I caved and got my toddler a 50%-off tablet for flights one feature cured my mom-guilt

I’ve always feared “iPad Kid” allegations.After reading horror stories about hyperactive, screen-time-addicted toddlers and all the dangers of the internet, I never wanted to be the parent who handed their child a screen the moment things got difficult.And then came the time to board our first flight… and those fears began to evaporate.Knowing that my tireless, city-living toddler (who rarely even has to sit in a car for long) would be confined to a single seat for four hours, I knew I needed a backup plan.

So I ordered the snacks, the stickers and as many toys as I could fit in our carry-on, but I also did what I had to do.I ordered the Amazon Kids Fire Tablet the moment it went on sale.Right now, the popular tablet is marked down by a whopping 50% ahead of Prime Day, which runs from June 23 through June 26.

And at just $55, it feels like a serious bargain, especially since it includes a full year of Amazon Kids+, a subscription packed with thousands of ad-free books, games, videos and apps.Ahead of our first four-hour flight, I preloaded it with a few TV shows — semi-educational, at least according to the descriptions — and tucked it into her bag just in case disaster struck.And then, disaster nearly did.We ended up stuck on the runway for more than an hour while the crew dealt with a bathroom issue.

My daughter, who had been so excited to fly, was quickly approaching full meltdown territory.I tried the games, the snacks, the stickers.

And when all failed, that’s when I pulled out the tablet, which ended up saving my sanity, and probably the sanity of everyone sitting around us.While I’m never exactly proud to hand over a screen, I can admit one feature on this tablet made me feel a little better about it.The easy-to-use Parent Dashboard lets you filter content based on your child’s age, set educational goals and screen-time limits.

You can even decide which apps your child can access.And it’s not just an entertainment device.

The Amazon ...