As many of you will know, I have two kids. The oldest recently turned three, and the youngest will be two in September. Needless to say, they’ve both taken a keen interest in gadgets from the time they were able to grab objects and chew on them. Thankfully nowadays, it’s less chewing, and more fighting over what to do on the iPad. My daughter will happily sit and watch a 30min TV episode, whereas my son will change his mind every 2 minutes (annoying his sister in the process.)

In my mind, gadgets like the iPad should be embraced by kids, and parents should allow their children to use them. There’s so much in the App Store that’s beneficial for them, it’s crazy not to exploit their interest, helping them learn in the process. But, there’s always a concern that the iPad might be mistreated. You need a protective case that not only helps keep your tablet safe, but also, is sturdy enough to take a beating without becoming destroyed itself. Enter: Widge.

X-doria’s Widge is – as the name suggests – a wedge shaped case/stand for your Apple slate. It’s made from a very thick rubbery material that absorbs almost any shock. Think of it as a crash helmet. For sturdiness it has vertical and horizontal spines on the inside, ensuring that the iPad has a secure resting platform. In a stroke of genius X-doria also placed an incredibly tactile and ergonomic handle on the back. It’s great for kids and adults alike to just pick it up and carry it around the house. I don’t have enough adjectives to describe just how comfortable and secure it feels.

As you’d expect, you have access to all the necessary ports and buttons. Everything but the volume rocker and lock/power button are exposed by well placed (albeit a little scruffy) cutouts. What may be concerning to some users is that the display is still exposed. What I would advise is to get a decent screen protector. That said, the Widge does have a pretty thick frame that covers most of the iPad’s bezel and should be adequate to stop your screen from getting damaged. Dropping the encased iPad to the floor, I’m pretty confident that the frame will hit the ground first, and absorb the shock. It’s not guaranteed, but, it’s very unlikely that your tablet will sustain any major damage while inside the Widge.

Apart from being protective, it’s also great for watching movies or videos. In my experience, it’s the perfect angle for lying on the floor, but is equally comfortable on a parent or child’s lap, or on a desk/table. Viewing angles are restricted, but, there’s no way this thing would be as effective at protecting if it had any moving parts. It’s one necessary compromise. I guess the only slight negative I reserve is that the manufacturing seems slightly cheap. The cutouts aren’t as precise as I’d like, and the color seems faded and the surface develops wrinkles pretty easily.

At a party, there’s one place I know my kids are safe: in the bouncy castle. Sure, there’s a chance that kids collide and fall over, but the giant inflatable cage will always protect them from sustaining serious injuries. I feel the same with the Widge. From a parenting side: this is without doubt my favorite case of any that I have reviewed. It can be purchased for $49.99 from X-doria’s online store. It’s only available in one color at the moment. Hopefully, there’ll be more choice soon. If you are a parent, and you get “drop anxiety” every time your child grabs the iPad, you shouldn’t think twice before buying this. It’s fantastic.

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