8 Ways Your Amazon Alexa Can Help You Be a Better Mom

The new alarm clock feature allows you to do more than just set a wake-up time. Your kids can actually program their favorite song to get up to. As long as your device is synced with a third-party music player like Amazon Music or Spotify, all they have to do is say: “Alexa, wake me up at 6:30 a.m. to ‘How Far I’ll Go’ from Moana.” Way better than you knocking on their door five times in a row.

The skill is called the Tooth Fairy and it basically plays words of encouragement and music for the duration of the time your kids need to brush, floss and rinse with mouthwash. Once you enable the skill, your kid just has to say, “Alexa, open the Tooth Fairy” or “Alexa, ask the Tooth Fairy to help me brush my teeth,” and she’ll talk them through the whole process, spewing facts about dental care at the same time.

Like when Charlie can’t stop bickering with Sophie about whether or not she licked his face. Simply command Alexa to open up Kids Court, a skill designed to help kids referee quarrels according to the U.S. Judicial System by asking things like what the fight was about and follow-ups before making an impartial ruling. (The judge will even drop some facts about the court system at the same time.)

It’s called the “Magic Word” feature—and it’s not that Alexa will scold your child if he doesn’t say please. She does notice when he does and offers positive reinforcement. (For example, Alexa will say: “By the way, thanks for asking so nicely.”)

Enable the Short Bedtime Story skill and Alexa will start reading original short stories for kids—all about a minute in length—on your behalf. All you have to say is, “Alexa, tell a bedtime story to Emma.” (Yep, she’ll even personalize her reading to your kid’s name.)

Just call out, “Alexa, set a timer for 20 minutes,” and she’ll help you put a cap on the length of time your kid can spend watching Peppa Pig. See? Now Alexa is the bad guy.

Two words: Animal Workout. This skill invites kids to impersonate different animals—think a dog or a T. rex—and get a bit of exercise at the same time. (Hey, it takes a lot of energy to cluck like a chicken.)

For the nights when you can’t fathom assembling even a 15-minute meal, there’s the Domino’s or the Pizza Hut skills. All you have to do is set up an account.