Creating a Child-Friendly Smart Home

Many of us use smart home devices throughout the day but worry when it comes to our children’s access. As technological use increases with each generation, we know we need to equip our children with the knowledge to use these devices, but often wonder if we can also keep them safe.

Are you looking for a way to keep your children safe and provide them with the benefits of modern technological advances? By creating a kid-friendly smart home, you can ensure that not only is your family secure, but also that your family are able to take advantage of the exciting new technologies on offer.

The Security Benefits of Smart Technology

There are many security benefits to smart technology. Child-friendly smart home security can provide peace of mind when children return from school, keeping them safe and secure within their own homes. Automated door locks mean there’s no need to answer the door to strangers and facial recognition technology can even identify those that do come knocking.

From setting up security measures and monitoring tools, to providing educational opportunities through connected devices – having an intelligent home environment can help optimise everything from safety to entertainment within your household! Read on as we explore some of the most useful aspects of building a child-friendly smart home.

Smart Home Technology for Security

We are all concerned about safety when it comes to our children and smart technology can help us to keep our families safe. Here we look at some of the devices available to increase security in and around the home.

Smart Locks

Smart locks are a great way to keep your home secure, as well as provide convenience for family members. You can set up key codes for each member of the family, so there is no need for them to carry around keys or worry about losing them. The locks can be programmed to allow access only during certain times, such as after school hours, so your children will not be able to enter the house when you are away.

Smart Cameras

For an extra layer of security inside the home, you could add smart cameras and motion sensors. This will help you to monitor who is at home, as well as keeping an eye on any unexpected visitors.

Video Doorbell

A video doorbell is very useful in a smart home. Generally installed at your front door, you can see who is at the door, if your children are home from school and you are not yet back. This means they don’t have to answer the door and alert strangers to the fact they are home alone.

Door Sensors

Door sensors can be installed on all entry points, so you will receive an alert if any doors or windows are opened. This is especially useful for when your children return home from school and may have forgotten to lock the door behind them.

As well as keeping the family safe a smart home system can help make life easier by assisting with daily routine.

Smart Lighting System

Smart lighting can be a smart addition to your smart home device setup, especially when it comes to keeping your children safe. With smart lighting, you don’t have to worry about walking across the house in the dark at night and risking an injury. You also don’t have to worry about checking all the lights before bedtime  – smart lighting can easily become part of the bedtime routine so that you are confident that everything is taken care of each night before everyone goes off to sleep.

Smart lights make it easy for parents to keep their kids safe and create a safer environment for them all around the home. You can have the lights turn on automatically as they come in and off again when they leave, or even use a schedule to ensure the lights turn off at bedtime or switch to a night light, to help the kids sleep. A smart plug or smart bulb can be used to add any existing favourite night lights or lamps to the system.

Smart plugs can also be used for charging devices such as phones, tablets and gaming consoles in your child’s bedroom so you can ensure that they are not tempted to use them after bedtime.

Smart Speakers

A smart speaker is a great way to keep your children entertained, with access to music and audiobooks. With one placed in your kid’s bedroom, you can also use them as an intercom system throughout the house, so you can communicate with your children without having to yell up and down the stairs!

Voice Assistant

A smart assistant, such as Google assistant, can also be used to help with homework, play bedtime stories, soothing music for sleep or set bedtime and homework reminders, as well as help answer questions your children may not know.

Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

This is an important safety feature to have in any home; installing a smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector will alert you if either of these are detected in the air.

Smart Home Technology for Education

With the right setup, smart home technology can provide a range of educational opportunities and activities for children. For example, you could set up connected devices that allow your child access to online learning resource

Create Virtual Boundaries

Many of us worry about what our children can access on the internet.  Creating virtual boundaries is an important part of creating a safe smart home for your family: you can set up age-appropriate filters and parental controls on any connected device so that children are only able to access the websites, apps and games you have approved. This will help keep them safe from online predators and other dangers lurking on the internet.

Content Control Settings

You can also use content control settings to ensure that your children are not exposed to inappropriate content when using the internet. You can set up individual user profiles for each child and assign different levels of filtering and access to age-appropriate websites, apps and games. This will help you keep track of what your children are viewing online, as well as protecting

Smart Security Systems are only as smart as you make them. It is important to remember that smart home technology can only do so much: it will not protect your children if you do not set up and maintain the right security systems, filters and parental controls.

Smart Home Technology for Productivity

In addition to providing security, smart technology can also help your children become more productive. Smart devices can be used to help with homework, giving them access to the latest educational resources, from textbooks to videos and interactive games.

You can also use automation technology in your home to create daily routines for your family. For example, you can set up lights to turn on and off at certain times during the day as a reminder for everyone to start each activity or task. This makes it easier for everyone to stay on top of their obligations and can help your children develop good habits.

Smart Home Technology for Screen Time Monitoring

Many parents are aware that their children spend too much time online and wish to limit screen time for their family. Having a smart home environment provides parents with the ability to monitor what their children are using technology for. Many devices now come with parental controls, settings that allow you to restrict access to certain content, block websites and apps, or limit the amount of time spent on different activities.

By having these controls in place, you can make sure that your children are using technology responsibly and safely without spending too much time online. This is especially important for younger children when it comes to their online security and privacy. Parents can reward children with increased screen time access when they have helped around the house or finished their homework.

Smart Speakers Helping With Homework

Thanks to connected devices such as Alexa or Google Home voice assistants and connected smart speakers, you can easily help with homework by asking questions and getting assistance from the internet. These voice-activated speakers also make it easy for children to look up things for their homework or even get help from online tutors.

This can help your children stay engaged with their learning, as well as help them to develop better research skills. With the ability to use voice commands to search for information quickly and easily, they will be able to find the answers they need in no time and teach them skills that they will need in later life.

Smart Devices Helping You Keep your Family Safe

A well-designed smart home environment can help to ensure that your family is safe, entertained and productive. With the right combination of technologies and parental guidance, you can make sure that your children are taking advantage of the many benefits of living in an intelligent home environment while still staying secure.

Smart home device manufacturers are constantly bringing new technology to market that can help make your home more secure, productive and safe. By making use of these technologies, you can easily ensure that all members of the family are safe and secure online while also teaching them how to use technology responsibly. 

Comprehensive parental controls, content filtering and smart security systems will ensure your children have a safe environment within which to explore the online world.  With the correct smart home technology, you can ensure that your family is secure and productive at all times. For help and advice on the latest devices and setting up a smart home system contact us at https://smarthomesmadesimple.co.uk/contact-us/.