Your Amazon Echo Can Actually Help You Parent With These 9 Hacks Because Technology Rules

Updated on March 31, 2018 at 11:55 AM

Right now, my Amazon Echo is sitting in my living room, waiting to be utilized as a glorified speaker and kitchen timer when I get home later and ask it to play my cooking playlist, then set an oven timer. I know that there are other people like me out there who aren't using their dear friend Alexa to her fullest capabilities — especially parents. As it turns out, Alexa can be quite the ally for moms and dads through a number of useful skills she's able to learn, whether she's settling sibling fights or telling your little ones a bedtime story.

Get ready to hack your parenting and give your tech-savvy kids a run for their money with these nine tips.

You can ask Alexa to:

Settle a sibling fight. If your kids are in the midst of their 30th fight of the day, you can ask Alexa to settle it with the Kids Courtskill. She'll mediate by asking what the fight is about, asking follow-up questions, and making an impartial ruling.
Read your child a bedtime story. Bedtime routines are among the hardest for most parents to get through, so let Alexa help you by asking her to read a bedtime story and she'll read an original, kid-friendly short story.
To play sleep sounds. After the bedtime story is over, ask Alexa to play soothing sounds to help your little ones fall asleep. There are many ambient sound skills available that will allow Alexa to play white noise, rain sounds, and more.
Help your kids brush their teeth. Within the dreaded bedtime (and morning) routine, Alexa can help make teeth brushing less painful for all parties. Ask her to help your kids with The Tooth Fairy skill and she'll encourage your kids with positive messages and play music to help with timing.
To print a coloring page. As soon as you hear an "I'm bored," ask Alexa to print a coloring page on your HP printer, and she'll use the HP Printer skill to to print preinstalled pages like a Crayola coloring page, a word search game, or bingo cards.
To help you get out the door in the morning. The closest rival to the bedtime routine, the morning routine is another thing Alexa can help with. If you're struggling to get your kids out the door in one piece, enable the Out the Doorskill and Alexa will make everything from getting dressed to packing their backpack a fun mission for your kids to complete.
To make a chore list. Help your kiddo keep track of their various chores by asking Alexa to start a chore list. You can add things to the list and ask her to check each one off as they go.

To get your kids moving with music and exercise games. Alexa can help your kids get the wiggles out through skills like Music Bop, which gets kids moving and learning, and Animal Workout, which walks kids through funny workouts while pretending to be animals.
To be your family's timekeeper. Whether you want to time your child to make a game out of cleaning the play room or ask Alexa to carve out screen time, just ask Alexa to set a timer. For example, "Alexa, set a 20-minute screen time timer." The child can then ask how much time they have left.