In 2024, most children have a digital footprint before they’re even born. While sharing images online can be a way to keep distant friends and relatives up to date on your child’s milestones, there’s a difference between sharing and oversharing. The “Sharenting” (parents oversharing on social media) trend is still on the rise but many parents are starting to reconsider where and how often they share images of their kids online.
A new report by the Australian Institute of Criminology has reinforced the need to play it safe where photos of kids are concerned. In a survey of more than 4,000 Aussies who had engaged in sharenting, 2.8% had received requests from predators wanting sexual photos of children on their feeds. Some were pressured, while others were offered payment, all in the hopes of getting parents to help facilitate childhood sexual exploitation (CSE). Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus summed it up well: “No parent would ever hand a photo album of their children to a stranger and the same care should apply to photos posted online.”
So, what should you think about before posting pics of your kiddos on social media? Experts have weighed in on everything from personal privacy to online safety. Keep reading to find out what they had to say.
Think Twice Before Posting Embarrassing Photos
While you might think your toddler having a tantrum or your tween misbehaving is so hilarious that you have to share it on social media, putting anything online leaves a permanent trail that will follow your kids for the rest of their lives. "Not only is this kind of oversharing disrespectful to your child, but you should also consider how these types of images or videos will be perceived by others, and the impact it could have on your kid when he/she is older," says parenting expert and author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids, Dr. Laura Markham. If it's on the internet, as well as the possibility of humiliating them later in life, there's a chance it could be seen by school bullies, college admissions officers, and future employers. Next time, ask yourself how you would feel if it was you in the photo instead.
Consider the Message You Are Giving Your Kids
As parents, we are constantly telling our kids about the risks of using social media and teaching them about online safety, but then ignore our own advice when posting photos of them. "It's our job to teach and model online literacy and safety," says Markham. "When children grow up routinely seeing photos of themselves online, they think it's the norm. We're inadvertently teaching them that they have no privacy and no control over their online image."
According to a UK study by Parent Zone and Nominet, the average parents share almost 1,000 photos of their kids online before their 5th birthday. Many parents announce the birth of their babies all over social media, while some go one step further and hashtag their kids' names or even set up Instagram accounts for their little darlings before they can even talk. While it's kinda cute, all someone needs is a name, date of birth, and address, which they can get using a geotagged photo, and this can put youngsters at risk of identity theft and digital kidnapping, which is when someone uses photos and details of someone else's kids and pretends they are their own. According to a national internet safety expert, Katie Greer, if your kids are searchable, anyone can find out anything about them. "To maximize the online safety of your child, limit the information you share about them," she says.
Avoid Posting Photos of Your Kids in the Nude
That photo of your little angels in the bath, running around the yard in the nude, or even in their underwear might be adorable to you, but once you post it, you no longer have control over it, and anyone can do what they want with it. "There is a chance this kind of photo could end up in unintended hands. Even using seemingly harmless hashtags like #pottytraining or #bathtime can also attract the attention of the wrong people," says Greer. "Your kids' online safety is paramount, so to keep things simple, keep their clothes on."
Be Wary of Revealing Locations and Routines
It's surprisingly easy to track people using the information you can get from photos posted online. To protect your kids from potentially being discovered by child predators, Justin Lavelle, a leading expert on online safety and scam prevention and Chief Communications Officer with beenverified.com recommends turning off geotagging and location services and never posting details about where you live, including your address. "Avoid tagging the locations of places you and/or your children may be at frequently and crop out backgrounds with recognizable landmarks. First day of school? Take a picture at home with them in their new backpack, not in front of the school building with the name clearly visible," he says. "Do not advertise their routines and wait a few days before posting photos of birthday trips or visits to the park."
Get Permission to Post
While some might argue that parents have every right to post family photos, kids don't ask for such public childhoods. While babies and toddlers generally have no say in what mom or dad posts, tweens, teens, and even younger kids often feel their parents share too much about them online without their consent (and they're even covering their noses in family photos to fight back). Take Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter, Apple, who, after seeing that her mother had posted a selfie of the two of them without her permission, reportedly called her out in the comments. "While you might think it's your right to post what you want on social media when you ask kids, many don't want photos of them to be put online," says Dr. Laura Markham. "Our children have a right to decide what is posted about them and deserve not to have their privacy violated by us. It's important to get their approval first."
When you're posting photos of your kids online, especially in the public domain for all to see, it's important to consider what the people who see the photos might think. They might not like it for all sorts of reasons and will be happy to tell you exactly how they feel. This can be very hurtful. There are many instances where people have been attacked for oversharing on social media. In 2019, Pink appeared on The Ellen Show and explained why she had stopped sharing photos of her children after getting comments attacking her for posting a photo of one of her kids without a diaper.
Pay Attention to Your Privacy Settings
If you're going to post photos on social media, then check your privacy settings regularly. According to the Child Rescue Coalition, 89 percent of parents haven't checked their privacy settings in over a year. Facebook, Instagram, and other social media apps all have different settings. Without realizing it, you may be sharing your photos with the general public, aka strangers. Also bear in mind that the friends and family you share your photos with may have different privacy settings, which means they could potentially share your photos, too. "Public posting means anyone, anywhere can see it," says Lavelle. "Keep your posts private, set your profiles to private, and make sure your posts are only visible to a custom audience of friends and family."
Consider the Bigger Picture
No one knows what happens with all the photos once they have been posted on social media. Take Facebook (which also owns Instagram and Whatsapp), which has been all over the news due to data breaches and their handling of personal information. Do you want these big corporations to have access to all sorts of data on your kids that you inadvertently supply? "While it's wonderful that technology allows us to be connected with family and friends around the world using social media and other photo-sharing apps, there is so much we don’t know," says Lavelle. "It comes down to common sense, smart-decision making, and being careful what you post."
Be Present in the Moment
When your child is performing in a show or playing in a match, of course, you want to capture every proud moment on camera so you can share it with family, friends (and maybe the whole world). We've all done it. But your kids see you with your phone in front of your face instead of watching them, and you won't be able to focus on what they're doing. Next time, put your phone away, watch, and be proud. Your kiddos will love that they have your undivided attention, and you will be able to enjoy the experience much more.
As mainstream platforms like Facebook and Instagram come under fire, private social apps—like the one we offer at TinyBeans—are gaining ground for their privacy and security features. Our app offers parents a safe space to share photos, milestones, and other special moments with close family and friends. So you can go ahead and make a proud grandparent's day without worrying about those images getting into the wrong hands.
Find out everything from how old you have to be to have a YouTube Channel to how to create a YouTube channel and why screen time limits are still important
Does your kid obsess over YouTube gamers and videos like they’re the only thing on a screen worth watching? It’s only a matter of time before they want to know how to create a YouTube channel themselves. But what does that mean, exactly? More importantly, is it OK? The answer, says Common Sense Media, is mostly yes—as long as parents keep a watchful eye over their kids’ online endeavors and follow a few basic guidelines to help safeguard their kids’ privacy. Here’s everything you need to know about how to create a YouTube channel for kids.
Why the Obsession with YouTube?
It may seem foreign to parents, but making a YouTube video isn’t all that much different from wanting to stage a talent show for friends and family; it’s just the audience that’s bigger.
“Even though you may have concerns about the risks of broadcasting on the web—and they are legitimate,” says this article from Common Sense Media, “your kid may see it as a way of expressing herself, learning digital video skills, sharing with friends and experimenting creatively. It’s important to balance your concerns with the benefits she can reap.”
“With your guidance and support, she can do it safely, and it might be a fun project that may be useful down the road. In fact, more and more kids are using their online channels—whether it’s a Tumblr blog, an Instagram photo collection, or a Snapchat story—as digital portfolios to showcase their work to employers, colleges, and potential collaborators.”
At What Age Can You Start a YouTube Channel?
Officially, YouTube forbids children under the age of 13 from creating their own accounts, and children between ages 13 and 17 are only allowed to open accounts with parental permission. Of course, these rules don't say anything about parents opening an account for their child; this is allowed. Ryan, the eight-year-old star of Ryan's World, is one of YouTube's biggest stars, with over 24 million subscribers tuning in to watch him play and review toys, do science experiments, and more. It's no paltry gig—Ryan earned a reported $24 million in 2019, which includes revenue from not only his YouTube Channel but also his line of toys that can be found at big box stores everywhere.
"Ryan was watching a lot of toy review channels—some of his favorites are TheTubeFamily and Hulyan Maya—because they used to make a lot of videos about Thomas the Tank Engine, and Ryan was super into Thomas,” his mother said in an interview with TubeFilter. "One day, he asked me, 'How come I’m not on YouTube when all the other kids are?’ So we just decided—yeah, we can do that. Then, we took him to the store to get his very first toy—I think it was a LEGO train set—and it all started from there.”
How to Make a YouTube Channel for Kids
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1. Create a Gmail account for your child if they are under 13 years old. This will give them a YouTube account but not a YouTube channel.
2. Create a YouTube Channel by clicking "Select My Channel" on the sidebar on the left of the YouTube homepage. This is where users can select the name to be associated with their YouTube channel. For kids, do not use their real/whole names since these names will be broadcast to anyone watching the videos.
3. Set the privacy settings so that everything is private or unlisted. Private means that only those you invite to view the channel can watch the videos; unlisted means only those with the particular video links can see them. Also, turn off comments so your kid won't have to read unkind or inappropriate remarks from other users. Note: These privacy settings mean that only friends and family can view your child's page, which is great when it comes to keeping them safe; not so great if they're trying to build a following.
For more details on creating a YouTube channel, click here. For points to consider before doing it, click here.
Tips for Keeping Kids Safe Online
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Edit for Privacy Purposes Since putting up videos on YouTube essentially allows anyone (depending on your channel's privacy settings) to see and hear your child, parents must keep a close eye on what their kids are doing to make sure they aren't accidentally revealing any personal information. We recommend that you don't allow your children to show their faces in their videos. This means OK to narrating Minecraft games, sporting events and stop-motion animation shows, and yes to a stuffed animal or puppet performances where they do the voices.
Also, YouTube has new safety measures when it comes to kids. Parents will be able to create a supervised Google account, which will come with content settings and limited features. You can see all the details here.
Be Their #1 Viewer Be sure to watch all of the videos your child posts. This can be tedious, but you have to make sure your kids aren't accidentally revealing any personal information (where they go to school, where they live, etc.).
Put Limits on Recording Time Like any other screen time activity, it's best to limit your child's recording sessions to 30-60 minutes.
Make Videos with Them It can be a fun family activity if you help your kids make a video to publish online. They'll love getting YouTube time, and you'll love being able to add some grown-up finesse to the project. Here's our step-by-step tutorial that'll give you all the details, plus the best gadgets to buy.
Egg hunts, photos with the Easter Bunny, craft stations, and even a few drag queens might make their appearance
It’s that time of year again to grab your baskets and crew and head on out for some fabulous family Easter fun. From Brunch cruises and parades, to egg hunts for days, you’ll find plenty to do in our roundup of family-friendly Easter activities all around the Bay Area. So grab your bunnies and hop on over to one of these jumping local events.
San Francisco Easter Events
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St. Mark's Lutheran Annual Easter Egg Hunt Bring a basket and have your little bunnies hop on over and join St. Mark's annual Easter Egg Hunt! Apr. 1 Event details
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Meet the Easter bunny at Neiman Marcus and enjoy breakfast, photos, balloon art, and other surprises. Apr. 2 Event details
Castro Eggstravaganza Block Party The first annual Castro Easter Eggstravaganza Block Party will feature photos with the Easter bunny, a petting zoo, drag queen story time, music, and entertainment. Apr. 8 Event details
Hornblower Easter Champagne Brunch Cruise Hop on board a relaxing two-hour Easter brunch buffet. Enjoy entertainment, free-flowing champagne and mimosas, scenic SF Bay views, coloring sheets for the bunnies, a keepsake photo, and a meet-and-greet with the Easter Bunny! Apr. 9 Event details
East Bay Easter Events
Orange Empire Railway Museum
Spring-Styled Pontoon Boat Ride with Snacks - Castro Valley Lake Chabot is a lovely spot for family-friendly boat trips and your two-hour rental includes a kid's Easter basket and a snack basket to enjoy as your family floats idyllically on the lake. Apr.1 - Apr. 30 Event details
Piedmont Bunny Blast Egg Hunt Bounce into Spring with the Piedmont Rec. Department, as they host their annual egg hunt for children 2-7 years old. Hunt for treasures and enjoy a morning full of festivities in the park. Apr. 1 Event details
Ride the Easter Egg Express - Sacramento Celebrate Easter on an unforgettable train ride and visit the private river-side park and boarding station. Kids will decorate their own Easter Egg bag, play games, enjoy an Easter Egg hunt and other surprises! Relax with your family and friends at one of our picnic tables and enjoy the scenery. There's so much fun that your little bunny will be hopping with excitement. Sat. & Sun.startingApril 1 Event details
Easter Celebration at Jack London Square This family-friendly event invites families to enjoy storytime, kid's crafts and contests. Apr. 1 Event details
Easter Celebration at Alameda Landing Face painting, balloon art and photos with the Easter Bunny are all at the Landing for your family to take part in. Apr. 1 Event details
Family Day at the Park Newark Community Center Park invites your family to join in on the Easter festivities with an egg hunt, face painting, egg dyeing, arts and crafts, games and more. Apr. 1 Event details
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10th Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt Rudgear Park in Walnut Creek hosts an egg-citing egg hunt, face painting, and other arts and crafts. Apr. 8 Event details
Muffins with the Easter Bunny Muffins, snacks, games, crafts, and of course the Easter bunny will all be at the Robert Livermore Community Center. Pre-purchase tickets; no tickets will be sold at the door. Apr. 8 Event details
Bunny Weekend Bunny Weekend brings family-friendly games and activities, arts and crafts, ‘hopscotch’ activities, and live performances all to Fairyland. Apr. 8 & 9 Event details
Easter Sunday on the Farm Stop by Ardenwood Farm to delve into the magic of springtime! Pet the hens and bunnies, and look for the giant egg. Apr. 9 Event details
29th Annual Eggster Egghunt and Learning Festival Start off at the start booth and pick up your egg hunt tickets (two per child). Enjoy age-appropriate, designated hunt areas, family-friendly learning activities, music, live performances, raffles, and more. Apr. 15 Event details
Best Easter Events on the Peninsula
Kim Stoegbauer
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Start the day with a continental breakfast and pictures with the Easter Bunny before playing your heart out at Dave & Buster's. Two packages are available and kids 2 and under are free. Apr. 1Event details
Gamble Garden's Easter Egg Hunt Join this festive tradition as Gamble Garden becomes a treasure of hidden Easter eggs. Children will enjoy a supervised petting zoo, arts and crafts, treats, light refreshments, Easter Bunny photos, and an Easter Egg Hunt in the garden. Three scheduled hunts start at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. Apr. 2 Event details
Half Moon Bay Easter Egg Hunt Bring your bunnies out for a morning of treats, fun, and a visit with the Easter bunny at Lemos Farm. There will be four hunt sections, for ages 1-10. The fun kicks off at 10:45 a.m., bring your own basket. Saturday & Sunday,Apr. 8 & 9 Event details
Egg Hunt Adventure Hunt Bring a basket to Belmont and help the Easter bunny find all 13,000 eggs! Apr. 8 Event details
Easter Bunny by Helicopter Did you know that the Easter bunny can fly? At Hiller Aviation Museum, kids can see a flying bunny, run an obstacle course, and jump in a bouncy house. Apr. 8 Event details
Bunny Bound Spring Event Hop on over to our Bunny Stop at the Los Altos Community Center for carnival games, an egg hunt for kids ages 1-10, and a performance by the popular Andy Z. Apr. 8 Event details
45th Annual City of San Mateo Eggstravaganza Start your day with a pancake breakfast (9-11 a.m.), then get going on your egg hunt. Kids ages 1-3 can visit Peter Rabbit’s Playground, an area set up just for them while the 4- to 9-year-old group can go for the Big Egg Hunt. There are multiple hunts throughout the day, plus a parade at 10:30 a.m., photos with the Easter Bunny, and live entertainment including a magician. Apr. 8 Event details
Easter Events in the South Bay
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Easter at Venture Church Families are invited to join for inflatable fun, a petting zoo, food, a toddler zone, and an egg hunt for kids. Tickets are free, but reservations are required. Apr. 1 Event details
Big Bunny Scramble Milpitas Community Center hosts an egg hunt, crafts, coloring contest, egg decorating and more in their Spring celebration. Apr. 1 Event details
Easter On The Farm & Egg Hunt When Easter is celebrated on a farm, in addition to egg hunts, enjoy food trucks, arts and crafts, games, and more! Don't miss this Easter on the Farm in Watsonville event! Apr. 8 Event details
Helicopter Easter Egg Drop Just when you thought an Easter event couldn't possibly be more fun, VIVE Morgan Hill drops one (or many) on you. Have the kids bring a basket and enjoy the thrill of rushing for eggs falling from the sky! Apr. 8 Event details
Egg Hunt & Spring Flowers Let kids burn off some steam with an egg hunt (included in admission) and then check out the Fantastical Flowers Spring Celebration. Apr. 9 Event details
All Aboard the Easter Eggspress The Easter Bunny makes a stop at Roaring Camp. After riding either the Redwood Forest Steam Train or the Santa Cruz Beach Train, your kids will have a blast participating in Easter activities in Town. April 8 & 9 Event details
Easter Egg Hunt & Concert Enjoy a performance by the Silicon Valley Conservatory of Music followed by an Easter egg hunt with snacks, festivities, and more! Apr. 9 Event details
Best Easter Events in Marin & Beyond
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Annual Sausalito Easter Parade and Egg Hunt The parade is led by none other than the Easter Bunny, starting at Johnsons Street Fire Station, on the corner of Johnson and Caledonia. Hop on down to Dunphy Park for an Easter Egg Hunt, enjoy live music and the sights of many bright, crazy bonnets–or don your own and enter the Easter Bonnet Contest. Apr. 8 Event details
San Anselmo Spring Egg Hunt and Flashlight Hunt Come be a part of this annual tradition, where children 7 and younger can run loose at Memorial Park in search of treats, eggs, and the coveted golden eggs. The 8 and older bunch can test their night vision at the exciting flashlight hunt, the Friday before Easter. Wear good running shoes, and bring your own basket and flashlight. Apr. 8 Event details
Easter at the Mart Come for an egg hunt, decorate an Easter basket, take a picture with the Easter Bunny, and meet some real chicks and bunnies. Festivities start at 9 a.m. Apr 8 Event details
Egg Hunt at Marinwood The annual Las Gallinas Lions Club Egg Hunt will feature a free egg hunt for the kiddos and food for purchase. Apr. 8 Event details
Additional reporting by Christine Lai, Nella DuBon-Koch & Kate Loweth
In honor of the big day, children’s hospitals all over the country are holding Valentine Drives where anyone can send a free digital valentine to a patient. Each hospital has its own designs––many of which are designed by patients––and are such an easy way to brighten up a patient’s day!
St. Jude’s Research Hospital
You can do a quick Google search for local hospitals in your area, or you can reference any of these hospitals listed below that are already participating with their own Valentine Drive.
Sending a valentine is easy: you need to use your desktop computer, phone or tablet to access the hospital’s page. Then just fill out the e-card with your info and a sweet message before pressing send. Some hospitals even have pre-written messages if you’re at a loss for words to make the process even more simple.
In addition to offering Adventurefuls, a brownie-inspired cookie with caramel-flavored creme and a sprinkle of sea salt this year, Girl Scouts are taking their cookie sales next level. Partnering with DoorDash, you can have your Adventurefuls, Thin Mints, Samoas and more on-demand—which means they’ll even deliver after the kids have gone to bed and you have Netflix to yourself.
We’re going to give you a minute to absorb the possibilities of this partnership.
Girl Scouts will also be out in force this year with a hybrid selling model of online ordering and the return of in-person selling. Here’s what you need to know to score your favorite box of cookies this year:
You can text COOKIES to 59618 to be among the first to receive information about Girl Scout Cookies and to find out about other exciting Girl Scout news (Find Terms and Conditions here, along with the SMS Privacy Policy.)
Visit DoorDash.com or download the app to find out if and when on-demand delivery is available in your area by searching for “Girl Scouts.” If not immediately available, continue to check back in to find a local troop nearby.
Beginning Feb. 18, enter your zip code into the Girl Scout Cookie Finder to find a booth near you, to purchase cookies from a local Girl Scout troop for delivery, or to donate cookies to first responders and local causes.
When it comes to art, kids want it to be bold, colorful and larger-than-life. From the moment you step through the sunflower-adorned doorway into Boston’s Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, that’s what you’ll find. It’s a sensory-igniting lesson in art appreciation that was made for 21st century families. Wondering if you should visit? Here’s what you need to know.
1. Kids Can Learn about Van Gogh
By the time you exit the experience, you’ll have seen nearly 300 digital projections of Van Gogh’s sketches, drawings and paintings, but it all starts with learning about Van Gogh’s life, influences and recognizable technique. We recommend downloading the app to get the most out of the exhibit rooms that focus on the artist. Wall placards aside, the QR codes take visitors to historical tidbits, personal notes and other intriguing facts and puts them in the palm of your hand. Plus, handing your device off to your little art lover (a.k.a. the official code scanner) gives kids a way to interact during this (mostly) static part of the experience.
2. Kids Become Part of the Art
Kids will love the 3-D effects they’ll find along the way, too, like Van Gogh’s head and The Vases. When they make it to The Bedroom at Arles, they can sit in the painting and pose for parents. And if you’re wondering what the light cameras on the ground are for, they guide visitors to the perfect spot to take Insta-worthy shots.
3. It's a Full-Sensory Experience
The most talked about part of the experience is the 360-room. A sensory-igniting area, it's the place where floor-to-ceiling animated art projections allow families to “step into a living painting.” Beyond the visual effects that make sunflowers float to the ceiling, crabs crawl across walls and wagons mosey along haystack-lined roads, kids will love the sound effects, music and playful floor projections that draw in Van Gogh fans of all ages.
While parents and big kids will appreciate sitting down on nearby benches and chairs to listen to the narration, tots will love the freedom of the space. They can chase the floor projections, darting from one spot to the next, as scenes change. Tiny dancers will love strutting their stuff when the music starts and the spirit moves them. But kids may also enjoy finding a seat and marveling at the spectacle that surrounds them.
4. Turning Inspiration into Art is Easy
If being surrounded by Van Gogh’s visually stunning creations has you itching to create something yourself, there’s an area to sit down and do just that beyond the immersive room. Here kids and parents can color one of Van Gogh’s famous works of art, adding their own touches. Finally! Time to sit and color with your kiddo. Crayons and hand sanitizer are the tools at your disposal. When you’re finished, project your work into a digital frame at the “Paint with Vincent” station. Kids can line up the picture, press the red button and watch their work magically appear on the screen in front of them. What a thrill! Take your artwork home or hang it on the wall for others to enjoy.
5. Families Can Take a Virtual Walk with the Artist
The final piece of the experience is the VR presentation of “A Day in the Life of the Artist.” Once you put on the headset, you’ll be transported to the French countryside where a simple stroll turns into a learning experience. It’s a chance to hear intriguing stories behind some of Van Gogh’s most iconic paintings. The VR experience lasts 10 minutes, and is included in the VIP package. Families can also add it on day-of for $5 each. We’re guessing big kids will jump at the chance to try this out—because, VR. And if you’ve got younger kiddos with you, consider a tag team approach with your parenting partner—you definitely won’t be able to keep an eye on roaming kids with the headset on. The sets are recommended for kids ages 6 and up.
Parent Planning Tools:
1. Plan a little over an hour, give or take, for the experience. This will give you enough time to watch the presentation in the immersion room, sit and color for a while and then dive into the VR experience, without feeling too hurried.
2. If you want to avoid the crowds (and save some money too!), get tickets for a mid-week time slot.
3. The experience is super stroller-friendly so bring one along for antsy toddlers or non-walkers. Babies in carriers are easy too. Who knows—your little bundle may even sleep through the exhibit!
4. Remember to check out the COVID policies and cleaning protocols so you know what to expect when visiting with kids. Staying socially distant, wearing masks and hand sanitizer stations are all part of the protocol here.
You don’t have to wait until Black Friday to start your holiday shopping. This week, Target is kicking off its week-long “Holiday Best” deals with the best prices of the season.
Starting Sun. Oct. 31, Target is dropping weekly in-store and online sales that can be previewed Target’s digital weekly ad. Every Sunday a whole new batch of deals become available and will be marked with a “Holiday Best” sticker, guaranteeing its the best price this shopping season.
Even though it’s not Sunday yet, you can already get a peek at the deals running from Oct. 31 through Nov. 6 that include TV’s with Black Friday pricing and Beats Solo³ Wireless Headphones.
To make this week even more special, Target is adding even more deals Nov. 4-6! Be sure to head to the retailer in store or online and get goodies like a $5 Keurig K-Mini and up to 60% off select video games for Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PlayStation.
Don’t forget to check Target’s digital weekly ad every Sunday throughout the holiday season for the newest deals.
When it comes to art, kids want it to be bold, colorful and larger-than-life. From the moment you step through the doors of the bright blue building that houses Seattle’s newest art exhibit, Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, that’s what you’ll find. The oversized sunflowers that greet you at the door set the scene for this immersive art experience that was made for 21st century families. Wondering if you should visit? Here’s what you need to know.
Learn about Van Gogh
By the time you exit the experience, you’ll have seen nearly 300 digital projections of Van Gogh’s sketches, drawings and paintings, but it all starts with learning about Van Gogh’s life, influences and recognizable technique. We recommend downloading the app to get the most out of the first few exhibit rooms. Wall placards aside, the QR codes take visitors to historical tidbits, personal notes and other intriguing facts and puts them in the palm of your hand. Plus, handing your device off to your little art lover (a.k.a. the official code scanner) gives kids a way to interact during this (mostly) static part of the experience.
Kids will love the 3-D effects they’ll find along the way, too, like Van Gogh’s head and The Vases. When they make it to The Bedroom at Arles, they can sit in the painting and pose for parents. And if you’re wondering what the light cameras on the ground are for, they guide visitors to the perfect spot to take Insta-worthy shots.
Ignite All Your Senses
After walking through the first few rooms, it’s time for the big show. The 360-degree, floor-to-ceiling immersive room is where families can “step into a living painting.” Beyond the visual effects that make sunflowers float to the ceiling, crabs crawl across walls and wagons mosey along haystack-lined roads, kids will love the sound effects, music and playful floor projections that draw in Van Gogh fans of all ages.
While parents and big kids will appreciate lounging in the beach chairs listening to the narration, tots will love the freedom of the space. They can chase the floor projections darting from one spot to the next as scenes change. Tiny dancers will love strutting their stuff when the music starts and the spirit moves them. But kids may also enjoy finding a seat and marveling at the spectacle that surrounds them. We love the comfy rugs on the floor, too because they make sweet spots for tots to watch the show.
Turn Inspiration into Art
If being surrounded by Van Gogh’s visually stunning creations has you itching to create something yourself, there’s an area to sit down and do just that beyond the immersive room. Here kids and parents can color one of Van Gogh’s famous works of art, adding their own touches. Finally! Time to sit and color with your kiddo. Crayons and hand sanitizer are the tools at your disposal. When you’re finished, project your work into a digital frame at the “Paint with Vincent” station. Kids can line up the picture, press the red button and watch their work magically appear on the screen in front of them. What a thrill! Take your artwork home or hang it on the wall for others to enjoy.
Take a Virtual Walk with Van Gogh
The final piece of the experience is the VR presentation of “A Day in the Life of the Artist.” Once you put on the headset, you’ll be transported to the French countryside where a simple stroll turns into a learning experience. It’s a chance to hear intriguing stories behind some of Van Gogh’s most iconic paintings. The VR experience lasts 10 minutes, and is included in the VIP package. Families can also add it on day-of for $5 each. We’re guessing big kids will jump at the chance to try this out—because, VR. And if you’ve got younger kiddos with you, consider a tag team approach with your parenting partner—you definitely won’t be able to keep an eye on roaming kids with the headset on. The sets are recommended for kids ages 6 and up.
Parent Planning Tools:
1. Plan a little over an hour, give or take, for the experience. This will give you enough time to watch the presentation in the immersion room, sit and color for a while and then dive into the VR experience, without feeling too hurried.
2. If you want to avoid the crowds (and save some money too!), get tickets for a mid-week time slot.
3. The experience is super stroller-friendly so bring one along for antsy toddlers or non-walkers. Babies in carriers are easy too. Who knows—your little bundle may even sleep through the exhibit!
4. There are lots of public parking lots in the area, including at the exhibit building. Plan to pay anywhere from $3-$10 to park and plan on a short walk, depending on where you’re able to snag a spot.
5. Remember to check out the COVID policies and cleaning protocols so you know what to expect when visiting with kids. Staying socially distant, wearing masks and hand sanitizer stations are all part of the protocol here.
If you already love Lovevery’s Play Kit subscription that is packed with stage-based activities, buckle up. The brand just dropped a brand new complement to the award-winning kits, the Lovevery App!
Starting today, current Play Kits subscribers can download the iOS app (Android will soon be released in 2022) and grab oodles of content for their 0-12 month olds. Parents will have fresh “today’s picks,” digital play guides, videos, Expert Q & A features, easy DIY’s and instructions for your play kits.
One of the biggest positives about the app is that it seamlessly coincides with your baby’s age and stage. Not only that, you can easily submit your questions to an expert team and get quick responses back on topics like sleep, feeding and more.
Right now, the app is focusing on content for 0-12 month olds, with plans to expand in the future.
The plethora of topics include memory, problem solving, family life, feeding, introducing solids, communication, motor skills, parent life, play sleep, baby care and more. Head to the App Store and grab the app today!
Looking to capture baby memories for your family? Try out these creative ways to preserve those special moments
Almost from the minute you learn you’re pregnant, you want to remember every detail. But babies grow quickly, and it can be easy to forget how things used to be. Here are six ways to capture what life with your child is like and preserve those special baby memories.
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Photo Book Creating a photo book ensures you can show your child what life was like when they were a baby, not just tell them! You are probably already taking tons of photos of your little one. Make it a point every year to print out some of those photos in an annual book. Tinybeans makes it easy to print a photo book using the photos you upload on the site. Choose a specific date, such as your child's birthday or Christmas, as the day you'll create your photo book so you don't miss a year. Find out more in our photo book FAQs.
Video Montage Moving pictures also make great memory-keepers. You don't need to be a professional director to create a great family video. Use an app like 1SE to capture just one second a day to create a short video with a big punch at the end of baby's first year and beyond. The basic app is free, but the pro version allows you to capture longer snippets of video and add features like music. Otherwise, most phones contain basic video-editing software that will allow you to stitch together several short videos to create a great, moving memory capsule.
Letters Even in the digital age, there is nothing quite like an old-fashioned handwritten letter. Notes from the heart in Mom and Dad's own handwriting will be treasured forever. A weekly letter to your child, even if it's short, will provide your child with warm memories of their childhood. Some parents choose to write letters to their child on their birthdays to highlight the previous year's major events and recap some of the day-to-day activities their child enjoyed that year. Some parents add letters on special occasions such as graduations. Collect your letters in a sturdy box and add photos or letters from siblings and other special people in your child's life. Or, wait until your child is 18 and collect the letters in a book.
Journal Keeping a journal gives the same ultra-personal feel as handwritten letters but with the convenience of having all of your notes to your child bound together in one place. Some parents-to-be even start journals to their baby when they are still expecting. We love the Baby journal from Write to Me. If you think you might get writer's block, try a guided journal like Stories for My Child: A Mother's Memory Journal, shown above. These types of journals provide prompts to guide you through what to write.
Keepsake Box There are things you will probably want to keep to help tell your baby's story. It might be a hospital bracelet, the front page of the newspaper from the day your baby was born, the first time they met their grandparents, an early drawing or a lock from their first haircut. After you designate a box as the place to store these keepsakes, make the items come to life for you (and, in the future, for your child), by writing a small note to go with each one. Over time, you may add another box or two to your collection. This is a great way to keep all of these small but important things together to ensure they don't get lost. That way, when you walk down memory lane, you will have some tangible reminders of those long-ago days and the special stories to go with them.
Email A simple way you can preserve memories of your baby is to create an email account for them. Send an email to your child to read in the future describing the events of that day or week. Include milestones but also details about your day-to-day life as a family, their friends, and how you feel about watching them grow. Some parents give their child the password to their email account when they turn 18, but there is no rule saying you need to wait that long. Be sure you log into your child's account at least once a month to keep it active!