As mobile and entertainment devices surge on to create the best user experience for new technology, it is to no surprise that you probably already own a tablet. More importantly, your kids have been getting accustomed to your precious gadgets.

A recent survey showed that families with kids between the ages 4-14 own an average of 10 different devices, with kids using an average of five of those devices.

The findings were released by market research company, The NPD Group titled Kids and Consumer Electronics: 2012 Edition. The survey shows new trends and statistics for families and their mobile devices.

Video game console usage rates for kids aged 4-14 beat tablet usage, but the past year has seen a hike in tablet usage within that age group, with a 13% increase in usage rate in 2012 as compared to only 3% in 2011.

Tablet usage was noted to be more popular among younger children, thus the survey concluded that it would be wise for tablet makers to create devices simple enough for even a baby to use.

“Kids are using tablets to game, watch movies and TV shows, read books and listen to music-even occasionally for taking pictures- so they have embraced the utility of these devices quite rapidly,” Russ Crupnick, senior vice president, industry analysis, The NPD Group said in a statement. “Older kids also use the tablets for social media and communication, which squarely places these devices at the center for discovery and evangelism of new services and applications, as well as for brands and entertainment of all sorts.”

Portable digital music players like the iPod have declined in popularity in the past year with just 35% of households owning those devices, versus a 48% in 2011.

Gaming systems and portable entertainment units top the list of devices over which children will have the most influence on future device selection. The survey also notes that most buyers also consider “the type of technology and features offered by a new device is nearly as important as low price and good value.”

via Mashable