As smart technology becomes a part of everyday life, many parents wonder whether Alexa is suitable for kids. Alexa offers fun and educational features. That said, it’s important to ensure a safe experience for children. In this guide, we’ll explore how to set up parental controls on Alexa for kids, the best kid-friendly features, and tips for safe usage.
Is Alexa Safe for Kids? What Are Parents’ Concerns?
Parents often have concerns about voice assistants like Alexa, especially when it comes to privacy, content control, and screen-free interaction. According to an article, one big concern about Alexa is privacy because AI assistants collect data, which could put children’s personal information at risk. To keep kids safe, we need to ensure AI is used in a way that protects their rights while also helping them learn and grow. Here are other common worries parents have reported:
- Inappropriate content: Without filters, Alexa may access music, news, or information that isn’t suitable for kids.
- Unintended purchases: Children can accidentally order items or access premium content if parental controls aren’t enabled.
- Overuse: Like any technology, excessive use of Alexa can impact screen-free play and real-world interactions.
Thankfully, Amazon provides several tools to make Alexa safer for kids. Let’s explore how you can set up parental controls to ensure a worry-free experience.
Can You Set Parental Controls on Alexa?
Yes! Amazon offers parental control options that help limit Alexa’s capabilities and create a safer environment for children. This way, parents can ensure their children use Alexa properly and safely.
How to Set Up Alexa Parental Controls
To activate parental controls, follow these simple steps:
- To enable Amazon Kids on Alexa, open the Alexa app on your phone. Go to Devices > Echo & Alexa > Select the device your child will use. Tap Amazon Kids and toggle it ON.
- To set up the parental dashboard, open the Amazon Parent Dashboard at parents.amazon.com. Adjust settings like content restrictions, bedtime limits, and voice recording options.
- For more control, use Amazon Kids+ (formerly FreeTime), which offers kid-friendly content, such as books, audiobooks, and music. You can set time limits and control what content is accessible.
- To disable voice purchasing, go to Alexa App > Settings > Account Settings > Voice Purchasing. Then, turn off the feature or set a PIN for purchases.
- To filter explicit content, go to Settings > Music & Podcasts > Explicit Filter and enable it to block inappropriate content.
What Can Alexa Do for Kids? Fun & Educational Features
Alexa isn’t just for setting reminders or playing music. It can be a great educational tool and entertainment source for children. Here are some of the best features parents can take advantage of.
- Interactive storytelling: Alexa can read bedtime stories and even allow kids to choose different endings with interactive storytelling skills.
- Educational games & quizzes: Kids can play fun and safe games like spelling bees, math quizzes, and trivia.
- Homework help: Alexa can help with spelling, definitions, and even basic math problems.
- Music & audiobooks: With Amazon Kids+, children can listen to age-appropriate songs and audiobooks.
- Daily routines & alarms: Parents can set up morning and bedtime routines, such as turning on calming music at night or setting wake-up alarms.
Tips for Using Alexa Safely with Kids
To make the most out of Alexa while keeping your child’s experience safe, follow these best practices:
- Keep the device in the living room or kitchen, as it allows parents to monitor its usage.
- Explain to your child that Alexa is a smart assistant and shouldn’t be used for sharing personal information.
- Limit Alexa use to certain times of the day to prevent over-reliance.
- You can check voice recordings and delete them if needed by going to Alexa App > Settings > Alexa Privacy.
- Consider using parental control on Amazon Echo, which comes with built-in kid-friendly features.
Final Word
Alexa can be a great addition to your child’s learning and entertainment, but safety should always come first. Now that you know how to set up parental controls on Alexa, you can make it a valuable and safe assistant for your kids.
For even more control over your child’s digital safety, you can use Safes, our parental control app. Safes is a better alternative to Windows parental controls, allowing you to monitor and manage your child’s online activity, screen time, and device usage across multiple platforms.
Download Safes today for Android and iOS to ensure your child’s online safety! You can also use our free trial to test the features in advance!
