Practically as soon as your kid can speak, they’ll be begging for a tablet. Portable, lightweight and stuffed with infinite entertainment, educational and creative activities, the tablet is now as much a part of the home as the TV or the computer, if not more so. So should you give your child a tablet? And if so, which one will suit them? Dr Amanda Gummer, child psychologist and founder of The Good Play Guide, comments: “It can be difficult to know when to get your child their own device but there are a few things to consider - if they are taking it out and about it needs to be light and durable - and don’t forget the case! “As large a screen as is practical will help youngsters, as their fine motor skills will not be as refined as older children. Also it’s worth considering a stand so they are not always hunched over their device. “The key thing is the parental controls and how easily you’re going to be able to keep your child safe. Also consider what apps you upload onto it - make sure there is a good amount of age-appropriate apps that encourage different skill development and retain their interest.” There is a wide variety of tablets available on the market, so to assess which one is best for you, you’ll need to take a few things into account. Firstly, your child’s age: some tablets are marketed to kids as young as three, though chances are your little one will want to get his or her hands on one well before that (whether you’ll want them to is up to you). Tablets marketed at younger children will likely have lots of appealing features, whether a durable bumper case, cartoon-themed software or a guarantee in case of breakages (likely with rambunctious youngsters). Many tablets will also have the ability to set parental controls, which vary: these could range from allowing you to set the times your children can play with the tablet, only letting them watch TV shows once educational goals have been met, or only permitting certain websites or apps to be used. If you’re buying for an older child, who’ll chiefly be using it for homework, games and entertainment, you may want to buy one that can add useful accessories such as a pen and and a keyboard. You will still be able to set parental controls, though we’d always advise regular chats about internet safety in addition too. How much should you spend? If you’re mainly using your iPad for your child to play games, watch videos and read books, you can go for a tablet on the cheaper end of the spectrum, while if you need something a bit more powerful to serve all the family, and with extra frills such as a keyboard or pen, you’ll likely spend a bit more. Whatever your budget, the age of your child and your priorities, you’ll find the best tablet for your family in our roundup. If you’re also looking for more gadgets to help your children with their study, check out our guide to best laptops and best bluetooth earbuds.