Set Up Communication Features in Amazon Kids on Your Fire Tablet

You must grant parental consent in order for your child to use communication features on their Fire tablet, like making video calls. You can also hide features on your child’s tablet if you do not wish to grant parental consent.

Note: Communication features are supported on Fire tablets running FireOS 5 and higher.

Basic Requirements

Before you begin, you must grant parental consent in order for your child to use communication features (such as video calling) on their Fire tablet.

Note: You can also hide features on your child’s tablet if you do not wish to grant parental consent.

On the compatible mobile device, make sure to download the Alexa app. You also need a valid mobile number to use Alexa Communication features, like announcements or calling.

What Devices Are Supported?

Your child can use Alexa communications from:

  • Amazon Kids Fire Tablet and Kids Echo Edition devices (with calling enabled in Parent Dashboard).

Your child's contacts need:

  • Grown up contact: The Alexa app on a smartphone or tablet.
    Note: Make sure that the contact is verified and the calling and messaging permissions are granted. See here for instructions.
  • Child contact: An Alexa-enabled Echo device with the calling feature set-up and enabled.

Enable Calling in Parent Dashboard

To turn on calling feature in the Parent dashboard:

  1. Go to the Parent Dashboard.
  2. Select the Settings icon next to the child's name.
  3. Under Fire Tablet Settings, select Manage Communications.
  4. Turn on the Calling toggle button.
  5. To allow your child access to communication features, click Grant parental consent and follow the on-screen instructions. Alternatively, if you do not want your child to see the features on their device, click Hide these features on Fire tablet.
  6. After granting consent, select the available features you want to enable for your child.

Add Contacts for Your Child

Your child's contacts are managed separately from your own. You can add a contact to your child account through Alexa app or parent dashboard.

  1. In the Alexa app:
    1. Select ☰ (menu) > More > Communicate > Contacts.
    2. Select your child's name to switch to their contact list.
    3. Select + to add a contact from your own list.
    4. If contact doesn’t exist, add the contact to your Alexa contacts prior to completing the steps above.
      Note: From the Alexa App, You can only add contacts who are already in your own Alexa contact list. Contacts added to your own list will not automatically appear in your child's list — you must add them separately.
  2. In Parent Dashboard:
    • Go to Parent Dashboard > Communications > Contacts.
    • Once added, the contact will receive a notification or SMS indicatingthe contact is approved.

Where does the call ring? When your child places a call, it rings on the contact's Alexa app and/or Echo device(s) linked to their Amazon account. The receiving child contact will receive the call on their Alexa-enabled device

Troubleshoot Calling Issues

  • My child can't receive incoming calls: Only approved contacts can call your child — this is a safety feature. To confirm a contact is approved:
    1. Go to Parent Dashboard > Communications > Contacts
    2. Confirm the contact appears in your child's approved list. If not, add them following steps here.
  • The contact can't call my child back: The contact can only call your child back once your child's contact has been added to their address book.
  • Kid-to-kid calls aren't working: Make sure both parents have:
    • Accepted the connection invite
    • Saved each other's (parent's) phone number in their contacts
  • Common Reasons Calls May Not Be Working:
    • Calling setup isn't complete - First verify if you have downloaded the Alexa app on a compatible mobile device. You also need a valid mobile number to use Alexa Communication features. Next, return to Parent Dashboard and follow the steps to enable calling. If parent permissions have yet been granted, you will receive a link to complete after you enable calling.
    • Contact doesn't have the Alexa app - Calls only work between Alexa-enabled devices. Ask the contact to download the free Alexa app, login and complete registration. See steps here.