Every weekday morning in Peter Bijvoets’ home starts the same way, with a pre-programmed alarm that wakes his three kids, ages 9, 5, and 2.
Shortly after, he sees them downstairs at the breakfast table, where a series of automated reminders ushers them through their before-school routine.
The alerts, set up using Google’s
Making your home a place where your family is well-rested, on time – and maybe even entertained – can be hard, especially when everyone is busy. Smart home devices, starting with a command center like
After the Family Bell wakes the Bijvoets kids each morning at 7, they get out of bed, brush their teeth, and get ready for the day. Ten minutes before they need to leave for school, the
It’s not just automated alerts and announcements that can help get the day going. By adding other smart home devices, you can create ways to ease into the morning that make your harsh alarm clock a thing of the past.
Using his Nest Hub, Kyle Wright has scheduled a smart light in his office to turn on each morning at 5:30 so the house isn’t pitch black when he gets out of bed. At the same time, the
When they leave for the day, Home & Away Routines save time by turning down their
The Bijvoets family uses their Nest Hub to keep the kids on track.They get an alert 30 minutes before they have to leave for afterschool activities, reminding them to get ready.
If the kids are coming and going by themselves or carpooling with others, a
Bijvoets and his wife also like to regulate their kids’ screen time,
“It’s super for us as a family,” says Bijvoets. “My wife has set it up and it’s so easy to do so.”
At the end of the day, the Bijvoets kids hear a Family Bell alert 15 minutes before bedtime, letting them know it’s time to get ready for bed and brush their teeth. And their internet access is automatically paused at 8 p.m. so they can’t get online until the next morning.
For Wright, the Google Mini in his three-year-old son Hudson’s room starts a custom pre-programmed routine when Wright says, “Hudson’s bedtime.” This shuts off the main light in the room, turns on the nightlight, and starts playing lullabies.4
“It’s nice to have that one phrase that triggers all these actions,” he says.
Google Nest Hub Max and Google Nest Hub require a Wi-Fi network, a nearby electrical outlet, and a compatible (Android, iOS) mobile device. Minimum OS requirements are available at
Google Home Requirements . iOS is a trademark of Cisco and is used under license.Some features, including mobile notifications, remote control, video streaming, and video recording, require working internet and Wi-Fi.
Independent studies conducted in the US showed that Nest thermostats saved people an average of 10% to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling. Individual savings are not guaranteed.
Learn more about savings with Nest thermostats. Compatible smart devices required.