Torch: A smart WiFi router that’s made for parents

by Jeana | Uncategorized

When you think about cool, must-have gadgets, a router probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind (ahem, iPhone 6S, Santa). But if you’re a parent of Internet-surfing kids (hello, Minecraft lovers), then this new router called Torch might be worth a...

Setting up email for kids: 11 essential things to teach them first — that you probably haven’t thought about.

by Liz Gumbinner | Tips and Tricks

When I finally broke down and got my daughter an email account (all my friends have one! actually does work sometimes) we had the long, requisite discussions about safety, etiquette, and responsibility. But wow, it turns out there’s so much more than that....

KiDCASE is a clever, new iPad smart case that puts more screentime control in parents’ hands

by Nicole Blades | Uncategorized

Watching our kids maneuver their way through all this new tech is a joy. It’s just so cool to see how much they’re doing and learning on these glowing gadgets. But the other side of that is trying to stay on top of what they’re watching, monitoring...

8 really smart tips for managing kids’ screen time that you can put into action right now

by Nicole Blades | Tips and Tricks

We are so excited about (and kind of in awe of) so many of the things that computers are doing for our kids, but the reality is, sometimes we need help managing their screen time. So many readers have written to us thanking us for tips like the Marble Jar system and...

How to hide YouTube comments. Because too many of them make you lose faith in humanity.

by Julie | Tips and Tricks, Social Media

Around here, we’re all starting to wonder whether TV will continue to be relevant to our kids who are growing up in the age of online media. In fact, next to playing Minecraft, my tweens’ favorite way to spend their screen time is watching videos of their...

The Barbie Plastic Surgery App and the other worst apps for kids on iTunes from Corina Rodriguez

by Liz Gumbinner | Internet Safety

This week, parents–and anyone else with an iota of common sense–expressed outrage over the discovery of the Barbie Plastic Surgery App, whose name was soon changed to Barbara for legal reasons. As for ethical changes? Not so much. The app, rated for kids...

Kindle FreeTime gets even smarter for parents with new features.

by Jeana | Gear + Hardware

If you’ve been eyeing a tablet as a gift for a very special someone, especially someone who has kids, new changes to Kindle FreeTime may just seal the deal for making that Kindle Fire purchase. When the service first launched, we thought it was a genius way to...

The best first laptop for a child? Reader Q&A

by Kristen Chase | Gear + Hardware

My 10-year old son is definitely ready for his own laptop, but I have no idea what to get him! Can you help with a child-friendly option? -Amy Funny you should ask, Amy. I just decided to get a laptop for my 9-year old, which was a lot easier than I expected. Here are...

How to make your tablet safe for kids

by Jeana | Internet Safety

If you have recently upgraded to a new tablet and want to hand off the older model to your lucky kids, there are a couple safety measures we recommend you put into place to make your tablets safe for kids. Even the older models are still valuable (coming from someone...

How to keep track of what your kids download

by Jeana | Best Apps

I feel for parents of teens these days, who not only have to contend with the usual teen angst, but also have a whole new set of digital obstacles to face with their kids texting and app-downloading and web surfing. Not to mention apps like SnapChat (eek). Thankfully,...