A Guide to Getting the Kindle for Kids

One of the Kindle-related questions I get asked most frequently is about getting a Kindle for kids. Readers often want to know whether it’s worth it, safe for kids, and what kids can do with a Kindle. If you’ve wondered about any of these things, you’re in the right place!

I’ve been reading on a Kindle since I was 17 (it’s been 10 years!), and I’ve used multiple Kindle devices in that time. So I feel pretty qualified to speak on the topic. If you’re not sure what a Kindle is and how it works, I have a whole post about how Kindles work.

But just as firsthand information: this post addresses both the Kindle e-readers and the Amazon Fire tablet (formerly known as a Kindle Fire). I’m a big fan of the e-readers, but I think of the Fire tablets as average tablets, best for kids who aren’t doing much heavy-duty work.

Let’s get started!

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Everything You Need to Know About the Kindle for Kids

Here are some common questions people have about the kids’ Kindle:

Which Kindle should I buy for my child?

It depends. Deciding which Kindle to buy for yourself or your child boils down to what they want to do with the Kindle. 

• If your kids are big readers burning a hole through their library cards: Buy a Kindle e-reader–specifically, the Kindle for Kids. You can choose between the Basic Kindle Kids and the Kindle Paperwhite Kids. The latter is the same hardware as a Kindle Paperwhite, but it comes ad-free, with a free case, a complimentary Amazon Kids+ subscription, and a solid two-year guarantee.

• If your kids aren’t crazy about books but love games and YouTube (no judgment): Buy the Amazon Fire tablet. It’s a tablet like the Galaxy Tab or an iPad–it’s just cheaper and produced by Amazon. Kids can also read on the Fire tablets, but they emit more blue light and feel more like a screen on the eyes than the e-readers do.

Is Amazon Kindle worth it for kids?

Definitely, yes. If you’ve ever wondered what can a child do with a Kindle, here are a few things kids can do with a Kindle e-reader:

• Read books (even those with illustrations–although illustrations will be in black and white) purchased from Amazon anywhere without lugging about tons of hard-copy books

• Download and read library books
• Listen to Audible audiobooks using a Bluetooth speaker or earphones
• Learn new words as they read with Kindle’s Word Wise and Vocabulary Builder

The Fire tablets (like other tablets) have a wider range of uses besides just reading. Kids can watch movies, play games, and so much more.

Is the Kindle good for kids?

Kindle e-readers are great for kids who love to read. They provide wider access to books while still allowing parents to regulate how much time kids spend on these devices. If your child loves to read, I think a Kindle is a wonderful investment.

Some parents worry that it will dissuade kids from reading hard-copy books, but in my experience, this hasn’t been the case. Kindles help sustain your love for reading and allow you to nurture it wherever you are.

Are Kindle Fire tablets good for kids?

While this is a personal choice for every family to make, the kids in my family have enjoyed having a safe, personal device to use. With their parents’ supervision, they can gain access to games, books, movies, and much more in a regulated setting. 

They’re not my favorite brand of electronic tablets, but they’re affordable and work fine. I’d love to hear what specific questions you have about Kindle Fire tablets–happy to help answer them.

What age is appropriate for Kindle for kids?

It depends on your family, but kids as young as five or six can use Kindle e-readers successfully. If they can read independently, they can use a Kindle e-reader.

What is the difference between Paperwhite and Kindle kids?

The Kindle Paperwhite Kids is exactly the same as the Paperwhite–it just comes with complimentary ad-free usage, a Kindle case, an Amazon Kids+ subscription, and a two-year-long warranty. 

Similarly, the Basic Kids Kindle is exactly the same as the adult Basic Kindle–just with the same bells and whistles as the Paperwhite Kids.

How do you start the kid free warranty for Amazon Kindle?

It starts automatically if you purchase your Kindle on Amazon or from authorized resellers in your region. All you need to do is return the Kindle within the warranty period and ask for a replacement or refund after stating the issue you encountered.

Can Kindle Fire HD 7 for kids take pictures?

It can! The Kindle Fire HD 7 has a front-facing and rear-facing camera for pictures and video.

How to set up a new Kindle for a kid

This is pretty simple to do. Here’s how to set up an Amazon Kids Kindle:

1. Create a profile for your child in your Amazon household and add their details. Note that you can’t share your content with teens (only children, so you might want to add your teen as a child too). You can also only add up to four children to a household.

1. Turn on your Kindle device and set up the WiFi.
2. Once that’s done, it will prompt you to sign into/sign up for an Amazon account. You can sign in with your details.
3. At this point, you’ll see a prompt to start Amazon Kids+.
4. Then, set a PIN for the device, and you’ll see all the Child profiles you set up in step 1.
5. Select the kid whose Kindle it is, and they can start reading. 

How to add books to a Kids Kindle

You can add books straight from your content to a kids’ Kindle once you’ve added your child to your Amazon Household. Here’s how:

Head over to your Content and Devices

Select the specific content type (here would be books)

Check the boxes to select the books you’d like to share and click on more options and then click Family Library

Now you can choose which child to share the book with 

Easy peasy!

Can you buy books for the kids’ Kindle?

You can! Amazon has a wide selection of Kindle books for kids available to purchase. There’s also a solid selection on Amazon Kids+ (you can see some of my recommended Amazon Kids+ books for kids–keep in mind they change these from time to time).

Kids can also sign up for Kindle Unlimited (see a list of Kindle Unlimited books for kids) to gain access to more books for less. 

If your kid is a voracious reader, you can also sign them up on NetGalley to read books in advance and review them for authors on Goodreads, Storygraph, social media, or a blog. Best of all, the Amazon Kindle allows you to get ebooks from your library via Libby (for US readers).

Can a kid’s Kindle be set up for an adult?

Totally! This is actually a fantastic hack if you want to get an ad-free Kindle, a two-year warranty, and a complimentary case for less. 

Regular Kindles don’t come with a free case, and you need to pay around $30 more to get them ad-free (which adds up to around the same price as a kids’ Kindle).

When you buy the kids’ Kindle, you’re basically your own parent and can add or remove restrictions as needed.

​​Can I turn a regular Kindle into a kids’ Kindle?

You can. Say you want to hand down an old Kindle; you can make it safe for your kids to use. You’ll need to set up a profile for your child on your Kindle. Here’s how to do it:

Tap on the three dots in the top right-hand corner and select Amazon Kids.

Then create new profiles for each child

Once that’s done, you can select content from your library to share with each user and even set parental controls. 

When you need to hand it to your kid, tap the three dots and select Amazon Kids+. This basically allows you to switch the Kindle from parent mode to child mode, just as you would with a desktop computer.

Setting up restrictions for kids’ Kindles

Here are common questions about setting up restrictions on kids’ Kindles:

Can you disable YouTube on Amazon Kindle for kids?

You can! You’ll just need to know how to use your parental controls. For a complete restriction, you’ll have to block both the YouTube app and the YouTube website. Here’s how to do it:

1. On your Amazon Parent Dashboard, Go to Settings > Parental Controls
2. Then turn on the toggle, set a password, and tap Amazon Content and Apps. 
3. Select Apps & Games and tap Web Browser to block them
4. Go back and turn on Password Protection

How to limit usage for kids on Kindles

You’ll need to turn on Parental Controls.

Go to Settings > Parental Controls to see what you can control.

Amazon’s Parental Controls on the e-reader are limited. You cannot restrict your child’s reading time, but you can restrict access to the Amazon store, Goodreads, and web browser. On the Fire tablets, you have more control.

The Kindle for Kids is worth a try

I wish this post were sponsored, but it’s not! I’ve bought every Kindle I’ve owned and would love to help more parents and users get the most out of their Kindle devices. So, I’m open to any and all Kindle-related questions you have. 

If you’re on the fence about getting a Kindle for your kids, I’d say go for it–especially if we’re talking about the e-reader. It’s the best gift for any reader, kid, or adult!