We received a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite loaded with the kid’s program Samsung Kids. The opinions expressed about the device and the Samsung Kids program are 100% our own.

We’ve had the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite for just over a month and the kids love it. As a parent who wants to be able to control how much and what my kids see during their screen time the parental controls of Samsung Kids is such a great option. The device has a special soft durable bumper case that is excellent for kids’ hands. That bumper case also provides a non-slip grip for the kids as they enjoy their games and books.

The Apps that are part of Samsung Kids are plentiful. There are so many games and books available to the kids. They are based on the kids’ ages, too. So Eva can enjoy those for her while Andrew can play younger ones. With them both accessing the same tablet it is nice for each of the kids to have their own space. The kids can both sign in to their own account and as a parent I can assign time limits for each of the children not only for the games but also a separate time limit for books. Maybe I want them to focus less on games this week so I set them up to have longer book time. That gives me greater flexibility on what I can allow them to use. If they do well in school or finish chores then they can be rewarded with extra game time. If they need to focus more on learning then I can give them more book time.

The Tablet is also a fully functioning tablet that is running Android™ 4.2, Jelly Bean with a 1.2 GHz Dual-Core processor and 1 GB or RAM and 8GB or ROM. It is certainly powerful enough to enjoy as a parent and because it is an Android device you have access to the Google Play store and can download your favorite apps. Parental controls allow access to the full tablet features. I feel confident giving this tablet to the kids to use and they have been getting a lot out of it, too.

Samsung Kids is currently available for $4.99 per month, exclusively on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite tablet. However, with a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite tablet purchase, you’ll receive 3 months free of the Samsung Kids service! The subscription to the service is a complete steal in my opinion because of the number of apps the kids have access to. You would spend a heck of a lot more buying all those apps.

Here are some great tips for families and tablets.

· Don’t forget to set parental controls. If you opt for a tablet for your child, take some precautions to protect them when they’re using the device. Many tablets feature parental controls that enable you to block access to the Internet with a password or limit how much time your child can spend on the tablet and specific apps.

· Plan shared time with your child and their tablet. Children get the most from technologies like tablets when parents are involved with them. Spending time with your child and the tablet, including reading and playing games, is important for teaching safe tablet use. After downloading a new app, consider trying the app with your child, asking questions and explaining the options as he/she plays.

· Limit screen time and take a break every 20 minutes. Time with a tablet shouldn’t become any child’s full-time pursuit or take away from time spent reading storybooks or enjoying physical activity. For the sake of your child’s eyes alone, it’s important to take sufficient breaks away from the screen. To ensure your child doesn’t strain her eyes, try using the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, have your child take at least 20 seconds to look at an object 20 feet away.