Christmas just passed with a hole bunch of gift giving. This wealthy family always overdo and gave our young one a tablet but he's far from being mature enough to use one of those properly without destroying it. Do you think I should let him have it anyway because its his gift or keep it until he's responsible enough?
Not all gift givers think like you do and they may be after impressing more than anything else. Maybe you can sit with him and play the tablet together after downloading one of those games for children. It will probably end up as a really good learning tool.
Not a parent, but based on the mistakes I've seen others make:
-A tool like that can be a very potent tool for child development, it can teach them to be responsible and intuitive thinkers, or it can make them spoiled brats with few developed skills. Proper supervision is the main key to finding a more palatable outcome.
-Related to the above, set strict limits on access right from the start. The pad is theirs, but it doesn't turn on without your say so.
I agree that your child getting a tablet could actually be a good thing, if you make sure to set proper expectations and set it up right to help make sure they cannot download any apps they shouldn't or got to websites that may bring problems. Monitoring the child's use of the tablet is definitely a good start.
I would, at least in part, be more concerned with how much time the child is on it, though also how they use it. Perhaps set certain rules on how it is used, but don't simply keep it away from them until they are older.
It was a gift, they should be able to enjoy it.