There’s an element of risk with any device that can connect to the internet, so take the time to configure your child’s speaker and ensure that any related accounts are secure.
Discuss rules: Talk with your children to agree on rules about what they can use their speaker for, and, for smart speakers, how they should speak to it.
Secure your accounts and network: Make sure you select strong, unique passwords for your devices and Wi-Fi network, using a mix of lowercase, uppercase, numbers, and special characters. Always use two-factor authentication (2FA) where available (here’s how to activate 2FA on your Amazon account).
Use parental controls: You can set up parental controls with Apple, Google, and Microsoft accounts, and use them to lock down various devices, including speakers. You may also have parental controls on your router or mesh that enable you to schedule downtime for your child’s devices, so they can’t access the internet in the middle of the night, for example.
Consider privacy: You might want to limit how voice recordings from your child’s speaker can be used. We have guides on how to keep your recordings private, how to delete stored voice recordings and activity, and how to make smart speakers as private as possible.