Disney and Pixar recently released the trailer for the new soon-to-be summer blockbuster Luca! Like other top feature flicks of 2020/2021, you don’t need to head out to the movie theater to catch the animated awesomeness—because this new film will stream exclusively on Disney+.
Luca may look like an average boy. Even though he has two legs, two arms and all the other aesthetics of a human, he’s really a sea monster from another world that lies just below the surface of the ocean.
This coming-of-age tale features the voices of Jacob Tremblay as Luca Paguro, Jack Dylan Grazer as Alberto Scorfano, Emma Berman as Giulia Marcovaldo, Saverio Raimondo as town bully Ercole Visconti, Maya Rudolph as Luca’s mom Daniela, Marco Barricelli as Giulia’s dad Massimo, Jim Gaffigan as Luca’s dad Lorenzo, Sandy Martin as Luca’s grandma and Giacomo Gianniotti as a local fisherman.
Look for Luca and the Italian seaside adventure starting Jun. 18, 2021 on Disney+ and watch the trailer right now!
Move over Easter bunny. There’s a whole new way to decorate for the holiday this year. Those precious ceramic Christmas trees you may have begged to pick up and play with at grandma’s house during your own childhood are back—and with an Easter-themed twist! Now you can buy totally nostalgic Easter trees almost everywhere.
The trees look just like their Christmas cousins, but with a pastel Easter-time twist. Along with retro ceramic design, these trees are decked out in twinkling mini lights. Where can you get these awesomely adorable Easter trees? The nostalgic mini decorations are available all over the Internet.
Amazon
If you're into a bubble gum (or jellybean!) pink tree, this Retro Lighted Ceramic Easter, Large Tabletop Tree is $39.66 on Amazon.
HSN
Along with the tree on Amazon, you can also nab a set of three four-inch trees with a timer ($24.95) from HSN.
You can snag a 12 1/2-inch tall ceramic retro Easter tree( $49.95) from Hammacher Schlemmer
Need more than one? Pick up a set of four mini trees for $39 from QVC.
Music icon Paul McCartney is about to become a children’s book author—again! the Beatle’s book Hey Grandude! garnered plenty of acclaim. Now McCartney is back with a new title that is another can’t-miss for the kiddos.
Random House Children’s Books in the United States and the UK’s Penguin Random House Children’s Books recently announced the sequel to Hey Grandude!, Grandude’s Green Submarine. The new book continues the adventure McCartney started in Hey Grandude!, telling the tale of a magical grandpa and his grandchildren.
photo courtesy of Penguin Random House
The sequel follows Grandude and his grandkids as they search for Nandude!, the music-loving grandmother. McCartney said of the book, in a press release, “I’m really happy with how Hey Grandude! was received, as this was a very personal story for me, celebrating Grandudes everywhere and their relationships and adventures with their grandchildren. I love that it has become a book read to grandkids at bedtime all around the world.”
The musician/children’s book author continued, “I always said if people liked the first book and there was an appetite for more, I would write some further adventures for Grandude—so he’s back and this time with his special invention, Grandude’s green submarine!”
Grandude’s Green Submarine ($18.99) will make its grand debut on Sep. 2, 2021. McCartney’s book is available for pre-order right now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and from Penguin Random House.
The pandemic has been hard on parents, there’s no doubt about that. But it’s also been really hard on kids: not only have they had to adjust to unique school experiences, they’ve also lost a lot of the freedoms they’ve had to just…well…play. I never thought an Apple Watch would be a way to give my kid some of that freedom and independence back but I recently tried one out and I’m here to say: this thing is the bomb. Let me explain…
Three main things have changed dramatically in our lifestyle in the last year:
1) After nearly a year of school closures, our district reopened elementary schools.
School hours and how and where parents pick kids up is quite different than non-COVID times. In addition to school changes, this year my son is a Crossing Guard/Patrol, which means that every two weeks his afterschool schedule changes. I work full time (I’m the Managing Editor for Red Tricycle, obtw) and have a lot on my plate, so his schedule changing can throw things off for me, like meeting times and deadlines.
Plus, parents are essentially not allowed in the school unless it’s an absolute emergency. Running late? Your kid is waiting for you outside (they will bring the kids in if it’s super cold). And with the added responsibility of Patrol, his pickup time changes slightly depending on how many kids are crossing, how fast he checks in his equipment, etc. In short, the time is a little different EVERY. DAY.
2) We live in Minnesota, so “afterschool/outside school activities” means hockey. The “no parents” rule is similar for hockey practices and even most games. Parents are only allowed in the rinks if you need to help your kid get his gear on (my son is a goalie, so he still needs a little assist sometimes). You just drop them off outside or come in at the very last minute if they need help. This is very different than years past, where hockey culture frequently includes parents hanging out and helping out at practice (at least at this younger age).
3) Grandma moved into town.
I don’t believe my son is old enough to have a phone (he’s in 4th grade) but increasingly we found that we wanted him to be able to let us know when he was ready to go. He also started asking if he could walk to (his now fully vaccinated) Grandma’s house after school sometimes.
WALK?? ALONE??? I don’t consider myself to be a helicopter parent, and we live in a pretty safe community, but I also listen to a lot of true crime podcasts and occasionally panic about horrible potential scenarios. How do you balance that line between fear and teaching your kids fear, between safety and independence?
As it happened, right around this time of internal, moral debate, Apple Watch reached out to me to see if I could try the Family Setup feature. So they sent a (loaner) Apple Watch for us to try and, honestly, it really was transformative.
Features I Love the Most
Schooltime: From my phone I can set Schooltime hours, which makes the Apple Watch essentially only functional as time-piece during those hours. It does still track activity, but the majority of the features on the Watch go dormant. They can be accessed only temporarily during schooltime, for such things as emergency text or updates, but overall are “disabled” allowing for fewer distractions.
I was hesitant to send him to school with this watch on, but was actually thrilled to hear that my son’s teacher didn’t even notice he was wearing an Apple Watch: this meant it was not a distraction in class for him or anyone else.
Texting & Calls: As the parent, you control the contact list entirely. This is critical. With Family Setup your child cannot add any contacts to their list on their own. It is all controlled by the parent. I added friends and relatives we trust, not just for emergencies but so he could keep in touch on his own. He’s an only child, so having a cousin to “chat” with now and again is a lifeline.
He can also text via WiFi, but we found calls didn’t work great on WiFi to non-Apple numbers. You’ll want to add the Apple Watch to your cellular plan, which typically sets you back about $10/month when tacked onto an existing plan.
Emergency contacts are also an option: whomever you put on for emergency contacts can be contacted and called for under one minute without requiring a cellular plan.
Handwashing: There is actually a tracking device that shows if the kids have washed their hands long enough! WUT!
So, for the first time in his life, my son walked a few blocks on his own to his Grandma’s apartment after school. And, yes, I was using the tracking feature to see where he was.
Features My Son Loved the Most
I asked my son what his favorite parts of the watch are, beyond having more independence and he, like the kid he is, said:
I like the activity tracker. It’s fun to try to have a goal to reach for activity and get rewards when you complete certain things. There’s a cool planetary alignment feature where you can track the movement of the planets. And I like the easy communication with my family. Today, my dad was late picking me up and I was able to text both my parents, “Where are you?” Also, Memojis are cool. You can even have your Memoji wear a mask.
Calls and texts with family and friends: My mom put people like my grandma, aunts and uncles and even my cousins in California, on my contact list so I can check in with them sometimes without having to make a call on. my mom’s phone.
Conclusion
We’ll reluctantly send back this trial Apple Watch and I have to say, we’re putting it on the birthday wishlist now. Just a few weeks giving this new Family Setup a try and we are happy to see how much it’s allowed us to stay in touch, but not too in touch with a device that doesn’t distract with lots of screen-time. Unlike a phone, this watch isn’t heavy on the screen/game features (there are some) which for us is a win. Yes, the price-tag is higher than what you’d consider for a kid, but I do think it’s actually worth paying for, and the cost to add it to our plan is way more affordable than adding an additional line. Definitely worth considering for any parent who wants the right balance between freedom and worry.
Family Setup is supported in Apple Watch Series 4 or later with cellular, including the new Apple SE
I’ve almost forgotten what the real world feels like. I’ve almost forgotten what it was like before masks were added to the mental checklist of things I needed to make sure my kids had before they left the house each day.
I’ve almost forgotten what it was like to have my kids leave the house at all.
I’ve almost forgotten what it felt like to sit in my car before work, sipping a freshly made drink from Starbucks while listening to the radio. I’d almost forgotten what it was like to leave my house for work at all. I’ve almost forgotten what it felt like to board an airplane with my husband on our way to an annual vacation alone in the sun, knowing my babies were safe at home with their grandmother or aunt and without worrying that they could get each other sick.
I’ve almost forgotten what it felt like to be alone with my husband at all. I’ve almost forgotten what it felt like to plan an impromptu night at my house with some friends, without having to worry about exposing each other or breaking a new rule about crowd sizes. I’ve almost forgotten what it felt like to see friends, colleagues, acquaintances, or strangers on a regular basis at all.
I’ve almost forgotten what it felt like to dance the night away at a fundraiser or wedding. I’ve almost forgotten what it felt like to celebrate anything at all. I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to step foot inside my children’s schools for parent-teacher conferences or fundraisers or Saturday morning junior basketball games. I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to feel connected to my children’s schools or sports at all. I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to sit in the stands for hours at youth sports games, sharing a box of extra toasted Cheez-Its with other parents.
I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to feel that alive and in the moment at all. I’ve almost forgotten what the real world feels like…but I’m holding onto hope that I’ll see it again soon. I will drive to work again and walk on tropical beaches with my husband again and dance at weddings again and sit in crowded stands with other parents sharing Cheez-Its again. And when I do all those things again, I’m going to appreciate them like never before.
Jenni Brennan is a psychotherapist, college professor, creator of Changing Perspectives, and co-host of The Changing Perspectives Podcast. Jenni is passionate about exploring the topics of parenting, relationships, grief, and mental health through her writing and podcast episodes. She lives with her husband, 2 sons, 3 dogs, and 2 cats in Massachusetts.
Are you ready for Baby Shark’s all-new Nickelodeon debut? As if your fam doesn’t get enough of the ear worm already, the Pinkfong fave is set to debut in an animated series for the Nick network this spring.
In celebration of Baby Shark’s Big Show, Nickelodeon will release a series of shorts. Your kiddo will get a kick out of the animated adventures of Baby Shark and his BFF William in these mini versions of the soon-to-be half-hour show.
photo courtesy of Businesswire
Even though Baby Shark’s Big Show won’t air for a few months, the shorts will get your Baby Shark-loving child super-excited for the series. Catch the five mini-adventures, Baby Shark Shorts, on Feb. 26, starting at 12:30 p.m. ET/PT. The full series will feature 26 episodes that highlight fun, games and more. Along with Mommy and Daddy Shark, Grandma and Grandpa Shark will join Baby Shark and William.
Nick also has other big news for parents of preschoolers. The network recently announced it will renew some of its biggest shows! Santiago of the Seas has been greenlit for a second season, Blue’s Clues & You! will see its fourth season and PAW Patrol is coming back for a ninth season.
Superstar surfer Bethany Hamilton recently welcomed her third son! Hamilton recently announced the birth of baby boy Micah, with hubby (and new dad times three!) Adam Dirks.
The couple announced Micah’s Valentine’s Day birth on Hamilton’s website and in a sweet YouTube video. Dirks wrote, on Hamilton’s site, “Mama is happy and healthy. We are just so thankful that everything went really smooth!” The new third-time dad added, “We’re excited baby is here… the perfect Valentine’s Day present!”
Newborn Micah joins big brothers Tobias, five, and Wesley, two. Micah’s proud dad also posted a sweet YouTube video, announcing his (and Hamilton’s) baby news. In the video, Dirks says, “The boys have been excited. We made birthday cookies and now they’re going with grandma to go play.”
Dirks also added info about the birth, noting, “Everything went real smooth. Mama’s happy. She’s healthy. We’re just so thankful that everything went smooth. And it’s just really just an amazing blessing.” The happy-to-help husband also showed the delish looking fruit plate he prepped for Hamilton—filled with fresh coconut, blueberries, and papaya.
Looking for a new way to connect the kiddos with grandma? Spending time in the kitchen is a great bonding experience for everyone––and once it’s safe to do so, Little Bridges has a great option.
The Grandma & me: in the kitchen activity kit has everything you need fun a fun afternoon with Grammy. Each box comes with instructions, a book, keepsake potholder and apron, fabric paint and an activity recipe journal.
The kit was created by award-winning children’s book author, Kate Jerome, and offers a way to have meaningful connections with grandparents. It makes for the perfect birthday, Valentine’s Day or grandparents gift, or just as a fun way to say “I love you.”
The Grandma & me: in the kitchen Kit retails for $34.95, is for kids four and older, and is available at littlebridges.com.
Creative play can be messy, but that doesn’t mean that cleaning up has to be a challenge. With the new SlideAway storage system, clean-up time is a breeze!
The SlideAway is a unique toy basket which doubles as a play mat. So how does it work?
Simply dump your toys, like blocks, dolls or those mischievous LEGO bricks that always seem to go astray on to the mat for play time. The play area is surrounded by a small lip to ensure that toys stay on the mat. Once play time is over, all you have to do is pull the basket’s built-in handles and the SlideAway does all the work for you. The mat along with the toys will disappear into the basket until next time.
The creative storage system was designed by parents of five, Adam and Dana Sue Hinkle who obviously discovered a need for a streamlined way to organize and store toys in their own lives.
It was buried away in the attic, boxed up alongside the other miscellany of 53 years of marriage and 35 years of living in the same house. But its lights—all except one—still twinkle as brightly as they did when it was first unpacked from my mother’s suitcase in December 1967, when she and my dad spent Christmas together in the Caribbean as honeymooners, and she brought it along to surprise him.
Just a foot and a half tall, the little artificial tree played various roles in our family holiday history. For many years, it brightened up the bathroom I shared with my two brothers, helping us feel festive as we brushed our teeth and washed our faces in the December weeks that felt so long to kids who were dreaming of new LEGOs, Barbies, and G.I. Joes. Other times, it served as a seasonal nightlight for tired relatives snuggling up in the many-times-reupholstered sofa bed after Christmas Day celebrations full of gifts, games, laughter, and feasting.
It has a wooden block stand now, rather than the old tripod base that gradually lost its stability. And instead of the handmade origami ornaments from that first Christmas (paper was durable and easy to pack), it’s adorned with mini glass balls and a small tinsel garland from the dollar store. But the tree shines as cheerfully as ever in my parents’ kitchen this December, reminding them that although it’s been more than 50 years since they last spent Christmas just the two of them—no kids, no grandkids, no siblings, parents, cousins, or —no matter what, they still have each other.
They’ve had their ups and downs in the five-plus decades since they said, “I do.” Just 21 and 23 when they got married, they grew up together: She put him through medical school on a teacher’s salary, and he dared her to leave the safe familiarity of the Midwest behind and move to California. After one painful pregnancy loss, they had three healthy, (mostly) well-adjusted children, who’ve grown up and had kids of their own—in the space of eight years, my parents went from having zero grandchildren to six, all of whom love spending Christmas at Grandma and Poppa’s house, where the stockings are always hung by the chimney with care, and cousins always get matching PJs on Christmas Eve.
Even before the world turned upside down because of the pandemic, the last year and a half was an especially challenging one for my parents. In September 2019, my dad had a stroke, and their lives changed dramatically overnight. Thankfully, he’s come a long way toward recovery since then, but it’s not an easy road to travel, and it’s hard on both of them. It’s become even harder since March when social distancing and stay-at-home orders meant that visits from family and friends became much fewer and far between. Now in their 70s, they’re both high risk, and nobody who loves them wants to put them in danger. They appreciate this.
Which is how they find themselves, for the first time since 1967, planning to celebrate Christmas alone. We’ll all schedule time to Zoom with them, of course, and we’re all planning to make the same recipe for Christmas dinner—my grandmother’s homemade spaghetti. But the big house that’s usually bursting at the seams will be awfully quiet on Christmas morning. And with no gaggle of grandkids expected, it didn’t make sense to put up a big tree, so my mom’s thoughts turned to the little one from way back when. She dug it out of the attic, gave it its dollar-store makeover, and set it up where my dad would see it after an afternoon rest—surprising him again, 53 years later.
All those years ago, they never could have imagined what Christmas 2020 would have in store for them—but every single one of those years, they’ve spent Christmas surrounded by love and light. And it may look a little different this time around, but that hasn’t changed. Like the honeymoon tree rescued from the attic, the Christmas spirit is persistent, and like the family my parents built together, it will always be there for them.
I'm a mom of two living in the Bay Area and working as an editor at Common Sense Media. My kids love screens, LEGOS, screens, books, and screens. I also love screens, but I love my kids more. I'm a runner, a reader, a TV watcher, and an ally.
