Google has been making a big push into voice assistant technology, and with that, the ability for kids to use them. But there are some things you need to keep in mind when using Google Assistant speakers with kids. First and foremost, make sure that your child is old enough to understand what they’re saying. If they can’t understand it, be sure to ask them to repeat it back for you. Second, be aware of what words are being used and how they might be interpreted by a child. For example, if you say “Hey Google, can I play music from my phone?” your child might say “Can I listen to music on my phone?” instead of “Can I play music on your speaker?” Third, make sure that the speaker is properly plugged in and turned on. This will ensure that the voice assistant is working properly and that the speaker can hear your child when they speak. Finally, make sure that your child is comfortable with using voice assistants – if they aren’t comfortable with them then don’t use them.
This feature is especially useful for those times of the day when you don’t want your kids to be able to use a Google Nest or Google Home smart speaker. For example, if you have a speaker in their room, you probably don’t want them to use it when they’re supposed to be sleeping.
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To get started, open the Google Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Scroll down and select the smart speaker or display you want to control.
Next, tap the gear icon in the top right to open the Settings.
Head over to “Notifications & Digital Wellbeing.”
Finally, select “Digital Wellbeing.” You’ll be guided through a couple of splash screens.
We want the “Downtime” settings, but first you’ll have to go through “Filters.”
It’s a good idea to set this up if you have kids, but you can skip through it until you get to “Downtime” if you just want to restrict access at certain times.
Select “Set Up” to proceed with the Downtime settings.
Downtime will block all responses, music, and videos, but alarms and timers will still work. Tap “Next.”
The first thing to decide is who you want the Downtime settings to apply to. You can select one of the two options here:
Everyone: Everyone. Only Supervised Accounts and Guests: “Supervised Accounts” are accounts set up under Family Link to be supervised. “Guests” are any people not recognized by Voice Match.
Scroll down and select any other devices you’d like Downtime to apply to, then tap “Next.”
Now you can use one of the premade schedules or choose your own days. Tap “Next” when you’re done.
Select the start and end time for Downtime, and then tap “Next.”
Tap “Done” to finish up.
That’s it! Your kids won’t be able to interact with the Google Assistant smart speakers or displays during this time. No more late-night jam sessions when they’re supposed to be sleeping!
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