Fun Freetime: AmazonKids and AmazonKids+

 As kids across the nation return to school, Amazon is announcing a name change to two of its popular kids offerings with new experiences for older kids and introducing helpful features designed to help keep families on track this school year.

 

Today, we’re announcing that Amazon FreeTime and Amazon FreeTime Unlimited are now Amazon Kids and Amazon Kids+.  We’re also introducing a number of new features for Amazon Kids (more info HERE), including:

●      New Home Screen Experience: A new home screen theme within Amazon Kids that looks and feels more like a grown-up tablet.

●      Announcements: If you have an Echo device in your home, kids will now be able to use their Fire tablet to broadcast a message in their voice to everyone in the home. This feature needs to be enabled and parental consent is required.

●      More Videos and Music: Now kids can enjoy hundreds of new video titles hand-selected for kids ages 6 to 12, including gaming playthrough videos and PG and live-action titles. Kids also now have easy access to music stations from iHeartRadio Family.

 

We’re also introducing a number of brand new ways families can use Amazon Devices and Alexa to stay organized this unconventional school year (more info HERE), including: .

·       Coursework Updates Directly from School: Alexa Skills are now available to match the learning platform used by your school system, including Canvas, Infinite Campus, Coursera, ParentSquare and Kickboard. Parents and students 13+ can ask, “Alexa, do I have any homework?” to get all your upcoming due dates.

·       Personalized Schedules: With the Alexa Skill School Schedule Blueprint, just fill out an easy-to-use template from the Alexa app or online to build a personalized schedule that Alexa will read aloud each day, like reminders for class and school activities.

·       Worksheets On-Demand: With the new Jumpstart Alexa Skill, you can ask Alexa to print math, vocabulary, science and writing worksheets, coloring sheets, and more via your wireless printer for every supplemental at-home learning need.