Do I need a Digital Camera for a Preteen?

The advent of the tablet computer and the smartphone has allowed many of us to ditch gadgets that we used to depend on for communications, recording important moments, and managing our lives. I remember my Dad lugging a huge video camera to my high school graduation so that he could record my speech. Today, we carry video and digital cameras with our smartphones, and many of our preteens and teens do the same. A digital camera for a preteen may be more of a luxury than a necessity, and it may even be an inconvenience. However, you may find that a tween's interest in photography on a smartphone leads to a desire for better quality in the photos taken.

Check out the colors and pricing, watching for great deals during the holiday season and as tech updates occur.

If you are looking for an entry-level digital camera for a tween, I really like Nikon CoolPix because it is easy to manage and older versions tend to be very affordable. My daughter was a tween when she got her 10 MP version, and two years later, I picked my 12 MP version up at the same price that hers cost previously. The model pictured above is listed in the $140 range, but can be found on sale at $90 or less. Available in tween-friendly colors, the device is a great option, many megapixels stronger than my version from a year ago.

If you select a digital camera for your middle schooler, be sure to find a manageable case and to consider a protection plan as this can be a time of tech casualties as tweens go through many physical and emotional changes.

Cheap Tween Tablets in 2014

I love the impact a few years of use can have on a technology medium, especially when I'm shopping for my tweens. The iPad definitely struck a cord at the time of its release, but as smartphone action has taught us, wait a couple of years, and pricing will equalize. You may still have to pay a pretty penny for the latest option, but you can get an acceptable older version at a fraction of its original price. This year's best cheap tween tablets in 2014 are not merely inferior versions of the primo tablets, they are high-quality variations or earlier versions of popular brands' offerings.

iPad Mini

With the iPad mini now priced in the $250 range, it is a manageable alternative to the traditional cheap laptop and much more desired than the netbook of many years ago. If you have the funding, this is an excellent option for the tween who loves a variety of content, who has a significant collection of iTunes content, and who has a creative spirit. Put that tween to work making videos, photo collages, and music samples with iMovie, various photo apps, and Garage Band. Movies, books, and music abound. Free game apps are fantastic money savers over the life of a system, making this a great alternative to a handheld gaming system with just one or two games.


Kindle Fire HD 6

I picked one of these up right away. I've been wanting a cheap but quality tablet for the kids to use for reinforcing educational concepts. They have taken to the device easily, and it is very easy to navigate and understand. The unit feels sturdy, but I do recommend a protection plan for kid-related tech tools so that you don't end up having an unfortunate loss of function due to a drop or spill. Also, protective gear is wise.

I like the ease of browsing the Amazon app store online and being able to load content to the Kindle Fire. The size of the unit is not harsh on the eyes like an iPod or smartphone. The kids love being able to take turns, and I love the ability to integrate content through Kindle Free Time. If you want to invest in a bigger tablet, the larger Fire tablets for tweens are great choices.  Check out the full line of Kindle tablets here, and remember to keep your eyes out during Black Friday activities and through the holiday season as special deals seem to come throughout the season.

Outstanding Updates for Tweens and Teens - The Next Kindle Fire Generation

Tween Tablets - The Latest Kindle Fire Family of Products

If you haven't yet invested in a tablet for your tween or teenage child, this may be the best year yet to get into the market.  Pricing continues to become more manageable while quality improves.  Last year's Kindle Fire HD was priced at $200, making it a great alternative to the iPod touch family.  Today, the newest versions carry significantly lower pricing at just $139 for that same HD product.  Meanwhile, the larger Kindle tablets have also become more affordable, ensuring more access for those who have been thrown by the costs of these portable computer/entertainment devices.

My adult daughter received her Kindle e-reader while she was in her teens, and she loves it.  The Fire is a great option for upgrading if your young person loves reading as this is factored into the design of the Kindle Fire Tablet interface.  Pricing is so close that I can see the Fire as the better choice if you are looking for a great gift for the avid reader in your family.

My teenage daughter has a basic Kindle ereader as well, and she loves to use it.  If you need a cheaper holiday gift, the basic version (Kindle, 6" E Ink Display, Wi-Fi - Includes Special Offers (Black)) is only $69 and provides lots of free and cheap content.  As a parent with children who love to use a smartphone when an adult shares, the Kindle Fire provides a more soothing option for the eyes.  My own eyes struggle with the limited font sizes of a phone, and I'm thinking about the sensibility of the new Kindle tablets for my own needs.  Pricing makes this a great possibility for many during the coming holiday season.  Preordering begins in October, making it the perfect time to start working on your holiday shopping list.  Compare the Kindle Family here.

Cheap Tablets for Preteens and Kids in 2013

Cheap Tablets for Tweens 2013

I tend to wait on some tech products for my kids until the newness in the market wears off.  There are a couple of reasons for this.  First, competition from various manufacturers goes to work, leading to better features, greater reliability and often, lower prices.  Secondly, the availability of cool gadgets doesn't always match my budget.  While the tablet craze is perhaps not as exciting as it was at the introduction of the iPad, it's definitely a medium that seems like it will stick around.  The good news is that there are some much better options in the lower pricing ranges today.  In fact, I won't be surprised if the 2013 Black Friday tablet deals are some of the best yet.  Right now, you can find some low end options in the $50 to $60 range, and I expect that this will continue.

I also won't be surprised if there are important updates to existing options in the fall.  I learned my lesson last year when I couldn't get the model of Kindle my daughter wanted for her October birthday because of problems with supplies.  A couple of search tips worth noting, especially if you are looking for new but cheap tablet options during the year.  If you begin with a basic Amazon search in electronics, make sure you use the refinement tools on the side of the page to denote price range.  While it's easy to leave the low end set at $0, you should bump it up to something a little more reasonable.  Otherwise, you'll wade through a lot of accessories and things that aren't tablets.  You can also limit your search by tablet size (in this result for Tween Tablets, I limited the search to tablets from $30 to $100 and selected 6 to 7 inch results).  You can refine further to check out your faves by how many GB, etc.

Best Tablets for Tweens in 2013

The 2012 tablet season was rather exciting, especially with the expansion of the Kindle Fire family and the development of the iPad mini.  As 2013 unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the big players in the tablet market continue in their struggle for dominance.

My observations based on 2012 trends include the fact that the Kindle family really makes the touchscreen technology accessible to the family.  I find friends and their children using various elements of the collection for everything from reading to game playing.  I love Amazon's content, and the ability to take that material with me to different devices.  Child's play is a smart concept for managing use, and will save lots of frustration in keeping track of whose turn it is.

For the tween, the low-cost tablet market is expanding with a host of under $100 options.  My teenagers talk about a cheap tablet being a doorprize at a holiday party they attended.  The winner of the prize put his tablet quickly to use.  I fully expect to see more options in the low-cost range by the time the holidays arrive.

Expect to see some of the same tendencies of recent years continue with major tablet and ereader models.  I can't imagine the Kindle family not having major advances, probably announcing their plans in late August or early September.  That's just intuition speaking, of course.  iPad will no doubt see some updates as well.  Also, watch for more combinations of laptops and tablets.

Which of these will be the best tablet for your tween in 2013?  If budget is your main constraint, look at ratings in the below $100 category.  If you want a more upscale model, look for both iPad and Kindle Fire options to be some of the best tween-friendly tablets.  Regardless of the model you select, keep in mind the tendency of a tween toward mishaps.  One of my husband's coworkers is dealing with the need to replace a tablet damaged by his son.  It was used to block a football.  Don't skip the protection plan!

Benefits of a tablet for a tween?  I love the hands on interaction and the availability of so many types of apps.    The access to a huge library of reading material is a plus, and Kindle has really expanded the reading opportunities for my teens and tweens in a small town with a limited library.




Check out these tablets that are less than $100 as examples of some quality and trendy choices:

Chromo Inc. 4GB 7" Tablet

Zeepad 7.0 4GB Tablet

Zeepad Pink

Coby Kyros 7-Inch Tablet 4GB

Save on a Tween Kindle Fire

If you've been thinking about a tween Kindle Fire for the holidays, there is a great deal today (Dec 10, 2012) while supplies last.  One per customer, you can save $50 on the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" tablet by using the code FIREHD89.  The 16GB option is $249 with the savings applied, and excellent deal for a large tablet with HD and Dolby Audio.

The site has provided some great deals throughout the holidays.  There have been a couple of opportunities to save $30 on the Kindle 8GB 7" tablet, but this is the first really great deal on a larger tablet.  I like the large size for video content, and it's great to be able to have larger space for ereading and games.  For the tween who's challenged by the awkwardness of a smaller screen, this is a nice alternative.

It's worth the extra investment to make sure that you have a good tween tablet case and a protection plan as tweens can be a little bit ruthless with their tech belongings.  My tween can be careless with her Kindle, and I definitely wouldn't pick up a tech device for her without a related plan.  My older daughter, a college student, is much more careful with her Kindle, but a case is still a much needed accessory.

Kindle Fire Deal on Cyber Monday

Save Big on Kindle Fire: Use Code FIREDEAL, CyberMonday only

 If you are looking for a good quality tablet at a great price, this is the day to pick up a Kindle Fire for your tween, teen or you! The $129 price is fantastic, and this is probably the lowest you will see any of the mainstream tablets that are trendy. My daughter's tween friend loves her Kindle Fire, and this pricing makes it comparable to the ereader choices. Well worth the investment, you may not see this pricing again this season.  Check it out here, and recognize that there is a limit of one per customer.