How to report spam texts and phishing. Because sorry, Amazon is not giving you $130 in “freebies” out of blue.
Have you noticed lately there's been a huge uptick in text spam? So of course, I want to report it to...someone. Anyone! Turns out it's so much easier than I had expected. Now when I say text spam, I don't mean political candidates you've contributed to (or those who...
The vocabulary app my kids think is a game. Shhhhhh!
Do you have a struggling speller? As a homeschool mom, I know first-hand how hard it can be to try to explain spelling rules to a kid who doesn't quite get it, which is why I had to share the Wordcraft app that my kids have been playing lately. A vocabulary app my...
Here’s where to watch all the 2021 Oscars best picture nominees
In a typical Oscars year, I'm pretty much an expert on the (ahem) animated film category, but when it comes to the best picture or documentary feature film categories, I've maybe seen one or two movies. But 2020 was anything but typical, and one silver lining of the...
3 helpful gardening apps to turn your thumb green, finally.
Who else is thinking about gardening this spring? Along with our own Liz and Kristen who recently hosted the We Time Project and took a food gardening course (yay!), it seems like everyone is ready to put down the sourdough starter and get their hands really dirty....
Google and Headspace team up to help families practice mindfulness and find screen life balance | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message on behalf of Google For most parents, balancing screen time has always been a challenge. But over this last year, the struggle became even more real, with three in five parents allowing an increase in time spent on gadgets. And as Google...
Reader Q and A: What is the best stylus for kids who are budding artists?
In our Out Tech Your Kids Facebook group, a parent asked for recommendations on the best stylus for kids who are getting into digital art, and the recommendations from our readers were so helpful that we wanted to share them here. From the top-of-the-line tools to the...
5 important digital parenting questions parents should ask themselves (and know the answers to)
We've always said that raising digital natives, especially since we're not digital natives ourselves, means understanding the role of technology in our family. But when it comes to knowing what questions to ask (and answer), well, that can be the challenging part....
7 must-do tips for spring cleaning your email inbox
We talked last week about tips for spring-cleaning your phone, and this week I'm taking a stab at my email. I'd never let my actual snail mail pile up in a massive overflow of unanswered bills and letters, but for some reason I let my email inbox become an unruly...
9 smart tips for spring cleaning your phone, inside and out.
With spring nearly here, I'm getting antsy to clean up my yard and go through all my closets to get rid of all the junk we've accumulated over the winter. But I'm going to start small, literally, and follow these tips for spring cleaning my phone first. Because, let's...
3 cool ways to try new board games online or play old favorites with friends
We're huge board game geeks in my family. Our stack of strategy games is up to the ceiling. And while we're always up for a new game, they're expensive. So my new solution has been playing board games online before I buy! I get the full experience of gaming (and a...
What parents need to know about YouTube’s new parental controls for tweens and teens
Parents of tweens and teens, we've got good news! YouTube is launching new parental controls specifically for kids in this age group. What a relief to those of us who see the value in letting them watch some of the content on YouTube...but who are exhausted from...
Parents, what if you just stopped managing screen time?
Over the last month, we've been getting bombarded with all sorts of posts about kids and screen time, from articles telling us that we've got a big problem on our hands to ways to feel okay about all the screen time. If you're like me, it feels like you're watching a...
Tech Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way!) Easier
How to report spam texts and phishing. Because sorry, Amazon is not giving you $130 in “freebies” out of blue.
Have you noticed lately there's been a huge uptick in text spam? So of course, I want to report it to...someone. Anyone! Turns out it's so much easier than I had expected. Now when I say text spam, I don't mean political candidates you've contributed to (or those who...
Google and Headspace team up to help families practice mindfulness and find screen life balance | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message on behalf of Google For most parents, balancing screen time has always been a challenge. But over this last year, the struggle became even more real, with three in five parents allowing an increase in time spent on gadgets. And as Google...
5 important digital parenting questions parents should ask themselves (and know the answers to)
We've always said that raising digital natives, especially since we're not digital natives ourselves, means understanding the role of technology in our family. But when it comes to knowing what questions to ask (and answer), well, that can be the challenging part....
How to “untab” your Gmail so you never miss an important email again
Chances are good that you're clicking through to this article because you don't know what "tabbed gmails" even are. Right? Well, here's the deal: Gmail has a "handy" organization tool that categorizes all your emails automatically. To see your emails, you have to...
The most helpful new iOS 14 feature you might have missed.
If you're like us, you were so busy rearranging your home screen that you missed one of the most helpful new iOS14 features. Of course, "helpful" is relative, especially these days when even the smallest little thing that gives us a taste of normalcy is helpful....
I lost 10 lbs in a month playing Supernatural. Here’s why I stuck with it.
Last month I shared my newest obsession: the Supernatural VR fitness app for Oculus. Now, after one month of counting calories and playing Supernatural 4-5 times per week, I stepped on the scale and found out I'd lost 10 pounds. I'm so excited (and, yeah, a little...
12 escapist podcasts to help you get away even if you don’t leave your living room
Anyone else need a little break from the grindiest grind that is pandemic existence with small children? Or pandemic existence generally? I, for one, definitely do, and I've found some solace -- and a few giggles -- in these fun escapist podcasts that make me at least...
The 6 apps we use all the time | Out-Tech Your Kids episode 25
We've been having some lively discussions over in the Out Tech Your Kids Facebook group about lots of topics this past week, from screen time to video gaming, but the one we decided to chat about this week was our favorite apps, inspired by this post from Liz about...
6 + ways kids can celebrate a virtual Valentine’s Day safely using tech
Valentine's Day is the next holiday, after Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, that will be affected by our new socially distant lifestyle. No sprinkle-laden, heart-shaped cookies in class. No gaudily decorated shoeboxes sent to school. No handing out of...
6 great Apple TV+ original shows to try, if you’re still on the fence about subscribing
Have you been wondering if there are enough Apple TV+ original shows to make it worth adding another streaming service to your menu? I get it, we have a lot—and I mean a lot—to choose from these days, and my family is on a budget. Since each service charges their own...
6 smart ways to use tech to help your teen get better sleep at night. They need it!
Has anyone else's teens struggled with interrupted sleep since the pandemic? My kids' slower social lives and reduction in extracurricular activities certainly plays a part, but turning to tech to connect with friends is making an impact too. The American Association...
7 cool features of Apple’s Health app you probably didn’t know about
Since the new year started, I've been digging into the Apple Health app to try to do a better job of managing my health. What's cool is that it gathers data from multiple apps to give you a comprehensive picture of your health in one place, so that you're not always...
How to cut down on your own screen time | Out-Tech Your Kids Episode 24
Between the pandemic and the news cycle, we're finding ourselves on our phones way more than we'd like to be. Over the years, we've shared various ways to help curb your screen time, whether you want to completely shut things down or just need to get a couple of extra...
Readeo: The ebook app that makes us think Epic + Zoom had a baby
Nothing compares to having your kid sitting in your lap while you read a book to them, but there's definitely a place for great ebook libraries on my kids' devices too. So when I saw Readeo advertised on my Instagram feed recently, I paused scrolling to check it out....
Getting in shape in 2021? Our review of the Supernatural VR exercise app on Oculus
Several weeks ago, if you'd told me I'd be excitedly looking forward to my work out each day, I'd have thought you were insane. I have never craved a good cardio session and I haven't had a gym membership in years. That said, I've recently gotten absolutely hooked on...