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A child enjoys a learning app for kids on a tabletCategoriesParenting Play Tech
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Explore the Best Learning Apps for Kids

We’ve all been there; you need to get some things done, but you don’t want to plop the kids down in front of the TV or hand them an iPad game again. Well, there’s a solution for those tricky days full of time at home: learning apps for kids.

These award-winning educational games can put a fresh spin on screen time. You can feel good about indulging your kids with more screen time when they’re not zoned out on mindless games. You can find a wide variety of apps that fit your child’s interest, so it’s simply a matter of finding a good fit for your kid.

Turn screen time into school time with the best learning apps for kids.

Khan Academy Kids

Khan Academy for Kids is kind of like Trivia Crack – except more educational. It’s free (yes, even without ads!) and helps kids learn by keeping them engaged with fun activities. The app offers printables, interactive stories and lessons, and even a weekly planner if you want to use it as part of your homeschooling or summer school curriculum. This is one of the best e-learning apps for kids that’s sure to have them learning something new every day.

Moose Math

If math’s not your child’s strong suit, Moose Math can help give them a little boost. This app helps younger and school-age children learn the basics of addition, subtraction, and geometry. As they progress through the app, they earn rewards for successfully completing each level. Those rewards add up and kids can use them to customize their hometowns. Plus, there’s a built-in report card that can help parents and teachers keep an eye on progress.

Little 10 Robot

The Little 10 Robot app suite is an award-winning set of app-based games for kids that teaches everything from shapes and geometry to reading and writing. The fan-favorite Goodness shapes app is one of the best learning apps for six-year-olds that teaches them about basic shapes, colors, and patterns. 

Number Run

If your kid loves Temple Run, then they’ll love Number Run. Number Run is the educational alternative to its cousin Temple Run and puts a fun twist on learning math. This is one of the best learning apps for middle schoolers because it goes beyond just basic addition and subtraction. It includes “lessons” on multiplication, division, and even double-digit addition. There are 50 levels, which means this one will keep them busy (and learning) throughout the summer.

PBS Kids Play and Learn Science

A tried and true classic, PBS Kids Play and Learn is one of the best iPad science apps out there. Need to keep those middle schoolers busy this summer? This is the perfect learning app for middle school students. Kids can do all of those fun, science-y experiments at home, but without all the mess – or the crowded science museum. It’s completely free and has virtually endless amounts of edutainment. Let your kids explore the solar system and make it a summer they’ll never forget.

Conclusion: Make Learning Fun with the Best Apps for Learning Something New Everyday

Summer staycations shouldn’t feel routine or boring. And they don’t need to be filled with a bunch of zoned-out screen time. Explore some of the best learning apps for kids to keep them entertained and educated throughout the year.

 

Enjoy a stress-free Summer staycation at homeCategoriesPlay
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10 Summer Staycation Ideas for Travel-Free Vacations

As we ease out of quarantine restrictions, most of the world is starting to get back to normal. That means summer vacation destinations are bound to be packed. Instead of heading towards the crowd, you can plan a Summer staycation and keep your family vacation stress and travel-free.

Here are 10 brilliant summer staycation ideas for when you want to enjoy some R&R time but don’t want to do the traveling.

Explore Your Home Town

When’s the last time you got out and explored your hometown? No, really explored. Sure, you live there full-time, but there’s plenty more that you haven’t discovered yet. 

Ask local friends and family for recommendations for their favorite spots to visit and you might discover a new favorite. Adventure across town to that park you haven’t been to in a while. Or get off the beaten path and find a local business to visit instead of the big box stores. The local economy will thank you!

Take a Tour

Taking a tour of a local museum or building is one easy way to make the most out of a staycation. You can make learning fun and a regular part of your family staycations. 

Call around to see if any local spots offer coupons or discounted rates. Museums and other local tour spots often run discounts on certain days of the week, which can make this staycation entertainment option budget-friendly.

You can also take virtual tours of many historic places, like the Egyptian pyramids and Machu Picchu. Check out this list of the best places to tour virtually during your Summer staycation.

Camp Out

If you’re looking for a staycation theme idea that gets you out of the house without getting out of town, backyard camping is your solution. Backyard camping can create unforgettable memories for your kids, even though you’re still close to home. You can spend quality time together learning how to set up tents and roast s’mores over a fire. 

You can still enjoy this summer staycation activity even if the weather isn’t cooperating. Set up your tent (or a blanket fort) in your living room and camp the night away.

Make It a Movie Night

Family members of all ages will enjoy a staycation movie night. You don’t need to go to the theater to make it a family movie night. In fact, this can easily become your favorite, free staycation idea by sharing some of your favorite childhood flicks with your kids.

If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can set up a small outdoor projector and make a screen out of a white sheet against a wall. Now all that’s left is to grab some popcorn and enjoy the show!

Explore the World (with Food)

Make it a world tour night by cooking a meal with all different types of food. 

Add a dash of Italian in with some pasta. Indulge in Mexican with Tacos. Bring on the heat of Thai food with a traditional Pad Thai. Mix in a little French food with crepes for dessert.

Invite the kids to take part in the cooking and make it a family activity. Together, you can explore new kinds of food and show them just how diverse this world is.

Go Stargazing

Sometimes the best part of a vacation is just indulging in a little change of scenery. But don’t think that daytime is your only option. Make your Summer staycation out of this world with some good, ol’ fashioned star gazing.

If you have a local park nearby, you can head out around dusk to start catching glimpses of the shining stars. Some parks even offer nighttime guided tours to the public to take advantage of the darker skies outside of urban areas.

Have a Picnic

Is there anything that says Summer more than a picnic? Picnics are an easy way to indulge in a little backyard leisure during your staycation. Simply taking your meals outside on the lawn can create long-lasting memories for your children. Just don’t forget those sun-safety basics.

Don’t let the rain ruin your picnic plans. Head to the living room and make a little space to lay down a blanket or a towel. Break out the picnic basket and spend quality picnic time with your kiddos.

Break the Rules

The best staycation ideas are the ones that break all the rules. Get messy and creative. Instead of spending money on hotel rooms, you can stay at home and go crazy with creative activities that make it feel like you’re breaking the rules.

Grab the finger paints, the sidewalk chalk, or even water balloons, and let your kids’ imaginations run wild.

Take a Class

One of the best vacation at home ideas is to take a local class. Look for swimming, hiking, or soccer classes for your kids. You can also usually find a selection of indoor classes, too – like art, pottery, or even dance.

Many local community centers offer day classes for kids and families – for free! Check with your local Department of Recreation to see what they offer in your area.

Break Out of the Board Game Routine

Board games are great for rainy days, but your summer staycation deserves more. Take your games to the next level by supersizing them! 

Play yard Jenga with small pieces of 2’ x 4’. Create a game of lawn bowling with a giant, bouncy play ball and cones. Or you can use colored plates to play checkers or Connect Four

Conclusion: Summer Staycations Are the Vacation We All Need

Summer staycations shouldn’t be boring. They’re made for long bike rides, cooking classes, and a whole lot of yummy ice cream. Avoid the bustle of busy vacation destinations and spend your downtime at home with the family. When you need a little change of scenery, hit up the local hot spots or spend a day virtually touring famous, historic locations.

Whatever activities you choose, you’re sure to find your Summer staycation less crowded and more stress-free.

A family playing twister on a rainy dayCategoriesParenting Play
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Stay Active with Fun Rainy Day Indoor Games for Kids

We’re always thrilled when Springtime rolls around, and the world thaws out from the cold, Winter freeze. But with those warmer temperatures come the Spring rains. And when you can’t send the kids out to play, everyone starts to go a little stir crazy on those days you’re stuck indoors. Next time the Spring rains roll around, try some of these indoor games for kids.

Tape Maze on the Floor

This simple game for children can help keep those little minds and bodies active on even the rainiest of days. All you need is a little painter’s tape and imagination. Weave your way around a room (or even your whole house) and place rewards or prizes at the end of the tape maze for your children to collect.

Make every game exciting by incorporating elements of hide and seek into the maze. Hide clues throughout your house that lead to the solving of a treasure mystery. 

Balloon Waddle Game

This fun game to play inside will have everyone in tears – from laughter. You just need a few balloons and a little dexterity. Because you don’t need much room, this also makes a great indoor group game for kids.

While your kids are playing for fun, they’ll also be working to improve their balance as they waddle around trying to hold the balloon between their legs. Set up mini-courses. If they drop the balloon, they have to reset and go back to start. 

Rainy Day Board Games

Board games are some of the best time-burning games to help pass away the rainy days. Instead of screen time, pull out a board game the whole family can enjoy.  If you’re both working from home, it’s even more fun if both parents can get involved.

You’ll create memories that last a lifetime. And who knows! Your kids might actually start to look forward to rainy days thanks to all the fun games to play at home.

Keep It Up Game

The keep it up game is similar to the balloon waddle game – except this time, you’re using the top half of your body to keep a balloon in the air. The best part of this game is that older children don’t necessarily need tons of adult supervision to play.

Kick the challenge up a notch by introducing multiple balloons at once. If you’re looking for an all-out activity that combines fitness, fun, and energy, this is it. 

Simon Says Yoga Game

This version of Simon Says is great because it’s a fun game without props. And if the kids have been getting rowdy, it’s also the perfect quiet indoor game for kids.

Instead of your typical Simon Says actions, you’ll guide your littles through easy yoga poses for kids. This activity can help calm the mind and spirit – which can also help keep you sane when everyone’s cooped up inside on rainy days.

DIY Indoor Hopscotch

Hopscotch is an all-time favorite, simple game for children. This straightforward, engaging activity is the perfect stay-at-home activity for toddlers because of its simplicity and interactivity.

Don’t be afraid to think outside of the traditional hopscotch box. You can make all different types of outlines and mix it up with shapes.

Instead of hopping by number, try setting up different shapes and instructing your kids to jump to different shapes. It can be the perfect mix of interactive learning and fun activities for your kids on rainy days.

Conclusion: Enjoying Time Indoors is Easy with Stay-at-Home Games

Sure, you might not need your kid’s tracker watch on rainy days, but staying indoors has its perks. You can still find creative inside games for your littles to help burn off energy and create long-lasting memories. Hopefully, these fun indoor games for kids can help you pass the time on the rainiest of days.

Inside days are perfect for prepping for those outside days, too. Help keep your kids safe next time you head to the park or the zoo with a smartwatch with GPS tracking. Shop the collection now.

 

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Two parents hand their child an Easter egg as her face fills with delight.CategoriesBlog Parenting Play
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10 Healthy Easter Basket Filler Ideas for Kids

Easter: it’s that time of year where your kids get to enjoy unpacking their bountiful Easter basket, filled with goodies. But maybe this year, you’re looking for some healthy Easter basket ideas for kids. 

Sure, it might sound like a tall order, but we promise it’s not that hard to accomplish. There’s a whole selection of healthy alternatives to chocolate Easter eggs. 

From sidewalk chalk to homemade bunny-shaped fruit snacks, you’re sure to find something on this list of 10 healthy alternatives to Easter candy that’s sure to delight your child.

Healthy Trail Mix-Filled Easter Eggs

We’ve talked about the importance of good nutrition in healthy brain development, so why not use Easter as a fun way to enjoy some healthy snacks? 

If your kid can’t get enough of cracking open those little plastic Easter eggs, then this tasty trail mix could be your go-to candy alternative for Easter eggs. 

Filled with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and even just a little bit of chocolate and popcorn, you can use this “bunny bait” to help catch that dodgy Easter bunny. You can find the whole recipe here.

Outdoor Toys

Now that the weather is finally starting to feel a little bit more Spring-y take advantage of it by filling your Easter baskets with alternative Easter basket ideas like outdoor toys.

Here are just a few great non-food Easter treats your kid will absolutely love:

  • Sidewalk chalk
  • Kites
  • Jump rope
  • Toddler-sized baseball set
  • Bouncy balls or other sports balls

Bunny-shaped Healthy Easter Treats

Chocolate eggs and chocolate bunnies might have been the norm in the past, but healthy Easter basket ideas are here to stay!

You can have fun with homemade healthy gift basket treats, like fruit snacks. Making bunny-shaped healthy snacks for Easter baskets is guaranteed to put your kid in the Easter bunny mood.

All you’ll need is an Easter bunny-shaped cookie cutter and the soft fruit of your choice. Watermelon and apples are perfect because they’ll hold their shape, and you can decorate them with raisins to give them little eyes.

It’s this kind of bunny-shaped food idea that can excite your child to “indulge” in a little healthy eating.

Non-Edible Gift Sets

Even if you can’t get outside, there are plenty of non-edible Easter basket ideas you can use to fill up your littles’ baskets. 

Books, playdough and even glitter glue can keep the Easter fun going all day long on the rainiest of Easters.

You can easily modify the contents depending on your child’s age. For toddlers, playdough and legos can be great alternative Easter basket ideas for kids. 

You can make a few simple modifications to make it age-appropriate for babies. Bibs, pacifiers, and teething toys are great ideas for non-edible Easter egg fillers.

Sugar-free Alternatives to Candy for Easter Baskets

It can be difficult to break with tradition. But finding Easter basket ideas with no sugar can feel pretty impossible.

Here are a few different edible, healthy Easter gift basket options for your toddlers and tweens:

These ideas go to show that you can easily find healthy chocolate alternatives for your Easter baskets.

Gift Box Easter Baskets for Tweens and Teenagers

At some point, it gets a little more tricky to find healthy basket ideas – especially when you’re filling Easter baskets for tweens or teenagers.

Here are a few ideas of healthy Easter basket fillers for the older kids:

  • Stationery and pens
  • Gift cards
  • Lip balm or makeup
  • Packable fitness gear

Give the Gift of a Healthy Easter Basket

As we become more health-conscious, it has become more important to find healthy Easter basket ideas for toddlers, babies, and older kids. 

We all adore the traditional candy Easter basket ideas, but why not mix it up a little this year with a fruit basket or other non-food gifts? You can even try one of the many homemade Easter recipes to delight your kids with bunny-shaped treats.

Whatever healthy Easter egg alternative you settle on, your kids will love opening their baskets on Easter morning.