What electronic device is best for kids?

With Christmas coming up, I'm faced again with the question of what to get the kids (3, 5, 8 and 10.) Rather than toys that clutter up the house, I'm debating electronic devices. But there are so many! Nabi, tablets, Chromebooks, Ipads, Ipods, Nook, Kindle…

I can't find a good source that compares these things according to costs. The main question is what requires a monthly fee and what doesn't? I know an iphone and an ipad must be used with a cell phone provider. What about an ipod touch? A Nook? What devices can be used with my current Wi-Fi in my house without an extra cost?

They want:
A device that gets internet
Prefer a device that is handheld or portable

I want:
Durability (otterboxes may be also bought this year!)
low cost/ no monthly fee if possible
Potential for growth (not something that they will get tired of/outgrow in a year)

Hi! I'm 12, and I recently gotten an iPod Touch 5th gen. I wanted pretty much what those kids wanted. With the iPod touch, you don't have to pay any monthly fees. You can go on the internet if you have wi-fi, download apps, send messages and Face Time other Apple users, and the list goes on. You just can't call anyone or message someone that doesn't have a product from Apple. I have the 5th gen because I wanted it to last me longer (because of the updates- after so long your iPod will stop updating because it's too old) and I wanted lots of gigabytes (I take TONS of pictures.) But the iPod Touch is a bit pricey. It goes it $230-$400, but I bought my own because my parents didn't want to pay that (I can see why) I'm not really sure about any other products. I'm pretty sure the iPad doesn't use a monthly fee, my friend had one. Hope this helps.

Ipad doesn't need a cellphone provider. Clearly you need to do more research if you don't know something as simple as that.

If you get an Android device make sure it is one that can use the Google Play store for the best selection of apps and the ability to play Youtubes out of the box.

The Kindle Fire (Amazon's color tablet) can't play Youtubes and needs some program so you can install an old version of some browser that used to have Flash support. It gets apps from the Amazon App store.

The Nook HD from Barnes & Noble is a low cost Android tablet with Google Play and Youtube player. It has internet. I think it would be a decent choice for kids.

A better Android tablet is the Nexus 7.

The Ipads get apps from the Apple store and I think apps are generally more expensive there. Also Android probably has more free apps.

I don't think any of these devices are kid-sturdy. And I looked at several thick sturdy Android tablets meant for kids and they could not use the Google Play store. They had to use some 3rd party (I think Chinese) store and purchasers complained the customer support was horrible.

If you have any voracious readers, a Kindle Paperwhite is fantastic. It doesn't have color or audio, doesn't play games. It is an excellent reader for Kindle books from Amazon.

Whatever you get, but sturdy cases. I recommend cases that fasten shut, have padded covers, and with covers that are a bit bigger all around than the device to protect when the device is dropped onto a corner or edge.