Kindle Touch as an Educational Gift

Kindle Touch is an Excellent Electronic Educational Gift

Ereaders have really provided an interesting opportunity to encourage our kids to read, and my daughter's receiving a Kindle Touch for her birthday seals my approval. I like Kindle in terms of it's usability across different devices and apps, making it possible to access a book on your smartphone or pc.


The Kindle Touch was easy to setup, easy to operate, and I am particularly thrilled with the clarity. I use my own smartphone app to access my Kindle downloads, but the sharpness and contrast on my daughter's new ereader really captured my attention. I can't say enough how much I love the clarity and sharpness. My younger children also found it exciting.


While I recognize that my youngsters can get excited about anything for a short time, I think this is an excellent tool for the child that enjoys reading. With my youngest children, I spend a lot of time reading and misplacing material. I see much value in having one device to manage. There is a lot of free reading material for Kindle. Amazon's Kindle Publishers often place their materials in promotional offers for short periods, making it worthwhile to keep an eye out for inexpensive reading options.


Text to speech and audio books add to the attractiveness of this device. As we get more opportunity to enjoy the new tool in the house, I'm sure that there will be more discoveries. If you select a Kindle for a child, it's important to consider an accident protection plan, offered with Kindles sold through Amazon. It's also wise to invest in a cover so that the device is protected.


Instruct your youngsters in proper care and storage, and help them to understand the costs associated with the system. (Read more about Kindle Touch, including customer reviews)

Ereader Gifts for Kids

Upper elementary aged kids are very capable, when it comes to navigating many of the popular digital devices available.  However, at this stage, a parent may be reluctant to spend high amounts of money on tech gadgets, and with good reason. 

Moving into the tween stage, kids can become very scattered, forgetful, and awkward.  I've dealt with a few tech casualties with kids who are in the 10 and up age group.  On the other hand, some of the kid-tough electronic learning toys are just a bit too juvenile for these older kids.  While ereader toys for kids are more likely to withstand the rough handling, the content is just a bit immature for the upper elementary age level.

Ereaders can be good choices for this level, with some very inexpensive models available.  Not a replacement for the tablet computer craze, nevertheless, the devices are something other than a video game, and provide a means of augmenting your child's academic progress.

Kindle With Special Offers

Many of the same issues with selecting an ereader for a tween come into play for the upper elementary aged child.  Kindle, Amazon's ereader, provides a cost effective model (Kindle with Special Offers, Wi-Fi version $114), which includes web browsing, library lending, and games.  The only downside is the lack of touchscreen interactivity, though there are rumors of a coming tablet version. 

Barnes and Noble's Nook Touch is another inexpensive choice, retailing at $139.  The device is touchscreen operated, but is strictly an ereading device.  There are not apps, nor web browsing capabilities at this point.  The $249 Nook Color functions as more of a tablet, with color display, apps, and web browsing.

Ereaders for Tweens and Teens

Kindle for Tweens and Teens

Ereaders have become very popular among many cross-sections of life, and ereaders are great, as well, for tweens and teens. The advantage of an ereader, over an iPod or smartphone app, is size, as the small screens of these devices can stress and strain the eyes. While an iPad is a larger source for using these apps, the expense is significant. Maybe you don't want to spend quite that much on a tween ereader! Your teen, no doubt, would love the iPad, but it may not fit the budget. When my tweens and teens set their sites on high priced items, I start talking about their future job lives, and suggest that they are more than welcome to have an iPad when they can afford to buy it for themselves!


Computer access to ereader materials is another option, as the ebooks are able to be used from the same account, across multiple devices, making your household computer the most viable option for ereading. However, it's important to recognize that a desktop computer is not portable, and a tween or teen is anchored. If you have more than one young person who uses that computer, then you know that computer time is at a premium, and your tween or teen ereader is limited in the time they can devote to reading. A netbook or laptop, likewise, include higher costs, and bulky size.

Ereaders are light, portable, and comfortable in size. Some people prefer a real book, when it comes to reading, and this is truly an issue. An ereader for your tween or teen, however, makes a lot of sense if some of the following are the case:



***Household storage space is limited.

***Access to ample reading material is limited (for example, if you live in a rural community with a small library, and no book stores).

***Budget for reading materials is limited (Many classic books are available for ereader download, free of charge).

There are several ereaders available, and most are able to be used by tweens and teens. Kindle, by Amazon, is a great choice, with anti-glare technology. Your tween or teen can read outside, without the difficulty of seeing well in the sunshine. I can't say the same for my iPhone, which causes tremendous glare problems when I try to see anything in our sunny Desert Southwest setting. Amazon Kindle also has options for either a wireless connection, or a wireless/3g connection. With the slightly greater cost of the 3g model, you have free internet access wherever 3g signals exist, through ATT. This free 3g connection is a great plus.

Kindle has become slightly more economical, as well, with the wireless version being made available with sponsored offers and screensavers, which provides a $25 discount on the price of the wireless version. If you are interested in the best ereader, at the lowest price, the Amazon Kindle with wireless will make a great value, at $114.00. Your tween and teen bookworms have a world of reading at their fingertips, and it's better priced than ever! Audio books are also available, through Audible, for use on Kindle. Kindle is able to store up to 3500 books, and has a book lending feature, as well.

Sony's Ereader is comparable in price, to the Amazon Kindle with Special offers loaded, but without these offers. The Sony model has a 5" screen, but lacks a keyboard, as well as many of the extensive features of Kindle.

Nook is slightly greater in price, than the Kindle WiFi, with primarily touchscreen operation. While Kindle is not compatible with epub books, Nook is. Nook batteries are changeable, whereas Kindle must be sent away for a battery change. Nook storage is expandable, with an SD card, while Kindle is not. Nook comes in wifi, or wifi/3g versions, as well as color.

If you are looking for an inexpensive ereader for your tween or teen, then Kindle is the most cost effective, for the quality. If you are dealing with a reluctant tween, or teen, reader, the investment in the Kindle is not going to stress your wallet. However, if you are interested in an all-out effort to encourage your tween or teen to read, and an ereader is your solution, money not being the top consideration, then Nook Color is the most attractive of the ereader selections. Everything depends on budget and goals