Google is a perpetual latecomer when it comes to adopting new features for Android. Several features that are available on custom UI skins usually get adopted natively much later. Today, Google has announced Kids Space a dedicated mode for kids on Android tablets. Samsung has had a similar feature for years now called Kids Mode and last year, Xiaomi announced that MIUI 11 will come with a dedicated space for kids called Children’s Space.
Kids Space is a special interface for kids and it comes at the right time seeing as families are spending more time together due to the pandemic and parents and guardians have to share their devices with kids.
Google says Kids Space is designed to nurture your kid’s curiosity and creativity. After choosing their interests (and building their avatar), Google will recommend quality content for your kids. The recommended content includes books, apps, games, and videos. These apps and games “have been approved by teachers and children’s education and media specialists” led by advisors from Havard University Graduate School of Education and Georgetown University. The tech giant also partnered with top publishers to make 400 books available to kids free of charge in the US.
The interface has five tabs including the Home tab with icons at the bottom of the screen to make it easy for kids to switch between them. There is the “Play” tab which has apps and games recommended by teachers. The “Read” tab contains your child’s own books and recommendations from experts. The “Watch” tab has creative and fun videos from YouTube Kids and the “Make” tab has videos that encourage kids to create and practice their skills.
If you want to add specific apps, games, and books not recommended by Google, you will be able to do that through the parents’ menu. Also, you can still use the Family Link app to set parental controls.
Kids Space is currently only available (globally) on two tablets for now:
- Lenovo Tab HD M10 (2nd Generation)
- Lenovo SmartTab M10 HD (2nd Generation) with Google Assistant
Google says the feature will come to more android tablets soon. Do note that you need a Google Account for your child to use Kids Space and you can not use the Google Assistant when in the mode.
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