How to Choose the Best Laptop for Your Kids
Whether the previous laptop is broken, your kid is ready for their first laptop, or you want something new for the beginning of the year, a new laptop can be a challenge for many parents.
Laptops are a must these days. Kids need to deal with audio or digital books, but they also require certain software or perhaps research.
Choices are definitely overwhelming, so what do you have to look for?
The computer type
These days, there are three major types of laptops, and each of them has its own particularities.
The Chromebook is pretty safe and common. Everything is stored in the cloud, so your little one can handle assignments from anywhere.
Chromebooks are affordable, but functionality is also limited.
A Windows based laptop can be affordable, too, and offers much more functionality and a wide variety of software. Plus, it is suitable for games, too, once your kid finishes homework.
If you are only interested in getting a laptop that they can use at school, you can try a notebook for kids. These are performance-oriented devices that can handle just about anything a kid is required to at school. This includes running Power Point, Microsoft Word and the entire Office Suite.
Finally, the Apple MacBook is more expensive and delicate. Your kid doesn’t necessarily need one, unless you’re after prestige and a sleek design. None of these things will help kids, though, so it may not be a good idea at a young age.
Value for money
There are lots of inexpensive laptops that can meet a kid’s requirements, and you should never go towards the high-end scale because it’s simply not worth it.
The price is often a temptation for parents, but instead, you need value for money.
A cheap laptop from an unknown brand could be worthless. A cheap laptop from a popular brand could be just what your kid needs.
You want durability, so avoid those sleek and fancy designs because they’ll get ruined quickly. Instead, you need a decent processor, a good keyboard, and good battery life.
Parental controls are obviously important, too, not to mention a drop proof body or reinforced rubber edges if you can find such things. Talking about parental controls, parents should really think about the right time to get a smartphone for kids.
A classic 11 inch laptop screen will do. You need it to be quite light too, as your kid will be carrying it all the time.
In terms of technical specs, go for at least 4GB of RAM, 32GB to 64GB of storage, and all the slots for connectivity, headphones, microphones, a few USB slots, and the Internet.
Refurbished or new?
New computers seem to be better because, well, no one’s ever used them before. They are not worn out, and they show no signs of tear.
But refurbished laptops are just as good. They are repaired and inspected, but also made to work just like new.
Sometimes, it’s worth buying a high-end refurbished model, which may cost less than a brand-new average laptop.
There are a few things to pay attention to. Make sure it’s refurbished by a certified dealer, and has a decent warranty.
Second, don’t go for a very old laptop because, soon enough, your kid will require a newer one.
Extras, bells, and whistles
You’ll find all kinds of bells and whistles that kids may like at first, but they’re not really worth the money.
For instance, convertible laptops can rotate screens all the way to the back, so they can also be used like tablets. It sounds interesting, but most kids won’t bother.
A touchscreen is also common these days, but it depends on your kid’s age. If your little one can’t read or write, they probably don’t even need a laptop in the first place. If they’re just learning to do it, a classic keyboard would be better for training.
Bottom line, when choosing a laptop for kids it is important to remember that, although your initial thoughts may be geared towards what you need from the device, ultimately their needs and perspective should have priority. Also consider their needs in school and what they need the laptop for. If not sure, get in touch with their professors too.
