Keeping Kids' Tablets Alive: Cases, Charging and Repairs

Tablets and kids go together, and so do tablets and drops, spills, sticky fingers and chargers yanked out of the wall. If you have kids at home, you have probably seen a tablet take some abuse. The good news is that a few simple habits go a long way toward keeping one working for years.

Here is what we recommend to parents and grandparents around Canton.

Choose the right case

The case is your first line of defense, and for kids it is worth going big.

Look for:

• Thick, shock-absorbing material such as foam or soft rubber, especially at the corners where most drops land
• A raised lip around the screen, so the glass does not hit the floor when the tablet falls face-down
• A built-in handle or stand, which makes it easier for small hands to hold and carry
• Covered or protected ports to keep crumbs and debris out

Skip thin, decorative cases for young kids. They look nice but do very little in a fall from a table or bunk bed.

A case also protects the battery and internals from the bending and twisting that kids sometimes put a tablet through.

Add a screen protector

A good screen protector is inexpensive insurance for the most costly part of most tablets.

• Tempered glass protectors take a hit better and feel like the real screen. If the protector cracks, the screen underneath is often fine.
• Film protectors are thinner and guard against scratches, but offer less impact protection.

Install it in a clean, dust-free spot, like a steamy bathroom after a shower, to avoid bubbles. And if the protector cracks, replace it. It did its job.

Build healthy charging habits

Batteries wear out over time, but how a tablet is charged can make that happen sooner or later.

1. Use a good charger and cable. Very cheap no-name chargers can charge poorly, run hot or damage the device.
2. Do not charge it under a pillow or blanket. Kids often charge tablets in bed. Trapped heat is hard on batteries and is a safety concern.
3. Set up a charging spot on a hard, flat surface outside the bedroom, like a kitchen counter. It also helps with screen-time limits at bedtime.
4. Teach kids to unplug by the plug, not the cord. Yanking the cable damages both the cable and the charging port.
5. Keep it out of hot cars. A tablet left in a car on a Georgia summer afternoon can get dangerously hot.

Keep the charging port clean

Crumbs, lint and sand love charging ports. If the tablet starts charging only at certain angles, turn it off, shine a light in the port, and gently clear debris with a wooden toothpick. Never use metal objects.

Set some house rules

A few simple rules prevent a lot of repairs:

• No tablets at the dinner table or near drinks
• No tablets in the bath or at the pool
• Use it sitting down, not while running around
• Put it back in its charging spot when done

You might also turn on parental controls and automatic backups, so if something does happen, photos and game progress are safe.

When it is time for a repair

Some problems are worth fixing quickly before they get worse:

• A cracked screen. Glass splinters can cut small fingers. Cover the crack with clear packing tape and keep it away from younger kids until it is repaired.
• Touch that does not work in some spots, or a screen with lines or dark areas.
• Charging problems that a gentle cleaning does not fix.
• A battery that dies quickly or a tablet that only works while plugged in.
• Water or juice spills. Turn it off, do not charge it, and bring it in. Sticky drinks leave residue that causes corrosion.

Important safety sign: if the screen is lifting or the case is bulging, the battery may be swelling. Stop charging and using the tablet, keep it away from kids, and bring it in right away.

Repair or replace?

Many kids' tablets are worth repairing, especially if they still get updates and the battery is in good shape. A high-quality aftermarket part can be a sensible, budget-friendly choice for a kid's device. We will give you an honest opinion and a free quote either way.

Need a hand?

If your family's tablet needs help, bring it to Alpha Computers at 4280 Hickory Flat Hwy in Canton. We repair iPads and other tablets for families across Cherokee County, from Woodstock to Ball Ground. Every repair comes with our 1-year warranty, our No Fix – No Fee promise and our low price guarantee. See our iPad and tablet repair services, request a free quote, or call us at 678-899-6800.