Alexa, The Best Child Care You Never Knew You Had

Alexa is an incredible resource for parents with kids of all ages. From bedtime routines to keeping household supplies stocked to giving free speech therapy, Alexa can help make parenting a little easier.

Here are 5 ways using Alexa can make you a better parent:

#1. Set up a bedtime Alexa routine for your little ones

Why?

All sleep experts will agree that having a consistent bedtime routine sets your child up for a better night of sleep. And all parents would agree that a better night of sleep for your children = a better night of sleep for you.

With an Alexa routine, you can keep your child’s bedtime ritual the same night after night… so even a new babysitter can do it right.

How?

1. Open the Alexa app and tap the Menu icon (3 horizontal line icon in upper left corner)

2. Select Routines

3. Hit the Create Routine button (+ icon in upper right corner)

4. Enter your go-to voice command for starting your nighttime routine (e.g. “Start [insert your kid’s name] bedtime routine”)

5. Add any of the features you rely on most to get your little one ready for bed

Here’s the bedtime Alexa routine my friend Abby set up for her daughter Lily. When she says “Alexa, start Lily’s bedtime routine,” the below happens:

• Dim lights in Lily’s Room

• Play “Lily’s Sleep Playlist” on Spotify for 5 minutes

• Play “White Noise” from Spotify

• Turn off lights in Lily’s Room

Pro Tips

Pro Tip #1: When the bedtime routine ends, that means Netflix time begins. Use your Fire TV Stick to turn on Netflix by holding the microphone button at the top and saying “Alexa, open Netflix.”

Pro Tip #2: If you haven’t already, update your Alexa settings to link your preferred music service account (like Spotify) to Alexa.

#2. Get free speech therapy

Why?

Between 2 and 4 years old, children can develop a language that only their parents can understand. Aunts, uncles, and grandparents will often ask you to decipher what your children are saying.

With Alexa, children have to speak very clearly to get their desired response.

How?

Let your children control the music selections for the evening, watch a cartoon, or hear a story, all by asking Alexa for it themselves. The more they practice, the more they’ll work on clear diction.

The next time the grandparents come to visit, they’ll be impressed both by their grandkids’ improved pronunciation and their taste in music.

#3. Keep your supplies stocked

Why?

What is it about children that has parents going to the local convenience store twice a day to stock up on diapers, wipes, hand sanitizers, sunscreen, batteries, yo-yo’s, etc.?

Use Alexa to keep your supplies stocked, and you’ll never be left without essentials again. Through Alexa, you can reorder diapers, wipes and other household items.

How?

Simply say, “Alexa, order diapers.”

Alexa will automatically process the sale for the diapers you last ordered. You can also add things to your Alexa shopping list and review them later in your Alexa app and on Amazon.com. So when your toddler has a meltdown because he can’t find his favorite toy, that’s now Alexa’s problem.

Pro Tips

Pro Tip #1: You can easily set up Alexa voice purchasing in the Alexa app. You can even add a 4-digit voice code to confirm Amazon purchases and payments if you want.

Pro Tip #2: If you have an Echo Show (with a screen), Alexa works great for ordering things you’ve never ordered before too.

#4. Start a dance party

Why?

On a cold rainy afternoon when you can’t get to the park, you’ve read all the books in your house, and it seems like you’ll never make it to bedtime… let Alexa save the day.

From Nursery Rhyme Party Time to Disney Junior, Amazon Music has playlists for every age.

How?

Simply ask Alexa to play a kid-friendly playlist from Amazon Music or Spotify, and Alexa will be your sunshine on a cloudy day.

Pro Tips

Pro Tip #1: If your kids run out of dance moves, you can enable the Animal Workout skill, which prompts your children to play their favorite game of pretend animal house.

Pro Tip #2: Once your children have sufficiently destroyed their entertainment space, have Alexa play the Clean Up song.

#5. Homework help

Why?

Alexa has a serious number of homework help skills. Try the Translated skill to translate from English to 37 other languages and the Smart Dictionary skill, which helps children decipher new words.

How?

To use any of these skills, tap the link in this post and select “Enable.” Alternatively, simply search the skill name in the Alexa app (or on Amazon.com) and select “Enable.”

Then, you can easily open the skill on any of your Alexa devices by simply saying “Alexa, open Smart Dictionary” (insert skill name of your choice!)