Should you let your kid have a SMART SPEAKER?
Advice for a positive experience in the world of technology
Not long ago one of my son’s best friends ordered a $250 smart lighting system from Alexa on the Amazon Echo Dot he had in his bedroom. A few weeks later he showed another friend how to make purchases on her Echo Dot. The kids were about 5 years old at the time. Another friend’s kid learned how to order pizza from Alexa, while still another ordered a functional backhoe. Thankfully, the latter got an alert before they were surprised by a $5,000 delivery. • To kids, a smart speaker is “magic.” To parents, these are cautionary tales that if there’s an opportunity for a kid to use technology in the wrong way, they are going to gleefully seize the moment. • The truth is, a smart speaker can be an excellent smart device for young kids and older kids alike. There are, of course, things to think about and possibly learn before you purchase one, but smart speakers are nothing to be afraid of. With the right guidance, owning one can not only be a helpful parenting tool, but it can be a positive technological journey that is backhoe (and other foibles) free. • We spoke with tech expert and author of “Outsmarting Your Kids Online” Amber Mac, and Scott Steinberg, author of “Parenting High Tech Kids,” to get insight on how to ensure that when you give your child a smart speaker, it’s a positive experience and
a helpful entry into the world of technology.
What is a smart speaker?
First things first: A smart speaker is a voiceactivated, hands-free way to control other smart devices in your home, like smart lights and plugs, using a built-in voice assistant. The speakers are setup via the companion app on your phone or tablet.
What you do with that control can vary. You can let it connect to other smart devices within the home, like lights,