Kids are spending more time at home now than ever before. Some are starting new business ventures, while others are perfecting their banana bread making skills or exploring the outdoors with their pod buddies. In-between the new hobbies and learned skills, 2020 has found kids completing chores, saving money and giving back to their community, according to Greenlight. Read on to discover the details of their just-released 2020 Year in Review, which reveals how many chores were actually completed this past year, the average allowance by age and the stores kids spent the most money at. The results are surprising.

Greenlight’s infographic below highlights some of their 2020 findings. We pulled out some of the most interesting highlights:

• In 2020, Greenlight saw 8.7 million chores completed, which is almost 5 million more chores completed than last year. Kids did 20% more chores each month in 2020, compared to 2019.

• The top three chores were: cleaning the bedroom, taking care of the pet and washing the dishes.

• The most unique chore? Putting on deodorant.

• The average allowance per age:
Ages 5-10: $9.20
Ages 11-14: $12.10
Ages 15-18: $16.30
Ages 19-22: $21.50

• Greenlight kids saved $51.5 million. They saved for things like a first car, holiday gifts and shoes.

• Donations increased 78% from March to April, with No Kid Hungry being the top charity.

• Greenlight kids spent $458 million on Doordash alone. In 2019, Walmart was the most popular store for Greenlight kids.

 

To learn more details of the study click here.

—Erin Lem

photo: Pixabay

 

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Christine Hernandez

Christine Hernandez is a Mama on a mission to help other Mama's find their village and get the support they need to thrive.

The moment I saw that positive pregnancy test for the first time the part of me that wasn’t terrified went into instant Mama Bear mode. I wanted to make sure I ate all the right things, took the right supplements but what I didn’t realize was that what I was putting ON my body was just as important as what I was putting IN my body and my personal care products needed a little bit of a change up.

I used The Environmental Working Group’s (ewg..org) searchable database to check how the ingredients in the products I was using measured up against their safety guidelines and I was surprised at what I found. It took a little of combing through the shelves at Target and some trial and error to find things that were both clean AND effective but once I found these five staples, I have never gone back to my old stuff.


1

Mineral Salt Crystal Deodorant

Crystal Deodorant- Your Pits Will Thank You

$6.37

In my 20's I had a swollen lymph node under my arm for two years. It was so big that you could see it when I wore tank tops and it made my armpit look weird. I went to numerous doctors until one suggested I stop using deodorant. Unwilling to just wear NOTHING, I scoured the healthfood store shelves and this Crystal's claim of being amazing intrigued me. It is literally just mineral salts and you wet it and rub it on your pits and go about your business smelling fresher than a daisy without any nasty chemicals. Five years later, that lymph node is no longer swollen and I will never use conventional deodorant again (and I don't smell, you can ask my hubs).

BUY NOW

2

Beautycounter Skintwin Creamy Concealer

I Got 99 Problems- But Dark Eye Circles Ain't One

$31

The third trimester definitely prepares you for life with a newborn (hello 3am insomnia) and I was super thankful to have Beautycounter's Skin Twin Creamy Concealer to slather under my eyes to make me feel a bit more human. It comes in 13 shades and contains responsibly sourced ingredients that not only conceal dark circles and blemishes but work to improve overall skintone- without the use of questionable ingredients or animal testing.

BUY NOW

3

Belli Acne Control Spot Treatment

Banish Those Pregnancy Pimples Safely

$16.99

Most over the counter acne treatments contain salicylic acid, which some providers advise against use during pregnancy. Belli Acne Control Spot Treatment features colloidal sulfur, tea tree oil and chamomile that absorbs quickly and penetrates pores to help control blemishes and keep skin clear. It does not include glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide, common acne-fighting ingredients that can over dry or irritate the skin and are not recommended during pregnancy. Every Belli product is allergy tested, free of paraben preservatives, gluten, phthalates, and artificial dyes or fragrances and is approved by OBGYN's & dermatologists. I was one of the (un)lucky ones who's pregnancy glow faded into pregnancy pimples and Belli was my go-to!

BUY NOW

4

SheaMoisture Daily Hydration Body Oil

Rub That Belly, Baby

$9.99

There is some evidence that whether or not you get stretch marks is hereditary but that did not stop me from slathering my belly with this oil on the daily. Did I get stretch marks, no. Do I know for sure it was because I used this oil, also no. But, it was nice to take some time every night to rub my belly and connect with the tiny person growing inside. It doesn't contain any sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, or petroleum and is cruelty free!

BUY NOW

5

Beautycounter Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer

Seriously The Only Face Product You Need

$45 BUY NOW

I have never been one to like the feeling of foundation on my face but Dew Skin is makeup with the feeling of a moisturizer plus- it has SPF. On my most exhausted of days, I can take five seconds to rub some Dew Skin on my face and BOOM- I am out the door. It features a blend of black currant seed oil, peony root extract, and vitamin C to help brighten while leaving skin looking radiant and non-nano zinc oxide, a mineral sunscreen that is coral safe. Like all of Beautycounter's products, it's free from over 1800 harmful chemicals, never tested on animals and ethically and sustainably sourced.

During pregnancy, expectant mothers go above and beyond to ensure the health and safety of their unborn children. Everything comes under diligent scrutiny, from what they eat to what skincare products they use and everything in between. If you’re expecting, this probably sounds very familiar to you! What is unfamiliar to pregnant women everywhere, however—regardless of whether this is their first pregnancy—is the “X factor” of the coronavirus pandemic.

How can you protect yourself and your pregnancy during the COVID-19 outbreak? Here are some essential things to add to your pregnancy-care regimen and protect your pregnancy with these 5 tips.

 

1. Get a pulse oximeter: Hypoxemia (a below-normal level of oxygen in your blood) is one of the signs of serious illness with COVID-19. You can pick up a pulse oximeter for around $50 and take regular readings of your pulse and oxygen saturation. Get a baseline so that you know if something looks off. A baseline for healthy people is 90 or higher. When we see below 90, we start getting concerned.

2. Check for fever: Whether you have a fancy new thermometer that reads from the forehead or an old-school glass one where the mercury rises, take your temperature regularly to make sure you aren’t experiencing a fever.

3. Keep surfaces tidy for easy cleaning: Keeping tidy may not seem like a health tip for pregnancy, but in the days of COVID-19 it absolutely is. You want the surfaces in your home to be able to easily be wiped down and disinfected frequently—at least once a day.

4. If you choose to travel, choose safely: For example, you might choose to visit a loved one in a remote rural town with few to no COVID-19 cases, but don’t travel somewhere that you’ll be interacting with a lot of people. 

5. Keep your distance: How close is too close? Can you smell the other person’s detergent, deodorant, or shampoo? That’s too close! And for some extra protection when you are going to be around other people, wear a mask. It’s an additional safety measure that can only help you and your baby.

Along with the healthy eating and label reading you’re already doing, adding these tips as “must-dos” to your pregnancy care will help you protect the health and safety of your unborn child. Plus, it will also help you to breathe easier and relax into your pregnancy as much as you can. Knowing you’re creating the safest, happiest, and healthiest environment for yourself and your baby will provide some comfort and peace of mind during this uncertain time in history.

 

 

Dr. Alan Lindemann
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

An obstetrician and maternal mortality expert, “Rural Doc” Alan Lindemann, M.D. teaches women and families how to create the outcomes they want for their own health and pregnancy. In nearly 40 years of practice, he has delivered around 6,000 babies and achieved a maternal mortality rate of zero! Visit LindemannMD.com

It’s 6:00 p.m., I’m getting my daughter in the shower, it’s just another regular night. Except…it isn’t. She says “Mom, my armpits stink”. Naturally, I’m thinking there’s no way. She’s only 7 years old. I take a whiff just to amuse her, and sure enough…there’s the slightest smell indicating she should probably start wearing deodorant. It wasn’t very strong, but it was enough.

I’m freaking out. She’s ecstatic. She’s a big girl and gets to wear deodorant now. I’m nearly hyperventilating because…how do I explain this to my 7-year-old? Do I have the puberty talk with her? Do I go into detail? I gave her a shower and got her settled on her bed. She was blissfully unaware of what I was about to explain to her. Here, in bullet form, I have neatly laid out for you the list of what to expect from puberty in girls:

  • Body odor
  • Acne
  • Hormones (insert eye roll here)
  • Breast Development
  • Hair growth
  • PMS
  • Periods

That’s just a short list. By the time I had finished listing and explaining the first few, my daughter’s eyes were as wide as saucers. Great. Had I already messed that one up? I thought to myself…”I didn’t expect to have this conversation today. I haven’t even had time to Google anything!”

Amid my internal freak out session, I stopped myself. I didn’t want the words coming out of my mouth to be from somebody else. I wanted to explain to her what I thought was the best way. I finally explained (lightly) about periods and why girls have them and what happens when they do. I didn’t have the sex conversation. That, I feel, she is still too young for but I shared my experience with my first period and explained to her that I was telling her so that if she saw blood one day, she would understand why and that it was okay.

Puberty doesn’t have to be something that girls are afraid of. The more comfortable we can make them with it, the easier the transition will be for them. Girls have a hard enough time with puberty and bodily changes, but especially ones that are ahead or behind their peers. They just need a gentle reminder that even though their armpits stink, we still love them.

“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.” ~Zen Shin

Hey, y'all! I'm a single mom to my seven year old daughter. I've loved writing all of my life, and love to share stories...most of which relate to parenting. Also sometimes our cat...Sir Gibson Severus Darcy. Yeah...it's a thing. Enjoy!

In an era where no one wants to pay more just to live a healthy lifestyle, shoppers are seeing the emergence of tons of low-cost, direct-to-consumer (DTC) products––and we’re loving it. You may have already heard of another DTC company,  Brandless—but have you heard about Public Goods?

First launched back in 2015 in Brooklyn under the name Morgans, Public Goods has since rebranded and transformed into a company that gives customers online access to safe household goods, organic food and clean hygiene products. For a $59 membership fee, customers can access a huge list of products exclusive to members.

Once you’re a member, you can shop the Public Goods website and search by categories that include organic, vegan-friendly, gluten-free, tree-free, vegetarian and zero waste. You always get free shipping for orders shipping in the contiguous United States over $25 and goods arrive typically within 2 to 6 business days.

So what are some things you can find through Public Goods? To start, you can get your caffeine fix with plenty of tea offerings ($3.50 per box), not to mention ground and whole bean coffee ($6.50 per 12-ounce bag). Stock up on vegan-friendly pasta ($2 per box), snacks ($2.75 to $4), soup mixes ($7) and condiments ($3.50 to $9).

When it comes to personal care items, you’ll have access to hair care products like shampoo ($4.50) and conditioner ($4.50), deodorant, dental hygiene products like toothbrushes (2 for $4) and floss ($5.50 for a 3-pack), and even essential oils starting at ($6.50)!

While you’re shopping, don’t forget to check out the Public Goods line of cleaners (starting at $2.75), laundry products (starting at $4.50) and tree-free paper (starting at $3.50)!

Is it us, or is it a great time to be alive?

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Public Goods

 

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Zandra Cunningham has been busy. The 18-year-old Buffalo, New York native is not only a teenager, but the founder and CEO of her own beauty line, Zandra Beauty and oh yeah––it’s now being sold at Target!

Zandra Beauty is all about chemical and cruelty-free, vegan, plant-based products, and currently sells over 50 skincare products, including deodorant, body wash, and artisan soap bars. The Target-exclusive “Treat Yo Self” beauty box comes with a nourishing hand and body lotion, exfoliating sugar scrub, and lip and body balms.

After launching her cruelty-free beauty brand at the tender age of nine, Cunningham focused her efforts on selling her products at a local farmer’s market. Fast forward to 2019 and the teen is not only leading the green beauty initiative, but she is encouraging teen girls to pursue their interests in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) through the brand’s “Science Behind It” program.

You can find the beauty box at over 707 Target stores on the exclusive Black History Month display.

 

––Karly Wood

Feature photo: Zandra Beauty via Instagram.

 

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Being a teenager already has it’s ups and downs, but the stress of not having access everyday essentials can make things intolerable.

At Washington High School in Washington, North Carolina, staff came up with a creative solution to their poorest students’ toughest challenge: They created a secret pantry full of hygiene products such as deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste. But when the school’s principle, Misty Walker, saw that hygiene wasn’t the only problem her students were facing, the secret pantry expanded into a food, clothing, school supplies, and hygiene closet.

For the sake of anonymity, knowledge of the pantry is spread by world of mouth. Students are granted access to the closet if they ask a teacher, counselor or faculty member. They are then allowed to take as many items needed with no questions asked.

Would you like to see something like this in your area?

—Francesca Katafias

As a life coach, I’m a huge proponent of personal growth, and growth usually means change. Becoming happier often means re-engineering a bad habit, or starting a healthy new routine (like exercise or meditation). But sometimes the best thing that we can do for our happiness is stick with an old routine.

Researchers believe that the brains in both humans and animals evolved to feel calmed by repetitive behavior, and that our daily rituals and habits are a primary way to manage stress. Ever notice that you always drive to work the same way, even though there are dozens of other routes? Or that you always put deodorant on right after you brush your hair? Each of us has hundreds of little habits that carry us through the day. The fast-paced world we live in can feel quite unpredictable, but our daily rituals can help us feel more in control, often without us ever realizing it.

Return to routine. What daily routine or ritual did you drop this summer that you realize now provided you with a little respite of calm? What routine do you have now that you’ll stick with?

Christine Carter, Ph.D., is a coach and the author of RAISING HAPPINESS: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents.  A sociologist at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, her goal is to help parents bring more joy into their own lives and the lives of their children.

Want more great tips?
Happy Mom Tip #1: Disconnect
Happy Mom Tip #2: Stop Rushing Around
Happy Mom Tip #3: Express Gratitude
Happy Mom Tip #4: Organize
Happy Mom Tip #5: Forgive Someone
Happy Mom Tip #6: Get Excited About Someone Else’s Good News
Happy Mom Tip #7: Celebrate a Mistake
Happy Mom Tip #8: Talk To Strangers
Happy Mom Tip #9: Share Your Good News
Happy Mom Tip #10: Flex Your Generosity Muscle
Happy Mom Tip #11: Be Kind
Happy Mom Tip #12: Take a Break 
Happy Mom Tip #13: Dance Around
Happy Mom Tip #14: Make Yourself Guffaw
Happy Mom Tip #15: Take a Stroll
Happy Mom Tip #16: Go Out and Play With Some Friends
Happy Mom Tip #17: Give Out Some Hugs
Happy Mom Tip #18: Find Some Inspiration
Happy Mom Tip #19: Get Out into Nature
Happy Mom Tip #20: Imagine Your “Best Possible Future Self”
Happy Mom Tip #21: Get Enough Sleep
Happy Mom Tip #22: Let Yourself Feel What You Feel
Happy Mom Tip #23: Expose Yourself to Someone Else’s Pain
Happy Mom Tip #24: Turn Off the Boob Tube
Happy Mom Tip #25: Don’t Buy That Thing That You Really Want
Happy Mom Tip #26: Take a Blatant Nap
Happy Mom Tip #27: Play a Game That Makes You Happy
Happy Mom Tip #28: Spend Some Time Alone
Happy Mom Tip #29: Take a Power Nap
Happy Mom Tip #30: Learn Something New
Happy Mom Tip #31: Have an Easy Morning
Happy Mom Tip #32: One Kind Thing.
Happy Mom Tip #33: Exhale. Twice.
Happy Mom Tip #34: Stop Stalling 
Happy Mom Tip #35: Make Your Task List More Fun
Happy Mom Tip #36: Ignore Your Kids
Happy Mom Tip #37: Take 20
Happy Mom Tip #38: Call a Friend
Happy Mom Tip #39: Lower Your Expectations
Happy Mom Tip #40: Commit to Kindness
Happy Mom Tip #41: Automate a Hassle
Happy  Mom Tip #42: Say No to Someone Besides Yourself
Happy Mom Tip #43: Hang Out with an Animal
Happy Mom Tip #44: Listen to Your Favorite Songs
Happy Mom Tip #45: Skip Those Christmas Cookies
Happy Mom Tip #46: Write a Love Letter

photo courtesy of BZO via Creative Commons