Especially when we’re rolling up on the holidays, it makes total sense to start thinking about bumping up your home security. When you’re making travel plans, when your kids are home during school break, when you’re hosting loved ones, making sure you feel like your home is as secure as possible. Of course, no one can guarantee safety. But with DIY home security systems, taking steps to have an extra eye on the people and things you love most is super easy.
Another bonus of DIY home security systems? You can easily customize them. Whether you’re interested in a couple of cameras that you can tap into on your phone, or looking for a full top-to-bottom setup with door sensors, doorbells, and keypads, these systems let you decide what’s best for you. Below are some great options (and some bonus Black Friday deals).
Started by 3 former Amazon employees, Wyze launched with the idea that smart home products should be accessible to everyone. Today, their first product, the Wyze Cam OG, is still one of their most popular, but they’ve added a ton of different options. Indoor and outdoor cameras, video doorbells, garage door controllers, and even an app-controlled camera car, plus security monitoring plans. Wyze offers some of the most cost-effective home security products out there. They also offer lifestyle products like keypad locks and sprinkler automation, so your whole home can be Wyze smart. Right now, get up to 50% off your favorite Wyze products.
There’s a really good chance you’ve heard of SimpliSafe. They’ve been around since 2006, and currently work to protect more than 4 million homes in the U.S. and United Kingdom. Their products are designed to blend into your home with clean, minimal lines that disappear into the background. SimpliSafe offers full 24/7 monitoring, standard monitoring, and self-monitoring plans at super reasonable prices, and you can customize your system with everything from key fobs to smart locks and glass-break sensors. And this Black Friday, take 60% off a new system + get a free outdoor camera with Fast Protect monitoring.
The original Ring Video Doorbell has been making sure no one misses Taco Night since 2012, but they’ve expanded over the years. Every product they make is designed to work together within your own home, as well as connect you with your neighbors and neighborhood happenings through their app. Video doorbells, alarm systems, car systems, and the option of a live Virtual Security Guard make Ring one of the most customizable systems out there. For Black Friday, save up to 50% on select Ring devices.
Cove is one of the newer kids on the block, launching in 2018 with the idea that home security systems should be simple and priced fairly. The Cove Hub is at the heart of it all, connecting all your home sensors to Cove’s monitoring systems. It uses an ethernet system so you don’t have to rely completely on wi-fi, and installation is designed to take around 30 minutes. Customize it with glass-break sensors, door sensors, and indoor/outdoor cameras. Right now, take 65% off equipment + get a free outdoor camera.
What can’t Google do, right? They have a ton of offerings from cellular to audio, but they also offer door locks, cameras, and video doorbells that work together. You can keep an eye on your home at all times, get notified of deliveries, and use the Google Nest Hub to keep it all connected. Google also lets you select front door or outdoor monitoring, so you can decide what system works best for your home. Some of Google’s best deals of the year are happening this Black Friday, too.
All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors.
If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.
We’ve got what they really want. This list of tech for teens will make gifting so easy
Why is it that buying for Gen Z feels so difficult? It’s not like we don’t love them. We think they’re way cooler than we are. They teach us so much. But for whatever reason, we freeze when we start thinking about what to buy them. Don’t worry. It isn’t just you. There are so many choices, and they all claim to be the best. What do we think is the way to go? Tech for teens.
Technology is ever-changing, always making our lives easier, and comes in so. many. different. options. We’ve whittled it all down to the coolest tech for teens that’s incredibly giftable. Not just giftable, of course. Fun. Exciting. Unique. Trust us when we say that these are the gifts they’ll love showing off. So whether the teens in your life are your kids, nieces, nephews, family friends, there’s something on this list for then. Check out our picks below.
Wireless Laser Projection Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard
AGS Design
Works with Bluetooth-enabled smartphones and tablets.
If you're tired of getting your charger cords stolen by your teens with low batteries, this charger bracelet keeps them connected, no matter where they are.
Teenage acne, be gone. The cult classic PMD Clean Acne is an FDA Cleared smart facial cleansing device that uses SonicGlow™ Technology for a deep, daily cleanse. The PMD Clean Acne utilizes blue light therapy treatments for mild to moderate acne. Especially if your teen has tried everything, this is a great, non-chemical option. Make 2024 the year of clear skin.
We love the round shape of this sleek watch that comes in a bunch of different colors. Track sleep, activity, check email, listen to music, check texts, make and answer calls (you know, from parents), and so much more.
For your diligent note-taker, or a kiddo who could use a little more organization in their lives, this infinitely reusable notebook will come in handy for sure. It also comes in multiple colors and fits right into a backpack.
It's so easy to lose the AppleTV remote. These silicone covers in multiple colors pop right on, help protect them from damage, and make them way easier to find.
Help them keep their tech and accessories close with this 3-piece sheet set—2 fitted sheets with storage pocket and 1 pillow case. Available in 3 colors.
These glasses are actually a 330" screen in your pocket. From streaming to games, you can make your phone, computer, or other smart device into a massive VR screen just by popping on the AR Glasses.
These are a cross between a skateboard and inline skates—no batteries or charging required. Step onto the two rolling units and use a natural 'waving motion' to zip around. Okay, so it's not real tech, but we're standing by it. It's just that cool.
Upgrade their tablet game with the 11in Google Pixel Tablet. Super long battery life, excellent picture, and a one-of-a-kind charging dock that turns it into a display. They can even do, you know, schoolwork with it. Available in 3 colors.
This pen is so cool. Instead of ink, a melted non-toxic filament flows through and hardens into a solid, 3-D shape. Make sure to snag some extra filament, too.
Whether it's keeping a couple of sodas and a snack or keeping cosmetics chilled and refreshing, this mini fridge is ideal for a tween/teen bedroom. Comes in multiple colors.
All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors.
If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.
Spoiler alert: If your kids can read, do not let them read about how to send letters to Santa. Read this post in secret!
You stay up late wrapping presents in secret and make a show of setting out cookies and milk, but there’s one more thing you can do to prove Santa is real. This year, take the classic letter to Santa to a new level by not only sending it but also making sure your kiddos receive a response from the Jolly Old Elf himself. The USPS has an awesome program in place and if you’ve never done it before, this is your year. Here’s what you need to know.
Step 1: Write the letter to Santa!
First things first: write the letter to Santa. Kids that can’t write yet can dictate to parents and spend a little time decorating the letter with stickers or a drawing. If your kiddos are learning their letters, you can always have them trace over some of the words. For kiddos that can write, make sure they have enough paper on hand but try and keep it to one page. Remember, this does not have to be a list of all the things they want for Christmas. They can also just send a letter thanking Santa for his hard work or asking him what his life is like. Be creative!
Have them put their letter in an envelope, addressed to:
Santa Claus North Pole
Try to avoid sealing this envelope without being too obvious.
Step 2: Write a response to your child.
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Okay, here’s the spoiler part! Using your stealth parenting-in-the-night skills, the same ones that power you to wrap presents and fill stockings undetected, you will need to write out the response from Santa (disguise your writing if you think necessary) and place it in an envelope addressed to your child with a return address of Santa Claus, North Pole.
Make sure you put a stamp on this envelope: The current rate is 66 cents, or use a Forever stamp.
Tip: USPS suggests writing the response from Santa on the back of your child’s letter to save space and to make sure your kiddo will remember what they wrote (plus this way you get to keep it without giving anything away!).
Place everything into a larger envelope (like a Priority Mail Flat Rate or manilla envelope) and make sure there is adequate postage. A flat rate is great because you can buy the postage online and print the label, saving you a trip to the post office.
Remember, in your envelope, you will have:
1 letter to Santa in an envelope addressed to Santa
1 response from Santa in an envelope addressed to a child with an actual postage stamp (and Santa’s return address)
Address this larger envelope to:
North Pole Postmark Postmaster 4141 Postmark Dr. Anchorage, Ak 99530-9998
The rest is up to Santa’s busy elves at the Postal Service.
Important: The USPS recommends having the letters sent no later than Dec. 1 so that they can arrive at the Anchorage, AK office in time.
The USPS also operates Operation Santa, a letter-writing program for any kid in need. Children can write to a specific address and make requests. They even have a letter-writing kit. To learn more about this program, or to answer letters and donate to kids in need, click here.
Trying to figure out a way to call Santa? Here’s everything you need to know
Even if you can’t have your one-on-one with Santa at the mall, you can still get your time with him. There are lots of fun options, and we’ve rounded up our favorite ways to get Santa’s phone number (many of them are free!). Here’s where you’ll learn how to get in touch with Father Christmas at the touch of your smartphone, web browser, or even your home assistant.
It couldn’t get easier to call Santa's phone number: all you need is a phone to dial up Santa’s Hotline. This free, international number connects kids directly to a voicemail box where they can leave messages at the North Pole. Available throughout the United States (as well as 13 countries including France, Sweden, and Australia), it’s a simple concept that will add that little extra pinch of magic dust to your holiday. Simply dial +1-319-527-2680 or +1-712-770-4404 and get talking!
If you have an Echo Dot Kids or FreeTime on Alexa, all you have to say is “Alexa, call Santa.” You'll hear from elves, Jack Frost, and even Santa himself (Each time it may be different, and you'll often get holiday jokes!). To make sure you're set up for FreeTime, in your Alexa app, select the Devices icon, then select the compatible Alexa device for which you would like to enable Amazon FreeTime on Alexa. Then tap FreeTime, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete your setup.
The Message from Santa app has tons of features! Parents can help their kids start a video message from Santa, receive a phone call, call Santa's voicemail, and even text the jolly old elf himself. This is a free app (with in-app purchases for additional features) and is available for iOS and Android devices.
Use your Google Assistant and Google Home device to call Santa! All you have to say is "Hey Google, call Santa" and you'll get to hear about how Santa Claus is busy rehearsing for a musical concert—but he only knows one song and needs your help! Kids can also make a call on a Smart Display to see all the fun album covers from the North Pole bands.
Christmas Dialer
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Has little Johnny and Susie been good this year? Now you can let Santa do the asking! When you use Christmas Dialer, you can choose for either Santa or one of his elves to place a call to your child. Select one of four different messages, including, "be good," "on my list," "something special," or "sweet dreams." Parents can use the pre-populated messages or type their own and then call Santa right away.
Portable North Pole
Portable North Pole
The Portable North Pole's website and mobile app let creative parents like yourself create customized Santa greetings on video to awe and excite your wee ones. With a few screen taps, answer questions about your child (or children—Santa can address your kids individually or as a group!) and upload some favorite pictures to create a charming message from St. Nick that arrives by email.
Make sure to capture all the memories—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.
Potty training can definitely be daunting. Whether you’re dreading starting, have started and stopped more than once, find yourself on an unsuccessful plateau, or wondering when to start potty training, it’s a big step. The right tools are a must, so we found them for you. These products are clean, clever, and convenient, so not only will your kiddo learn the tricks of the toilet trade, you’ll be able to hang onto your sanity. We’ve been there and now we’re here to help tackle this childhood chapter. So if you’re wondering when to start potty training, it might be time. Read on for our guide to some of the best potty training supplies out there.
Joovy Loo Potty Chair
Joovy Loo
The design of this training potty has a completely sealed inner bowl and has two parts that fit together cleanly, keeping cracks and nooks out of the way of splashes and spills!
Potty training doesn't have to stop just because you aren't at home! These disposable toilet seat covers keep little ones away from germs and moisture thanks to the woven top and plastic bottom.
Thanks, technology! This little-wrist-ready wristwatch has a customizable looping alarm with music and lights to get their attention no matter what they're doing and remind them to head to the potty. It's lightweight, waterproof, and the perfect fit for small wrists. Available in multiple colors.
We're all for disposable kiddo underwear, but some kids find them a little embarrassing. Underwear inserts are far more discreet and can even work for older kids struggling with a bed-wetting phase or sleeping over at friends' houses!
This is exactly what you think it is. Aptly named "potty flair", this septic-safe, essential oil-scented confetti is sprinkled into the toilet when it's time to go, then flush away! Developed by a mom (we always love that), Poofetti can also be used as a target for training little boys to aim!
The First Years Super Pooper Plus Potty Toilet Training Seat
The First Years
Let's get real: one of the most challenging parts of potty training is teaching your little one to be comfortable with going #2. This training potty makes it more comfortable, especially for kiddos who have some fear or discomfort around going. The footrest lifts their legs into a squatting position that's been proven to make going easier!
The First Years Sit or Stand Potty & Urinal 2-in-One Potty Training Chair
The First Years
The 2-in-1 seat clips to the side of your toilet for an adjustable height urinal, or can be set straight up on the floor for a traditional training potty!
The space-saving nesting design creates either a double-step-up stool or two separate stools to assist kids in reaching the sink for washing up or stand-up potty training!
On-the-go potty training problems be gone! This seat works as a stand-alone potty with disposable bags (3 included) or can clip onto any standard toilet seat!
A one-and-done kit for all your potty training needs, it includes the Frida Baby Grow-With-Me Potty, toilet-topper, step-stool, and clean-up essentials!
Amazon reviewers are gaa-gaa for these training undies! With extra-absorbent fabric that’s still soft and comfy on kids' skin and several styles to choose from, it's easy to see why verified Amazon customers rate these 4.6 stars!
These stickers react to heat, so when your kiddo goes potty, the sticker changes from black to a fun image! They're reusable and shown to be extremely effective in getting your child trained within 1-3 days (all kiddos are different, but having a fully-trained little one within 3 days is a definite possibility!).
All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors.
If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.
You might be a pro at wrapping gifts, but are you a pro at hiding gifts? Turns out, would-be gift recipients find about 50% of their surprises before the big day, with most discovered within a week. Self-storage company Neighbor surveyed 1,000 Americans to learn more about holiday surprises, including some helpful hints on where (not) to hide!
The most popular place to hide presents: the bedroom closet. More than half of respondents (53%) said that was their top choice, followed by a spare room (30%). Another 26% prefer the under the bed route, with 25% keeping gifts in the car trunk.
One of the least obvious places to look for a present? In the kid’s room! Only 6% of respondents thought it would be the first place to search, so it may be worth a shot leading up to the big day.
Despite the fact that keeping gifts secret can be a big challenge, 60% of present hiders think it’s fun and doesn’t add to any holiday stress. If you want to be extra sneaky, you could consider having packages delivered to another location, since only 18% currently do this. Happy surprising!
—Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of Nicole Michalou, Pexels
From dinner in a pumpkin to creepy hot dog fingers, we’ve got tasty Halloween dinners that’ll satisfy your trick-or-treaters before they hit the candy trail
Before the inevitable sugar rush of trick-or-treating, we try (note: try) to fill our kids up with a somewhat nutritious dinner. These healthy Halloween dinner ideas combine our favorite things about the holiday (think charming jack-o’-lanterns, friendly ghosts, and spooky Halloween decorations) with ingredients that kids will actually eat. (Okay, yes, we also sometimes rely on these go-to pumpkin recipes and CrockPot recipes, too.)
If everyone is too excited to sit down to eat, whip up a Halloween charcuterie board instead! We’ve even got a fun Halloween treat board for any upcoming parties.
Our friends over at Weelicious know what kids want to eat and it's definitely deviled egg spiders. A tiny bit creepy and super tasty, these are an easy addition to your Halloween festivities.
Another fun option from HelloFresh for when you’ve carved all the pumpkins and apples in sight. Get started on the citrus and scoop out the insides, but don’t throw them away! You could always blend them into a juice or smoothie. Then, carve eerie faces and overload the insides with berries, apples, kiwis, and whatever else you have on hand.
Take the kid-favorite pizzas and mummify them for a fun Halloween dinner idea like these from Weelicious. Bonus: it's perfect for group gatherings when you want some single-serving options.
Pumpkin isn’t just for pie! Halloween is the perfect time to try out a savory pumpkin dish, and this one from Tara’s Multicultural Table is bound to be a hit. The pumpkin adds an extra layer of creaminess and flavor, and the whole Halloween dinner idea will take less than half an hour to make.
Combine your two favorites—hot dogs and pizza dough—and you've got these too-cute-to-eat mummy dogs from Weelicious that make a perfect Halloween meal. You could even put the kids to work making these.
Ewwwwww spiders. But also, YUM. These creepy toasts are the creation of our friends over at HelloFresh and are made by slathering a layer of either goat cheese or cream cheese on thick slices of toasted French baguette. Then, one half a black olive is placed in the center of the body while four smaller slices are placed on either side as legs. Sprinkle with finely chopped basil, and you’re done!
How cute is this pair? All you need to get your monsters started are olives and toothpicks. These would be super adorable as sliders as well! We are definitely adding this Halloween dinner idea to our October recipe rotation.
This brilliant Halloween dinner idea for a spooky pasta dinner has you carving little skeleton faces into your mushroom slices. Added to squid ink pasta, this Halloween dinner is scary good.
We love this idea for a ghoulish shepherd’s pie from @rachplusfive—check out this YouTube video for more tips. This is a hearty meal to serve before the candy onslaught begins.
If this doesn’t get your kids to eat some fruit and veggies, we don’t know what will! This super cute veggie tray from @foodbites will have everyone snacking in no time.
Do you think the kids will be creeped out by this spooky take on hot dogs? Head on over to Holley Grainger’s website for the full scoop. (Spoiler alert: You just need to cut thin strips of hot dogs and they will curl up when cooked).
Up your avocado toast game with toasted seaweed, olives, and tomatoes for a creepy meal. This fun recipe from @veganchowdown is perfect to bust out for a Halloween dinner.
You’ll want to eat all of your soups out of a pumpkin after you give this recipe from thePioneer Woman a try. Serve it in a large pie pumpkin when you’ve got a group coming, or use mini ones so each kid gets one of their own.
How cute are these stuffed peppers from Pinch of Parsley?! Filled with a Mexican-inspired mixture of ground beef, rice, salsa, and cheese, they’re a perfect healthy Halloween dinner to keep your kiddos going through a long night of trick-or-treating.
Transform sandwiches into edible art with this fun idea from Feel Good Foodie. Topped off with a cute pair of candy eyes, these kabobs (along with three other suggested Halloween-y snacks!) are sure to make your kids smile.
We’ve never seen chicken fingers quite like this before! These super crispy bites from Create Eat Happy are called karaage, aka Japanese fried chicken. With a bit of strategically placed ketchup, you’ve got a fun twist on (literal) chicken fingers that’ll be gobbled up in no time.
For a tasty meal that comes together in no time, spice up a frozen pizza with this fun idea from Chewable Structures. A few carefully placed veggies become spooky witches’ fingers—easy peasy!
What’s the best way to get kids to eat their greens? Add cheese to it and bake it in puff pastry! This spinach-feta pie from .@in_anastasias_kitchen is sure to be a hit with your whole crew, and it doesn’t hurt to get some veggies in before everybody pigs out on candy.
Looking for the easiest Halloween dinner ever? Make these cute grilled cheese sandwiches from Rachel Cooks. With pretzel legs and dried cranberry eyes, they only take a couple of minutes longer to make than normal grilled cheese, and that’s a win in our book.
This soba-centric idea from Bento Monsters is equal parts creativity, adorable details, and tastiness. Despite looking like a work of art, these Halloween dinner ideas are easy to make for your little monsters.
Candy for dinner? Well, not quite—but these quesadillas from Boulder Locavore do channel classic Halloween candy corn in a big way. The best part? There’s triple the cheesy goodness.
Boo! We’re digging the ghostly genius of this pizza idea from Tastes Better From Scratch. It’s got gourmet impressiveness, and kid-friendly flavors, and can be made with a team effort from the whole family.
We want to award extra Halloween points to The Foodie and the Fix for coming up with a Halloween-themed dinner that has tons of fall flavor and a simple spider decoration (Hint: for your awesome webbing, it’s all about the coconut yogurt!).
We guarantee giggles when you serve up this Halloween dinner idea from Boulder Locavore. The kids will get a kick out of “eyeballs” in their pasta—and you’ll love that it’s got a healthy twist.
We’ve got to hand it to Party Tipz for coming up with a truly creative way to serve up hot dogs on Halloween. Add ketchup for an extra “bloody” Halloween-themed dinner that little ghouls will love.
Your kid crew will go gaga for these homemade pizza pockets from Dinner at the Zoo. They’re inspired by jack-o’-lanterns and are the perfect pepperoni addition to your Halloween-themed dinners.
Need a magical way to get the kids to eat their veggies? How about this idea from Boulder Locavore, which involves arranging crudité edibles to look like a screaming witch? Now that’s what we call fun with food!
Take your Halloween-themed dinners to a new level with this spooky lasagna from Brick Star. Your pint-sized chefs will love getting creative with the toppings—but they’ll love eating the cheesy result even more.
Looking for an easy way to make Halloween a little healthier? Smile Sandwich has you covered with this festive and oh-so-cute pasta salad. The flavors are light and refreshing but the star of the show is the jack-o-lantern cucumber slices (Psst! Don’t like cucumber? Sub in zucchini instead!).
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?
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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.
In the midst of preparing for a family feast each year, we’ve also wrestled with how to talk to our kids about Thanksgiving. We want our children to learn from and do their part in changing the inequality in their world, and perpetuating the Thanksgiving story we were taught in elementary school runs squarely at odds with that mission.
But, it can be hard to know how and when to start having the true story of Thanksgiving conversation with kids. So first, remember that we don’t need to nail this by the time the turkey hits the table. This is ongoing and important work to do all year round. Following are a few ideas and resources that are helping our family to lay a foundation that, we hope, will help our kids respect and respond to real history in a way that supports a better future.
Build a Foundation for Knowing & Respecting Native Peoples
Start by teaching children real stories and truths about Native and Indigenous peoples, both from the past and the present. The more our children can be curious and aware of people for their strengths and rich history, the more they will push back on stereotypes and absorb the real history in a way that makes them compelled to act.
Here are a few easy ways to do this, even with very young children:
Learn about the people who live or used to live on the land in your area. Use an app like native-land.ca to find out which people live/lived and which languages are/were spoken on the land on which you live. Search for “native people from {city, state or region}” or “indigenous people from {city, state or region}. Then, look for historically accurate accounts of how those people thrived, being aware of the limitations of the perspective of whoever has created them.
Read books that help children come to know about Native peoples and prepare them to push back against stereotypes. For starters, check out this list of 15 beautiful picture books by Native authors about Native protagonists assembled by veteran Tinkergarten Leaders Erika McLemore, who is Creek-Seminole, and Cholena Smith-Boyd of the Shinnecock Indian Nation. As you select more books on your own, consult a reputable resource like Dr. Debbie Reese, a researcher focused on the representation of Native Americans in children’s literature. Through her expert advice, my family has learned how to pick books that are about specific tribes or Native peoples, avoiding the kind of generalizations that lead to stereotypes.
Incorporate Native history into everyday outdoor play. As you are walking in a forest or along a river in your area, share something you’ve learned about the Native people who live/lived and what makes/made them special as a group or society.
When you feel your kids are ready, work with them to question and point out the mismatches between the accurate history and the often perpetuated Thanksgiving Story. To start:
Get to know the true story of Thanksgiving story yourself.PBS Kids offers wonderful resources for parents and educators on how to approach Thanksgiving with authenticity. These resources also help us parents better understand, for ourselves, the story of the people we call Pilgrims, their interaction with the Wampanoag people, and the full history of the holiday we’ve come to know as Thanksgiving.
Don’t be afraid to share with children that there is more to the story. It’s important to help them understand that the familiar story that has been shared for a long time is over-simplified and, as such, can even be hurtful to whole groups of people as well as the allies of those people. One way you can present the disparity to kids is, that although there was a feast between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag, it happened during a time of terrible cruelty and unthinkable loss to the Wampanoag.
Seek out additional tools for learning. This New York Times article has helped us use both age-appropriate resources and inquiry to start engaging our kids in conversation about Thanksgiving. For example, it has encouraged us to help our kids ask “Who is telling the story, and what is their perspective? How is this story different from other accounts and facts that we now know?”
Focus on Gratitude
While it’s essential that we help our children become more attuned to inequality and injustice, telling the true story of Thanksgiving doesn’t have to undermine our practice of sharing gratitude. You can even kickstart an annual gratitude tradition that’s respectful of Native history. Once you learn about the original caretakers of the land you live on, it becomes easy to express thanks for all they’ve done to preserve its natural beauty as part of Thanksgiving.
Be sure to help kids reflect on what they’re grateful for in their day-to-day lives, too. For many years, our family has focused our Thanksgiving on expressing thanks for our family, our health, our earth, and whatever else feels authentic to our kids. We engage in rituals like building a tree of thanks to make this even more concrete for them, and fun for us. This has extended far beyond Thanksgiving for us as well, helping us use simple rituals to develop a gratitude practice as a family and improve our own mental well-being in the process.
However you choose to celebrate this holiday, remember that while we cannot change history, we canmake our children alert to who is telling and what needs to be told about the story. It’s the only way our kids will learn to do their part to make sure better stories are written in their time.
After 18 years as an educator, curriculum developer and school leader, Meghan has her dream gig—an entrepreneur/educator/mom who helps families everywhere, including hers, learn outside. Today, Meghan serves as co-founder and Chief Learning Officer of Tinkergarten, the national leader in outdoor play-based learning.
A positive attitude about yourself goes a long way when it comes to building self-esteem in kids
How many times have you looked in the mirror and frowned at the outfit you’re wearing, or thought twice about eating dessert because it’s a “bad food” (even though it’s not)? Definitely a few, because you’re human, after all. But it’s important to take stock of the things you say when the kids are around and do your best to present yourself as a strong, confident parent.
Kids learn about body positivity and self-confidence from their parents long before they internalize perceived ideals of how they should look on YouTube or social media. And if they have a strong foundation of self-esteem, those messages will have far less of an impact when they do, inevitably, encounter them. We rounded up 9 things to say—and believe!—about yourself in front of your kids so you can help them learn to take pride in who they are.
1. I look nice today. Say it when you’re tired, say it when you feel a cold coming on, say it even if you haven’t showered in a few days. Little ones learn by example; if they hear you speaking positively about yourself, it becomes second nature to do the same. Projecting self-confidence shows worthiness—despite the negative messaging that bombards us daily.
2. That was challenging, and I’m going to try again. Showing you are okay with failure helps kids develop the tools necessary for dealing with disappointment. It might be handy to have a list of people who failed before finding success on hand: think Albert Einstein, Michael Jordan, and Oprah.
3. I made a mistake. It might be one of the hardest things to do, but admitting when we are wrong is one of the best ways to show (and teach) personal responsibility. And that’s a life skill everyone needs.
4. Food keeps me healthy and happy. How you talk about food with kids has a major impact on how they look at their bodies and health. If you practice food neutrality (broccoli is broccoli, a cookie is a cookie—nothing is “good” or “bad”), it’ll help to set the stage for kids to learn the balance of fueling the body and enjoy the pleasures of the food itself.
5. I am proud of my job. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, work remotely, or head out to a job, show pride in what you do! Talking about what you do all day shows the kids that while you might be busy, it’s for a good reason—not because you don’t want to read Dragons Love Tacos for the 10th time.
6. I’m glad my body protects me and keeps me alive every day. We can kick a soccer ball, push a swing, and play a board game, and we can do it all without being the “right size.” Referring to your body as something you use as a tool for life is key to helping kids develop a positive self-image.
7. This outfit makes me feel beautiful. Raise your hand if you’ve found yourself cursing while trying on clothes because something doesn’t look quite right. Try focusing on things you like about what you’re wearing: this color complements my skin tone, these leggings are perfect for our park play date, and this hat makes me stand out in a crowd. Pointing out the good instead of the bad is a way to encourage self-love and confidence.
8. I enjoy exercising because it makes me feel strong. Moving our bodies is about so much more than losing weight. It’s about how exercise is good for our brain, helps us ward off illness, and prolongs our lifespan. In today’s tech-driven culture, driving home these ideas is more important than ever.
9. I believe every day is a new chance to start over. It’s easy to let negative thoughts rule our mindset. Yes, life is tough, but it’s also beautiful, and we only get one go of it. A wonderful gift (or tool) you can give your kids is the ability to look at the present and the future and understand that everything moves forward. We alone can make change for ourselves, even if it’s something as tiny as writing down notes of gratitude or as big as demanding the help you need.
