Kindle Help...please

[SueInBoston]

I searched the Kindle forum and posted there as well...hoping to get a better response here..

I use the Kindle app on my ipad and have one amazon account for all my books.
I just bought a Kindle for my kids. I have books that I purchased that I would like to transfer to the Kindle for them to read. However I don't want them to have full access to my library, as some of the books in my library are not age appropriate. I know about the lending option, but I'm not sure if 2 weeks is enough, can I lend over and over again? I can't imagine I'm the only one with this dilemma but yet I can't find a good answer. What if I setup a generic account and purchase all family books from that account? can I have 2 accounts on my IPAD's?

Thank you for any advice?

 

[GinnyEmma]

You can't just tell them not to download books without your permission?

 

[vicki_c]

We have one Amazon/Kindle account and multiple devices - my DH and I read on our phones or our laptops/iPad, the kids each have a Kindle.

We download the books we want to the kids Kindles, then we turn off their wireless and disconnect them from the account on Amazon.com (this is on the Manage my kindle page - same place you set them up in the first place).

It's a pain because every time they want a book, I have to turn on the wireless on their device, then re-connect their device to our account on Amazon, get them the book they want, then reverse everything.

But that is what we do - that's the only way we could figure it out so they couldn't order anything AND so they wouldn't have access to all the books that DH and I have.

 

[vicki_c]

You can't just tell them not to download books without your permission?

That wasn't her issue - it was that with a shared library, everyone has instant access to all the books that were previously purchased.

 

[RitaE]

You can certainly have two accounts but a Kindle or Kindle device can only be registered to one account at a time. It really isn't difficult to unregister a Kindle on one account and put it on another account ... and then switch it back though. It takes a couple of minutes.

Many parents register their kid's Kindles, send the books they want the kids to have to the Kindle, and then un-register the Kindle. The books remain on the device. Whenever you want to add more books - register it again and add them.... blah blah blah.

Keeping a Kindle in an unregistered state blocks unsupervised internet access, prevents unauthorized book buying, and keeps them from downloading things in the Kindle archive that you don't want them reading.

 

[Scurvy]

That wasn't her issue - it was that with a shared library, everyone has instant access to all the books that were previously purchased.

Everyone has access to the archive, but all the books aren't on each device. For some kids, you can just make a rule that they can't look through the archive or the Kindle store to send new books to their Kindles. The threat of occasional Kindle checks to be sure nothing new has appeared on the device would be enough to keep many kids from sending anything unapproved to their Kindle. Only the OP knows whether her kids are likely to follow that kind of rule or not.

If that kind of rule isn't likely to work with them, then de-registering and re-resistering the Kindle is probably the best available option. I wish there was an option to require a password to do anything other than read on the device. That would be so useful for parents, but I don't think there's an option like that at this point.

 

[GinnyEmma]

That wasn't her issue - it was that with a shared library, everyone has instant access to all the books that were previously purchased.

i understand that. Just tell the kids to ask which books they are allowed to download. We share an account between a half dozen of us. My youngest has to ask which books he can download. No biggie.

The older boys are allowed to read whatever they want. There are about 330 books available right now.

 

[golfgal]

I agree, just let them know that there are some books on there that are for adults and they need to double check with you before they read an unknown book. On the Nook you can create "shelves" and place books in those--can you do that on the Kindle. I have one created for DD16-not so much because she can't read any book on my Nook but more to let her know those are books I think she will like.

 

[GinnyEmma]

that is convenient. My dad reads all of the Tom Clancy type books. May boys are loving having access to his booklist. There is no way we could afford to buy them all, lol.

I can't wait until the library books are available.

 

[SueInBoston]

Thank you all, I just finished chatting with a Kindle rep, and unfortunately there's really no other way besides registering and de-registering.

As to the library content, I've been reading some self-help, depression management, marriage counseling books and don't want my kids to get any ideas.


Luckily there aren't that many, I was going to keep them for reference but I think I'll just delete them from archive.

Thanks

 

[RitaE]

I really wouldn't suggest that because once you delete them from the Kindle archive they are gone forever unless you re-buy them. I'd set up a separate Amazon account for the kid's books before I did that.

 

[GinnyEmma]

eh, if they are self help or marriage related chances are the op won't be reading them again. Unless they were better than usual. I wouldn't want my kids to get ideas if those were the concerns either.

Hope everything gets settled for you and your kids enjoy their kindle, op.

 

[golfgal]

I really wouldn't suggest that because once you delete them from the Kindle archive they are gone forever unless you re-buy them. I'd set up a separate Amazon account for the kid's books before I did that.

If you archive them, don't they fall off your main list though. I would think that just archiving them would be sufficient

 

[Pamlur]

You didn't say how old your kids are. Can you tell them that only YOU are able to download books to their Kindles and get away with it? I have our entire family's Kindles and apps on my account, including teenage grandchildren, and nobody has tried to download something they shouldn't. Otherwise, I would just do the de-register/re-register thing; it's not that hard just time consuming.

 

[RitaE]

If you archive them, don't they fall off your main list though. I would think that just archiving them would be sufficient

Yes - but it is pretty easy to click on the archive and get a list of books available for download. Every parent wants a different level of control. Some want their kids absolutely locked out of everything that hasn't been specifically sent to that Kindle by an adult and some really don't care what their kids download. Some are comfortable with just telling their kids what is allowed and some want a Net Nanny'd Kindle. Most parents express interest in blocking purchasing from the kid's Kindles.

More robust parental controls is a pretty common user request but I haven't heard of any company who is really taking the issue on yet.

 

[SueInBoston]

After some thinking...I think this is what I"m going to do...I'll go and delete any books in the family account that I don't think are suitable for the kids, then register the new kindle to the family account. My kids are 17 and 13 and I don't have an issue with them purchasing books, they always ask for permission first and anything purchased shows up on the account anyway.

I know the books I delete are gone forever, which are ok..

Then I'll set up a personal account for any books for my own personal reading and I'll register and de-register for those (very infrequently).

Thank you all for your response..!!