Alexa doesn’t always filter what it says. That’s a problem when kids are around. It can play explicit music. It can answer questions you don’t want it to.
So, how do you make Alexa safe for kids? Let’s get into the exact steps.
Alexa sits in the middle of your home. Kids can talk to it anytime. They can ask it anything. They can hear or access things you didn’t approve.
Voice commands seem harmless. But Alexa doesn’t know if it’s your child talking or you. That makes things risky. And you can’t always be in the room.
This guide fixes that. It shows how to lock Alexa down in minutes. You’ll learn how to control music, purchases, and what your child can hear. And it’s all built into your Alexa app.
What You Can Control with Alexa’s Parental Tools
Amazon built parental tools into Alexa for a reason. These settings let you decide what your child hears, sees, or says through the device. You don’t have to monitor them constantly. Alexa can do the work for you—if you set it up right.
You can block songs with bad language. This applies to services like Amazon Music and Spotify. Once the explicit filter is on, Alexa skips songs that contain words not fit for kids. No more surprises when your child asks to play their favorite song.
You can stop your child from buying anything. Alexa allows voice purchases by default. That means a child can say, “Buy a robot toy,” and it might go through. With parental controls, you can disable this completely or lock it behind a voice code.
Alexa can give answers that sound simple—but they aren’t always kid-safe. Some answers may refer to mature topics. Some questions may lead to web results that you don’t want your child to hear. With Amazon Kids turned on, Alexa filters these answers and keeps them age-appropriate.
You can also set time limits. If your child talks to Alexa too much, you can cap their usage. You can block Alexa during bedtime, school hours, or meal times. It stops the constant back-and-forth and brings balance back to your home.
There’s more. You can filter which videos your child can watch on Echo Show. You can block skills (Alexa’s apps) that you don’t trust. And you can turn off features like calling and messaging, so your child doesn’t contact strangers.
You can also track how your child is using Alexa. The Parent Dashboard shows what they asked, what music they played, what books they listened to, and what apps they used. This helps you spot patterns and adjust settings anytime.
All of these tools are in the Alexa app or the Parent Dashboard. You set them once. Then you leave them alone. They keep working quietly in the background until you change something.
Set Up Amazon Kids on Alexa
Open the Alexa app on your phone. Tap “Devices” at the bottom. Select the Echo device your child uses. Tap “Settings,” then “Amazon Kids.”
Turn it on. You’ll be asked to sign in with your Amazon account. Then you’ll enter your child’s name and birthday. This helps Alexa adjust content for their age.
Once Amazon Kids is active, your Echo becomes kid-friendly. Music filters kick in. Voice shopping turns off. And Alexa starts answering with child-safe responses.
Add a child profile. Go to “More.” Tap “Settings,” then tap “Your Profile & Family.” Now tap “Add someone.”
Choose “Child.” Fill in your child’s name, birthday, and gender. When finished, link their voice to the Echo device.
This step is important. It lets Alexa tell who is speaking. When it hears your child, it gives age-appropriate replies. And it hides anything not fit for them.
Use the Amazon Parent Dashboard
This is where everything comes together. The Amazon Parent Dashboard is your command center for monitoring and managing your child’s Alexa experience. Open your browser and go to parents.amazon.com. Sign in with the same Amazon account linked to your Alexa devices.
Once you’re in, you’ll see each child profile you’ve set up. Tap your child’s name, and the dashboard will show a full activity log. You’ll see everything your child has asked Alexa, what songs they’ve played, which audiobooks they’ve listened to, and what skills they’ve used. It updates daily, so you always get the latest snapshot.
You can block content directly from this dashboard. See something you don’t like? One click is enough to stop it. You can also approve new skills or features if your child requests something you trust.
The dashboard also lets you set screen time limits—perfect if you’re using an Echo Show. You can create a daily schedule so the device becomes unavailable during sleep hours, homework time, or other moments you want Alexa off. Want a break right away? Use the “Pause Devices” option to turn off voice access instantly.
How Alexa Provides Parental Controls
This tool gives you total visibility without needing to hover. You don’t have to guess what your child is doing. You can see it. You can manage it. And you can change settings anytime from anywhere.
Block Explicit Music
In the Alexa app, go to “Settings.” Tap “Music & Podcasts.” Then tap “Explicit Filter.”
Turn it on. That’s it. Now Alexa won’t play songs with adult words. This filter works on Amazon Music and supported services.
Want to be extra careful? Only allow Amazon Music as the default. Some third-party apps may not follow the filter fully.
Turn Off Voice Purchasing
In the Alexa app, go to “More,” then “Settings.” Tap “Account Settings,” then tap “Voice Purchasing.”
Turn it off. This blocks anyone from buying things with just a voice. If you still want it on for yourself, set a voice code. This forces Alexa to ask for a 4-digit code before placing any order.
Don’t skip this. Kids have accidentally ordered toys, snacks, and even smart TVs just by asking.
Limit Alexa Time
Go back to parents.amazon.com. Choose your child’s profile. Tap “Daily Time Limits.”
You can block Alexa during bedtime. You can limit hours per day. You can also pause Alexa completely at any time. Tap “Pause Devices” if you need a break.
This is great for school nights. Or if your child keeps talking to Alexa during homework.
Block or Allow Skills
Skills are like apps for Alexa. Some are fun and safe. Others might not be.
Go to the Parent Dashboard. Tap “Smart Skills.” You’ll see a list of enabled skills.
Turn off any skill you don’t like. Want to block all new skills? Go back to the Alexa app. Under “Amazon Kids,” toggle off “Allow New Skills.”
This stops your child from turning on anything without your OK.
Filter Video Content (For Echo Show)
If you have an Echo Show, you can block video content too. Go to the Parent Dashboard. Tap your child’s device. Then go to “Video Settings.”
Turn off YouTube if you want. Limit which video services are allowed. You can also enable Safe Search, so Alexa doesn’t show adult videos.
This is key for Echo Show users. The screen opens up more content. And more risk.
Block Calls and Drop-In
Alexa lets users call and drop in on other Echo devices. Kids can also talk to people in your contacts.
Go to the Alexa app. Tap “Devices,” then your child’s Echo. Tap “Amazon Kids,” then “Communication.”
Turn off “Calling” and “Drop-In.” This prevents your child from using Alexa as a phone. You control who they can talk to and when.
Teach Your Child the Rules
Parental controls do a lot. But they can’t do everything. Kids still need to know the rules.
Sit down with your child. Explain what Alexa can do. Explain what they’re not allowed to ask or do with it.
Tell them they can’t use it without permission. And that you’ll be checking what they ask. This creates habits that stick even when they visit other homes.
What Happens Without Parental Controls?
If you don’t set up parental controls, Alexa treats every user the same. That means your child can access anything the device allows—no filters, no blocks, no warnings. It may seem safe at first, but things can go wrong fast.
Your child could ask Alexa to play a song, and it might contain swearing or graphic lyrics. Without the explicit filter turned on, Alexa won’t hold back. Kids don’t always understand the meaning, but the words still enter their heads. That’s not something most parents are okay with.
Voice shopping is another risk. With no protection, your child could order toys, gadgets, or food just by speaking. These purchases go straight to your account, and some ship before you even notice. Many parents only find out when a package shows up at the door.
Alexa also gives answers without knowing your child’s age. They can ask questions about death, violence, relationships, or other sensitive topics. Alexa might give an honest answer that’s not meant for kids. This opens the door to confusion, fear, or early exposure to ideas they’re not ready for.
Some children use Alexa to dodge rules. They ask for games or videos during quiet time. They use trivia skills with adult jokes. Others explore random content just because they can. Without controls, Alexa won’t stop them.
All of this is avoidable. But only if you step in and set the limits. Letting Alexa run without restrictions is like giving a child a remote with no content filter. The device isn’t built to parent your child. That job is still yours.
You don’t need to buy anything new. You don’t need a separate subscription. All the tools are built into Alexa and Amazon.
You only need the app and a few minutes. Once you set it up, it stays locked in. You can adjust things anytime.
This isn’t just easy. It’s free. And it’s built for parents like you.
Alexa can be useful. But it’s not built just for kids. You have to take a few extra steps.
These steps take minutes, not hours. And they work. You get peace of mind. Your kids stay safe.
Now you’re not guessing. Now you’re in control.
