Kids and technology isnt easy to find a balance, we have always been the family where the kids have old hand me down iphones… and its only recently that we started discussing what features we can put in place to limit screen time.
This holiday season I’ve partnered up with Verizon to share some of their resources that will give parents some ideas of the cool technology thats out there… Verizon has a great section of their site thats “The parents’ guide to kids and tech.” Sure it covers which of Verizon unlimited plans makes sense for your family, but it also covers some really cool products that I can happily say work really well.
Have you heard of the GizmoWatch? I found this to be an incredible product for my son when he was in the 3rd and 4th grade, still too young for a typical cell phone (in my book) but did need a way to communicate with us when he was having a playdate or at an after school event. This smart watch is also a GPS locator and a phone (that is limited list of names they can call – you can control who the child has access to call from the Gizmo app. They even came out with a new Mickey Mouse 90th Anniversary Edition (verizonwireless.com) that I know my middle child would love to get.
A new survey has revealed that the average American child under the age of 10 is handed $1,360 per year by their parents, either as allowance, rewards for good behavior or achievements and bribes to ‘be good’.
A leading coupon brand has revealed that the average child under the age of 10 in the US receives $1,360 per year, or the equivalent of $113 per month, from their parents in the form of allowance, bribes to get them to behave better and rewards for good behavior or achievements.
The survey, conducted by www.vouchercloud.net, was part of the company’s wider research into money management amongst young people, to investigate at what age citizens become financially astute and independent. 2,174 respondents took part in the survey, all of whom had children who were between the ages of five and ten years old at the time of the study.
The respondents were initially asked “Do you give your child money regularly?” to which the majority, 71%, confirmed that they did. The survey then asked the parents to state what they tended to give their children money for and asked them to select all relevant answers from a list, which revealed the following top five answers:
Monthly allowance – 77%
Rewards for good behavior/achievements – 61%
Bribes to make them behave/be good – 55%
Special occasions (birthday, Christmas) – 46%
In exchange for chores – 44%
The survey then sought to establish how much money children under the age of 10 receive from their parents each month, for whatever reason, which revealed an average answer of $113.00 per month; or $1,360 per year.
All relevant respondents were asked “How do you feel about the amount of money that you give to your children?” to which two thirds, 65%, stated that they would rather give their child less money. These parents were then asked why they gave their child more money than they would like to, to which the majority (45%) stated that they feel ‘in competition with other parents’. A quarter (24%) confirmed that they ‘don’t want to disappoint’ their child, while a further 17% stated that their child ‘likes expensive things and needs enough to buy them’.
“It’s difficult to dictate to a parent how much money they should or shouldn’t give to their children. The Mom and Dad know best but, to an outsider, $1,360 seems an awful lot of money for a kid that’s not even in the double digits yet! Children might want expensive things, but they also need to learn that they have to earn them and be patient!”
“A lot of the time, when parents spend substantial sums of money on the children, it suggests they feel guilty or are trying to make up for something, perhaps a busy work schedule or they have spent less hours in the home than they’d like. Money really isn’t the most important thing and, although of course you don’t want your children to fall behind the other kids in the schoolyard, quality time is the most important thing. If you’re playing with them, nine times out of ten they won’t care if they are playing with an iPad or a yo-yo.”
As a dad of a three year old boy and one on the way, the wife and I decided it was time to get the little guy potty trained before his sister joined the party. That being said, like most 3 year olds Brady is a very stubborn kid, so we knew we were about to endeavor on a challenging journey. Wow were we wrong and that’s for one reason, the Kiddie App!
As you know, there are literally millions of mobile apps with little purpose or value, but the same can’t be said for the Kiddie App. We scoured the iTunes App store searching for potty training tips and that’s when we realized there is no app out there that covers bedtime, dinner time and potty training – all in one.
Every parent has a difficult time coping with the challenges of raising toddlers, especially when it comes the dreaded potty training, but now Kiddie App provides parents with a fun and educational tool to make everything a bit easier.
The app is jam-packed with interactive stories and sing-a-long songs which will help children learn the desirable behaviors. Best of all, using the Reward Charts can motivate your toddler and at the same time, we were able to share their progress with family and friends on Facebook.
Best of all, the app itself is FREE and you can buy a few additional stories for a few bucks!
Any parent, that’s about to enter the world of potty training should definitely check out Kiddie App!
One of the things you get really quickly when you have a baby is just how much work goes into taking care of them – you also never know just how many diapers you’ll go through in a given day. Let me tell you – its A LOT! Here’s Laila Ali’s tips for how to keep up with your little ones.
10 Tips to Keep Up with Little Movers: By Laila Ali
1. Get moving! Finding time to hit the gym isn’t always easy with a baby at home, so find ways to incorporate aerobic activity into your day. Walk to the library or supermarket whenever possible, and be sure to get your toddler out of his or her stroller so they can walk some of the way, too. If walking to your destination isn’t an option, park the car far from entrances or take the stairs instead of the elevator!
2. Surround yourself with support: From sharing parenting advice to all those special “firsts” in your baby’s life, connecting with other parents is a great way to surround yourself with needed support. Huggies® Brand is helping Parents all over the country come together by teaming up with Meetup, the world’s largest online network of local groups, to host 60 “Keep-Up Meetups” from January – March. “Keep-Up Kits” will be given away to help Meetup Parents keep up with their Little Mover!
3. Laugh! From spit-up to the spilled milk, don’t be afraid to laugh off the silly situations. Laughter really is the best medicine – relieving stress, and burning extra calories! Remember, parenting is never perfect so next time you find yourself in the middle of that messy diaper change don’t let yourself stress – instead let out a loud laugh!
4. Accept a Helping Hand! For a first time Parent, it’s hard to realize you really can’t do it all. Keeping up with your Little Mover all day can be exhausting! When feeling overwhelmed and ready to pull out your hair, it is ok to admit to yourself that you really could use that extra helping hand. Accept your family’s or friend’s offer to come over and keep your Little One entertained for a couple of hours. Don’t second guess this decision, be grateful and accept the favor because you deserve it (and others relish the time with your little bundle of joy)!
5. Don’t Forget to Sleep! Between the late night feedings and round the clock diaper duty, it may seem impossible to get more than a couple hours of shut-eye. To keep from feeling like you are going to fall asleep while at the stroller wheel, try to fit in a nap during the day while your baby snoozes and for the working Parent, ensure you head to bed as soon as possible once the little ones are tucked snuggly in their beds. Teaming up with your partner and switching off middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes can also save you from exhaustion!
6. Take up a hobby: Setting aside time to work on something you enjoy can help clear your mind and leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Don’t be afraid to try out different hobbies until you find the one that fits your schedule and interests. If your hobby is one that can include your Little One, do it this can make for some very special bonding time!
7. Stay Organized: Organization is key to keeping stress to a minimum! From making sure the diaper bag is prepared prior to that long car ride or day at the playground, staying organized and scheduling your day can help you stay calm, cool and collected.
8. Reward yourself: Parents deserve rewards for all that they do on days other than Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. What’s even better is getting kickbacks on items they already purchase – like diapers! This season, enjoy a winning code in every pack of Huggies® Little Movers diapers to cash in for prizes like Starbucks gift cards and iPods! Submit each on-pack code online at Huggies.com to win.
9. Take a break! Be committed to taking regular breaks away from your children. It’s easy to brush off the importance of “me time” but it’s a must to keep you at your best – whether it’s taking a walk, reading a book or going for a drive, “me time” cannot be underestimated!
10. Remember to Treasure those “Aww-Inspired” Moments: Last but certainly NOT least, remember to sit back and enjoy the ride of a lifetime – parenthood! From sharing photos of your Little One rocking Huggies® Little Movers diapers on the Huggies Facebook page, to connecting with other parents on the Huggies Twitter page, remember to treasure each parenting moment!
If you’re looking for some huggies coupons check this link. If you’re looking for more energy – sorry we’re looking for that too and if you have a baby – just wait for them to become toddlers.
How to win it… Contest ends 11:59pm EST. April 14th, 2011.
Leave a comment below with what size huggies your child wears and please include some method for us to contact you in the comment (twitter or email).
You get 1 extra entry for tweeting about this contest (you can do this daily). Must contain the following information: @huggies @dadarocks – http://dad.tc/g3JmL6 and you must also comment with the link to your tweet.
Example: I want to win a 3 month supply of @huggies from @dadarocks – http://dad.tc/g3JmL6
You get 1 extra entry for following @dadarocks on twitter –www.twitter.com/dadarocks You must comment that you’re a follower.
You get 1 extra entry for following @Huggies on twitter – www.twitter.com/huggies You must comment that you’re a follower.
You get 1 extra entry for becoming our FAN on facebook – www.facebook.com/dadarocks You must comment that you’re a fan.
You get 1 extra entry for becoming their FAN on facebook –www.facebook.com/huggies (and leave a note saying that www.dadarocks.com sent you) You must comment that you’re a fan.
You will have 24 hours to reply before we pick another winner!
Disclaimer: Thanks to Huggies for providing the 3 months supply of coupons for which the winner will purchase the diapers in the size they need.
Being a parent there are certain things you’re going to have to buy diapers and milk. Neither comes cheap and neither are used sparingly. There are points post breast milk, post formula that I was going to the store more then once a week to pickup a gallon of milk. I’m sure I’m not alone… This week we’re taking care of the Milk for one lucky fan, who knows maybe next we’ll take care of the diapers (yah thats not such a subtle hint at whats to come).
Let’s get to the details we’ve got
3 x Reusable latté sleeves
3 x Cereal bowls
3 x Insulated to-go cups (w/ lid and straw)
1 x Coupon booklet for a year’s worth of free milk (well its 52 gallons but since its almost april you need to use coupons before 1/31/12 so it’s not really a year – just 52 gallons!)
Each coupon is for $4 (off a gallon of milk) which on many brands would make it free. AWESOME GIVEAWAY?! right – I know. Let’s just quickly do some math $4 times 52 equals 208 dollars we’re saving you.
If you want to learn more about milk (sure you may want to know about all those great vitamin D facts like…) Milk is one of the few food sources of vitamin D. In fact, it’s the leading source of vitamin D in the American diet. The recommended three 8-ounce glasses of lowfat or fat free milk provide 75 percent of the daily value for vitamin D. Milk also provides eight other essential nutrients, including calcium, potassium and vitamin A, which many Americans also lack.
Research shows that nine out of 10 Americans are missing key nutrients. To help close this nutrient gap, Milk has launched an education initiative to encouragepeople to “Pour One More” serving of milk for their families every day.
Want to give back the Milk Mustache Campaign Facebook page –http://www.facebook.com/MilkMustache – where people can “Pass a Glass” to friends through April 11th (for every glass passed, $1 goes to Feeding America for their hunger relief efforts).
How to win it… Contest ends 11:59pm EST. April 2rd, 2011.
Leave a comment below with who drinks milk in your family and please include some method for us to contact you in the comment (twitter or email).
You get 1 extra entry for tweeting about this contest (you can do this daily). Must contain the following information: @MilkMustache @dadarocks – http://dad.tc/hKwE8z and you must also comment with the link to your tweet.
Example: I want to win a years worth of #milk from @MilkMustache & @dadarocks – http://dad.tc/hKwE8z
You get 1 extra entry for following @dadarocks on twitter – www.twitter.com/dadarocks You must comment that you’re a follower.
You get 1 extra entry for following @MilkMustache on twitter – www.twitter.com/MilkMustache You must comment that you’re a follower.
You get 1 extra entry for becoming our FAN on facebook – www.facebook.com/dadarocks You must comment that you’re a fan.
You get 1 extra entry for becoming their FAN on facebook –www.facebook.com/MilkMustache (and leave a note saying that www.dadarocks.com sent you) You must comment that you’re a fan.
You will have 24 hours to reply before we pick another winner!
Disclaimer: Milk for this contest was provided by Got Milk.
Have you heard of the GizmoWatch? I found this to be an incredible product for my son when he was in the 3rd and 4th grade, still too young for a typical cell phone (in my book) but did need a way to communicate with us when he was having a playdate or at an after school event. This smart watch is also a GPS locator and a phone (that is limited list of names they can call – you can control who the child has access to call from the Gizmo app. They even came out with a new Mickey Mouse 90th Anniversary Edition (verizonwireless.com) that I know my middle child would love to get.
