This blog post is in partnership with Google Kids Space

Ever since Aria started home classes, she has been more curious than ever! Asking me questions about things she's learning in school, items that she's finding in the house, and of course, what's for dinner! I have always encouraged my children to explore their curiosity and have the confidence to ask any question! But as any parent knows, the questions are never-ending. I want to provide my children with the resources they need to explore, learn and create! I'm so happy that Google Kids Space has provided a way to do just that!

To back up, let me introduce you to Google Kids Space.* It's a kids mode on select Android tablets that are designed to engage your kid's curiosity and creativity. This mode inspires them to explore new and familiar topics with the assistance of a library of quality content with apps, games, books, and videos!

Google Kids Space has numerous categories for your child to explore, categorized into five different tabs: Home, Play, Read, Watch, and Make.

Play - If you're looking for a collection of fun, pre-vetted, and engaging games, look no further than the Play tab! I love this category: all of the games have been reviewed by children's education and media experts, and you can add more apps, like Zoom, to this tab for easy access. Whenever Aria visits the Play category, I feel confident knowing that these games will be fun for her but vetted from trusted sources (it’s so hard to know what apps and games are generally considered “okay” so this takes the guesswork out)

Read - Aria and I's favorite section is the Read tab! Here she finds a collection of free books that stretches her mind and engages her imagination. I love that the book selections are vetted by teachers and children’s media experts. Some of these books are specially licensed from publishers specifically for Google Kids Space and otherwise would not be freely accessible. Aria is a huge reader so having these great titles in this category was a major plus! Like the Play tab, you can also add more books to the child's library from Google Play.

Watch - In the Watch tab, children can access recommended videos from YouTube Kids. This tab is a gamechanger. I know some of my parents out there get tired of their little ones commandeering the TV to watch their favorite channels on repeat! With the Watch tab, that is a thing of the past.

Make - In the Make tab, children can access videos that spark hands-on creativity & play. Your kids can get inspired to create, discover, and practice their skills with recommended videos from YouTube Kids about everything from simple drawing activities to silly science projects.

One of Aria's favorite features is the customization of her character. The characters were designed with imagination, inclusion, and diversity in mind, giving kids over 1,000 options to choose from to make the character all their own. I love how there are so many options to make her character as realistic or fanciful as she wants! If you know anything about Aria, she spends extra time making sure her character's outfit is perfect.

An important note is that Google Space Kids requires a Google account for your child managed with Family Link parental controls. You won't be able to access Google Kids Space without having a dedicated Google account for them on a compatible tablet (see here for a list). This helps ensure that the kid's information is handled with the appropriate privacy safeguards. It also allows you to remotely supervise device usage through Family Link parental controls from Google. Once an account has been set up, your child will have access to the entire catalog that Google Kids Space has to offer, and you'll be able to help guide healthy digital habits with the Family Link app. You can also choose to approve every app your child wants to play with. You can also manage your child's apps and set screen time limits.

Since having a Google Kids Space tablet, I have more time to tend to myself. Aria, and Bryce too, love the host of applications they can explore. Sometimes I wonder why the house is so quiet, and then I hear a giggle or two, and I remember they have their tablet with Google Kids Space. So, to all of my moms and dads out there, I highly suggest checking out tablets with Google Kids Space for all of your children's never-ending energy and questions! The peace of mind you can experience is unparalleled.

* Kids Space requires a Google Account for your child. Parental controls require the Family Link app on a supported Android, Chromebook, or iOS device. Books and video content not available in all regions. Video content subject to availability of YouTube Kids app. Books content requires the Play Books app. Availability of apps, books, and video content may change without notice. Google Assistant not available in Kids Space.

Google Kids Space: Peace of Mind for Parents At Last!