Alexa for 5 and 6 year olds

[Helpel]

Hello mumsnetters, my daughters are 5&6 and have started asking for an Alexa for Christmas after hearing about it from friends/kids youtube. Does anyone have any experience of getting an Alexa (echo dot) for this age child? Any concerns over inappropriate content? Or even what happens if they start asking "is Santa real?"!! Also I know they do a kids version - what are they like as an alternative?

[SomethingBeginningWithX]

Our 5 year old has one and he listens to Audible at night. He absolutely adores it. It's also useful for communication throughout the house (tall townhouse) as it can call our phones, which he loves doing.

Our 3yo has a Yoto which is also really cool and doesn't listen in etc. The 3yo does shout instructions at it like an Alexa though

[careerchangeperhaps]

@parietal

I'd never get an Alexa for kids (or adults). It means Amazon is listening in to you all the time which is freaky. Keep some privacy in your home.

This.

[Sally872]

Alexa is awesome and very diplomatic about Santa. Also nicely vague about elves arriving.

There are some games, jokes, fart noises, mainly used to play music. I don't know how they would access anything inappropriate.

[ThirdElephant]

My three year old has one. Not bought for her, we just had a spare and thought it'd be useful for bedtime. It's been in her room for a couple of months now. No issues thus far, even though DD isn't actually all that clear a speaker yet- it understands her well most of the time.

[Saladcreamormayo]

we got an Alexa last Christmas mainly for the dc it was a novelty for about 2 weeks then it was never bothered with. I personally don't find it very useful and doesn't seem to know anything you ask it anyway so it's a bit rubbish to be honest. if you have a phone with Google on then just use that it's much better.

[AliceMcK]

My DDs have had them since they first came out. They listed to audio books, music, jokes, ask random questions, we play the Harry Potter quiz each day.

[Helpel]

Thanks all! On balance - gonna get one

[Fet2021duejuly2022]

They’re so little, do they really need technology?

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

My kids have them in their rooms (6yrs, 4yrs and 3yrs) they are used predominantly for listening to misic and audio books but the eldest uses it to ask homework related questions and the younger 2 use it for musical statues and disney quizzes.

[Evesgarden]

We have an alexa, youngest is five.

"Alexa do a fart noise'
"Alexa phone dad'
"Alexa play pink'
"Alexa is it going to rain today'
"Alexa how big is an elephant'
"Alexa talk to the living room' ( we have one in the living room and one in the kids room - her voice will just come through and ask for a drink)

We also have bedtimes alarms so Alexa will tell my youngest to go to bed She will also tell my youngest to put her shoes on at set time for school She listens to Alexas promps more than mine!

Amazon stories are expensive though!

[cliffdiver]

Our DDs love theirs.

Just remember to deactivate notifications for Amazon shipping if you order birthday / Christmas presents through Amazon.

[FoggySpecs]

I work in tech and refuse to have them in my home.

[ThirdElephant]

@FoggySpecs

I work in tech and refuse to have them in my home.

DH works in tech and we have 4.

Anyone else care to jump on with their profession and number of Alexas?

[Fet2021duejuly2022]

Alexia’s are bloody irritating. I’ve been to a friends house with them and I want to smash them with a baseball bat

[PurplePosies]

They're great, DS (7) is getting one but he's been pinching our bedroom one for a while. If you're worried about the listening aspect, turn it off and set to not record. It's not difficult!