How secure an OS is depends entirely on the configuration. A Linux install can be less secure than Windows or macOS, if configured so.
Linux tends to be more secure OOTB because distro devs tend to be security conscious. Android is also fairly secure, since it has no root access, sandboxes applications to a degree, and has other hardening employed. However, Android is also very vast and built for various devices by many manufacturers, so it also depends on them.
OP doesn't say how old their kids are. Could be teens with plenty of aptitude, but if they're younger....the switch may be the better option.
As for emulation, I was more just was saying it's possible. For single player games it's fine, if done legally.
Yes this is true. I'll edit my original post.
There is no "TV version". The switch docks to a docking station to make it output to a TV. You just need a docking station and controllers to make a single Switch into a shared screen experience in the living room. Anyone's Switch can use the dock.
Physical games are sharable, but only one device can use that game at a time, because they're physical cartridges.
Personally, I'd go with a Steam Deck over a Switch, unless your family specifically is looking to play Switch games that are exclusive to it (which technically with emulation the Steam Deck can also play, but that's not legal unless you own a switch and the game). The nice thing about Steam games is that Steam's Families feature lets you share the entire game library digitally to 5 family members, so unless they want to play the same game at once, you only buy games once and they can all play them. There are also some games that let you own one copy and let multiple people play multiplayer at once on it, too.
Plus, games on Steam are cheaper than Switch games and the Steam Deck is only a bit more money upfront than a Switch is, especially on sale, which I expect it to be on sale for Black Friday coming up.
Finally, Steam games also can be played on a PC. Any PC. The Steam Deck is just an easy to use, skinned UI PC. As such, when the Steam Deck becomes obsolete, you don't have a bunch of games that are now locked to an obsolete platform. There are PC games that are decades old that still play on PCs today (although sometimes a bit of fiddling is required for REALLY old ones).
Edit:
FYI the regular switch and OLED can dock. The switch lite cannot.
Not really news. It's been floating around 2% for a while.
Look....it's a shit mouse, but all you had to do is press on the right-front corner for right click after you configured it to do so.
I hated the thing and would never get one again, but if you're going to criticize it, at least point out things that are actually a problem.
I had a first gen Magic Mouse and you could definitely add right click to it.
And they still put the port on the bottom where you can't charge and use it at the same time. Garbage.
Don't forget accounting software. And Pixel art maker. And Eve Online interface.
Hopefully this is sarcasm
Wow. It's almost like we've been warning for years that putting backdoors into software, systems, and encryption would allow nefarious parties to exploit them.
Debian and Linux Mint.
Debian for mission critical stuff like servers or things I don't want to futz with, like HTPCs, work machines, etc.
Mint for my gaming desktop because it's a bit newer on kernels and such.