Thank you to Otterbox for sponsoring this post. The honest opinions are my own.
When Kora & Logan were toddlers, one or the other would be up at various hours of the night and then they’d be up for the day at 5 am. As a result whichever parent got up with them was exhausted and did what they could to keep them entertained. Dave’s trick was to occasionally let them play with his iPhone. It was amazing how quickly they learned to use the touchscreen to tap and swipe on the kid friendly games.
As a result our kids have grown up with tech & gadgets as part of their lives. Now that they are 7 & almost 6, their favorite is the iPad. I’m incredibly thankful that there are so many entertaining and educational kids games and apps for the iPad and that our kids enjoy playing them so much.
One thing that surprised me about letting Kora & Logan play the iPad is the crazy places they decide to leave it when they are done playing.
The other day Kora was playing it while sitting on the couch. She suddenly realized she needed to hop up and run off to do something in the other room. This is how she left the iPad.
How is it even dangling there?
I’ve found it on the edge of the dining room table near half-eaten slices of pb&j toast and cup of milk…
On the edge of the kitchen counter….
And in the middle of the couch ready to be sat on.
The most scary place I’ve found it is in the middle of the living room floor. It doesn’t sound that frightening, but knowing how fast Kora & Logan run and how soon they forget where they leave things, I always envision one of them sprinting into the living room and smashing the iPad to bits under their Snoopy socks.
Now you may think why do I let the kids play with the iPad if they don’t take care of it properly. Truthfully, 99% of the time they do. They love it as much as Dave and I do and would be crushed to see anything happen to it. These above instances are few and far between but they are enough to cause severe damage to our beloved iPad.
That’s why I’m excited about Otterbox iPad Cases. They have cases for the Mini, as well as the iPads 2, 3, & 4. I like the Defender Series because it’s designed with active lifestyles in mind, it has a multi-layer technology that is built with high-quality materials to keep the iPad protected.
I was happy to learn that the inner shell of this case is composed of high impact polycarbonate and I like that it includes a foam interior for extra shock absorption. The silicone outer layer is made to absorb impact and the textured material provides a good grip. The built in screen protector also prevents scratches and smudges. I also think it’s great that the shield stand that comes with the case pulls double-duty as both a shield stand and a extra layer of protection for the front or back of the iPad.
I’m excited to one day have an Otterbox Defender Series iPad Case because I won’t find my heart racing as much anymore when I suddenly see it teetering off the edge of the table or in the middle of the floor. Okay. Maybe my heart will still pound a bit but at least I’ll know our iPad will be protected.
Products and compensation were provided. The honest opinions are my own.
Good thing you have a case on that! I watched an interesting study on children and their activity / relationship with others when on an iPad. Five children were placed a room of toys with iPads. 4 chose to use them, and one played with dolls. The mothers then said their names over a loud speaker and the children playing with the iPads were oblivious. When asked questions by the “babysitter” they didnt even blink at the sound of her voice, while the girl with the dolls was interactive to her mom’s voice and the “babysitter” . While the children were learning via apps, they devolped no social skills or cues. Once they took away the iPads the children had difficulty playing imaginatively with toys, action figures, Legos. Interesting if these social media tools in turn create less social individuals.
Saw a video once of an old man using one as a cutting board. Ouch!
My daughter uses her I pad as a communication device. I have an Otterbox on my I phone and will be getting her one for her I pad. What a great idea.
I don’t have an Ipad, but I plan on getting one very soon. Thanks so much for the review for the Otterbox. When I do get one, and it will be very soon, I will definitely make sure and get a case for it! Especially with having little ones.
A case is important even if you don’t have kids. Teens and adults (ahem, me) are just as bad leaving an iPad where they shouldn’t. Oh and dropping them too.
Its a good thing the ipad is pretty tough to start with, I’ve dropped mine before and it still functions properly but I certainly worry about it all the time.
I need to look into that case! I’m always afraid the dog will smash it accidentally when it get’s left on the coffee table or sofa.
I have an IPad1 and treat it like it is gong to break all the time- although a sec ago my husband kicked it becuase I left it propped against the coach (I was reading)
I cant afford an iPad but my kids love touchscreens so they have basic android tablets. Mostly they will leave them in the couch cushions or under the couch. When my daughter was told to clean up I did find her tablet in her toy bin, a bit upset it was just thrown in there though
the kids leave the ipad everywhere and anywhere. they have a short attention span and when i am looking for it i find it in the weirdest places. we have talked with the kids and they are doing better to make sure they put it in a designated location we all have chosen when we are done with it.
I will have to keep this in mind……….if i ever win an iPad.
I haven’t tried Otterbox yet but it sounds like a great idea. Once I found the iPad sitting on the keys of the piano so that 1) it is too wide so could fall off the keys onto the floor and 2) the cover over the keys could slam down on it and smash it. Kids!
OH my…that would make me CRAZY!! Good thing for Otterbox, I guess, but still. (!!)
Ooooh I need one of those!!!
Oh my! Such precarious places to leave expensive electronics! Hopefully they will get better about leaving it in a safe place
I just found out that Otterbox now offers cases for the HTC windows phones. There are not to many places that do. I’m going to order one soon.
The case I currently have is a joke. I do not know the brand but I should of sent it back when I got it but I needed a case. The openings for the phones buttons do not line up. I had to have the hubby take a knife and make some adjustments to the case. Every one was off at least 1/8th of an inch and as much as 3/8ths.
I know that the Otterbox cases have a good reputation and have read many positive reviews like this one.
My kids leave things in strange places too! It’s so funny (and scary at times). You have two adorable kids :)
I haven’t tried Otterbox cases before but I keep hearing great things about them.
Too funny how it’s always on the edge! We need that Otterbox case because my son has dropped ours way too many times!
My husband has a Ottterbox case on his phone and loves it. They really hold up well.
I love my otter box. Only thing I don’t like about it…I constantly have to remove the case to use it with my alarm clock/charger/speaker.
I have an otterbox case on my iphone. And with that, I still have to be careful wherever my grandson places it!
I need one of these cases. My son has left the ipad in some questionable places as well and has even dropped it a few times. Luckily the screen didn’t break.
Seems like pretty nice cases. My boys leave things in the strangest places and places where things can easily break. It always amazes me when they ask where one of their toys is, especially when its something I never even touch! Forgetful, yes they are.
LOVE otterbox!!!! They are money savers for sure!
We love our otterboxes. I’ve found ours under the tablet & on the dining room chairs a lot. Scary to think about something so expensive breaking.
Yep, I think you iPad definitely needs the Otterbox!
The dangling off the counter scared even me!! LOL
We just got an OtterBox for my husband’s phone. He’s a firefighter/paramedic. Do you know how many times his poor phone has ended up in some awful places! He even ran it over with an ambulance!! I’m hoping he won’t ‘test’ it out doing that! :)
My ex husband gave our 2 year old grandson an iPad for Christmas and he started playing games right away! I really need to get the Otterbox Defender Series iPad Case for him, you never know where a 2 year old’s iPad might appear! Thanks for sharing!!!
I wish they had a bigger variety. I have a tablet and smartphone that they dont have a cover for
Seriously….how is it dangling there?!
My three-year-old loves our iPad but does the same thing if left to his own devices so he has some major ground rules. In fact, he knows his rules so well that when he just looked over my shoulder at the picture of your iPad on the floor, he said “Playing iPad on the floor? *I’m* not allowed to do that.” I know that soon he’ll be using it more though & so we really should get an Otterbox case for it!
Those otterboxes really work! They use them at the school I work at.
The otterbox is okay but mine broke when dropped it in one.
My kidlets are the same, they leave our iPads everywhere, in such strange places that if you tried to place them there, they’d fall over or off something. They just think everything is replaceable, they don’t realize that it’s also expensive!
Love Otterbox products. We have them for our Iphones and the kids just got Ipad Minis for Christmas. We did the otterbox for my youngest.
And this is why I keep my iPad all to myself. My kids have the V-Tech Innotabs for when they want to play games. Now I do occasionally share, but only when I am supervising. I would LOVE one of the Otterbox cases though for my iPad and iPhone.
sounds like my house,, the oddest place has been in the bathroom floor because he was watching an episode of team oomizoomie while going to the bathroom lol
Technology is amazing and your children are absolutely adorable!
LOVE LOVE LOVE OtterBox – I purchased one before I even walked OUT of the AT&T store when I bought each of my iPhones – including my daughters – and BestBuy when I got my iPad. I absolutely will not have an i-anything without one LOL
I don’t have an iPad but could only imagine the things and places it would go!
Luckily there are places that offer such great cases and such to keep them safe & protected(:
Oh I would definitely want an otterbox case when I finally get my iPad! Those things are awesome and really help protect them. My sisters have the otterbox case for their iPhones and I love them. I want to upgrade to the iPhone when my current contract is up and get an otterbox case for sure too!
I want an iPad so bad. It’s funny to see where my iPhone ends up. My daughter hides it, then forgets where. That’s never fun.
It can have you shaking your head over where the kids will leave things. My boys are awful about leaving their school laptop laying around on the couch or a chair where someone might try to just sit down.
My next “big” investment is going to be an iPad, but we don’t have one yet. I’m terrified of my children doing the same things, but I’m not as lucky as you. Mine would have definitely fallen off of the kitchen counter and smashed into 5-trillion little pieces. I laughed out loud about the photo on the sofa just dangling there like it was being held up by a string. HAHA!
We definitely need an Otterbox for our new iPad! With a 2 and 4 year old it’s just a necessity.
We’re considering to get an iPad or mini, Otterbox case is among all case choices. I’ve heard so much raves about Otterbox especially when you share iPad with kids.
So cool! I didn’t realize Otterbox had an iPad case. Yes, the places kids randomly leave things is down right scary for the people footing the bills. :)
twitted this today, 16/01
The Otterbox Case looks good. I wonder if they make the same cases for an iPhone
Wow, they always seem to leave it dangling off an edge, don’t they? Otterbox has a great rep, so that should definitely help. I agree with what you said in the beginning of your post, kids are growing up with technology in a way we never did. It’s like ingrained in them from birth! My son is 7 and he’s already mastered the computer, texting on my phone (to his dad), and now my tablet!
A built-in screen protector sounds like a great idea – I’d be worried about scratches the most I think!
We have found our tablet in weird places. Usually in the couch or on the book shelf.
Middle of the floor one is scary! Had my purse in the middle of the floor once and someone stepped on it and broke my ereader :(
Thankfully You Have A Otterbox Case, I’ve Heard So Many Great Things About The Otterbox Cases
Isn’t it crazy? I have found our tablet in similar places, even on the bathroom sink! One day it’ll be broke if I don’t get a good case to protect it.