https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 20:30:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927844 Tue, 03 Jan 2023 09:29:54 +0000 josina 2927844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JJ2626: I don't use Spotify but I do believe you can hook it up on Google Nest. My kids usually use either iheartradio or youtube music. They can make specific requests on you tube music, so your DD could easily say "play taylor swift on you tube music" and it would pull it up. I assume it would work the same for spotify. The sound quality is great too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927808 Wed, 21 Dec 2022 14:49:14 +0000 JJ2626 2927808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Late to this but trying to figure out what to do for my almost 5 yo. She loves music. Disney, but also regular grown up music. We just use Spotify and sonos now but I would love for her to do it on her own. Does either the google nest or echo connect to Spotify? I want her to be able to say play Taylor swift! Or should I just sit the yoto or tonies? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927807 Wed, 21 Dec 2022 11:08:22 +0000 josina 2927807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I ended up buying the Google Nest Hub for both kiddos (50% off now) - It has the music apps, you tube, netflix, etc. so I'm hoping we'll get lots of use out of it without any extra subscriptions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927676 Thu, 01 Dec 2022 20:41:10 +0000 lady baltimore 2927676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Others have given lots of good feedback, so I will just add that we do NOT have an Amazon music subscription, and our Dots still get plenty of use. You can listen to lots of music without a subscription, and our six year old uses the one in her room to listen to Audible books while she falls asleep, and occasionally podcasts. (Our Audible subscription is not active, but she still has access to all of the books that we got for her when we had it.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927667 Mon, 28 Nov 2022 16:49:59 +0000 Chuckles 2927667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We also love our Echo dot for the kids. We got one initially for my son when he was 7 and now my 3 year old uses it, too. We mostly use it for music, but you can also ask Alexa to tell you a joke (that gets a lot of use), or to make animal noises, plus you can play podcasts on it. And it can mostly understand my 3 year old, so she also loves asking it to play favorite songs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927666 Mon, 28 Nov 2022 14:58:51 +0000 SteelerGirl 2927666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids each have an echo dot in their rooms and they are obsessed. Highly recommend. However, we do have amazon music. The dot is really affordable so if I were you I would downgrade to the dot, and pay for amazon music. I think it would have no problem understanding a 5.5 yr old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927655 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:41:53 +0000 catgirl 2927655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: my DD has just the regular dot - so no screen to watch anything on. I think there are some back and forth type games she could play but she has never been interested. I think the kids+ subscription is definitely worth it, and I think it would be hard to go from having it to not. They would lose access to a lot of music and books. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927654 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:36:42 +0000 Anagram 2927654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: My kids use the echo all the time. We do pay for amazon music subscription, but we have like 4 dots and we only have one enabled with the unlimited amazon music, so sometimes the kids move that one Echo around the house to wherever they are. They use it ALL THE TIME. they are 7 and 9 now but we've had it for probably 4 years.</p> <p>They listen to music literally daily. My oldest is in choir and school orchestra/band and my youngest takes piano and voice lessons, so they use it to listen to songs they are learning, they also use it for "leisure" music listening, and they use it to listen to audio books that I buy for them. The audio books are an expense, but they transfer from the car to home and it's better to me than screen time. They also use Alexa for asking the weather daily, setting timers daily, setting reminders, and we have it set up to call us on voice command, so now we go out and run quick errands and leave the kids home alone, and they can use Alexa to call us. And we can use it to drop in on them.</p> <p>I personally use the drop in feature constantly. I'll be in the living room and drop in our the Echo in their room, so I don't have to yell across the house. So if they are listening to music or a book in their room, it interrupts that and I can talk to them and say "Come to the table, dinner is ready" or whatever. </p> <p>We have a weekend house, so if I'm at once house and my husband is at the other, we use the echo to drop in and talk to the kids, etc. There are really so many uses now that we've had it so long. My husband found a good deal once a few years back and ended up buying like 6--I thought it was nuts at the time. But now I'm kind of used to having 3 at each house and communicating and setting timers with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927653 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:34:32 +0000 josina 2927653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Thanks for the info! Yes, the kids version comes with 1 year free subscription but I don't think we'd renew it after that so wondering if that would kill the fun.<br /> Can you play games or watch videos on it (like you tube kids through a browser?) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927652 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:30:07 +0000 josina 2927652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: She has a kindle with pandora on it but I think thats the only music app. The cd player I'm looking at does have bluetooth so thats a bonus for the cd player I guess. </p> <p>I have the Shrek soundtrack from the first movie and thats a hit, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927651 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:25:59 +0000 catgirl 2927651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD is almost 8, she got an echo dot for her room at 6.5 or 7. We have an Amazon kids+ subscription which applies to her kindle fire and her echo dot (even though she has a regular dot not one of the kids edition, though I believe you get one free year of the subscription if you buy the kids echo dot). </p> <p>With the subscription she doesn't have ads on her device, she can't be asked if she wants to buy anything, and there are parental controls on what she can listen to. We are prime members but no not have amazon music unlimited. So she listens to music but also audio books and podcasts. She uses it as her alarm, to check the weather, to learn silly jokes, and as an intercom to our living room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927650 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:17:07 +0000 josina 2927650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hitchhiker: 5 1/2. We would consider getting one for my son too who is 8. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927649 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:07:44 +0000 PinkElephant 2927649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends on what she wants to hear. Even with our prime subscription, my daughters keep running into things that Alexa tells them they need to pay to hear (random things, like the theme song to the show "Shake it Up", some Taylor Swift, etc.) Although they love broadcasting music on the Echo Dots in our house, I think our family Spotify subscription serves them better....but that would require that your daughter has some sort of device (phone/tablet).</p> <p>I love that she loves your old CD collection - my 10 year old is super into my old school ipod Nano (from when they first came out with the video screens) - it hasn't been updated since 2010 and has some real gems. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927648 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 13:27:51 +0000 hitchhiker 2927648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How old is your DD? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazon-echo-for-kids#post-2927647 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 12:48:48 +0000 josina 2927647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I am almost the least tech savvy person ever - I still use and love my countertop cd player in the kitchen (although I do bluetooth music to it from my phone).</p> <p>DD loves to switch out cds (my collection from the 90's &amp; 2000's :grin: ). </p> <p>For Christmas I'm debating between getting her own cd player (with bonus microphone), or an Amazon Echo. </p> <p>Which would you choose? Who loves the Echo? We do have Prime, but not Amazon music so I'm concerned about how much music she could actually play. She is in speech still so not sure how well Echo will understand her voice commands. </p> <p>What can she do on the Echo? It would obviously be our first in the house so I'm clueless as to capabilities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923916 Fri, 28 May 2021 14:15:27 +0000 LadyDi 2923916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: @Chuckles: Same. I have similar feelings about Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923915 Fri, 28 May 2021 13:48:18 +0000 Chuckles 2923915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: 100% about Dax. His narcissism is intense. I also enjoyed it for awhile, but I can't listen anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923911 Fri, 28 May 2021 11:09:42 +0000 Corduroy 2923911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the suggestions! Sorry I've been busy with trying to wrap up work pre-vacation. I'll start downloading. </p> <p>Throwing out a suggestion for the true crime followers, I recently binged In Your Own Backyard which follows the disappearance of a college freshman in 1996ish. I went to the school shortly thereafter and followed the case for years and they finally made an arrest in the case (thanks to the podcast?). It's very local for me so I'm not sure how it holds up to a wider audience.</p> <p>@lady baltimore: My husband watches a show where guys sit around talking about bad movies so your suggestions might be right up his alley. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923910 Fri, 28 May 2021 10:05:36 +0000 erinbaderin 2923910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lady baltimore: Oh man, Armchair Expert - for me I started out loving it and then over time switched over, because I just can't take Dax. It makes me sad because I liked the podcast but his need to make everything about him infuriates me. I went back for one more try with the Prince Harry episode and when he cut him off talking about his time in Afghanistan to talk about when he, Dax, was "lucky enough to go to Afghanistan TWICE" on USO tours I saw red. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923905 Fri, 28 May 2021 07:05:50 +0000 LadyDi 2923905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am listening to an audiobook for Hidden Valley Road and I think it's so good. It's nonfiction, about a family with 12 children and 6 of them ended up with schizophrenia. Kind of terrifying as a parent, but I think it's so interesting and well-written (and read). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923904 Thu, 27 May 2021 21:39:19 +0000 lady baltimore 2923904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Someone else mentioned You're Wrong About, and that is probably my favorite podcast right now.</p> <p>If you are into pop culture, The Great American Pop Culture Quiz Show is fun (and interactive - if you want to throw them a couple bucks on Patreon, you can even get "empty studio" episodes so you and DH can play along without the answers being spoiled).</p> <p>This Podcast Will Kill You if either of you are science nerds.</p> <p>For audiobooks, I am a big fan of Bill Bryson, and think he has fairly wide appeal. He also has a pretty extensive catalogue, so you should be able to find something to suit your interests.</p> <p>ETA: Also, I feel like Dax Shephard's Armchair Expert is either a "hate it" or "love it", so maybe check that out and see where you land.</p> <p>Which also reminds me of I Hate It but I Love It (comedy movie reviews) and How Did This Get Made? (same, but totally different vibe). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923901 Thu, 27 May 2021 15:06:55 +0000 jennlin821 2923901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you are looking for audiobooks, my absolute favorite is the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett. The first book is Fall of Giants.<br /> The trilogy start just before WWI and goes through the late 80s. You get to live through all the events of the 20th century though the eyes of upper class british, lower class british, American, German, and Russian families. The version I have from audible is narrated by my favorite narrator John Lee. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923900 Thu, 27 May 2021 11:06:48 +0000 Mommy Finger 2923900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved the show Scrubs so I've been into the podcast "Fake Doctors, Real Friends". Also, I was just turned onto "Smart Less" which is Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes. They're hilarious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923890 Wed, 26 May 2021 13:04:50 +0000 Umbreon 2923890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did you watch and enjoy the office? My fav podcast these days is the Office Ladies </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923871 Wed, 26 May 2021 08:26:56 +0000 Chuckles 2923871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: Thanks, that's good to know! I've been much more in the mood for light/funny things lately. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923870 Wed, 26 May 2021 07:49:56 +0000 erinbaderin 2923870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chuckles: Terrible Thanks for Asking is good but a lot - I used to listen to it (in the before-times when I had a commute) and it always took me a while to shake it off when arriving at work/home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923868 Tue, 25 May 2021 20:51:06 +0000 Chuckles 2923868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My favorite podcasts lately are POOG (but maybe not DH friendly), Sibling Revelry with Kate and Oliver Hudson, and Don't Ask Tig. I haven't listened to, but have heard excellent things about, How I Built This, You're Wrong About, and Terrible Thanks for Asking. Also, My Dad Wrote A Porno is older but I'm just now listening. Definitely not for with kids in the car, but it's hilarious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923867 Tue, 25 May 2021 19:32:24 +0000 erinbaderin 2923867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What do you like? Season two of In the Dark is excellent true crime, pretty non-graphic in case the kids start paying attention. I’m really into Recipe Club right now - three chefs (one is David Chang) each pick a recipe with a common ingredient, they all cook all three, and then discuss. Late Night with Seth Meyers is just the Closer Looks and interviews from the show, it’s great. My favourite podcast of all time is Heavyweight, delightful, a little quirky, and really feel-good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923863 Tue, 25 May 2021 16:46:12 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2923863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The Kite Runner... trying to think of others </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/podcasts-or-audiobook-recos-for-car-trip#post-2923862 Tue, 25 May 2021 16:22:08 +0000 Corduroy 2923862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'll be doing a lot of driving this week so I'm looking for recommendations for podcasts or audiobooks to listen to with DH. I have some kid ear friendly stuff queued up but realistically (&amp; hopefully) they'll be completely absorbed in their tablets most of the time so it doesn't need to be family friendly. </p> <p>Any recommendations? </p>