A debit card for kids, teens, and college students definitely provide convenience for parents. Cash usage is dwindling as you probably already know and experience. Once you give your child a debit card, you no longer need cash on hand. No more dashing to ATMs or worrying about cash getting lost in a backpack abyss. The convenience, safety, and accountability of a debit card for kids vs cash are undeniable, but many parents don’t realize the other surprising benefits that come once your child starts using it.

1. Debit Cards Result in Kids Asking for Chores: A debit card for kids brings the concepts of earning and saving to light. Tracking account balances inspires kids to want to earn, especially when they have their own budget to manage. We talk to a lot of parents who say after signing up for a debit card, kids are the ones asking for chores to earn money towards savings goals that they create in the app. One parent said, “My kids have not stopped asking for chores. They love saving money and having control over purchasing what they want.” We also have many kids learning fiscal responsibility by setting savings goals for things like higher education, car insurance, vet expenses, and much more. In fact, the most popular savings goals amongst kids are for a car.

2. Debit Cards Can Teach Kids to Budget: Debit cards made specifically for kids provide an educational opportunity for parents to start contextualizing conversations about finances. Kids who make real-life trade-off decisions can realize the value of a dollar. By being in control of their money and spending, kids will naturally learn to budget and make smart financial decisions. One parent said, “Since my kids got their own cards, they are more cautious about what they buy because they have to work for that allowance.” When money is theirs rather than an endless stream from parents, kids learn to make smart trade-off decisions to delay gratification.

3. Debit Cards Are Good Preparation for Credit Cards: When kids turn 21, they are inundated with credit card offers and it’s important for kids to know how to use one. Credit card balances carried over from month-to-month have been growing every year in the U.S., most recently hitting $424 billion. Kids who have practiced being financially responsible are more likely to make smart decisions when it comes to credit cards and paying off debt. Financial literacy is also positively correlated with long-term wealth. A debit card can be the first step towards a healthy financial future. The sooner we teach our kids to be financially-smart, the better we’re preparing them for future financial decisions.

4. Debit Cards Can Rein In Online Purchases: Unlike when we were young, kids today make many purchases online whether it’s through online gaming, Amazon, or other online retailers. If your child is using your credit card you could wind up with a huge bill. A Greenlight debit card provides a great way to supervise kids, set boundaries, and protect parents’ credit cards. By giving your child a debit card, you can teach them to make better trade-off decisions when purchasing things like game extensions, while giving yourself more control and insight into how much they spend online each month.

Greenlight’s mission is to help parents raise financially-smart kids. The Greenlight debit card comes with a Greenlight app for both parents and kids. Parents can instantly send money to kids, turn the card off from the app if needed, and receive alerts whenever the card is used. They can automate allowance payments and manage chores so kids can learn to earn! These safe and secure experiences give parents the peace of mind they need to allow kids to manage their spending, saving, giving, and earning. Aside from cashless convenience, there are many more reasons to take advantage of this debit card for your kids. Give yourself the short-term benefits of convenience and your kids the long-term benefits of a financially-smart future.

 

Tim Sheehan is not only a father of four, but the Co-Founder and CEO of Greenlight. Greenlight is the safest way for parents to give their kids money, approve their spending and prepare them for financial independence. 

 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently issued a recall of South Shore Furniture three-drawer dressers due to a possible tip-over hazard. The chests are potentially unstable, which could lead to tipping and entrapment.

According to a representative from South Shore Furniture, in an emailed statement, “As a member of the ASTM subcommittee on Furniture Safety, South Shore is an active participant in the industry’s ongoing effort to make furniture products safer. South Shore has been in operation and manufacturing furniture for now 78 years. We are a 3rd generation family owned business and as a family company, the well being of families – especially of babies and children – has and is always at the heart of our mission and operations.” The recall follows one injury and one fatality after the un-anchored chests of drawers tipped and fell. If you think you might have this item in your home, read on for more information.

Recalled Product Description: South Shore Libra Three-Drawer Chest

The recent recall includes South Shore Furniture’s Libra style three-drawer chests. Nearly 310,000 chests were sold in the United States and an additional 6,900 were sold in Canada. The chests were sold in nine colors and have metal handles (one on each drawer).

Each chest weighs 56 pounds. The measurements are 27½-inches high by 31¼-inches wide and 15½-inches deep. While some chests were sold individually, others came as part of a three-piece set. This set also included a bed and a nightstand. Currently, only the chest part of this set is under recall.

The dressers were sold for about $60 at Target.com, Walmart.com and Amazon as well as other online retailers from October 2009 through July 2019.

Why the Chests Were Recalled

Un-anchored furniture presents a tipping and entrapment hazard, especially for young children. The manufacturers of the chest received two reports of tip-overs, including one toddler fatality.

How to Tell if Your Chest Is Part of the Recall

Only the Libra style three-drawer chest is part of the current recall. For a full list of model number and colors, visit the CPSC’s website here.

What Parents Can Do

Stop using the chest immediately. Remove it from your home or move it somewhere your child can’t get to. A representative from South Shore Furniture said, in an emailed statement, “Our focus now is to make sure customers have the information they need to securely anchor their Libra 3-drawer chest to a wall. We are encouraging all customers who own Libra 3-drawer chests without a tip-over restraint kit to stop using the product, make sure it is in an area that children cannot access, and contact us to receive a full refund or free restraint kit by calling us at 800-290-0465 or visiting us online at www.southshorefurniture.com and clicking on “Recall Information”.” According to the CSPC’s recall, you can also contact South Shore Furniture at 855-215-4932 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for more information. Recall remedies include a full refund with free pickup or a free tip-over anchor kit (which comes with free in-home installation). If you don’t want to wait for the free pickup, remove the drawer slides from one side and send them back to South Shore for a full refund.

—Erica Loop

Photos: Courtesy of the Consumer Product Safety Commission 

 

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A magic wand that actually works might just be every young wizard’s dream—and now tech education company Kano wants to make that dream come true. The Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit lets kids build their own interactive wands that teach them how to code at the same time.

The kit, one of Kano’s fastest pre-ordered items of all time, contains all the parts you need for kids to build a wand that will react to a flick or swish of your hand. Once completed the wand can be used to complete over 70 challenges that will take young coders through six different settings in the Wizarding World, including Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade and The Forbidden Forest.

Each challenge will be based around teaching kids coding, like connecting code blocks and learning about loops and logic. With their new coding skills, kids can use the wand to create magical effects, like painting pictures, growing pumpkins and making fire through an app on a tablet or device.

The wand is easy enough for younger kids to construct, but the games and challenges presented through the Harry Potter-themed app that accompanies it will keep both kids and adults entertained and learning. The wand is compatible with iOs and Android on tablets and laptops.

After months of anticipation, the Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit is finally available for purchase just in time for holiday shopping. The kit retails for $99.99 via Kano’s website and at select online retailers, including Amazon.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Kano

 

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photo: Takahiro Nagao via Flickr

Online shopping is every mom’s dream come true when it comes to checking off the wish lists without having to leave the house. The only downside is the cost of shipping. Free Shipping Day is here to help you complete those last-minute online buys without spending an extra dime. The best part? This year, some of your favorite brands are joining the event for the first time.

Free Shipping Day was first established in 2008 and began with just 250 companies who were offering to ship all orders purchased on a single day in mid-December for free. Nine years later Free Shipping Day has expanded to over 700 online retailers. There is no minimum purchase required and all orders are guaranteed to be delivered by Christmas Eve. This year’s Free Shipping Day falls on Fri., Dec. 15 and still includes many of the original retailers, like Target and Pottery Barn. However, a few new companies will be joining the shipping for free list this year as Gap just announced that all of its brands, including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta will be participating.

Here are our picks for the best online stores participating this year:

1. Target

2. Old Navy

3. Kohl’s

4. Toys “R” Us

5. Best Buy

Check out the full list of over 700 retailers participating here. And keep checking back as many more online retailers may be added in the last second.

Will you be shopping on Free Shipping Day? What’s your favorite online shop? Tell us in the comments below.

In the blink of a parenting eye, training wheels have gone by the wayside and balance bikes are now the only way to go when it’s time for kids to learn to ride a bike. The hardest part about learning to ride is getting the balance down – using your core muscles to keep from going splat onto the sidewalk (insert wailing child here!) – and balance bikes help kids conquer that part first, then they can easily add the pedaling skills when they’re ready. Countless parents will tell you that after using a balance bike, their kids hopped right on a two-wheeler without skipping a beat – many of which hadn’t even celebrated their third birthdays yet! So, we know that balance bikes are amazing, but now we need to know… which one is right for your kid?

KaZAM Balance Bikes
Awesome Factor: What sets the KaZAM Balance Bike apart is the cool foot rest, where your kiddo can tuck their feet while they are learning to balance, eliminating the crazy leg-sticking-out situation that seems to happen on other balance bikes.

Ages: Recommended for ages 3-6

Sweet Features: Colorful metal frame and 12-inch rubber, inflatable tires, plus a quick-release seat for easy adjustments on the go.

Stats: Maximum weight is 75 pounds and the seat adjusts from 14 to 17.5-inches high

Price: $100

Buy One: They offer free shipping if you purchase your KaZAM bike straight from the KaZAM website!

 

LIKEaBIKE
Awesome Factor: LIKEaBIKE was one of the first balance bikes that came on the scene in the late 1990s and many families say that they are a great investment that will stand the test of time for your kids, being passed down from siblings and cousins for years to come. We love all the cool accessories you can add on to your LIKEaBIKE, including trailers and even kick-stands for that real-bike feel.

Ages: Recommended for ages 2-5

Sweet Features: The frames are made of birch wood, making them super lightweight, and the tires are inflatable rubber. We love that the seat covers are removable and washable!

Stats: Seat adjusts from 13 to 17 inches high

Price: $289 and up, depending on the model

Buy One: Check out the long list of local and online retailers that carry LIKEaBIKEs on the LIKEaBIKE website.

 

Skuut Wooden Balance Bike
Awesome Factor: One of the most popular balance bikes available, Skuut (rhymes with hoot!) balance bikes are a favorite for both parents and kids and for good reason – they have a simple, easy-to-use design, Skuut bikes last forever and the frame is lightweight. Plus, they are more reasonably priced than some of their comparable wooden friends.

Ages: Recommended for ages 2-5

Sweet Features: Made of non-toxic laminated birch wood with 12-inch rubber tires. We love that Skuut also makes a version with pink accents for the girls who love to get their balance bike on too!

Stats: Seat adjusts from 13.5 to 16.5 inches

Price: $80

Buy One: The Skuut website has a list of local retailers where you can pick up your own Skuut. They’re also available on Amazon.com and qualify for free shipping with Amazon Prime!

 

Strider No-Pedal Balance Bikes
Awesome Factor: Another top-contender in the balance bike game is the Strider No-Pedal Balance Bike. Strider makes a variety of bikes, including the Strider PREbike that can be used for kids as young as 12 months old and their bikes can be used for kids on the older end of the balancing range too – great for kiddos who may have had an unsuccessful attempt at riding with training wheels.

Ages: Recommended for ages 1-5

Sweet Features: Steel frame and an integrated footrest that’s tucked right behind the seat. Plus, Strider bikes come in a variety of cool colors, so your kiddo can definitely find his or her fave. The super awesome custom parts have caught our eye too, including different colored wheels and handlebar grips for a truly personalized balance bike.

Stats: The seat can go as low as 11 inches from the ground, making them great for kids who are too short for other balance bike options. Also, a seat extension piece is available for kids who are taller and need some extra legroom to ride.

Price: $100 and up, depending on the model

Buy One: Available online at the Strider website, or through your local bike shop. They’re also sold through Home Based Dealers, who are parents in your own city or neighborhood that can meet you at the park to give a Strider a test run!

 

YBIKE Balance Bike
Awesome Factor: One of the only plastic balance bikes available, YBIKEs are a fun option for kids who are just learning to balance. They look a bit like a mini-motorcycle, with two-wheels that are doubled up on the rear for more stability than other balance bikes.

Ages: Recommended for ages 2-4, although they can hold up to 100-pounds, so children up to age 8 can easily enjoy a YBIKE

Sweet Features: We love that these are plastic, so you don’t have to worry as much about them being left out in the backyard overnight or about making sure the tires are inflated to a precise pressure.

Stats: Maximum weight capacity is 100 pounds

Price: $80

Buy One: Available for purchase on the YBIKE website, which offers free shipping. However, you can also pick one up on Amazon, sometimes for up to $20 cheaper, especially if you aren’t picky about color.

We’d love to hear your tips about using a balance bike for your kiddos! Share with us in the comments below.

Psst: safety first! Don’t forget to pick up a helmet for your little balance bike rider while you’re at it!

— Katie Kavulla

Children’s Transportation Station Recalled Due to Choking Hazard

Name of Product: Sand & Water Transportation Station Toys

Hazard: The light blue plastic wheels on the train cars can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Description: The Step2 ® Sand & Water Transportation Station is a standalone play station for children ages two and up. The toy station consists of: a round blue plastic table, including train tracks, train cars in blue, red and yellow, toy sailboats and a hand rake/shovel. A red Step2 logo decal is on the side of the table. Train cars with grey wheels are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Target and other major retailers, specialty stores and by online retailers from December 2008 through June 2010 for between $49 and $59.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the train cars away from children and contact Step2 for free replacement cars.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Step2 at (800) 347-8372 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.step2.com