offered smooth performance, well-organised menus, and quick access to educational apps scored higher in this category. Ultimately, a device that's easy to use helps children stay engaged and learn independently, while giving parents peace of mind. Durability: This was a crucial consideration, as kids' tablets must withstand the rough handling that often comes with young users. We evaluated how well each device held up to drops, bumps, and spills, looking for features like reinforced corners, shatter-resistant screens, and protective cases. Battery life: Children often use tablets for extended periods, whether for learning, entertainment, or travel. So, we tested how long each device could run on a single charge during typical use, including streaming, gaming, and app usage. We were looking for tablets that delivered all-day performance without needing frequent recharging. Parental controls: Parental controls help ensure a safe and age-appropriate experience for kids. We assessed how easy it was for parents to set screen time limits, filter content, monitor usage, and manage app access. Tablets with comprehensive, easy-to-navigate control settings and robust security features earned top marks. Educational value: Here, we looked at the quality and range of preloaded educational apps, access to age-appropriate content, and how well the device encouraged skill-building in areas like reading, math, science, and creativity. Value for money: We also considered value for money, which is especially important when you're buying big tech for tiny hands. We looked at what each device offered in terms of features, durability, educational content, and included accessories (like protective cases or styluses) relative to its price. Devices that could grow with the child, offering adaptable settings, access to more advanced apps, and compatibility with school-related tools as they age, scored highest. Why you can trust IndyBest reviews With a focus on products aimed at parents and children, Ella Delancey Jones is a regular tester for The Independent 's IndyBest reviews section, having written about everything from sunscreen for kids to pregnancy pillows. Every product Ella puts through its paces is tested in real-life, family conditions, and nothing is recommended unless it has genuinely earned its place. This guide reflects personal testing, expert insight and lived experience of tablet use across a range of family setups. The best tablets for kids in 2025 are:
Forbes
23-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How To Cope With The Daily Distraction Deluge
New Microsoft data reveals a seemingly infinite work day, as well as interruptions every two ... More minutes. An interruption every two minutes, a deluge of 270 daily messages and emails, and the most valuable and productive hours of the day lost to mostly impromptu meetings. That's the state of workplaces today according to new data from Microsoft. It also shows that half of meetings take place during hours coinciding with natural productivity spikes driven by our circadian rhythms, when we should be focused on creative, deep work instead of, presumably, talking about it. Dr Tracy King, a clinical psychologist who consults with businesses on workplace wellbeing, and regularly conducts workplace needs assessments for employees, says she sees the hidden cost of constant digital disruption every day. 'It's not just about lost time, it's about lost self-trust, increased overwhelm, and a nervous system that never gets to fully settle,' she says. 'People describe a sense of being 'pulled out of themselves' before they can even complete a thought.' Over time, says King, this creates a fragmentation of focus, a depletion of emotional resources, and a disconnection from purpose. For neurodivergent employees, or those recovering from trauma or burnout, this can be especially destabilizing. Being interrupted every couple of minutes isn't just frustrating, it is deeply exhausting because it triggers micro stress responses that can lead to anxiety, burnout, and a lingering sense of underachievement, even after a busy day, says business coach Jo Irving. She adds: 'The real cost is not just lost minutes, it is lost momentum. When you never get to finish a thought, your work becomes shallow and your confidence can quietly suffer.' It's little wonder that, in a survey, 48% of employees and 52% of leaders described their work as feeling chaotic and fragmented. Also concerning is how work is creeping into supposed downtime. The data points to a steady rise in after-hours activity with chats sent outside the standard nine to five workday up 15% year on year, meetings after 8PM up 16%–driven by global and flexible teams–and more employees checking their inboxes late into the evenings. The tech maker concludes this points to a larger truth: that the modern workday for many has no clear start or finish. Those who've tried muting notifications and practising time management methods with good intentions will know they don't always go far enough and may be unsustainable, depending on culture and team dynamics. Instead, King wants more people to understand what constant interruptions do to their biology and learn how to re-regulate after disruptions rather than try to avoid them. She explains: 'Focus is a nervous system state, not just a mindset. Cortisol is your body's primary stress hormone. When you're constantly interrupted, your brain perceives this as a mild but continuous threat and cortisol levels rise.' The toll can be wide-reaching. 'If employees are constantly in fight-or-flight triggered by endless pings, unrealistic demands, or pressure to multitask, they can't engage socially. Team connection breaks down. People become irritable, withdrawn, or hyper-independent. Morale drops, then motivation, and finally, productivity and retention,' warns King. Over time, elevated cortisol impacts cognitive function by disrupting memory formation, reducing attention span, slowing decision making and inhibiting flexible thinking and empathy. 'You may still get things done, but you're doing them reactively, not reflectively,' she adds. While the effect on individuals can be huge, there's also knock-on effects to the business to consider. Dan Franklin, chief strategy officer at investment company Handl Group says: 'For leadership teams especially, it's not just about the minutes lost, but the impact on the kind of deep thinking time needed for quality decision-making and long-term strategy. If leaders are constantly in triage mode, then their big picture judgment suffers, which ultimately affects the business.' So what can be done? Franklin suggests business culture needs to change to allow time for uninterrupted focus. 'It could mean redesigning the working week to allow specific blocks of time to be allocated for deeper, strategic work. Or having a clear method for employees to indicate in calendars and internal communication systems that they are unavailable for a set amount of time,' he says. King recommends a simple one-minute self-regulation exercise. Every 90 minutes, take 60 seconds to stand or sit near a window or open space, gaze softly at the furthest point you can see—the horizon, a tree line, rooftops–let your eyes relax, and breathe slowly, ideally through your nose. 'This shifts your visual system out of tunnel vision–a stress response–and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which restores calm and focus. It tells your brain, 'I'm safe, I can slow down.' Regulated people are more productive people, not because they're doing more, but because they're doing it with clarity, calm, and connection.' Irving suggests exploring practical methods such as time blocking focused work sessions and clearly communicating availability to colleagues, single tasking instead of multitasking and building in mindful transitions between meetings to breathe, stretch, or reset attention. She explains: 'Productivity is not about pushing harder. It is about working with intention. When energy is protected, work feels less overwhelming and more purposeful and performance naturally improves.'
