Family life can be busy and complicated. Parents these days juggle hundreds of things at once including family activities, appointments, and taking care of pets.

Technology sometimes has a bad rap. Video games and smartphones are blamed for alienating family members. Your smart home products can actually help bring your family together.

We'll show you how a smart home virtual assistant can link and manage those products into a harmonious, smart home.

1. Smart Cams Work as Great Baby Monitors

A smart camera may offer more functionality and versatility than a traditional baby monitor. Position the Wi-Fi camera in the nursery, and plug it in. Many products include a magnetic disc for attaching the camera to the wall. You can aim the camera's lens down into the crib and have an unblocked baby view over the crib slats.

Traditional baby monitors have limited viewing options. They usually only include a single device with a screen or in some cases, a speaker for you to listen to a baby. In a smart home, you can view and hear your baby in different, convenient ways.

Related: How to Enable and Use Event Recording With a Wyze Camera

For example, Amazon’s Echo Show has a built-in screen where you can view your baby monitor feed. You also view the feed on tablets, computers, and TVs. You can say things like "Alexa, show the nursery on the living room TV."

You can also view the feed on your smartphone with your camera app. Many Smart cameras have motion-detection features that can notify you when the baby starts to wake from their nap.

2. Streaming Music Isn’t Just for Teens

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Now that your baby is down for a nap and you're checking on them with the smart cam, it's time for some lullaby music. In today's smart home, you can play just about any type of music whenever you want to hear it, in any room.

With an Amazon Echo Dot in your nursery, you can say “Alexa, play lullaby music in the nursery." You can also develop playlists for your baby's lullaby. When you hear a song that and baby will like, you can say "Alexa, add this song to baby's playlist."

Some smart devices are designed for children’s bedrooms and include extra security enhancements.

Related: Amazon Expands Kid-Friendly Echo Dot Range Amid Security Concerns

Music streaming is great for the whole family. Which music type you and your family prefer, playing it is just an Alexa request away. Try saying "Alexa, play some good Jazz." Or maybe "Alexa, play some of the latest alternative hits."

If you don't like the music available from Amazon, you can choose from multiple streaming services including options like Apple Music, Spotify, and many others,

3. Family-Friendly Smart Home Games and Activities

Amazon’s Echo devices and similar smart home devices have a range of fun games that the whole family can play.

Alexa provides a Jeopardy game spin-off of the popular TV game show, “hosted” by the voice of the late Alex Trebek. Just say “Alexa, play Jeopardy.” There are multiple entertainment options including trivia and games. Say "Alexa, what are some good family games?"

Some fun games you might try include:

4. Smart Calendars Help You Remember All Your Family Appointments

All the sports practices, doctor's appointments, music recitals, birthday parties, and other events are difficult for parents to remember without a reminder. Your smart home virtual assistant can help. You can create a calendar that everyone in the family can check.

Alexa includes a built-in calendar. You can say things like “Alexa, add dance recital to the calendar on Monday.”

Alexa will ask what time the event should go on the calendar that day. Once you’ve inputted your busy schedule, Alexa can remind you of upcoming events. You may never forget to take your kid to soccer practice again.

You can also set alarms and timers. Say "Alexa, set an alarm for eight in the morning.” Alexa will ask you if you want this alarm to go off every weekday.

Your virtual assistant can provide helpful timers. For example, maybe you have a pizza in the oven for the kids. You can say “Alexa, set a timer for 12 minutes." Alexa links with different calendar types including Google and Apple.

5. Smart Ways to Keep Your Pet Healthy

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Are you concerned that your dog has eaten a glove? Amazon Alexa offers medical advice with virtual home veterinary services. MyPetDoc gives health advice for your pet and Just Answer Dog Help provides info specifically for dog-owners. Alexa will ask you about your pet and offer tips and advice. If your concern justifies professional care or medication, Alexa can help put you in touch with some local veterinarians.

Here are some examples of things you can discuss with these skills:

  • My cat is vomiting
  • My dog is itchy and scratching
  • My cat is urinating outside their litter box
  • My dog's eye is red

6. Keeping the Whole Family Entertained

There’s only so much Jeopardy the family can play, right? Chances are good that at least someone in your family enjoys a good movie or a good cartoon. Alexa provides great suggestions on what to watch. Alexa can link your smart TV with Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and more.

Alexa can help you control not only what you watch, but where you watch it. For example, you could say “Alexa, open Hulu on the basement TV.”

Parental controls can help ensure your kids are not watching something you feel is inappropriate.

7. Taking Smart Technology to the Front Door

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Doorbell cameras help you view the front door when someone rings the bell. The technology can also offer useful knowledge and peace of mind. Did your kids make it home from school? They don't always remember to text you.

A doorbell camera can notify you when there’s motion at your front door, such as when your kids arrive. If you don't feel like setting up motion detection, watch your camera’s live view when it's time for them to come home.

A Smart Home Can Help Bring Your Family Together

Today’s smart products are there for every household member from mom and dad to the kids, and even the pets. There are many fun, easy-to-use games, cameras, apps, TV shows, music services, and utilities.

The technology serves your needs and blends into the background, helping you focus on what is important: your family.