When I got my iPad, I immediately put it into an XGEAR Shield (Polycarbonate shell and bumper, see here:
http://www.xgearlive.com/products/ipad/pad-shield ) and put a screen protector on it, because the main users are my 2 boys aged 8 and 7.
Now, of course it does not look/feel so nice and sleek as the iPad 2 or the ones without such protection, but on the other hand it has kept it alive and through quite a few bumps and drops so far :-)
Best regards,
Andy