Daily Benefits of Smart Home Technology - Google Store

A day in the life of a smart home.

Connected speakers, doorbells, Wi-Fi, and more handle tasks that free up time and simplify life.

image
How smart home tech helps parents keep the day running smoothly MobileHero@2x
Key Takeaways
  • Get help reminding family members when it’s time for dinner, homework, or anything else.
  • See who’s at the door through Nest Doorbell cameras.
  • Use a smart display like Nest Hub Max or the 2nd gen Nest Hub as a command center.
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
Family Bell
and delivered through
Google Home Speaker
, reflect a lesson Bijvoets has learned: “They listen better to Google than to their parents,” he jokes.

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

Nest Hub Max
, can make it a little easier. Here are some ways parents can bring in Nest products to help with their families’ regular habits.

Get the family moving in the morning.
A Nest Hub Max on a counter displaying the morning commute time.
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
Google Home Speaker
in their kitchen alerts them to finish eating and get their bags and shoes ready.2 Ten minutes later, the reminder feature lets them know it’s time for school, and they head out the door.

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.

“They listen better to Google than to their parents.”
— Peter Bijvoets, parent
“They listen better to Google than to their parents.”
— Peter Bijvoets, parent

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

Gentle Sleep & Wake
feature gradually brightens the lamps on either side of the bed, easing him and his wife out of sleep. “It’s great because it simulates the sun rising,” he says.

When they leave for the day, Home & Away Routines save time by turning down their

Nest Thermostat
, and also conserve energy.

Create a space and structure at home for after-school activities.

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
digital lock
can let parents lock and unlock the front door from anywhere to make sure the kids are able to get in and out of the house safely. A
Nest Cam
or
Nest Doorbell
can also help parents know when kids come home from school.2

Bijvoets and his wife also like to regulate their kids’ screen time, setting timers on

Nest Wifi Pro
for 30-minute watching intervals. On the weekends, their favorite playlist will automatically start playing in the morning. 

“It’s super for us as a family,” says Bijvoets. “My wife has set it up and it’s so easy to do so.”

Wind down the day.

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 PM so they can’t get online until the next morning. 

For Wright, the Google Nest 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.

“It’s nice to have that one phrase that triggers all these actions,” he says. 

Discover Help at Home.

  • A pair of hands holding a Pixel phone, showing a photo taken on the phone screen.
    A pair of hands holding a Pixel phone, showing a photo taken on the phone screen.

    Welcome to Google Home Premium, the new era of Nest Aware.

  • A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.
    A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.
    A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.
    A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.

    Wired or battery-powered: Which Nest Cam is right for you?

  • A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
    A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
    A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
    A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.

    Curious about smart home devices? Start here.

  • Nest Cam Indoor and Outdoor: A guide to Google’s wired security cameras.

  • 4 ways to keep your home running smoothly.

  • Make your movie night even better.

A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.

Meet the even more helpful Google Home.

A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.

Meet the Nest Cam Outdoor.

A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.

A dream smart home, by Google Nest.

A pair of hands holding a Pixel phone, showing a photo taken on the phone screen.
A pair of hands holding a Pixel phone, showing a photo taken on the phone screen.

Welcome to Google Home Premium, the new era of Nest Aware.

A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.
A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.
A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.
A group of people looking at a video taken on a Pixel phone.

Wired or battery-powered: Which Nest Cam is right for you?

A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.
A Pixel phone and Pixel case decorated with stickers sitting on a table.

Curious about smart home devices? Start here.

Nest Cam Indoor and Outdoor: A guide to Google’s wired security cameras.

4 ways to keep your home running smoothly.

Make your movie night even better.

Keep me updated about devices, news, tips,
and offers from Google Store.

Google apps