Let's be honest — getting the kids back to school can be downright chaotic. The best smart home devices can help you with everything from juggling everyone's schedules to helping with homework. These connected gadgets can be scheduled and controlled remotely to bring more convenience, peace of mind and free time to your busy lifestyle. Read on to see how you can use the smart home gear below to make your life easier as your kids return to school.
Wake up on the right side of the bed
Wake up to a gentle sunrise
Getting everyone up and out the door on time each day can be a struggle. The best smart lights can take some of the pressure off your plate. Set a routine to slowly brighten your smart lights or, even better, open smart shades to wake the kids up to a natural sunrise in the morning. The gradual light increase gently rouses everyone out of bed without an annoying tone souring the mood. Steal a play out of my book and schedule a smart coffee machine (or add a smart plug to your existing model) so you can wake up to a fresh cup of java.
If your household responds better to loud sounds, then the best smart speakers can set alarms that play specific noises or songs. Set up voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to play your family’s favorite music when you wake up. You can even automate “good morning” routines that trigger a sequence of events, like turning on lights, playing the weather forecast, and announcing the time left before the school bus shows up.
Stay organized with a smart display
Manage appointments and chores
Keeping track of everyone’s activities and chores can feel like a full-time job. Smart family planners like the Skylight Calendar can help you stay on top of it. This integrates a shared schedule and chore chart so everyone’s activities are visible from one place. That way, everyone can see what needs to be done before leaving for the day and what to do when they return.
You don't need a specialty smart display to access a shared family calendar or track chores. Both the Google Nest Hub and Amazon Echo Show's screens can act as a central command center for your home, showing synced calendars, to-do lists, and weather updates. Built-in voice assistants can even read out the day’s schedule each morning or send alerts to your phones about upcoming events. My Alexa smart home sends me a phone notification to take my vitamins each morning before work.
After-school activities
Unlock the door and watch your kids play
Smart home devices make it easier to monitor and manage your kids routines even if you're not home. With smart locks, you can give your kids a unique access code instead of a physical key. You'll get an alert when they arrive home and can check who’s at the door with connected cameras.
The best security cameras allow two-way communication, so you can talk to your kids (or any visitors) while you’re still at work. Place cameras in high-traffic spaces like the living room so you can keep an eye on your kids while they play.
Smart sensors can detect motion or when a door or window opens so you can make sure nobody steps out of the house.
Keep your home cozy and secure
Smart thermostats help save energy by automatically turning down power when the house is empty and setting a comfortable temperature when the kids arrive home. That way, you don't have to worry about your little ones having a free-for-all with your heating bill. For added measures, use a smart smoke alarm or water leak sensor like the Govee Wi-Fi water sensor ($27, Amazon) to detect smoke or water in the air and send a notification to your phone.
Smart plugs let you connect and control your older "dumb" appliances like fans and lamps remotely. You can check to see what gadgets are active as well as check on how much power is being used with a built-in energy-monitoring feature. You can even schedule lamps to turn on and off in an "Away" mode to make it look like you're home for an extra layer of protection. If you prep ingredients, you can set a slow cooker or air fryer to turn on when your kids enter to ensure they have a snack ready.
Set the mood for homework
Transitioning to study time can be challenging. Smart home devices like smart lights can assist your kids in locking in on their tasks. Smart lights can be adjusted to the right brightness and color temperature to create an optimal environment for focus. Some light strips can even be programmed to change colors as a subtle signal that it’s time to move from play to homework.
Voice assistants like Amazon Alexa have homework-oriented skills. These can provide access to information across subjects like language, science, and math. Smart displays can be used for visual aids or placing video calls.
