March 14, aka 3.14 is officially Pi Day! If you are not sure how to explain “pi” to your kiddos, or if explaining it is met with blank stares, we’ve got the perfect way to make it interesting! Pie. Watch the video below to get a yummy tutorial on why circumference divided by diameter equals delicious.

 

 

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While we can’t explain the science behind Santa’s global gift deliveries, we can offer a few ways to find out how and when he’ll arrive. This year, when your kids ask you about the big guy’s arrival, you can have an answer at the ready when you use any—or all!—of the following Santa tracker apps, websites and smart speaker/home assistant skills.

Read on for our the best kids Santa trackers that let your little elves follow jolly Old St. Nick on his gift-giving world tour this Christmas Eve.

NORAD Tracks Santa

Since 1958, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has fielded calls and emails from around the world to keep curious children (and adults) informed about Santa’s whereabouts on Christmas Eve. An impressive 1,500 volunteers staff telephones and computers to answer calls and live updates are provided through the NORAD Tracks Santa website (in seven languages), over telephone lines and by email.

You can also follow NORAD Tracks Santa on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Sirius XM Kids Place Live

Sirius XM

In collaboration with the NORAD Santa Tracker, kiddos can tune into Kids Place Live (Ch. 78) to get live updates on the big man in red. Starting on Christmas Eve at 3 p.m. EST, you can hear Santa's progress with update every 15 minutes, along with festive holiday tunes.

Google Santa Tracker

Google

On Christmas Eve, Google Santa Tracker will showcase Santa’s dashboard: the technology that powers his sleigh during his around-the-world journey making the most important of deliveries! Families can follow Santa’s progress and even learn a little about some of his stops. Starting Dec. 1, use the site to explore Santa’s Village, engage in some activities and even meet a few of his elves.

“Alexa, where's Santa?”

Courtesy of Amazon

If you want to get those kids off to bed so you can enjoy some quiet time and a glass of wine, convince them that Santa is on his way by enabling the NORAD Tracks Santa skill on your Alexa-enabled smart speaker. 

Santa Update

Jakob Owens via Unsplash

Santa Update is for those who can’t wait a minute longer for the holiday hype. You can already keep abreast of Santa’s work by reading the site’s daily blog, which chronicles newsworthy happenings like recent improvements in wrapping technology, the Elf Parade, the local light decorating contest and efforts to test fly Santa’s new sleigh. The site is bursting with creative links and thoughtful details that will show your kiddos how committed the North Pole team is to preparing for Christmas and making their deliveries. 

"Google, track Santa."

Paul Agrusti via YouTube

If you have a Google Home smart speaker, simply ask Google to “Call Santa” to make sure you’re still on the nice list or “Track Santa” to find out how close he is to making the magical delivery at your house before you go to sleep. Google explains this handy Christmas feature at its blog.

Email Santa

Google

Although the primary activity on the Email Santa website is—you guessed it—emailing Santa (fill-in-the-blank letters with near-immediate responses are available for the impatient!), you can also track his whereabouts, watch the countdown to Christmas Day, view “live texting” between Santa and his elf squad on Christmas Eve, watch “live tweets” between Santa and Mrs. Claus, read Santa’s blog, laugh (or groan) at elf jokes, watch Christmas webcams from around the world—and oodles more. Your pet can even email Rudolph!

Santa Video Call & Tracker App

Pixabay via Pexels

The Santa Video Call and Tracker app, available for iOS devices, purports to be the “only Santa Video Call app with varied and customizable conversation options.” When you purchase the full version, Santa will even call your child by her name and knows (thanks to you) her age, month of birth, where she lives, her interests, and recent life events—at least, as much as you’d like to share. The app’s Santa Tracker locates the big guy in red within an “Elfiish Micrometer” and children can send Santa on test flights as well as zoom in and out on the three-dimensional globe as they watch Santa on the big night. 

Happy Santa tracking!

— Katie Brown & Keiko Zoll

Feature photo by Filip Mroz on Unsplash

 

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year: the Christmas (music) season! We’ve rounded up the top holiday songs and albums to get you into the Christmas spirit, whether you’re baking cookies, decorating the house or wrapping presents. From Paul McCartney to Bing Crosby and Mariah Carey, there’s something for everyone on this list. (Psst … scroll down to the bottom of the article for a Spotify playlist with all the songs mentioned.)

“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without this absolute classic by Bing Crosby. In fact, his version, originally released in 1942, is actually the world’s best-selling single, with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide.

“Last Christmas” by Wham!

Dripping with ‘80s vibes, it’s tough not to break into song and dance when “Last Christmas” comes on. It’s been covered countless times by everyone from Jimmy Eat World to Carly Rae Jepsen, but the George Michael original will always have a special place in our hearts.

"Christmas" by Michael Bublé

Michael Bublé is basically the modern-day king of Christmas, and his festive 2011 album makes the perfect holiday soundtrack. If you’re having a holiday party, pop this YouTube video on your tv: it’s the full Christmas album paired with a burning yule log.

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by She & Him

This spare version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is just the thing to listen to while sipping on apple cider or mulled wine. If you’ve seen the movie Elf, you’ve already heard Zooey Deschanel’s singing; either way, her musical side project with singer-songwriter and guitarist M. Ward is well worth a listen.

“The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole

Nat King Cole’s buttery smooth voice makes this a favorite Christmas song for many. It was written by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé in the dead of summer in an attempt to “stay cool by thinking cool.”

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey

This pop diva bop has become a modern classic of the Christmas genre, a real feat considering most of the popular holiday tunes are much older. It’s even the best selling Christmas single by a female artist overall.

“Carol of the Bells” by Pentatonix

We love this unique take on the classic “Carol of the Bells” by Pentatonix. The original song was based on a Ukranian folk chant, so it’s only fitting for an a cappella group to cover it.

“Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms

First released in 1957, this swingin’ Christmas song is always a hit. It gets bonus points in our book for reminding us of a certain iconic scene in the movie Mean Girls.

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams

This song is our favorite way to kick off the Christmas season—it’s the perfect soundtrack for decorating the house. The rollicking melody will have everyone in your family singing and dancing along.

“Jingle Bells” by Frank Sinatra

Originally written in 1857, “Jingle Bells” is a perennial Christmas favorite. This jazzy version by Frank Sinatra adds something new to the song while still staying true to its roots. Check out the colorful new official video, perfect for budding Sinatra fans.

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee

This version of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” was recorded in 1958 and still holds up amazingly today, with a robust brass section and expert vocals by Brenda Lee. Believe it or not, Lee was just 13 years old at the time of recording!

“I Wish It Was Christmas Today” by Julian Casablancas

Fans of The Strokes, take note: this song by the band’s lead singer Julian Casablancas is a must-listen. It’s a nice palate cleanser if you’ve grown tired of the usual Christmas classics.

"Hey Guys! It’s Christmas Time!" by Sufjan Stevens

Prolific singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens has released five EPs of Christmas songs, but this one might be our favorite. It’s a laid-back yet catchy song celebrating the joys of Christmastime alongside sleigh bells and electric guitar.

—Susie Foresman

 

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Feature photo: iStock

Toys are great, but if you want to take holiday gifting to the next level, check this out. Thanks to Cameo, you can order a personalized video message from Thomas the Tank Engine for your little conductor.

Your kids will delight as Thomas comes to life and speaks directly through the screen to them. For $20, you can pick the theme of your message (including birthdays or even a pep talk) and have it customized. You’ll be able to download it for endless viewing and you can also share the link via your favorite social media platform.

Cameo is the leading online marketplace that connects celebrities with fans through personalized video messages, engaged fan experiences and more. And since one Thomas engine is sold every two seconds, this new service will be a huge hit!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Cameo/Mattel

 

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Six Smart Tech Tips for Families

Being a kid has changed a lot since we were younger—especially when it comes to toys! Ever-changing technology can be a lot to keep up with as a parent, but fortunately there are some tips and tricks that apply to any sort of tech device—whether they’re navigating the world with their own smartwatch, jamming out on a karaoke machine or playing games online. Keep reading to find six of our favorite tech tips for families:

1. Taking photos can be a fun creative outlet for kids, but it’s important to keep other people’s privacy in mind. Teach your aspiring photographer or videographer to always ask permission before taking a picture or video of someone.

2. Kids will be more receptive to boundaries before they have their new toy in hand. Before anything comes out of the box, establish your family’s rules for any tech items, like screentime limits, how sharing will work and what volume levels are appropriate for playing music.

3. To keep an open dialogue around kids’ tech, regularly ask your kids questions about their devices. “What are your favorite games?” is a great way to start!

4. Tech devices are even more fun with friends! Just like you would with any other game or toy, talk to your kids about how to take turns or how to use their devices together—everyone loves a duet! P.S. When your aspiring performer is looking for a creative outlet, the Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine checks all the boxes with fun tunes, wireless Bluetooth® technology and an interactive light show.

5. We can all get swept up in an exciting moment. When your aspiring photographer is taking photos, remind them they first need to stay safe and be aware of other people and objects around them!

6. Now that your kids have their cool tech, make sure they can keep it. Talk to your kids about how they need to take care of their tech—keeping their favorite devices in a safe, dry space will help them last longer and avoid them getting lost!

Santa! I know him! Modern tech is making it easier than ever to connect with Jolly Saint Nick and now you can request a personalized Cameo video to spread a little Christmas magic with your family.

Mall Santas are out and virtual Santas are in. To celebrate “Dear Santa Letter Week” Coca-Cola has partnered with Cameo to make these videos possible. Now through Nov. 16, you can visit coke.com/holiday to enter your information and ask for a Santa video in English, Spanish or French. You’ll be notified by email if you’re picked for a customized video and you’ll be able to download and save the memory to view for years to come.

But if you still want to see Santa IRL, you’re in luck. The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan is headed on a cross-country tour for the ultimate Christmas photo opp. Starting Nov.17 the big red truck with twinkling lights will pull up in various cities for free pictures with Santa. Check back on the holiday website for the exact dates and locations!

Finally, keep an eye out for Coca-Cola’s new holiday video “Real Magic at Christmas.” This year’s piece celebrates joy and inclusion, following a boy who uses holiday spirit to bring his community together. It’s premiering Nov. 15 on TV, online and in movie theaters!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured photo: Kraken Images, Unsplash

 

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#LoveBigContest Official Rules

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HOW TO ENTER: The contest (“contest”) will run from 11/2/2021 at 12:00 a.m. PST to 11/10/2021 at 11:59 p.m. PST and will run on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Any entries received after the contest has closed will not be included in the contest. In order to enter the contest, participants are required to do the following:

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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.

iStock

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.

Related: 20 Baby Memory Books & Journals You’ll Love

baby memories
Harry N. Abrams

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.

Related: Take Your Baby Memory Book to the Next Level

baby memories
istock

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! 

Advertisement

“Remember when we (insert awesome experience)?” Families make the best memories… but they tend to get a little foggy as the years go by. Kids can capture the good times and help your family relive great adventures and special holiday moments together. (It’s priceless to see them from a child’s perspective!). Here’s how:

1. Interview Your Crew

There’s nothing better than hearing about special moments and discovering new stories. Your child can come up with questions to ask grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins and film their interviews on their Tobi 2 Robot Smartwatch. Featuring dual cameras to film videos and snap pics, they can store up to 3,000 640 x 480 pixels photos or 30 minutes of 320 x 240 pixels video. It’s easy to transfer content right to a computer to save and share.

2. Be the Family Filmmaker

Whether they want to turn interviews into a family documentary, capture the best times from a vacation or make a silly skit with their sibling, the Tobi 2 Robot Smartwatch can make it happen.

3. Do a DIY Photo Album

Aside from saving one-of-a-kind videos, kids can use their Tobi 2 Robot Smartwatch to customize photos with decorative stickers and borders. Transfer to a computer and print them out to make an album of their favorite people, celebrations, holidays and good times.

4. Make a Memory Jar

Who doesn’t love reflecting back on good times? Simply fill a mason jar with photos of your family’s favorite memories—playing boardwalk games on a vacation, doing a puzzle with grandma on Christmas, building a fort in the backyard… the list is endless. Anyone in the family can add to the jar whenever the mood strikes. Pull out the photos whenever you’d like to reminisce and feel thankful. Kids can customize the jars by decorating with stickers, paint, ribbon, colorful tape and gems. Jars can also be filled with memorabilia like sand and shells from a beach, or tickets and trinkets from a trip exploring a new city.

5. Get Crafty

Kids can draw, paint or make a collage of family members or special experiences. You’ll love looking back at how they depict life’s little details at that moment in time—daddy’s glasses, mommy reading a book, big sis kicking a soccer ball. As every parent knows, the days are long, but the years are short. Beautiful art projects that capture those days mean a lot as your children grow!