Can Amazon Echo Dot for Kids Reduce Screen Usage Time?
Since my preschooler’s internal clock still doesn’t remember that we sleep on weekends, my husband and I usually let her watch TV or play on the iPad while we slowly crawl out of bed. Although her screen time is limited on weekdays, it increases on Saturday and Sunday mornings, which I don’t always like because it somehow creates a slight moodiness for the whole day. This time, however, when she burst into our room at 7 a.m., I took her hand and led her to a red hockey puck-sized device that was waiting for us at the kitchen table. “We’re hanging out with Aleca today,” I told her.
Specifically, we tested the new kids version of Alexa, Amazon’s voice-activated digital assistant. It’s in the Echo Dot Kids Edition released this month. Updated for younger kids , this Alexa is a “DJ, comedian, and storyteller for kids” who can read stories, play music, tell jokes, answer questions, and remind little Otis to put on his pajamas. Some people call it the digital nanny. “I prefer to see him as a fun, always available cruise director.
“Alexa, good morning,” my daughter greeted him.
“Good morning,” he replied. “Do you know what I like the most to talk in the morning? “Cheerio” because it’s a way to say hello and a kind of cereal. So silly.”
Childlike Alexa’s tone seems more fun and overall more upbeat than the sometimes cocky original Alexa – Kurt Biedler, director of children and family at Amazon, tells me the team consulted with childhood experts to create a language that’s age appropriate and helpful. … By answering factual questions, he adds a bit of personality.
“Alexa, how far is the moon?” we asked.
He replied. “The distance from the Moon to the Earth is 239,000 miles or 384,000 kilometers. Wow! This moon-leaping cow must have strong legs.
When we played with Alexa, we started without a cheat sheet, we just asked her to “play the game”, “read the story” and “tell a joke.” And we quickly felt a little stuck. The default games for young children, including Freeze the Dancer and Simon Says, are cute but mechanical – you can try them as a party trick when friends come, but nothing more. As with the original Alexa, you really need to know what you’re looking for in order to get the most out of it. Parents should check out these downloadable posters , which will suggest specific activities based on the age of the child. For example, No Way That True is an energetic quiz game from Nickelodeon. Disney Stories includes audio stories about Elsa, Minnie and other characters. And Name This Animal by National Geographic Kids gives you clues about different animals as you try to guess which animal it is. My husband continued to play this game long after everyone else left the room: “I’m so good at this!” he did not brag to anyone.
My daughter listened to audiobooks as she drew at the kitchen table: Clifford’s Big Red Dog , Corduroy Rabbit , Pig, Pig Grows, and Pinkerton Behavior . The fact that Dot gives you access to over 300 Audible children’s books as part of a FreeTime Unlimited year is very good for me – we love audiobooks and can easily browse multiple books a day.
But what impressed me the most was the ‘choose your own adventure’ sound. After examining a few of them – You and the Beanstalk and Loud House Call – I am in awe of the potential of this vehicle for immersing children in history. In these skills, they interact with characters and influence the course of events. In You and the Beanstalk , co-produced by Earplay and WBUR, children “climb a beanstalk” as protagonists and make decisions along the way. (“Will you go to the castle, to the farm, or listen to music from the pond?”) Rebecca Scheir, co-author of WBUR’s Circle Round, one of my favorite podcasts for children, says – the story combines music and sound effects and is simply beautifully done. Listen to a sample here:
Nickelodeon ‘s The Loud House Challenge , designed for older kids, is just as interactive as the kids help the protagonist, Lincoln, cope with difficult situations by solving increasingly difficult puzzles that all ten of his sisters are asking. I love that these stories are stimulating, encouraging young listeners to pay attention to the smallest details.
Three hours after playing with the Echo Dot Kids Edition, I realized that we had never looked at the screen. This is promising for me.
Think kids need a personal AI assistant? Of course not. Am I wary of smart devices aimed at young users in terms of privacy and growing dependence on them by children? Is always. But I’m always looking for ways parents can get to know digital media with their kids. I look forward to seeing creators and storytellers take on this new technology.