64 PCWorld OCTOBER 2019REVIEWS AMAZON ECHO DOT KIDS EDITION
Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition
PROS- Easy to set up.
- Robust parental controls.
- Massive library of books, games, and skills.
CONS - Explicit language filter let a bad word through
(once). - Misheard voice commands occasionally led to
frustration.
BOTTOM LINE
If you’re looking for an alternative to unleashing your
kids on an iPad when you need a few precious
moments to yourself, the Amazon Echo Dot Kids
Edition makes for an attentive and surprisingly
engaging electronic companion.
$70
stuffed with sound effects, although Claire
would occasionally grow frustrated (“That’s
weird!”) when the game cut her off before she
could finish spelling a word.
We also enjoyed the classic Choose Your
Own Adventure books on Audible (such as
Space and Beyond), which involve listening
to a story and then making decisions about
what to do next at key points in the action.
As with Master Swords, the Choose Your
Own Adventure books we listened to were
slickly produced, featured seasoned voice
actors, and included evocative sound
effects. Still, frustration crept in when Alexa
occasionally misheard Claire’s directions and
(for example) shot our character out of an
airlock rather than opting to stay within the
confines of the starship.
Best of all was Star Wars: Choose Your
Destiny, another choose-your-adventure
game that my Star Wars–obsessed tyke
found riveting. In the particular story we tried
(you can pick between big adventures and
“mini” adventures, by the way), Han Solo
and Chewbacca had to run an Imperial
blockade because they were, um...OK, does
it matter? In any case, Claire was clearly
engaged, instructing Chewie to repair the
hyperdrive and ordering Han to run for cover
rather than blindly charging ahead with his
blaster. Once more, enthusiastic acting
along with authentic Star Wars music and
sound effects paid major dividends when it
came to holding Claire’s interest.Of course, we’re only scratching the
surface of Alexa’s various kids-oriented
skills—and indeed, if your kids are looking for
a new activity, they can always just say “Alexa,
let’s play,” and Alexa will pick a game to try;
indeed, that’s how we found Master Swords
in the first place.BOTTOM LINE
My daughter declared the Amazon Echo Dot
Kids Edition a keeper, and I’m inclined to
agree. Entertaining without becoming
disruptive, educational without veering into
boring territory, the Echo Dot Kids Edition
managed to keep my easily distracted
second-grader engaged but rarely spun her
into a frenzy, while letting me control how
and when she could play with her new
digital friend.