This Smart Home Automation Could Make Christmas Even More Magical for Kids
Christmas is just around the corner, and if you celebrate the holiday and have kids, they’re probably feeling a little excited right now. There’s all sorts of magic built into the holidays, but if you’re trying to keep your kids entertained and are tired of managing the antics of the Elf on the Shelf, why not enlist the help of your home assistant and smart home technology?
Alexa can help your child talk to Santa
Unlike other voice assistants, Alexa requires you to turn on their holiday features. You can do this by asking “Alexa, turn on ‘Hey Santa!'” or in the Alexa app, go to Skills & Games, search for “Santa” and tap “Santa Holiday for Alexa.”
Once you do this, you and your family will be able to talk to Santa the same way you would if you were talking to Alexa. Some basic requests that work: “Hey Santa, tell me a story,” “Hey Santa, tell me news about the North Pole,” “Hey Santa, tell me about your reindeer,” and “Hey Santa, sing karaoke.” .
Siri can answer kids’ questions about Santa
Apple’s voice assistant does not require special activation; ask him questions about Santa and he might be able to give an answer that will satisfy your kids. Some examples that have already been tested: “Hey Siri, where is Santa?”, “Hey Siri, is Santa coming?”, “Hey Siri, what do you want/what are you doing for Christmas?” and “Hey Siri, what are you doing for Christmas?” call Santa.
Google Assistant has direct communication with the North Pole
Like Siri, Google Assistant is already set up to help kids find out what Santa is up to. Your kids might ask, “Hey Google, what’s going on at the North Pole?” and every day they will receive news from the elf, just as adults can receive Google news every morning. You can also ask Google to call Santa: just ask, “Hey Google, call Santa.” Santa can also read the Christmas story when asked, or tell you about Christmas activities if you ask, “Google, what Christmas activities do you have planned?”
Use automation to protect hidden gifts from prying eyes.
If you store wrapped gifts in a closet, a special room, or even under the tree, you can protect them from curious children with smart home automation. First, add a vibration sensor to your gift stack. Then, in your home automation system (any of the above will work, such as Google, Homekit, or Alexa), add an action if the sensor detects motion. You can turn the lights in the room on and off; you can sound an alarm on your assistant’s speakers; you can record your voice (or Santa’s voice!) warning the intruder to stop or Santa will deliver the coal to them instead.
Use an occupancy sensor for Christmas morning
If you’re having a hard time getting the kids to sleep on Christmas morning (or at least stay in bed), this automation will help. You will need a presence sensor in the room with the Christmas tree and gifts. As with the procedure above, you are going to set up a procedure or automation. If the presence sensor detects motion between 4 and 10 a.m. (or whatever time you set), follow these steps. It’s up to you, but I would suggest recording Santa saying he’s still working, or your voices telling the kids it’s not time yet.
Smart lighting and microphone provide an interactive light show.
Think about holiday lights that are smart and respond to sound: if you stand next to the lights and sing or just talk, the lights will move with your voices. Govee sells a microphone (they call it a “music synchronizer”) for their lights that can be used with indoor or outdoor lighting . Last year I set up a microphone on the sidewalk with kid-friendly instruments and a sign; Children passing by played instruments into a microphone, and in response to their playing, the house lit up.