The Mini Ipad can provide all of the features of a regular Ipad, but without all of the complexities. Every adult already knows how complicated a Mac or a Smartphone already is! These are things that your child, even at the age of 11, might not be prepared for. There is also the factor of the Mini version being more child-friendly in that parents can have more control over what is downloaded onto it, and there are other parental features included.