We are big fans of the Amazon Fire Tablets and have one for each of our children. In this post, we thought that we would share some tips on how to get it set up right before you give it to your little one.
I definitely recommend that you do this before giving it to them as they are going to be eager to give it a try. Asking them to wait patiently for it to charge and for you to set it up could be asking too much!
If you are more used to an iPad or Android device then the Amazon Fire tablets can seem a bit strange and take a bit of getting used to.
Don’t worry though, you will soon get the hang of it and this guide to setting up an Amazon Fire for Kids will get you on the right track.
We have also written a some Amazon Fire for Kids tips to help you find out more about the content available that is available free for the first year(and on subscription afterward).
Once you have read that you might like to check out our list of things you can do with an Amazon Fire that you might not know about.
Why We Love Amazon Fire Tablets
Before we go on I thought it was worth saying why we recommend the Amazon tablets so highly.
There are 3 models: the Amazon Fire HD 10 kids edition tablet, Fire HD 8 and Fire 7.
They are all great but our favourite is the Amazon Fire HD 10 kids edition tablet. It is available at a great low price and has everything that your child needs on a nice big screen.
It comes with some of the best children’s safety features so there is no need to be concerned over what your child might see or buy.
It also comes pre-loaded with great kids content (games, books, tv shows etc).
On top of all this, there is an amazing 2-year guarantee that means Amazon will replace it no questions asked (even if your child throws it out of the window!)
Reasons to pick the Amazon Fire HD 10
- Amazing Price
- 2-year guarantee
- Brilliant kids security features
- Robust case included
- Tonnes of great age-appropriate content
( if you like the sound of this but want to save some money, the smaller Fire HD 8 and Fire 7 tablets are also brilliant!
You can read more in our guide to the best tablets for toddlers and you will also need some headphones for your child. We have reviewed some great kids headphones in this post.
The most important thing is to get ones that are volume limited for delicate eardrums. We like these ones the best.
Setting Up Amazon Kids+ on Your Amazon Fire Tablet
If this is your first time configuring Amazon Kids+, you’ll need to complete the initial setup directly from your Kindle Fire.
- Open the Amazon Kids+ App from the parent profile. You should see a list of the children you’ve added and the option to “Add a child” if you haven’t already added them or have not reached the maximum of 4 children profiles.For Traveling: We recommend not setting any goals or time limits while traveling, as this could cause issues during flights.
Adding Content to Amazon Kids+
There are two methods for adding content to Amazon Kids+:
- Download from your child’s profile.
- Add from the Parent’s profile to the child’s profile.
In general, you can download content directly from Amazon Kids+ if it’s provided by the Amazon Kids+ subscription. However, content that you already own outside of Amazon Kids+ (e.g., Disney movies) will need to be added from the Parent’s side.
Downloading Content from Amazon Kids+ Child’s Profile
- Switch to your child’s profile on the lock screen by tapping the colored circle in the upper right corner and selecting the child’s profile from the list. Swipe up to unlock, and you will access the blue Amazon Kids+ area. If you’re not on the lock screen, you can swipe down from the center-top of the screen to display the menu with the time, date, and Wi-Fi options. The ability to switch profiles is located in the upper right of this screen as well.
Inside the blue Amazon Kids+ area, you can add:
- Books: Scroll through the books on the book tab, and tap any that would interest your child. They will download and display a black circle with a white checkmark in the lower left corner, indicating they are available offline.
- Videos: On the video tab, scroll through the listed videos and long-tap on any video you wish to download. In the menu that appears, click “Download Now.” The video image will turn gray, and you will see a small orange progress bar across the bottom of the image as it downloads. Once complete, the video image will display a black circle with a white checkmark in the lower left corner, signifying it’s available offline.
- Apps: Scroll through the apps on the apps tab, and tap any that would interest your child. They will download and display a black circle with a white checkmark in the lower left corner, indicating they are available offline.
You can also search for videos, apps, or books and download them using the “Search” magnifying glass in the upper right of the Amazon Kids+ area. If you can’t find certain content, it may not be available via the Amazon Kids+ Subscription and will need to be added through the parent’s side of the Kindle Fire.
Verifying Content Works in Offline/Airplane Mode
It’s crucial to ensure that the downloaded and added content works when your device is in offline or airplane mode. Follow these steps:
Enabling Airplane Mode:
- Swipe down from the center-top of the display, which will open a menu with the time, date, and several options for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.
- On this screen, tap the image of the airplane, labeled “airplane mode.”
- This action will disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, and you’ll see an icon of an airplane in the upper bar next to the battery level to indicate it’s on.
- To re-enable these features, simply repeat these steps.
Verifying Downloaded Content:
- Open your Kindle Fire in one of your child’s Amazon Kids+ profiles. Switch to your child’s profile on the lock screen by tapping the colored circle in the upper right corner and selecting the child’s profile from the list.
- Swipe up to unlock, and you will be taken to the blue Amazon Kids+ area. If you are not on the lock screen, you can swipe down from the center-top of the screen to access the menu with the time, date, and Wi-Fi options. The ability to switch profiles is located in the upper right of this screen as well.
- Verify that there is an airplane icon in the upper right of the screen next to the battery. If not, enable airplane mode using the instructions above.
- In Amazon Kids+, you should only see content with a black circle featuring a white checkmark in the lower left corner. This indicates that the app, video, or book is available offline.
- Test each item to ensure that it opens. To return to the main screen, swipe up from the bottom and click the circle icon or back arrow.
- For videos, be aware that you may need to acknowledge a 48-hour viewing period for videos that you do not already own. If you do not connect to the internet again within 48 hours, the video will not be playable until you do. Keep this in mind.
- If anything does not work, take note of it and attempt to redownload it when you are done testing.
Adding Purchased Content from iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, or FandangoNow
If you’ve purchased content from platforms like iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, or FandangoNow and want to make it accessible on your children’s Kindles, you can use the MoviesAnywhere service to achieve this. Follow these steps:
- Create a new MoviesAnywhere account on the MoviesAnywhere website.
- Follow the instructions to connect your Amazon PrimeVideo account (most important!), iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and FandangoNow accounts (or any combination).
- Once connected, movies from participating studios (e.g., Disney) that you’ve purchased will appear in every location you’ve linked.
For example, if you buy a Disney movie on Google Play and have Google Play and Amazon PrimeVideo connected to your MoviesAnywhere account, you will also find the movie in your Amazon PrimeVideo account and vice versa. This enables you to add and download content to your Kindles, even if it was purchased from another platform.
Not all studios participate in the MoviesAnywhere program, but most major ones do. We look forward to more studios joining soon.
The Bottom Line
Setting up Amazon Kids+ on your Amazon Fire tablet can provide a safe and enjoyable digital environment for your children. From the initial setup to adding content and ensuring it works seamlessly offline, this guide has walked you through the essential steps.
Amazon Kids+ offers a wide range of age-appropriate books, videos, and apps, making it an excellent choice for parents who want to curate their children’s digital experiences. And if you own content from other platforms like iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, or FandangoNow, the integration with MoviesAnywhere can bring all your purchased content into one accessible space.
By following these instructions and customizing your children’s profiles and content, you can ensure that their Amazon Fire tablets provide both entertainment and educational opportunities while maintaining a secure and controlled environment. Whether you’re at home or traveling, Amazon Kids+ can be a valuable tool for keeping your kids engaged and learning in a digital world.