It’s more than a little fear-inducing to watch your kid run around the house holding the family iPad, dangle it over the edges of beds or couches, or place it in a backpack that is then carelessly tossed across the room.
You want the iPad to last longer than a few months, but kids aren’t exactly the most careful type of people, which doesn’t help when it comes to delicate electronics.
Plus, replacements are time-consuming and costly to come by, making the situation even more pressing. Your best solution is to get a protective and kid-friendly case for an iPad that your child uses.
Whether it’s being used for school and needs to fit neatly inside a backpack or you just need some extra grip so it doesn’t slip out of your child’s hand so easily, a case will be the perfect addition to a kid’s iPad.
In this article, we’ll share with you a few things to keep in mind when choosing an iPad case for kids.
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Choosing an iPad Case for Kids: Things to Consider
Choosing an iPad case for kids requires taking into account the iPad model, the child’s age (safety), and the level of protection needed.
1. Safety
Some iPad cases may have small parts that can be detached, which can be a choking hazard for young children. As a parent, you should always choose cases that have been tested for safety and have passed safety standards.
2. iPad Model
With an increasing range of iPads on the market, you’re going to need to be more and more specific when buying a case.
From the huge iPad Pro to the extremely thin Air models, every case is going to be just a little bit different. Since the fit of the case greatly affects how well it works, you’re going to want to double-check check your model and case match up.
3. Level of Protection
If your children are older, you may not need as bulky of a case as if your iPad is being used by your kindergartener, but you’re still going to want something that completely surrounds the device with a combination of anti-shock materials.
It should come up over the edge of the front of the iPad, and the best cases will also include a snap-on front cover that has a plastic screen barrier built in. For even more protection, opt for a case that includes plugs for the audio jack and charging port. These cases are usually water-resistant or waterproof as well.
4. Durability
Kids can be rough with their things, so it’s important to choose an iPad case that can withstand drops, bumps, and scratches.
We recommend that you look for cases made of high-quality materials such as silicone, rubber, or polycarbonate, that are shock-resistant, and have reinforced corners or edges for added protection.
5. Aesthetics
It may not be at the top of your list, but the market for kids’ iPad cases is very expansive so you’ll have plenty of options for personalization once you decide which kind of case meets your needs.
If you have more than one iPad in your family, it may even be beneficial to buy the same case in two colors to make them more distinguishable from each other.
Additional Tips
Cases are one of the most preventative measures you can take to physically protect an iPad, but did you know that Apple also offers a protective package when buying any of their devices that can be used to extend the warranty and provide more technical support if needed?
The AppleCare packages can help you in the event that an accident does happen, and you can learn more about them here.
Another useful feature Apple provides is the ability to enact protective parental controls on your child’s iPad. This will let you prevent them from making purchases in the app store and accessing inappropriate web content, and you can get started with this official guide from Apple itself.
Of course, there’s one more way to protect your iPad — Find My iPad. Since kids have a tendency to lose things, you’ll want to make sure this is always enabled on your iPad.
Using wifi (or cellular, if you bought data for your iPad), the Find My iPad app from Apple will send you the location of your iPad on a map. This is great not only for lost devices but also for stolen ones. Learn how to activate and use Find My iPad from Apple’s expert support database.
Final Words
An iPad is an investment in fun, practicality, and education. It’s an incredible multipurpose tool that can help your kid explore avenues he or she never imagined or just provide something to do on a rainy afternoon.
A protective case will have benefits beyond preventing cracks when your children inevitably drop their iPad from a considerable height. They’ll add water resistance in most instances, and can help maintain the resell or trade-in value of your iPad since it will suffer less damage over its lifetime.
This makes them ideal for parents who want to use the iPad for at least a couple of years, don’t want to have to deal with screen repairs, or plan on eventually exchanging the iPad and want to get the most return value on it.
Even if you are not a parent, these cases are also effective in other situations such as iPad protection for bike commuters or if you travel heavily. Regardless, it’s a delicate device that you’ll want to protect with a well-designed case.
Anyway, I hope you find this guide helpful. Do you have a preferred case or case brand? Tell us about it below so we can hear what you have to say on the matter.