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First of all, this is a very personal decision, but let me provide you with some food for thought:

All of these things should be considered before deciding whether or not your child or grandchild should get a tablet. Let's take a look at each one individually.

As to whether or not your child understands that tablets aren't just a toy and should be taken care of is up to you. There's a vast age range for tablet usefulness. I've seen young toddlers playing with tablets—this being neither good nor bad. Not only do tablets provide visual stimulation, but they also increase hand-eye coordination, introduce items in a sequence, teach colors, and tell a story—just to name a few. If you decide that a tablet is right for your younger child, you may want to consider purchasing a rugged case. At the end of the day, a solid case is always less expensive than buying a new tablet, don't you think?

The question of your child's development process is again something only you can answer. The age range for apps goes from toddlers to adults of any age. You have to decide how you'd like to use your tablet. Is it for learning? Reading? Playing games? Or all of the above? Even five years ago, most families wouldn't think twice about setting up their car to be equipped with a DVD player and/or gaming system, right? Now we have the opportunity for the best of all worlds: DVDs, gaming systems, books, games, etc. in a single tablet. It's really not much of a departure from what we've done before; we’ve just given our insatiable desire for constant entertainment a portable, more expansive means.

As for the dreaded parental controls conversation: If you're sharing a tablet amongst your family, this may get a little bit more difficult. But please know if you are parent of a younger child in elementary school or even middle school, you can download the apps and items you want your child to access. You can even put parental controls on the kinds of websites they visit and install apps and software programs to monitor the keystrokes of your kids. It's a great opportunity to keep up with what your kids doing while allowing them to show that they can responsibly surf the web. I personally like the safety net feature.

Now let's talk about budget. Technology is rapidly changing. In my household, my kids are getting hand-me-down tech. What does that mean? It's tech that I (or other older family members) have outgrown. Usually when I decide to move on to a new device, my children become the recipients of an old computer, iPad, eReader, tablet, phone, and the like. Many parents find themselves in similar situations, too! And my younger children will probably have access to a wider range of tech—not just because of the ever-changing electronics industry, but also by the fact that they're getting hand-me-down electronics. So when you think about your budget, consider the lifespan of the device beyond yourself. 

The other big thing to consider in budgeting is your OVERALL budget. Keep in mind that even the smaller handheld gaming devices usually cost $150-$250. But that only includes the gaming device. You have to buy cartridges, downloads, etc. Those can run anywhere from $25-$50 each. That means money year after year, season after season for even more games. Now let's go to the opposite end of the spectrum and talk about a tablet. You're going to invest somewhere between $300 and $800 for a tablet equipped with Wi-Fi and maybe a 3G or 4G connection. Yes, your initial investment is definitely much higher, but your ongoing investment is much lower. Why? Because most tablets have apps that you can download for free or at a very low cost. You can also download books from the library for free. Plus, a tablet serves as an eReader, gaming device, camera, camcorder, GPS, and video player all in one. 

In my humble opinion, I think that if you decide you'd like to try a tablet with your child, then go for it. After all, what have you got to lose? If you decide later that it's not the right fit, keep it for yourself! But I think you'll find a wide range of entertainment, information, learning, and fun all wrapped up in one. You'll also find that the lifespan of a tablet will far outlast a passing fancy with any gaming device or video player. I think you'll be delighted to see your children excited about playing educational games or learning to stay in touch via video calls. Check out the Tablets & eReaders page on QVC.com and explore all the opportunities for you and your children to grow and learn together.

Watch me this Sunday, September 23 at 7am ET as I premiere a brand-new children's tablet in the Gifts for Grandkids show!