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Original poster

Four year old wants an Alexa for Christmas

141 replies

QueenoftheDay · 17/11/2019 21:43

Is this a stupid idea? Because it’s down to £35 on Amazon just now and I can’t decide whether to order it for her or not.

She was at my sisters house today and they were playing with Alexa there. She was asking her sums and spelling and playing Disney songs etc. She has not stopped talking about Alexa since we got home.

I’m just not sure. I mean it would need to stay downstairs in the living room or kitchen because I don’t think I’d want her to have it unsupervised (is that daft? I don’t actually know much about them!) but then it seems like it isn’t really a gift for her. But then I wouldn’t even have considered buying one if she hadn’t been so keen?

Any thoughts??

OP posts:
Contraceptionismyfriend · 18/11/2019 07:31

The one I've always believed regarding the meteor in Mexico. Believed due to the particles found in the soil that are also found in space.

No. I have shit to do. Clothes to wash and put away. Floors to clean.
I am on mat leave. So I am with my kids all of the bloody time.
Alexa has been fantastic at giving me some fucking breathing space.

If you lot don't like it fine. But we love it. And I want to get more.

RachelEllenR · 18/11/2019 07:51

We love Alexa in our house too. We have one in the family room and my 6 and 4 year old really like it and mainly use it to play music or games. My 6 year old will be allowed one in her bedroom soon for stories and music and will be set so she can't use it overnight and the explicit filter is already turned on. I use it for radio/timers/music all the time.

MartyrGuacamole · 18/11/2019 07:52

My dd(7) and ds(5) both have dots in their rooms. They listen to audiobooks every night, have smart plugs for their lights so they can ask Alexa to turn them on and off and love being able to choose music To play on their rooms. Oldest has developed a love of Ariana grande and rock music. The explicit filter is on. I can monitor everything through the app. I think they're fab. Dd got hers for Christmas last year and uses it a lot.

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Behaviour & development
Stuboo · 18/11/2019 08:01

My daughter has one in her room and she's 3. She asks it to turn her lamp on or her bedroom fan. It also plays nursery songs while she's getting to sleep

Whathappenedtothelego · 18/11/2019 08:16

We have found Alexa very useful.
Main use is playing audiobooks with a sleep timer, but there are lots of other handy things.
Dd (7) asks about the weather and dresses accordingly, sets a timer for brushing her teeth, listens to music (we have a subscription), and enjoys playing various games - both actual games and ones of her own devising using Alexa as a fact checker.

I like the alarm function, I also use it when cooking to time various bits of a more complicated meal (Alexa will definitely be helping me to cook Christmas dinner).
Yes, I could do all those things on my phone, but it's handy to have something hands free sometimes.

It's basically a glorified radio or CD player, but it's fun.

CosmoK · 18/11/2019 08:28

My 5 year old loves ours. I bought it to mainly use as a speaker as we play lots of music and have lots of parties - it's great that guests can request music. The quizzes have been fun too. It's small enough to be portable so comes on holiday with us.

I really don't think we're at the stage where Alexa is parenting our kids 😂😂

Passmeabrew · 18/11/2019 09:25

We have the Google versions and our children (Inc the 4 yr old) are having one for their rooms for Christmas. They love them, they use them mainly for music and little reminders and tbh I don't think the 4 year old will use her own as much as the older one will, but we couldn't really get one without the other and I think she definitely will as time goes on. Plus she has a high bed so will be handy for her not having to climb in and out to turn off the lights. I'm not going to lie, I am looking forward to being able to send then a message via it when I'm cooking in the kitchen or something and don't want to have to shout or leave what I'm doing......yes I know that makes me lazy but if that's the worst crime I'm going to commit then I can live with that GrinGrin

AutumnRose1 · 18/11/2019 09:32

“ I just can’t really see the harm in it”

If you’re really okay with a listening device in your home, then...why?!!

BreadSauceHmm · 18/11/2019 09:42

My 4 yr & 2yr old find Alexa interesting but prefer their IPad Grin

Contraceptionismyfriend · 18/11/2019 09:57

@AutumnRose1 I'm OK with it. I commit no crimes and nothing that interesting happens.

MamaToTheBabyBears · 18/11/2019 10:06

I wouldn't. But I know younger children with tablets which I also wouldn't do.

ritzbiscuits · 18/11/2019 10:14

I wouldn't buy one for her personally, but as a family present.

My 6 yo asks our Google Home speaker questions to help with his homework. It's a bit alien to us oldies, but it's most likely that voice will be primary search method for this generation.

legoiseverywhere · 18/11/2019 10:22

I commit no crimes and nothing that interesting happens.

I don't think most of us are on or plan to be on the FBIs most wanted list however there are legitimate concerns re what Amazon do with the data they record & how they protect it.

Moma4 · 18/11/2019 13:42

They can be a pain but if you can get a freebie try that I got one through amazon music giving one out at 99p if you signed up for a month at 8.99 some folk have them on sale for 20 quid look out for a used one instead of spending a lot as with most kids they loose interest mines good for the hubby as he has memory issues x

notmytea · 18/11/2019 13:48

My 4yo has a dot in her room, she only uses it to turn her lights on in the morning and for audiobooks at night. You can add parental controls so she can't order stuff or hear inappropriate songs.

notmytea · 18/11/2019 13:49

Oh but it is good for drop in mode so we so don't have to shout around the house, which I hate doing.

CottonSock · 18/11/2019 13:49

We have them, but not in kids rooms. To get the most out of them you need to pay for Amazon music imo.

IAcceptCookies · 18/11/2019 16:14

I got a dot for Christmas a couple of years ago. Hadn't been interested, but really liked it. Got another dot when they were discounted. DCs (13 and 9) squirreled them away in their rooms, so we got a big echo for downstairs.
The DC listen to music, books, play games, set alarms and I usually put a timer on when I get them up so they know they have a deadline and get on with it!

They only listen when they hear the trigger word (so they claim!)

Whatever you do, don't watch a Russian history documentary within earshot of an Alexa, like we did - with all those Alexander's, Alexei's and Alexandra's, Alexa kept piping up thinking "she" was being spoken to! Grin

AutumnRose1 · 18/11/2019 16:16

“ They only listen when they hear the trigger word (so they claim!) ”

How do you think they hear the trigger word?

AlternativePerspective · 18/11/2019 16:29

I'm OK with it. I commit no crimes and nothing that interesting happens. so you never read out your credit card details over the phone or to anyone? Have never given out your date of birth when e.g. calling your mobile provider? It doesn’t have to be a crime for personal data to make it into the ether and it’s not just up there with the FBI.

It honestly astounds me how quickly and readily people will compromise their data and their identity and personal information to the nearest gadget provider. And IMO the same applies to people who are so happy to post their DNA off to the likes of ancestry.

ActualHornist · 18/11/2019 16:37

I’d get it as a family present. We have one, it’s good for timers and radio in the kitchen.

Contraceptionismyfriend · 18/11/2019 16:38

I am honestly not bothered of Alexa place in our home.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 18/11/2019 16:39

I work in a relevant field and none of my technical colleagues or I will have an Alexa/Google home etc.

You are the product being bought.

Even if you think "I'm so boring people wouldn't be interested".

Contraceptionismyfriend · 18/11/2019 16:39

That's fine. I get a lot out of Alexa so the pros outweigh it for me.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 18/11/2019 16:44

legitimate concerns re what Amazon do with the data they record & how they protect it.

It was only in the last month or two that Amazon begrudgingly agreed to allow people to request their data be deleted. And they only did that because they got caught illegally accessing individual conversations.

But even then it is up to the person to jump the hoops to do it and there were a bunch of caveats and loopholes.

Why would amazon need to set up those loopholes like that if so reputable and harmless?