All pulled books have a 30-day review process to decide if they are ‘appropriate’
The Keller Independent School District Board of Trustees near Fort Worth, Texas, told its school staff and librarians to temporarily remove 41 books, including the Bible and an illustrated adaptation of Anne Frank’s diary, until they go through the district’s formal complaint process from the 2021-2022 school year.
As part of the new standards set to determine which educational materials will be allowed at schools, books are put up for public review for 30 days before they can be purchased by school libraries and, if deemed inappropriate, removed altogether.
“Right now, Keller ISD’s administration is asking our campus staff and librarians to review books that were challenged last year to determine if they meet the requirements of the new policy,” the school district said in a statement obtained by the Texas Tribune newspaper. “All of the books included in Tuesday’s email have been included on Keller ISD’s Book Challenge list over the past year. Books that meet the new guidelines will be returned to the libraries as soon as it is confirmed they comply with the new policy.”
The school district enables parents, employees, and district residents to file formal challenges to any books or instructional materials their children may read. A committee then decides if they are “educationally suitable” or “pervasively vulgar,” in which case they don’t make it to bookshelves.
Just got word that today, the day Before school starts, @KellerISD has informed teachers & librarians to remove all previously challenged books from school shelves. Even the books that passed the challenge committees. The Diary of Anne Frank, Graphic Nov. is on this list. 🧵/1 pic.twitter.com/ggFilJA30o
Books that were challenged in the past year include All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson, an LBGTQ+ book that the committee decided to keep in high schools, and Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, which was removed from the district. Toni Morrison’s novel The Bluest Eye was also challenged and kept by the committee.
An April analysis from PEN America, a literary advocacy organization, found 1,586 books were banned in 86 school districts across 26 states from July 2021 to March 2022. Texas, unsurprisingly, was at the top of the list with 713 banned books. This latest round of book removals follows May’s school board elections, which included debates over how America’s history of racism should be taught in Texas public schools.
“The sweeping attempt to remove these titles from classrooms and libraries on the eve of a new school year is an appalling affront to students’ First Amendment rights,” said Jonathan Friedman, PEN America director of free expression and education programs. “It is virtually impossible to run a school or a library that purges books in response to any complaint from any corner.”
Good childcare is hard to find—and a million times harder when parents’ expectations are completely out of whack with reality. A job listing for a nanny went viral on Twitter this week for its outrageous qualifications, which look even more unhinged when compared to the wage being offered.
Twitter user @drewtoothpaste shared the listing with the employer’s name blocked out. The ad begins innocently enough. “School is starting again, and that means we once again need a nanny! Please read ALL of these requirements.” Nothing unreasonable there so far — any parent entrusting their child to a new caregiver is going to have high expectations, and those requirements probably include things like being caring and trustworthy and dependable, right? Nope, wrong! The requirements are a bit more specific than that.
lunatic local facebook post offering $18 for 4.5 hours of work and demanding you bring your own food for their kids pic.twitter.com/oKh7SxmdmU
— drewtoothpaste.bsky.social (@drewtoothpaste) August 10, 2022
“You need to have a master’s degree or higher so that our 5-yo and 7-yo will be intellectually challenged. No, your ‘bachelor of english’ doesn’t mean you’re smart! Sorry!)” That’s the first big yikes moment of the job listing, but there are several more coming.
“You must be between 24-28 years of age to keep up with the activity level of our kiddos.” Obviously this parent can’t be worrying about whether their 30-year-old babysitter is going to break a hip on the job.
The ad also warns potential applicants not to expect housing with the position. “Yes, we have extra room, but the privilege is earned, not assumed.”
“We need you from 7am-8:30am and 3:00pm-6:00pm every weekday, and the pay will be $18 daily.” Assuming that’s not a typo (because it really seems like there’s a digit missing) that works out to a whopping $4 an hour. Which is obviously more than enough to pay off the student loans from the Master’s degree.
But that’s not all. “Plan to bring ‘snacks’ or other food for the kiddos because our cabinets will be locked during the day while we work. You will also need to bring educational materials such as workbooks as we do not keep anything like this at home. Thanks!” In case your eyeballs just fell out of your head reading this, that means the nanny is supposed to spend his or her $4 wage on snacks for other people’s children’s, and also on workbooks. At that rate the nanny would be losing money on the deal, and would need a second job to support this one.
Twitter users had some fun with the post, including some who sarcastically joked about being underqualified.
I was going to apply to this but sadly I only have a bachelor’s degree from MIT and I’m 29 years old :(
The ad is so over the top you kind of just have to hope it’s someone’s attempt at satire, but sadly, I think we’ve all seen plenty of similar job postings where it’s abundantly clear that some people just completely lack respect for childcare workers.
Something that tells us this nanny seeker is going to have a tough time filling the role — unless there’s a big adjustment to the expectations, the salary, and the attitude.
Being a parent can be tough! That’s why we appreciate any company that creates a shortcut or finds a way to ease the daily grind of parenthood. Startup companies are everywhere, and not surprisingly, many of them are founded by parents in business who had a genius idea and ran with it. After all, who better to solve parenting problems than parents themselves? From kid’s meal delivery services to cribs that rock babies to sleep, we’ve rounded up 15 startups designed to make parenting life easier. Scroll down to learn more.
All parents, at some point, have wished that they could be in more places at once. But, unless you’ve cloned yourself, the reality is that the only way to get it all done is to ask for help. And one place to start is finding transportation for your kids that will help them maintain their educational pursuits without the added stress of playing chauffeur. Sure, parents could use one of the many ride platforms, but precious cargo like kids requires a better solution.
Zūm, a transportation service for kids, offers optimized transportation solutions and fulfills daily transportation needs, “Whether it’s home-to-school transportation, off-campus events, or delivery of meals and educational materials.”
Wonderschool
istock
Wonderschool is often described as an Airbnb for daycare services, and it also helps launch in-home preschools and daycares. The idea for the startup came from co-founders Chris Bennett and Arrel Gray who saw too many parents worried about finding child care. So they designed a company to increase access to high-quality early childhood care for families.
Wonderschool empowers experienced educators and childcare providers to run their own in-home businesses while providing service to other families in their communities. The programs are diverse and designed to educate in the warmth of an in-home child care program.
Otter
iStock
It’s not uncommon for stay-at-home parents in communities to babysit each other’s children on occasion. But sometimes making the connection between parents looking for care and parents looking to provide that service isn’t easy. If you’re new to your neighborhood or just don’t know where to look, this next startup is for you!
Helen Mayer, the founder of Otter, was in this same boat in 2020, turning down a dream job because she couldn’t find safe, reliable, and affordable care for her twins. Wondering if she was alone in this, she went to her community for feedback and received overwhelming feedback that cemented her desire to help parents in situations like hers. Shortly after, Otter was born, offering parents a tool that “matches parents who need childcare with stay-at-home parents who can care for their kids.”
Have you heard of the “fourth trimester?” If you haven’t, we're talking about the first three months after giving birth. It’s a time of adjustment for your baby and you that requires a lot of support! Enter the My Fourth app!
Major Care Doulas founder, Mandy Major, created the My Fourth app to help extend the care delivered to her clients into the fourth trimester, saying that their tagline is “put a doula in your pocket,” and adding that “[our mission is] to mainstream postpartum doula care and use digital tools to make it as affordable and accessible as possible. We track pregnancy so diligently in this country but totally fail families in the fourth trimester. We're left to figure it all out on our own. Parents need education, connection, support, and personalized advice! That's why we blend bite-sized content with regular text check-ins from our doulas. Continuous care is what it's all about!”
It’s officially the future, and although many advances in technology have made parenting easier, there are some that have created challenges that parents might not be ready for. Like when your 10-year-old asks for their first cell phone. Gulp. Parents who feel completely unprepared for this big step are not alone. In fact, Pinwheel, “smartphones that enable responsible and healthy usage with modes managed by parents for everyday kids' life,” was founded on that very feeling.
Dane Witbeck founded Pinwheel when his eight-year-old son announced that his friend got an iPhone back in 2019. A user himself, he says “Pinwheel lets [me] see his grades in real-time and helps him focus on what matters most by excluding web browsers, app stores and social media. And of course, it supports all of the basic functions like calls, text, and GPS locations, so I can keep an eye on him if he forgets to tell me that he's going to a friend's house after school!”
Got a kid that’s ready for their very own cell phone? Try Pinwheel and use our exclusive promo code TINYBEANS for 10% off.
Having a new baby is a beautiful experience that brings parents memories to cherish for a lifetime. But it’s also a time of complete exhaustion from all those sleepless nights soothing baby back to sleep every hour. If only there was a crib that would rock your baby back to sleep for you. Oh, wait, there is!
According to Cradlewise Co-founder and CEO, Radhika Patil, “Modern-day baby monitors notify you once the baby wakes up crying and that’s too late already. Cradlewise is the world’s first crib that senses the first signs of stirring and automatically rocks the baby to sleep. This proactive soothing helps safeguard sleep for babies.” The genius crib, made with natural materials, was designed to grow with your baby—adjusting from bassinet to crib—and has a built-in smart baby monitor and sound system for playing white noise and other curated playlists that can be connected to their corresponding app, allowing you to track your babies’ sleep journey, and get some shut-eye of your own.
Vivvi
iStock
Sometimes one of the toughest parts about being a working parent is finding childcare for the kiddos. That’s where Vivvi comes in to make life easier. Think of Vivvi as the Four Seasons of Childcare, but for medium-sized employers. This startup provides employer-sponsored childcare for companies of all sizes. The care is provided either on-site or near the company and is geared toward kids ages newborn to five years old.
Vivvi’s co-founders Ben Newton and Charles Bonello designed Vivvi to make it possible for companies of all sizes to implement a childcare program and change their employees' lives.
Little Spoon
Littlespoon.com
Spending hours grocery shopping, prepping and serving meals, and cleaning up, only to have your child pick at their plate? Yup, it's exhausting. The founders of Little Spoon felt the same way! That’s why they started a meal delivery service for babies to big kids to bring clean, non-GMO meals and snacks right to your door. Its mission is to make parents' lives easier while offering the healthiest, tastiest food options for children. From chicken potstickers to turkey meatballs and even fresh smoothies and vitamins, your time, and your child’s nutrition and tastebuds are covered.
What parent hasn’t scrambled to find a last-minute photographer for birthday parties, holidays and family photo sessions? Shoott.com makes that problem obsolete. This startup provides on-demand professional photography at affordable rates. Shoott.com offers 30-minute photo sessions with an elite-level photographer at select iconic outdoor locations. Sessions are complementary to book, and you only pay for the photos you love at $30 or less. The company started in New York City and now offers services in 35 states.
“Our website makes it easy for anyone to book a professional photographer on demand for all of life's occasions, big or small—including holiday, engagement and family portraits as well as headshots or content for social media,” said Jennifer Tsay, CEO and co-founder of Shoott.com.
Lovevery
Lovevery
Play Kits by Lovevery are a subscription box service that delivers the right science-backed, non-toxic toys babies both want and need, at exactly the right stage of development, so that parents can rest assured they're giving their little ones the best possible start in life. Kits are delivered every other month and start at $36 per month. Lovevery was created to help parents give their little ones aneasy alternative to screen time, as well as the ability to maintain a minimalist lifestyle, by cutting out the unnecessary excess and delivering all that baby needs for playtime.
"At Lovevery, we make the science of early childhood more approachable and help parents feel confident they're giving their children the best start,” said Jessica Rolph, Lovevery co-founder and CEO. “We work with child development experts to distill all the research into a system of essential products that are stage-based and crafted with care. You can see that care in our Play Kits and our Play Gym, and it's why parents love what we do."
Huckleberry
iStock
If you’re a parent, sleep struggles have likely been a reality with your little ones at one point or another. That’s why Huckleberry was founded, as a new way to improve the way kids sleep. This app uses artificial intelligence and pediatric sleep experts to create individualized sleep plans for every family. Through Huckleberry, parents take a diagnostic quiz, track sleeping hours, naps and bedtimes, and the app predicts when your kiddo will be sleeping next. The program has several other features that can be purchased beyond the free app as well.
Huckleberry was co-founded by Jessica Toh who states that as a new parent, she never expected her baby would wake up every few hours for nearly two years, in spite of all the books and methods she tried. “It turned out there were many others in the same position,” said Toh. “I felt in this day and age there must be a way to solve this for all the sleep-deprived people out there who just want the best for their children.”
Aiko and Egor Animation 4 Autism
See Beneath
Aiko and Egor Animation 4 Autism is an animated video series and interactive app designed to help kids with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The activities use evidence-based principles to create activities that focus on simple animation and language for kids with ASD. The app is produced by See Beneath, whose founders are Gerin Gaskin, Casey Hoffman and Jim Turner, all of whom have a background in autism intervention and research from the University of California San Diego. These individuals spent more than 7,500 hours sitting on the floor with kids under the age of three diagnosed with ASD to develop the app.
“Our visionis a world where all children with autism will develop to their full potential,” according to the See Beneath website. “Our missionis to engage and educate children with autism (ASD) by creating and providing innovative tools that foster positive change and help children reach developmental milestones.”
Peanut
Peanut
Get ready to swipe right on the latest app to help moms make friends. Peanut is a Tinder-type app that matches moms so they can meet other like-minded moms. Once you create an account, Peanut shows you women in your neighborhood with similar-aged kids and creates matches based on shared interests. Then it’s up to you to create playdates and start conversations.
Michelle Kennedy came up with the idea for Peanut after having her first baby, Finlay, and was struggling to meet other moms. She decided to create a product that would make life as a new mom a little easier. “Peanut is more than an app to connect mothers,” according to Kennedy via Peanut’s website. “It’s about recognizing a pain point that millions of women encounter and finding a solution.”
Cognitive ToyBox
iStock
Cognitive ToyBox allows teachers to do what they do best: teach. This gamified early childhood assessment allows teachers to test a student’s learning and social-emotional readiness without spending countless hours administering tests. Here’s how it works: kids play five-minute assessment games and the results are then sent to the teacher automatically. The tool saves the teacher hours of work and provides objective data for teachers and parents.
Co-founders Tammy Kwan and Dr. Brenden Lake created Cognitive ToyBox because they wanted to develop an evidence-based technology solution to support early childhood educators, parents and children. The company currently provides preschool and kindergarten learning assessments.
Every parent has been through it. You confirm plans and then you can’t find a babysitter. That’s where Nanno comes in. This app allows parents to secure a sitter within minutes. There is no minimum hour requirement and you can book as few as two hours in advance. Nanno runs a full criminal background check on all its sitters and requires a skill set for every person. They also offer on-demand matching and booking, quality control based on reviews, and free cancellation protection.
Liz Oertle, CEO and Co-founder of Nanno, is passionate about leveraging emerging technologies to solve real-world problems of everyday people, especially parents and families. A former startup lawyer turned startup founder, Oertle met Desi McAdam, a software engineer and director of a software consultancy. Together, they decided to build a product that would solve a real-world problem that desperately needed to be solved. That’s when the idea of Nanno took form.
Barbie continues to change the world! Mattel has just announced the first fashion doll made from recycled ocean-bound plastic, a big benchmark for the company achieving 100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic materials for all products and packaging by 2030.
Barbie Loves the Ocean is currently made up of three dolls with 90% recycled ocean-bound plastic bodies (excluding the doll head). In addition to Barbie and her pals, the lineup also includes a Beach Shack playset, beach themed playset, volleyball set and accessories also made from recycled plastic.
“This Barbie launch is another addition to Mattel’s growing portfolio of purpose-driven brands that inspire environmental consciousness with our consumer as a key focus,” said Richard Dickson, President and Chief Operating Officer, Mattel.
In addition to the new dolls and accessories, young viewers can catch Barbie’s new vlog, Barbie Shares How We Can All Protect the Planet on YouTube. The new episode focuses on the importance of protecting our planet and simple things kids can do that make a big impact.
photo: 4ocean
Barbie and 4ocean are also pairing up this summer! The two are launching a limited-edition 4ocean x Barbie bracelet coming in signature pink made that is made with post-consumer recycled materials and hand-assembled by artisans in Bali. When you purchase the $20 bracelet, 4ocean will contribute educational materials to educate young conservationists plus pull one pound of trash from oceans, rivers and coastlines.
You can shop the entire Barbie Loves the Ocean line at retailers nationwide and Barbie.com. Pick up your limited edition bracelet at 4ocean.com.
Want to hear a story from Betty White? Or print off Barbie summer camp activities? And help kids in need at the same time? Then we’ve got the program for you!
Save the Children just launched its annual summer reading campaign, 100 Days of Reading. The website is packed with fun activities and ideas to keep kids reading and learning this summer. You’ll find book suggestions, playlists, imaginary activities and more—plus new things are added every week!
Better yet, every link that is clicked or tapped will help impoverished children across rural America. These actions unlock donations of books, educational materials and healthy food for 750,000 kids. Save the Children’s mission is to ensure kids are getting the early support they need to be successful in school and in life. If you want to take it one step further, you can join in a summer fundraising program. Create your own page, choose an activity (like selling lemonade or gardening) and share on social to make even more of an impact!
Ready to get started? Visit the 100 Days of Reading website and start exploring the site and logging your reading minutes. It’s one more way to help your kids have the ultimate summer of fun and learning, while giving back at the same time!
It’s the city that never sleeps and now you can visit it anytime. NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization for the five boroughs of New York City is expanding its virtual offerings to spotlight online experiences to engage young New Yorkers and travelers who are unable to visit the destination. The NYC Virtual Field Trips digital resource, available at nycgo.com/virtualfieldtrips, comprises five-borough arts organizations and tourism businesses that are offering digital activity books, study guides, livestreams and more, this summer and beyond.
The new initiative also includes curated recommendations from a selection of the City’s most innovative thinkers and educators, with additional curators to be announced as the program rolls out.
“New York City has always been an attractive playground for families, and our world-class arts & culture organizations, attractions and tours are committed to engaging young visitors virtually until they can return in person. We encourage New Yorkers and the world to take advantage of our new NYC Virtual Field Trips resource and plan their five-borough virtual field trip now,” said Fred Dixon, NYC & Company President and CEO.
Consumers can browse NYC Virtual Field Trips by type of content, subject, borough, age range and more. Featured experiences include:
Art & Culture
Brooklyn Museum’s K-12 online learning resources include information, images, questions for viewing, and activity ideas relating to the museum’s previous exhibitions.
The Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute offers educational guidebooks supporting the institute’s recent exhibitions including THE COLOR OF POWER: HEROES, SHEROES, & THEIR CREATORS, which debuted in November 2019, with suggested lesson plan activities, interactive viewing questions, and more.
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum’s educational resources include a Spotlight on Pride, featuring information on influential LGBTQ+ designers and wearers of jewelry from past to present.
Pre-K–12 groups are able to take virtual tours led by The Jewish Museum educators, exploring works of art in the museum’s collection via online video platforms.
Curriculum resources from The Metropolitan Museum of Art include comprehensive illustrated guides introducing students to select collections of the iconic Museum.
MoMA’s Guides for Educators are available as downloadable PDFs, with topics ranging from Modern Art and Ideas, to Residential Architecture in MoMA’s Collection, to Latin American and Caribbean Modern and Contemporary Art.
The Morgan Library & Museum’s arts in education programs are available for virtual field trips for grades K-12, covering various themes including Mythical Creatures and It’s Alive! Frankenstein at 200.
Queens Museum’s online resources include a Stay-at-home Guide for Teens, as part of the museum’s Queens Teens program which offers local youth opportunities to gain exposure to a cultural institution and develop a creative interest and passion for the arts.
Attractions & Tours
Educator-guides from Big Onion Walking Tours offer virtual tours of neighborhoods in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with live, hourlong sessions featuring interactive narrations and discussion.
Those looking to learn more about the Empire State Building’s construction, technology, history, and more can visit the icon’s online Education Center.
Inside Out Tours’ The Great Bridge: Brooklyn Bridge Tour is available virtually, with 360-degree video views of the famous landmark and Brooklyn’s waterfront neighborhood, DUMBO.
Created for educators and student tour group operators, Levys’ Unique New York!’s Ultimate Guide to Brooklyn includes informative and engaging facts about the City’s most populous borough.
Study guides offered by One World Observatory cover topics including science, the history of Lower Manhattan and surrounding boroughs, and careers in construction and technology.
Top of the Rock offers online education materials for both teachers and students, as well as a virtual tour of New York City’s skyline as seen from the observation deck.
Upcoming virtual programs from Turnstile Tours include A Brief History of NYC Street Vending and Bowne & Co.: Letterpress Printing in 19th-Century New York.
History
9/11 Memorial & Museum offers interactive lesson plans online that address the 9/11 attacks, their ongoing repercussions, and the history of the World Trade Center, for grades 3-12.
Among New-York Historical Society’s education offerings are online learning tools, virtual museum field trips, and a downloadable Social Narrative for visitors on the autism spectrum.
Museum of the City of New York offers interdisciplinary and social studies lesson plans covering a range of topics related to both the history and future of New York City.
Museum at Eldridge Street’s Learning from Home platform includes storytimes, learning guides, and a virtual tour of the Eldridge Street Synagogue and the Henry Street Settlement for grades 4-8.
National Museum of the American Indian’s Native Knowledge 360° classroom resources provide new perspectives on Native American history and cultures, through educational materials and online lessons.
The Tenement Museum’s lesson plans for Upper Elementary and Middle School students tell the stories of immigrant families who called New York City home in the 1800-1900s.
American Museum of Natural History’s online curriculum collections include materials for educators and those who are interested in learning about science.
Through September the Bronx Zoo is offering a Wildlife Camp Online catering to different age groups, which includes a behind-the-scenes look at the zoo’s animals and exhibits.
Virtual Homeschool Programs from the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum offer children of all ages an opportunity to explore the topics of history, science, and innovation online with a museum curator.
As part of its online programs this summer, New York Botanical Garden is offering a three-day Summer Mini-Camp for grades 3-5, exploring plants, nature and cooking.
Families can visit New York Hall of Science virtually through free at-home resources including Amazing Brains, NYSCI’s first-ever virtual exhibit.
Theater & Performing Arts
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater offers an online guide for educators, with suggested classroom activities, discussion topics, resources, and more.
CO/LAB Theater Group offers interactive mini-workshops by Teaching Artists via video, on topics including musical theater, physical theater, and improv.
Carnegie Hall’s virtual offerings include resources for classrooms and professional development, as well as videos that spark musical learning.
As part of Flushing Town Hall at Home, the organization is offering Virtual World Dance Camps through August, exploring dance forms of New York’s diverse communities.
Individuals can learn about Off-Broadway shows such as Blue Man Group and STOMP through virtual resources including educational and study booklets.
Many families are choosing to stay close to home this summer. Amazon Prime is teaming up with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to launch Camp Prime to bring summer fun to families across the country. The program is available to everyone, even if they’re not a Prime member, and families across the country can participate and access the free Camp Prime Handbook.
“The past few months have challenged parents and kids alike, and I know many families, including my own, were looking forward to their summer traditions this year,” said Jamil Ghani, vice president of Amazon Prime. “That’s why we partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to bring families the Camp Prime Handbook. The handbook is free for everyone and is full of activities families can do with supplies easily found around the house. With the Boys & Girls Clubs’ 160 years of experience providing youth camps, we’ve created an experience that will help families make the most of this unique summer, building on Prime’s year-round goal to help make people’s lives a little easier, more convenient, and more fun every day.”
To extend summer camp fun to even more kids, Amazon is also providing $500,000 in donations to Boys & Girls Clubs to help further their mission of enabling young people to reach their full potential. The funds will help Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, including Clubs in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, Phoenix, Dallas, Boston, Detroit, Denver, Seattle and more offer safe and fun summer activities to youth and families, such as virtual programming options and ‘curbside camp’ kits available for pickup at select locations.
“We are facing the unique and unexpected challenge of providing our Club members with gear and resources to help them stay active and engaged at home this summer,” said Jim Clark, president & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “We are extremely grateful for Amazon Prime’s support and donation, which will help us give our kids everything from craft supplies to sports equipment to educational materials and books to keep them entertained all summer long.”
Amazon customers can also donate to their local Boys & Girls Club by selecting them as their charity of choice on AmazonSmile, donate directly through AmazonSmile Charity Lists or simply say “Alexa, donate to Boys & Girls Clubs” to their Alexa-enabled device.
The Camp Prime Handbook features easy and fun activities using items from around the house, including building a classic campfire (minus the flames) for storytelling and s’mores, visiting the camp canteen (aka your kitchen) for easy-to-make, healthy snacks from the Whole Kids Foundation, and learning to garden with an upcycled box. Prime members can also extend their experience through additional Camp Prime-themed content with Prime Video, Prime Reading and Amazon Music as part of their memberships.
In addition to the handbook, starting on Jul. 14, Amazon will be updating their blog with fun how-to videos from popular experts who will walk families through summer activities that can be enhanced with Amazon Devices. From beatboxing and crafts, to wellness and dance, families can learn new skills and create together.
Videos will launch daily from Jul. 14 to Jul. 18 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on the influencer’s platform and live on the Amazon Day One blog throughout the summer. The videos will be available for the entire summer. A full schedule of experts and activities are below:
Jul. 14: DIY Summer Sailboats with Pool Noodles with P.S. I Made This Founder, Erica Domesek
Jul. 15: Family Meditation & Movement with Spiritual Health + Wellness Teacher, Koya Webb
Jul. 17: How to Beatbox with TikTok Star, Joey Klaasen
Jul. 18: At Home Dance Class with Award-Winning Choreographer, Sherrie Silver
Families can also interact with Alexa on compatible devices or via the Alexa and Amazon Shopping apps by saying, “Alexa, What is Camp Prime?” to get more information about the summer program and “Alexa, tell me the fun fact of the day” to start out their camp day with an educational anecdote.
You’ve stocked up on supplies and creative ways to pass the time with the kiddos, but what to do when you need something that you just don’t have at home? Don’t panic! Check out these local businesses and restaurants—filling your needs from coffee to gardening, toys to food, and even wine (really)—offering curbside-to-go and delivery services.
Little Shop has been categorized as an essential business by the City of Decatur due to providing educational materials to those sheltering at home. While their shop will remain closed to customers until at least April 8th, they’re still open for pickup at the shop, home delivery, and online sales. Just order through knowledgeable and helpful booksellers in the shop.
133 E Court Square # A, Mon.-Sat. from 10 a.m. to 4 pm.
Planning a Covid-19 Victory Garden or perhaps just ready to spruce up your containers for the spring and summer? Pike's has your back. Just fill out this online form and let them know what plants and gardening products you’d like for your home and garden. A local plant expert at your neighborhood Pike Nurseries will call you within 24 to 48 hours to walk through your request to ensure you get exactly what you’d like. They will provide a quote and finalize your order over the phone. From there you can decide if you’d like to pick up curbside or have it delivered to your door.
Kazoo To You delivers a surprise to your house once or twice a week, based on your selected budget and your children's areas of interest. Currently, their delivery radius is within 5 miles of their store at 3718 Roswell Road, plus Friday deliveries to the Roswell area. Learn more and sign up here.
As parents, we're not stranger to the drive-through. So, getting used to Atlanta's curbside or delivery dining options should be a breeze. Check out this solid list of Atlanta restaurants temporarily offering curbside pick-up and delivery by Eater, but note that it's not comprehensive. Have a favorite spot and a craving for something on the menu? Give them a call. They can advise you of their new pick-up and delivery protocols.
This delightful Westside wine shop will have call-in orders ready for curbside pickup, and every bag will have been previously disinfected. They ask that you either open your trunk or pick up your wine form the designated pick up location. Need help finding the right bottle? The Perrine team will gladly advise you based on your food pairings, wine preference, and budget!
1168 Howell Mill Rd., 404-254-5077
Online: perrineswine.com
Parents across the country have been tasked with a new responsibility. With school districts closing due to COVID-19, parents are taking over the role of the children’s teachers for the next few weeks and possibly the remainder of the school year. Peanuts is providing educational materials and standards based lesson plans free of charge to assist during this time.
Students in grades kindergarten through 8th grade can bring STEM, language arts and social studies to life with the help of Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the gang. Kids can sharpen their math skills with Charlie Brown and his baseball teammates, celebrate spring with the Peanuts gang while completing activities in science, language arts and math. Several of the lesson plans feature Astronaut Snoopy which pairs with the new series Snoopy in SPace on Apple TV+. Both initiatives were created in collaboration with NASA.
All learning materials were developed by the award-winning curriculum specialists at Young Minds Inspired, the nation’s leading provider of free educational outreach programs.
Parents look for the best first foods to introduce to their babies. Happy Family Organics has just announced a new product line. Happy Baby Regenerative & Organic baby food is made with ingredients grown using regenerative farming practices that can help to mitigate climate change by building healthy soil that captures carbon from the atmosphere.
In case you didn’t know, regenerative agriculture is a holistic set of farming practices that protects the soil, promotes biodiversity, and when practiced at scale, helps reverse climate change through carbon sequestration in the soil. Studies found that increasing carbon in soils on farms by less than 1% could offset the billion tons of CO2 emitted annually.
Anne Laraway, CEO of Happy Family Organics said, “Climate change is one of the biggest existential crises our world is facing, and our children are at the greatest risk. As parents ourselves, we believe we need to act urgently and impactfully to do our part to help reverse climate change and cultivate a more sustainable world for our children to inherit.”
The Regenerative & Organic line includes delicious Stage 2 blends available in 4-packs. Each 4-pack includes one of three flavor combinations: (1) Apples, Kale & Oats; (2) Pears, Squash & Oats; and (3) Apples & Carrots.
Pouches aren’t recyclable yet in municipal and curbside systems, but Happy Family Organics is working hard to change that. The Regenerative & Organic line of baby food pouches will be recyclable through Happy Family Organics’ take-back program with TerraCycle, in support of the brand’s pledge to make 100% of its packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. You can find more information and request a free recycling envelope for pouches as well as flexible plastic packaging and caps at TerraCycle.
The Happy Baby Regenerative & Organic baby food line can be found exclusively at Whole Foods Market locations nationwide with plans for a broader launch in 2021.
For more information on the new product line and regenerative farming practices, including educational materials for parents to share with little ones, visit Happy Family Organics.
