Every parent who owns an iPad and has young kids has probably had to repeat more than once that the pricey tablet isn't a toy. But now there are similar devices on the market for children. Tablet computers for young kids can download apps, games, books and other content to keep them entertained for hours. They will be a popular item on wish lists this Christmas.

Key Points:

• Consumer Reports had young "experts" test out four popular tablets. They also had lab testers measure the battery life, display quality and ease of use.
• The LeapPad Explorer ($100) is recommended for children ages 4 to 9 and is the most popular crowd pleaser. It's also one of the hottest gifts this season with features like a camera and art studio.
• The Vinci Tablet ($389 or $479) is recommended for ages four and younger and most resembles an adult tablet. It has a strong display and the largest hard drive at 8 GB, but costs the most.
• The InnoTab by V-Tech ($90) is recommended for ages 4 to 9 and has features like an art studio, e-reader and MP3 player
• The Fisher Price iXL Learning System ($80) has an especially long battery life at 13 hours.
• Kids can read books, take pictures and play educational games on these tablets. Unlike adult tablets, most don't have access to the Internet for safety reasons.
• If parents are willing to share their iPad, there are now covers designed specifically to protect the tablet from children.

LeapFrog's LeapPad Explorer

• 5-inch tablet in colourful options like green or pink with a color touch screen.
• Built-in camera, microphone, stylus and 2GB of onboard storage.
• Kids ages 4 to 9 can enjoy reading ebooks or having them read aloud to them. They can also enjoy watching videos, creating artwork, or playing educational games.
• There are over 100 games, digital books and apps available for download for $5 to $25, and the unit will work with games developed for Leapster Explorer.
• Parents can follow their child's progress by connecting the LeapPad to the computer and seeing where any extra help might be needed.

VTech InnoTab

• 5-inch color LCD surrounded by plastic to protect it from damage and wear-and-tear.
• The interactive e-reader lets you choose whether to read books or have them read to you.
• Games use the built-in accelerometer to teach math and letters. The art studio also lets you paint, draw or colour.
• Includes many pre-loaded apps, games, videos and books.
• Kids can also watch videos or look at pictures if they have a Kidizoom camera that is compatible with the tablet.

Vinci Tablet

• The Vinci Tablet was invented and founded by Dr. Dan Yang, a Canadian mother and world-renowned telecom entrepreneur.
• This tablet runs on the Android operating system and has a 7-inch screen, 512 MB of RAM and a real 3MP camera in back.
• It's encased in a soft, non-toxic and rugged casing to protect it from damage.
• It comes pre-loaded with educational games, videos, music and animated storybooks designed by the founder.
• This tablet focuses on an educational approach using step-by-step early learning objectives.