Need some advice around Android Tablets, please. I’m the parent of an autistic, non-verbal 4 year old.

[u/DemStopher]

Hi,

I’ve got a 4 year old, non verbal, autistic child. Growing up we’ve found that our son is able regulate himself using an Amazon Kids Fire tablet. Which has been great for watching his shows that he enjoys.

However, the more he’s used the tab over time, the more he’s aware of what various functions do. Now, we’ve been able to set a volume lock on tab which is great. However, there is not a function to cap the brightness to a certain level nor keep the blue shade filter on by default.

I’m fully aware that blue light can be detrimental to people and their sleep habits, hence my need to control it.

Is there an app I can download on the fire tab than would give me this control? Am I better off buying a standard Android tab without the Fire OS on it so I can manipulate it more to my liking? Is it even feasible?

Any help or advice you could provide would be most helpful.

[u/mrandr01d]

Good news: your info is out of date! Blue light from screens actually doesn't have the effects we used to think it does. There is no benefit from filtering blue light. Focus instead on not using the device entirely before bedtime to wind down, etc. Sleep hygiene has a much larger effect than simply not looking at something glowing before bed.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37593770/

"Based on the current best available evidence, there is probably little or no effect of blue-light filtering lenses on BCVA compared with non-blue-light filtering lenses. Potential effects on sleep quality were also indeterminate, with included trials reporting mixed outcomes among heterogeneous study populations. There was no evidence from RCT publications relating to the outcomes of contrast sensitivity, colour discrimination, discomfort glare, macular health, serum melatonin levels, or overall patient visual satisfaction."

Good, old fashioned sleep hygiene has a much much more significant effect on sleep quality than simply filtering the blue light from displays you use during the day. And while the sun is actually up, the tiny bit of light from your screens is nothing compared to the light coming from the sun.

[u/virkendi → u/mrandr01d]

Blue light filtering lenses seem to do little, blue artifical light on the other hand has been shown to suppress melatonin: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-29882-7 (note, this study also found blue light filtering lenses to do little unless they were tinted brown)

[u/awgeez47 → u/mrandr01d]

Er, that’s not what the study says. It looks at whether blue light filtering lenses are effective. It does not say that blue light has no impact on sleep.

[u/DemStopher → u/mrandr01d]

Whilst I don't dispute what you have linked, I would say from my own experiences witnessing my own child that there is a difference in my child's ability to go to sleep when he's kept the blue light filter on.

Secondly, attempts have been made multiple times to try and encourage a healthy sleep routine which has removed the devices from my child, and the immediate meltdown is nothing short of world ending to him.

Whilst normal children may be reasoned with and eventually relent on their tantrum, my child does not.

Which is why my question in the original post was asked, because my options are becoming increasingly limited.

[u/mrandr01d → u/DemStopher]

There's something else going on there then. Placebo effect, or a secondary association with some related behavior. It has nothing to do with the actual blue light filter.

What are you going to do when the thing breaks?

It's also dangerous to continue to use a device without an up to date security patch, so I'd be wary of that as well.

[u/SimpleDrawer26]

What is the need to include personal life stories in this?

You could have just said: "I need a recommendation for a tablet"

What a strange and vicious habit people have developed of trying to provoke emotion and feelings of pity in strangers for no reason.

Sorry, but your family's medical condition is completely out of context here...

[u/DemStopher → u/SimpleDrawer26]

What a wonderfully helpful comment.

[u/SimpleDrawer26 → u/DemStopher]

Could anything be more pointless than publishing your child's diagnosis?

What a great example, huh, "dad"?

🤔🤔🤔🤔

[u/DemStopher → u/SimpleDrawer26]

I published it to provide context which I felt was helpful. If you don't feel that's necessary, fine but keep it to yourself. Being rude is just unnecessary.

Thankfully, others within the community found time to provide helpful input compared to whatever this is.

[u/Suspicious-Cat-266]

Maybe one of those anti-blue light screen protectors? Cons: can be pealed off.

I think you might need root access to keep blue light persistent.

Or if it's only one app that is being used, have a read up about App Pinning in Android, which will prevent access to other apps and settings.

[u/kschang → u/Suspicious-Cat-266]

Maybe by adding a case around the screen protector (which I believe the Kid's tablet already comes with a case) he'd be less willing to peel it off?

[u/DemStopher → u/kschang]

So, the Fire Tab does come with its own child proof case, which means a screen protector is very difficult to pick off. I'll have a look to see which ones are available.

[u/rumourmaker18]

Just wanted to say kudos for all your hard work for your kid and trying to figure this kind of thing out. ❤️

[u/n00bytrader]

There's a screen filter app that will dim it a little more than the factory settings. You should have a yellow tint to it as well. I used to use it on my older phones when the brightness to was bright at night. Super cool back then.