Amazon has been making excellent tablets for kids for years now, and that's in large part due to the services offered, as much as it is the hardware. Amazon launched software that turned a regular Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus into a Kids Edition in 2012, called Amazon FreeTime and FreeTime Unlimited. Then, in the Fall of 2020, it was rebranded as Amazon Kids and Kids+. So, what is Amazon Kids and Kids+, and what makes these services so great?
In short, it's a service from Amazon that offers carefully curated books, movies, and games for kids, paired with excellent parental controls for children ranging ages three to 12. As the parent, you determine how much screen time your child gets, and if they need to read before playing games, and what content your child sees based on age range. There are plenty of layers to this fantastic service, so let's get into it.
Everything a kid and parent could want
Amazon's Kids+ service is full of content that's curated specifically for kids. With over 20,000 movies, books, and games, you can keep tabs on what your child sees, and how much time they can spend on their device as a parent.
Amazon Kids and Kids+: Differences
Both Amazon Kids and Kids+ offer parents the ability to create a profile for their child and set various levels of access restrictions through the parent dashboard. In the standard version, Amazon Kids, you can share content from your library with them so that your child can access that content when logged into their profile.
Also, while in their Kids profile, your child will be able to browse the web — only if you enable it, of course — that will have filters in place and allow you to block specific websites to provide a safe environment to explore the internet. Your child will also be able to make announcements to supported Echo devices you have in your home and make voice or video calls to parent-approved contacts.
Some apps you shared with your child may contain ads, and while the ability to interact with those ads will reduce — there may be the possibility of your child being able to click onto one. While on the topic of apps, by default, all in-app purchasing is disabled in the Kids profile, but you can enable it from the parent dashboard if you choose to.
If you opt to go for the Kids+ for your child, you'll both enjoy all of the features of the standard Kids version — with more. As part of Kids+, there is access to an expansive, appropriately curated library of content for your child — including ad-free radio stations. Plus, any apps shared with your child to their Kids+ profile will have no ads.
Amazon Kids and Kids+: Price
You may be surprised to find out that it won't cost you a thing to gain access to the excellent parental controls and kid-safe profiles offered in Amazon Kids. However, if you would like the expanded features and content library of the Amazon Kids+ — it will have a cost associated with it.
Well, it will unless you purchase any of the excellent Amazon Kids Edition tablets from Amazon. In that case, you get a free year of Amazon Kids+ included with that purchase — pretty great, right? After that year is up, there are different payment levels based on a few various factors.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Family (up to four kids) |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4.99 |
| Monthly for Prime members | $9.99 |
| 1-year pre-paid plan | $79 |
| 1-year pre-paid plan for Prime members | $48 |
Amazon Kids and Kids+: Devices
Amazon has done an excellent job of making its Kids and Kids+ service work on a wide variety of devices. It is accessible across the entire line of Fire devices, including tablets and TV, Echo devices — especially the fun Echo Dot Kids (2022), and Kindle readers like the Kindle Paperwhite Kids. Once you have signed up for the service, it's only a matter of enabling your child's profile on the desired device — BAM — your child has access to the content you have approved.
One of the great features of Amazon Kids and Kids+ is that the service is available on more than Amazon-branded devices. By downloading and installing the Amazon Kids+ app onto some of the best phones for kids, iOS devices, or even an excellent Chromebook for kids to open up those devices to the safe and fun content your child loves. With the service being available across a wide range of devices, Amazon has made it easy for you and your child to access everything you love about Kids and Kids+, all with a single account.
Amazon Kids and Kids+: Content and web browsing
As mentioned in the section discussing the differences between Amazon Kids and Kids+, both profiles will have access to content you choose to share from your own library and a filtered web browsing experience. If you have the Amazon Kids+ version of the service, there's a lot to offer regarding the content your child can access directly from their profile.
Amazon's children's library of carefully curated books, movies, shows, games, and more apps is constantly growing. With well over 20,000 options available currently, there's a lot of fun stuff available for your child to enjoy. Amazon Kids+ has content from a wide range of providers like Disney, Nickelodeon, Sesame Street, PBS Kids, and more to help educate and entertain your child.
With characters kids love, such as Mikey Mouse, Daniel Tiger, and Scooby-Doo, to popular movies and series from Lego and Star Wars, there is so much for your little ones to enjoy. You'll find those characters in books, games, and movies across all age ranges. There are classic books to new hits, all ready for your child to enjoy.
Amazon is regularly bringing new content to Kids and Kids+. In April 2022, Amazon not only launched its first original games for kids but also new games like Super Spy Ryan and Do Re &Mi. These are just some of the new characters and things that you and your child can look forward to. On top of this, Amazon has partnered with Disney on a custom voice assistant, Hey, Disney, so that everyone can interact with their favorite Disney characters on their Echo devices.
Amazon Kids and Kids+: Parental controls
Finding digital content that will entertain children isn't hard these days. However, it isn't easy finding some that are age-appropriate and ensuring that it is consumed healthily. The world of books, movies, games for kids is broad and full of pitfalls. Trying to keep up with it all is tough for parents. Amazon Kids and Kids+ help make that task a bit easier.
Setting up your child's profile in Amazon Kids or Kids+ is the same regardless of the version you are using. You choose your child's age and the range of content you want them to be able to access. That includes the web browser, in-app purchasing, and the app store. You can also choose the content you want to share from your profile and set daily limits and educational goals before entertainment content becomes available to your child.
After setup, you can make adjustments to your child's profile by logging into your own profile or by accessing the parent dashboard (opens in new tab) via the web. From the dashboard, you can make any changes you want in regards to what your child's profile can access, in addition to the ability to pause your child's device.
On the homepage of your dashboard, you can also see the apps, books, and videos your child uses and for how long. By clicking on a title, you can see a description of it as well as a rating. The dashboard will also show you a call and message history for your child's profile and any store requests made.
Amazon Kids and Kids+ offers both parents and kids the ability to enjoy technology. The services let kids easily find content that they want and parents the peace of mind knowing that it's being done responsibly — win-win for everyone.
How to cancel Amazon Kids+
If there comes a time that you no longer have a need for the Amazon Kids+ service, whether that's because your child has reached the age it isn't necessary or you simply don't want to pay for it any longer, knowing how to cancel the service is important.
- Log into your Amazon account via a web browser on a computer.
- Hover your mouse cursor over the Accounts & Lists in the upper right to access the dropdown menu.
- Click on Memberships & Subscriptions.
- Select Cancel Subscription next to Amazon Kids+.
After confirming that you wish to end your Amazon Kids+ subscription you will no longer be billed for the service. You can still allow your child to access the free Amazon Kids content if you wish to. Just remember that anything that your child was interacting with that was part of the Amazon Kids+ features will be inaccessible.
Fun and safe
Parents will love the filters and controls built into the service, while kids will love all of the great content. With access to over 20,000 age-appropriate games, movies, and books, there is safe entertainment for ages 3-12 years old.
Kids love it
The Fire HD 8 Kids tablet is an excellent size for all kids with the features they'll love. It packs dual speakers, a bright high-definition display wrapped in a case to keep it safe while enjoying all the great content. Parents will love the 2-year worry-free warranty and the free year of Amazon Kids+ service that's included.
