multiple kindles on same account - restricting what the kids can read

[limacharliesierra]

I've currently got 3 kindles on my account.  One for myself and two for kids.  Is there a way to send books to my kindle and not make them available to any other device?  I don't want the kids to be able to see/read every book that I've purchased by simply going into the Archived Items and downloading it to their device, but I would like them to be able to pull down books that I've purchased specifically for them that are age appropriate.

Can it be done?

Thanks in advance!
LCS

[Cindy416]

I've currently got 3 kindles on my account.  One for myself and two for kids.  Is there a way to send books to my kindle and not make them available to any other device?  I don't want the kids to be able to see/read every book that I've purchased by simply going into the Archived Items and downloading it to their device, but I would like them to be able to pull down books that I've purchased specifically for them that are age appropriate.

Can it be done?

Thanks in advance!
LCS

I'm interested to see if anyone knows a way to do that. There are 4 of  us on one account in my family, but we're all adults so it doesn't really matter if we can see everyone's purchases. As far as I know, there's no way to keep the kids from seeing your archives unless the kids have 3G only, with 3G not available in your area. (I'm in the boondocks, where 3G isn't available. Since I have wi-fi capabililties with my Kindle Touch, and I have wi-fi at home, I can download books that way in addition to via my computer.)  Good luck with your dilemma. You don't say how old the kids are, but I can certainly see where you could have a problem.

[KimberlyinMN]

No, there isn't a way to block specific books.  The only workarounds are to 1) unregister their Kindles and then register them when their books need to be downloaded OR; 2) you could set up an account specifically for them that is funded with Amazon gift cards. (Or your credit card, but that would also let them buy books with it.)

[Cindy416]

No, there isn't a way to block specific books.  The only workarounds are to 1) unregister their Kindles and then register them when their books need to be downloaded OR; 2) you could set up an account specifically for them that is funded with Amazon gift cards. (Or your credit card, but that would also let them buy books with it.)

I like the idea of their own account, but wouldn't a credit card need to be attached to it? If it's possible to have an Amazon.com account funded solely by gift cards, that seems as if it would be ideal.

[Ann in Arlington]

I like the idea of their own account, but wouldn't a credit card need to be attached to it? If it's possible to have an Amazon.com account funded solely by gift cards, that seems as if it would be ideal.

It is possible.  You need, I believe, to enter a CC to open the account, but then you can fund it with gift cards and remove the CC as a payment method.

I recommend this for kids. . .that way they have their own account that they can take with them when the are older.

[dori chatelain]

When I opened my amazon account I didn't use a credit care. But I had to get all my books from the free secelctions using my laptop from the website. And I put a gift card on the account after that I could use my kindle to get the books. I did how ever have to put a credit card on the account when I got a replacement kindle. They used it as collateral. So I would return the broken kindle.

Sent from Brightest Fire Ever

[Jesslyn]

This, in my opinion is one of the major deficiencies in personal electronics. I can only surmise that companies don't want to limit potential sales. I guess they don't realize how many more parents would purchase Kindles and tablets if they had more control. I know of at least 4 or 5 who are waiting just because of this reason alone.

Sent from my Galaxy Tab 8.9 using Tapatalk

[limacharliesierra]

Thanks for your thoughts!

I think I'll open up a new account for myself and keep the kids (12/10) on the original one (without giving them the login credentials) rather than having to unregister and re-register when I want to download new materials.  That seems like a PITA.

Ideally, I would have liked to have been the 'master account holder' and to have been able to distribute only the material that I want them to view and to grant permissions to their devices for access and purchasing when appropriate.  But! we'll figure something out. 

Please keep posting your comments or things that have worked for your families.  I'll keep checking for updates

[Linjeakel]

Bear in mind that you can't transfer books from one account to the other. If you keep your kids on the original account, they are still going to have access to all the books you've bought on that account previously, via the archived items (no logging in needed) - whereas you won't have access to them on your new account.

[Ann in Arlington]

Linda is right!

Another thought:  how many books are we talking about.  If it's just a few that you want the kids to have access to -- or that you don't -- it's possible that if you contact Kindle Customer Service and explain the issue, they will let you 'transfer' the books by, basically, having you delete them from the one account and then giving you a GC for the amount you paid and you can re-buy them on the other account.  I've heard of them doing this if it's only a half dozen books or so.  It's certainly worth asking the question.