You can even find classic musicals on this list of Netflix movie codes
Between original content and new seasons of kids’ shows and movies that seem to debut daily, it can be hard to wade through it all to find what you really want to watch—especially when the platform doesn’t make it especially easy to search by specific categories. If you need a little help finding the good stuff, these secret Netflix movie codes are about to make your life a whole lot easier. Read on for more!
So, how do you use these Netflix movie codes? To get started, simply copy and paste this URL into your browser bar: www.netflix.com/browse/genre/CODE Just replace “CODE” with one of the numerical codes from the list below to view all the titles in the category you want.
Here are some of the helpful Netflix sub-genre codes just for kids and family content:
Kid & Family Movies
Children & Family Movies (783)
Children & Family Movies based on real-life (4927)
Children & Family Movies from the 1980s (1951)
Exciting Children & Family Movies (2381)
Family Features (51056)
Feel-good Children & Family Movies (4505)
Feel-good Children & Family Movies from the 1980s (4355)
Goofy Children & Family Movies (355)
Biographical Children & Family Movies (2478)
Sentimental Children & Family Movies (4942)
Sports Children & Family Movies (453)
Visually-Striking Imaginative Children & Family Movies (2480)
British Children & Family Movies (2473)
Movies Based on Literature
Comic Book and Superhero Movies (10118)
Imaginative movies based on children’s books (2253)
Movies based on children’s books (10056)
Dramas based on children’s books (1129)
Sentimental Movies based on children’s books (3869)
Anime
Comedy Anime (9302)
Drama Anime (452)
Anime Series (6721)
Movies by Genre
Dinosaurs (67687)
Dramas for ages 8 to 10 (1267)
Princesses (67624)
Goofy Animal Tales (904)
Animal Tales (5507)
Classic Musicals (32392)
Classic Comedies (31694)
Nature & Science Documentaries (2595)
Teen Viewing
Feel-good Teen Movies (2548)
Teen Action & Adventure (3754)
Teen Comedies (3519)
Teen Coming-of-age Dramas (4295)
Teen Coming-of-age Movies (2916)
Teen Dramas (9299)
Teen Independent Comedies (4441)
Teen Movies (2340)
Teen Sports Comedies (945)
Teen Sports Movies (3410)
Inspiring Teen Movies (1349)
TV & Kids’ Fitness
Kids’ Music (52843)
Education for Kids (10659)
Kids’ TV (27346)
TV Cartoons (11177)
TV Comedies for ages 5 to 7 (4887)
TV Shows for ages 11 to 12 (4293)
Check out the complete, utterly massive list of sub-genres and Netflix secret codes here.
Please don’t judge me if you happen to see my kids eating packaged Ritz crackers for school lunch. Don’t judge me if they’re on the sidelines at PE because they forgot their uniform. Don’t judge me if they didn’t turn in their homework because it’s still sitting home on their desk.
What some may view as a lack of parenting is what I deem “parenting on purpose” as we work to build necessary life skills in our kids. I stopped making daily breakfasts and packing school lunches long ago. I don’t feel obligated to deliver forgotten items left behind at home. And school projects and homework are not any part of my existence.
After all, how do we raise competent adults if we’re always doing everything for our kids? I suggest walking away from doing these 8 things for your teen this school year:
1. Waking them up in the morning
If you are still waking up little Johnny in the a.m., it’s time to let an alarm clock do its job. My four kids have been expected to get themselves up since they started middle school. There are days one will come racing out with only a few minutes to spare before they have to be out the door. The snooze button no longer feels luxurious when it’s caused you to miss breakfast.
I heard a Mom voice out loud that her teen sons were just still so cute that she loved going in and waking them up every morning. Please stop. I find my sons just as adorable as you do, but our goal is to raise well-functioning adults here.
2. Making their breakfast and packing their lunch
My morning alarm is the sound of the kids clanging cereal bowls. My job is to make sure there is food in the house so that they can eat breakfast and pack a lunch.
One friend asked, “Yeah but how do you know what they’re bringing for school lunch?” I don’t. I know what food I have in my pantry, and it’s on them to pack up what they feel is a good lunch. It will only be a few short years, and I will have no idea what they are eating for any of their meals away at college. Free yourself from the PB and J station now.
3. Filling out their paperwork
I have a lot of kids, which equates to a lot of beginning-of-the-school-year paperwork. I used to dread this stack until the kids were old enough to fill all of it out themselves. Our teens are expected to fill out all of their paperwork to the best of their ability. They put the papers to be signed on a clipboard and leave them for me on the kitchen island. I sign them and put them back on their desks.
Hold your teens accountable. They will need to fill out job and college applications soon, and they need to know how to do that without your intervention.
4. Delivering their forgotten items
One Monday morning, we had pulled out of our driveway and just turned the corner when my daughter realized she had forgotten her phone. “We have to go back, Mom!” Another kid exclaimed that he had forgotten his freshly washed and folded PE uniform in the laundry room. I braked in hesitation as I contemplated turning around. Nope. Off we go, as the vision surfaced of both of them playing around on their phones before it was time to leave.
Parents don’t miss opportunities to provide natural consequences for their teens. Forget something? Feel the pain of that. Kids also get to see that you can make it through the day without a mistake consuming you.
We also have a rule that Mom and Dad are not to get pleading texts from school asking for forgotten items. It still happens, but we have the right to just shoot back, “That’s a bummer.”
5.Making their failure to plan your emergency
School projects do not get assigned the night before they are due. Therefore, I do not run out and pick up materials at the last minute to get a project finished. I do always keep poster boards and general materials on hand for the procrastinating child. But they may have to wait for other needed items. Do not race to Michael’s for your kid who hasn’t taken the time to plan.
This is a good topic to talk about in weekly family meetings. Does anyone have projects coming up that they’re going to need supplies for so that I can pick them up at my convenience this week?
6. Doing all of their laundry
“What? YOU didn’t get my shorts washed?” This response always backfires on the kid who may lose their mind thinking that I’m the only one who can do laundry around here. Every once in a while a child needs a healthy reminder that I do not work for them. The minute they assume this is my main role in life is the minute that I gladly hand over the laundry task to them.
Most days I do the washing and the kids fold and put away their clothes, but they are capable of tackling the entire process when need be.
7. Emailing and calling their teachers and coaches
If our child has a problem with a teacher or coach, he is going to have to take it to the one in charge. There is no way that we, as parents, are going to question a coach or email a teacher about something that should be between the authority figure and our child.
Don’t be that over-involved parent. Teach your child that if something is important enough to them, then they need to learn how to handle the issue themselves or at least ask you to help them. Obviously, there are certain cases that do require intervention, but not when it comes to the day-to-day stuff.
8. Meddling in their academics
Put down the pencil, parents. Most of the time, I honestly couldn’t tell you what my kids are doing for school work. We talk about projects and papers over dinner, but we’ve always expected our kids to own their work and earn their grades. At times, they’ve earned Principals Lists, Honor Rolls, and National Junior Honor Society honors of their own accord. At other times, they’ve missed the mark.
Apps and websites where parents can go in and see every detail of their children’s homework and progress are not helping our over-parenting epidemic.
Once in a blue moon, I will ask the kids to pull up their student accounts and show me their grades because I want them to know I do care. I did notice our daughter slacking off at the end of last year, and my acknowledgment helped her catch up, but I’m not taking it on as one of my regular responsibilities—and you shouldn’t either.
What is your parenting goal? Is it to raise competent adults?
If so, then let’s work on backing off in areas where our teens can stand on their own two feet. I know they’re our babies, and it feels good to hover over them once in a while, but in all seriousness, it’s up to us to raise them to be capable people.
I want to feel confident when I launch my kids into the real world and know they are going to be just fine because I stepped back to let them navigate failure and real-life stuff on their own.
So please don’t judge me if my kids scramble around, shoving pre-packaged items into that brown paper lunch bag before racing to catch the bus. It’s all on purpose, my friends.
Amy is the author of the book Parent on Purpose: A Courageous Approach to Raising Children in a Complicated World. Her work can be found at www.amycarney.com. She and her retired NHL playing husband, Keith, are raising 18-year-old triplet sons, a 16-year-old daughter, and a recently adopted 13-year-old son.
Make homework fun by changing the way you look at it
Your kids just spent all day at school. And now you’re asking them to do what? Homework? Hey, that’s kind of like having school at home. After an entire day of paper, pencils, and books, your child may resist (and that’s putting it politely) getting down to business during the after-school hours. Don’t stress out. Whether your child has to study a vocab list, do a few zillion math equations, or finish a few extra assignments, we’re sharing seven tips that can magically transform homework from a super-struggle to some serious fun!
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1. Work Together
Why not be hands-off when it comes to your kid’s homework, while still working beside one another? Return emails, answer your co-worker’s texts or work on the PTA fundraiser, modeling focused work to your child as the two of you spend QT together. If you think this seems like you’re not paying attention to your child or you’re slacking when it comes to parenting—you aren’t. Instead, you’re creating a shared workspace where the two of you can get business done together.
2. Get Creative
Sitting like a statue and calculating problem after problem on a math worksheet isn’t exciting, so consider turning a study session into an all-out artsy adventure! As your kid reads a chapter from the assigned text, use the opportunity as a chance to put on a play. If not acting, paint out math problems, sculpt letters or turn American history into a song.
Other ideas (perfect for older kiddos) include more sophisticated setups like creating a series of paintings explaining a text the child is trying to interpret or interpreting a poem using their musical notes. Kindergarten-aged kids set can get back to basics and finger paint letters, make clay characters from a story or bang on pots and pans to learn about patterns or counting.
4. Take It Outside
If there’s an outdoor space where they can spread out and study in your home, encourage it. A study showed that workers saw a 45% increase in productivity after being outside for about 30 minutes. Plus, offering up 10-minute breaks in the sun is a huge perk.
4. Make It a Group Effort
Start a study group. Have your kiddo invite classmates to read, write and do math equations together. If your student is old enough to handle organizing and delegating, take a step back and let your kid take on a leadership role. Younger kids may need more help—think of this as a mini-educational play date for them.
Danny Piassick via Ellen Grasso & Sons, LLC
5. Design an Awesome Workspace
Take a page from some of the coolest places on Earth to work. Google, Apple and other tech giants all have fab workspaces for their employees. Why? To increase productivity. Create a communal workstation that all your kids (or all your family) can share instead of sending your little learners off to their room alone. Mix it up with a tall desk (by using a shelf), so your child can stand and work, or swap out desk chairs for a yoga ball or a twisty stool.
6. Engage the Senses
There is a reason those darned pop-its were suddenly in every kid’s hands. While engaging their sense of touch, smell or sight might seem like a distraction, it helps them focus. Try doing a sensory activity like making your playdough. You can also engage other senses: Stash a stress ball in the homework area to engage the sense of touch or play white noise to break the quiet distracting to your child.
7. Hold Office Hours
Your child needs some homework help. Instead of hovering (no helicopters here) or taking over and writing your very own book report, set up office hours—just like your college professors did. Make the living room couch or the dining room table into your “office.” The kids can schedule a time to ask questions or can come to your “open hours.” This lets you help your child without actually doing the work yourself
Get ready to fill up your month with loads of free and cheap things to do with your family this August! We’ve got family-friendly events around Dallas like story time, kids’ events at the Galleria, museum days and more. Scroll through for the best events around DFW for kids and families this month!
Free (or Cheap) Things to Do in August
Head to the Nasher Sculpture Garden
While the whole family is free the first Saturday of the month, kids ages 12 & under are always free. This hidden gem is right in the middle of the Arts District and offers a shady refuge from the summer sun. Event details.
Enjoy Stories and Music with Miss Kimberly
Kids will love a full hour of stories and music at the park! Aug. 14, Aug 21 & Aug 28th. Event details.
Go Back in Time at Old City Park
Dallas Heritage Museum has a new name and now offers free admission Thurs. – Sun. to regular guests. As Dallas’ first park, visitors can take a walk through the past by visiting historic landmarks and learning about blacksmithing. Event details.
Enjoy Showtime Saturdays at the Galleria
Gather at Play Place to enjoy a performance by The Ramazinis, a local circus act. Aug. 6, 11:30 am. Event details.
Cool off at the Summer Splash Bash in Grapevine
There will be plenty of water for little ones to enjoy at this fun event in Peace Plaza. This event is worth the heat with a waterslide, DJ, and yummy eats from Harvest Hall! Sun. Aug 7th. Event details.
Get Funky at Vitruvian Nights Live
The last free concert of the summer happening at Vitruvian Park takes place on Aug. 11. Get your disco groove on! Event details.
Travel the rails at the Interurban Railway Museum
Admission to this museum in downtown Plano is always free, so take your train-obsessed kid for a fun morning or afternoon of model trains, 360-degree experiences and the chance to learn about the history of Texas railways. Event details.
Take a hike at the Trinity River Audobon Society
While admission is not free, it’s very affordable, and the guided hikes and bird walks offered on the second and third Saturday of every month are worth every penny. Second and Third Saturday.Event details.
Visit the Dallas Farmers Market
You can pick up produce from local farmers, enjoy delicious bites from the food hall, let the kids explore Mama Ida’s teaching garden. Event details.
Check Out Our MASSIVE Virtual Events Calendar
istock
For more virtual fun every day of the week, head to our virtual events calendar. You'll find dance classes, scavenger hunts, animal encounters, drawing classes and MORE! Event details.
One kid needs homework help. The other has practice in less than an hour and oh, dinner? Let’s just say it’s not going to make itself. With these quick dinner ideas and tips, you’ve got a fighting chance of making it through the after-school shuffle and feeding the family without breaking a sweat. So keep cool and read on!
Chop, measure and mix ingredients on the front end to save time on the back end. Yep, it’s that simple. Whether you gather and prep ingredients on the weekend before the rush of the week begins or pull double duty—prepping dinner while you pack kids’ lunches in the morning—you’ll save time by having everything ready to go in the evening.
Trust us, learning to love pre-made products will set you free. Using items like rotisserie chicken (simply shred it and throw it on top of a bagged salad for a filling main course) or jarred pasta sauce (you can customize it with fresh veggies and spices) is a busy parent’s best-kept secret for easy, healthy dinners. Also, don’t think about shying away from frozen foods when you’re short on time. You’re welcome.
If you've got your pantry filled with staple items, it's a lot easier to throw something together in a flash. Think spaghetti noodles and marinara sauce, loaded baked potatoes or even chicken noodle soup. You'll be amazed at what you can create with the basics. Here are our favorite recipes that use items you should have on hand most of the time.
Enlist the kids to help.
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It’s true. Many hands do make light work. So put the family to the task as you work to get dinner on the table. Want to know just what they can handle? Read up on age-appropriate kitchen tasks to get started.
It doesn’t get easier (or faster) than a big egg scramble packed with veggies, served alongside a protein (did someone say bacon?) and fruit to make dinner complete. Fancy it up with pancakes or waffles, and you’ll still be done in record time. Why didn’t we think of this sooner? Find our favorite recipes here.
Farm it out.
courtesy Hello, Fresh
If you haven’t tried a meal delivery service, now’s the time. Each meal includes everything you need to get food on the table—stat! Use them in a pinch, or make this easy option part of your weekly meal plan agenda.
Spend your spare weekend hours prepping dinners for the week. With these kid-friendly recipes, meals are made ahead of time, frozen and then heated up in no time when they’re needed.
Fewer ingredients mean less prep time, which means your family eats in less time too. The best part? Our favorite three-ingredient meals boast bold flavors and creative twists on the familiar you and the kids will love.
Pull out the pots.
Instant Pot
That Instant Pot you bought on Amazon during Prime Days? The slow cooker you’ve got tucked away in a cupboard somewhere? Put them to work so you can focus on something else. Throw together one of these slow cooker recipes in the morning, and dinner will be waiting for you when you get home. Or rock some of our Instapot faves in the dinner rush to save time.
Learn to love leftovers.
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Capitalize on all that work you do making dinner the rest of the week when you repurpose leftover dinner items on a busy night. Heat them and set them out so everyone can choose their favorites. Or get creative by transforming bits and pieces into a whole new dish. Kudos to you, chef!
When it comes to quick dinners, having a deep recipe bench is the name of the game, and filling it with recipes that clock in around 15 minutes, prep-to-table, is how you win. Put these heavy-hitters in your lineup for easy weeknight cooking.
Have a surplus of candy because there were fewer—or no—trick or treaters this year? Or perhaps your kids scored big and can’t possibly eat all of it. Donating your haul of Halloween candy to soldiers stationed abroad, neighborhood firefighters, and others will surely sweeten someone’s day. Keep reading to find out where to drop off the dulce, below.
Operation Troop Treats
iStock
Operation Troop Treats is the nation’s largest dentist-sponsored Halloween candy exchange benefiting U.S. Service Members and their families, teaching children about good dental health and the importance of giving back to those who serve our country.
Donate Halloween candy at any participating dental office nationwide from Nov. 1-6 and receive a toy in exchange for each child's candy donation. Local dental offices will send Operation Gratitude the donated candy, dental kits, and funds to cover the assembly and shipment of care packages for U.S. troops.
Click here to find out your nearest donation location.
Murphy-Harpst is a nonprofit residential treatment center in Atlanta that serves severely abused and neglected children and teenagers. It is an emotional, spiritual and physical safe haven, offering residential treatment, placements in specialized foster care, and community programs that serve at-risk young people and their families. And they'd love your excess candy to share with the children in their care!
Drop off or mail to Murphy-Harpst, Attention: Pam Kramer, 740 Fletcher St., Cedartown GA 30125
The Halloween Candy Give-Back Program gives families a way to donate surplus candy to deployed troops, veterans, and first responders with the goal of forging strong bonds between the civilian and service communities nationwide. This year, donation locations will not be set-up due to COVID-19; however, Operation Gratitude encourages donors to ship candy directly to them (OG Candy Processing Center, ATTN: Halloween Candy, 8967 Oso Ave., Building D, Chatsworth, CA 91311), or better yet, contact a local military base, veteran organization, or first responder department to see if they are interested and able to take the candy.
If you would like to register to donate excess Halloween Candy, click here.
Ronald McDonald House supports families with children battling illness by providing a "home away from home" while seeking treatment. Some local chapters of the Ronald McDonald House accept unopened, surplus candy donations.
Find a local chapter here. Contact the one closest to you to verify that they're taking donations before loading up you haul of sweet stuff!
Local fire stations are not only where the big hook and ladder trucks are stored, but they're also where firefighters live when they're on duty, waiting for an emergency call. And, while they usually keep it pretty healthy around the house, we're pretty sure everyone likes a little late night chocolate, now and then.
PAW Kids is a community organization that provides safety and sustenance. PAW House is a safe and loving after school enrichment program where students can find reading mentors, homework help, and more. Claudia's House is a neighborhood food pantry that offers daily meals for the community, meals for seniors, and more.
Donations can be dropped off at Claudia's House on Mon., Tues., & Thurs. from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Claudia's House is located at 1633 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy.
Don’t let the back-to-school process overwhelm you! This handy guide includes everything you’ll need in the school supplies department, ideas to combat first-day jitters, funny jokes to get you through and cute clothes that kids will love. Plus, we’ve included some lunch tips and hacks for when you just cannot make another PB&J. Parents, we’ve got you covered!
This list has loads of great backpack options including super stylish backpacks, adaptive backpacks for kids in wheelchairs and wheelie backpacks for those who have to bring every book home every day.
Lunch Boxes & Snack Bags
Start the year off strong with the perfect lunch box. This story has loads of options that will keep your food chilled, in separate compartments or piping hot—just the way your kid likes it.
While you are at it, grab some reusable snack bags so that you can go all green this year.
Bento Boxes
Put a bento box into your kid's lunch and they'll love the little compartments that can fit everything from rolled-up sandwiches to tiny crackers. There are even some that will keep your lunch chilled all day.
Water Bottles
Takeya
Leaky water bottles are the bain of parental existence, right? These are our favorite water bottles for kids from sippy cup versions to insulated stainless steel water bottles. that parents will love too.
Do yourself a favor and get your kids a clothing subscription service this school year. They will get some awesome new styles sent right to them and you don't have to take them shopping with you. Win-win!
Adaptive & Sensory-Friendly Clothes
Kohl's
When it comes to back-to-school clothes shopping, your kid’s all about perfecting “the look.” And with on-trend adaptive clothing lines galore to choose from, even issues like Sensory Processing Disorder or other special needs won’t hold your fashion-forward kiddo back. This BTS season it’s ready, set, shop … for everyone.
Shoes
Native Shoes
Let your little one slip into something easy and stylish this back-to-school season. These lace-free options give even the smallest pre-schooler the independence to get ready on their own. Which means less work for you!
Face Masks
Mightly
If your school is requiring face masks for in-person learners, now is the time to refresh your collection. This massive list has all the character, colorful and black (tweens, right?) face masks for kids that you could want.
Start a school day tradition like listening to a favorite song on the ride to school or having a special thing you say to your kids when you drop them off.
After a big day of big transitions, dinner can be the last night on your mind. Make dinner easy with these meal kit delivery companies.
Save this one for mid-October when all the lunch inspiration is gone. We've got tons of ideas for lunches from corndog muffins to grilled cheese rollups to freezer sandwiches.
Snag a bento box and check out this list of inspirational ideas for bento box lunches. All the friends will be jealous of your little one's spread!
Tablet-based edutainment apps are great for busy families on the go, but for kids who have access to a laptop or desktop computer, browser-based online games can provide a much-needed reprieve from tablet fatigue. There are plenty of kid-friendly, educational online game sites to choose from, and many offer a selection of content free of charge. Read on to see our picks of the best online games for kids of all ages.
MarcoPolo World School
MarcoPolo
This award-winning platform offers a dynamic, relatable STEAM curriculum featuring over 450+ lessons and over 3,000 activities, with new content added weekly, this is your go-to for kids from 3-7. With a diverse array of projects, including hands-on arts & crafts, stunning videos and more, your kiddo can travel the world learning about science, technology, engineering, art and math without ever leaving your house.
Featuring more than 850 lessons across 10 levels of learning, ABC Mouse is a one-stop-shop for pre-school and early elementary online education. The website’s online curriculum includes more than 9,000 individuals learning activities in reading, math, science and art. Young learners will be delighted by the website’s interactive games and activities, which are brought to life with colorful animations and fun music, but older kids may find some of the lessons a bit too easy. ABCmouse.com members also can download the mobile app to access many of the same lessons, compatible with most smartphones and tablets.
Preschool to third grade, subscription plans start at $9.95/monthly, abcmouse.com
ABCYa!
ABCYa! offers more than 300 online games for students ranging from preschool to fifth grade. While many of the website’s large collection of gamified math and reading lessons are available free of charge, an online subscription removes ads and gives access to additional content. Nifty video tutorials on the website show kids how to make a variety of crafty projects, like origami tulips and slime. Like an increasing number of formerly online-only gaming sites, ABCYa! is also available as a mobile app for Android, Kindle and iOS, which provides access to most of the website’s catalog of games and activities.
Preschool to fifth grade, subscription plans start at $6.99/monthly, abcya.com
BrainPOP Jr.
While BrainPOP Jr.’s website offers some free content, including select games and videos, the good stuff can be found behind a subscription paywall. Designed for students in kindergarten through third grade, BrainPOP Jr.’s curriculum is standards-aligned and features movies, quizzes, games, and activities that cover subjects ranging from science, reading and writing, math, health, social studies, and arts and technology. As learners graduate to more advanced learning, there’s BrainPop, for fourth graders and older, and GameUp, a companion educational gaming site.
Kindergarten to third grade, subscription plans start at $9.45/monthly, jr.brainpop.com
Fact Monster
Not so much an online educational gaming website, Fact Monster is a neatly organized, kid-friendly online resource for elementary school students to discover fun facts and get homework help on a wide variety of subjects. Curated by educational professionals, the detailed content is rich with information that’s easily accessible and comprehensible to young learners. Students can easily navigate through the website and select specific skills and concepts that they want to explore. Think of it as an interactive, virtual encyclopedia.
Kindergarten to fourth grade, free, ad-supported, factmonster.com
Fun Brain
Started more than 20 years ago, Fun Brain is a leader in free educational online games for kids, offering hundreds of games, books, comics, and videos that help students develop skills in math, reading, problem-solving, and literacy. Although there are plenty of banner ads on the website, the collection of fun, interactive games will engross students who may not even realize that they are learning while they play. As a bonus, site visitors also can read a variety of popular kids’ books and comics, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amelia Writes Again, and Brewster Rocket.
Pre-k to eighth grade, free, ad-supported, funbrain.com
Mr. Nussbaum
Boasting more than 3,500 pages of content, including plenty of learning games on a variety of subjects, Mr. Nussbaum is free educational gaming website created by a school teacher named Greg Nussbaum. The look and feel of many of the games are decidedly old school, but unexpectedly addictive. Students can learn math skills, language arts and geography, among other subjects, through engaging interactive games and activities.
Pre-k to sixth grade, free, ad-supported, with paid ad-free memberships coming soon, mrnussbaum.com
Multiplication.com
Imagine playing Super Mario Bros. and in the middle of collecting coins, you have to answer a multiplication question in order to move on. That’s a little bit like the experience of playing the interactive multiplication games on Multiplication.com. Which is to say, the gameplay is super-fun—at least for students who like math and gaming. Although the website has a generic look and feel, the games are engaging and effective. Most games are free, and a paid subscription removes ads.
Second grade to sixth grade, subscription plans start at $9.45/monthly, multiplication.com
National Geographic Kids Games
National Geographic’s free gaming hub for kids is chock-full of more than 100 fun, interactive games and activities themed around science and geography. Gameplay range from quizzes to puzzles, as well as videos and beautifully photographed stories and essays. Parents and kids can register for a free subscription to monitor and save progress on the website, and a link to Nat Geo’s online store sells neat educational products like STEM toys and science- and geography-related books.
The appeal of PBS Kids online game hub is the free access to a huge number of browser-based gaming experiences based on popular character franchises like The Cat in the Hat, Curious George, Sesame Street, and more. Online games are organized by subjects that include math, healthy habits, science, reading, and teamwork.
Prongo.com is an educational website that offers fun, interactive, and educational games for kids. In addition to engaging interactive games and activities, the website also features free downloadable clip art, wallpaper, kids jokes, screensavers, and more. Online games are sorted by age groups, ranging from matching and memory games, mazes, puzzles, tic-tac-toe, and more. Brain Teasers are timed quizzes that cover topics such as dinosaurs, the human body, outer space, and inventors.
Preschool to fifth grade, free, ad-supported, prongo.com
Scholastic Games
Education publishing house Scholastic’s online hub offers a fun place for kids to spend time and learn while they play. With content organized by age and interest, the site features web-based games and quizzes as well as links to Scholastic’s growing catalog of mobile apps. Much of the content is geared toward parents and teachers, but there’s plenty of fun stuff for kids that’s interesting and engaging, including Scholastic book-themed games, like Captain Underpants, Goosebump, and The 39 Clues.
Kindergarten to fifth grade, free web games, with additional purchase options, scholastic.com/kids/games
Sheppard Software
This barebones educational gaming website features a collection of hundreds of interactive games aimed at young learners. From science to math to language arts and more, the Flash-based gameplay lets players click-and-drag through different activities that will engage young students with sounds and visual effects to make learning fun and more memorable.
Funded by the Starfall Education Foundation, a publicly supported nonprofit organization, the Starfall website was created in 2002 as a free, public service to help teach children to read wtih phonics. Using audiovisual interactivity, games on the website are suited for kids in preschool through second grade. An optional membership expands the free content to include additional music, math, and reading activities.
Preschool to second grade, free with additional membership options, starfall.com
If you’re looking for a silver lining to all the virtual school and remote working, we’ve found it. From hotels that have dedicated working spaces to entire metro areas that have united to create a remote learning offering for visiting families, working remotely and remote learning have just found their swagger. Keep reading for our favorite hotel deals that are perfect for digital nomads.
Noyo Harbor Inn - Fort Bragg, CA
Noyo Harbor Inn
Now is the perfect time for an extended sojourn to the pristine Mendocino Coast. Noyo Harbor Inn, a charming lodging property located at the top of Fort Bragg’s famed Noyo Harbor, understands how important it is for families to be able to get away from it all—to decompress, to be out in nature far from other people, and to enjoy a meal safely outside again. The sophisticated yet down-to-earth property has recently launched their Extended Stay Package.
Want to know what to do in the area? Check out our Mendocino guide.
Cost: Available now through March 31st, this package includes 10 nights for $1,999 (plus tax).
Extra Credit: For $2,499 (plus tax), guests will receive 10 nights plus three dinners and three breakfasts (to be enjoyed either on the inn’s carefully-distanced and heated, tented patio or snug in their guest room). Whichever version of the package is booked, a bottle of Mendocino County’s heralded wine will be gifted upon arrival.
Escape to the warm beaches and rolling greens at Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. Home at Hilton offers digital nomads a warm-weather relocation with two discounted package options: a 14-night Change of Scenery and a 30-night One Month Life Swap. You get spacious beachfront accomodations with workspace, off-property shuttle services, access to the business kiosk and free reign of the resort. Book by Feb. 28, 2021.
Cost: 14-day stays receive a 30% discount on best current nightly rate. For monthly stays, rates begin at $90/night.
Extra credit: If you choose the month-long say you get bonus perks like daily breakfast, a complimentary afternoon cocktail, beach rentals, and laundry service.
Known for being a family destination, Sand Valley Resort offers individual family cabins that all include a full kitchen, living room, fire pits and outdoor amenities. Choose from four-bedroom or eight-bedroom, giving you plenty of space to live and work on a resort surrounded by 10,000 acres of nature and beauty.
Cost: Winter weekend specials starting at $225/night including outdoor activities (culinary events excluded).
Extra credit: The resort currently offers socially-distanced, family-friendly activities every weekend including culinary delights and snow
Stunning ocean views, expert on-demand homework help, and a dedicated private study room are just some of the perks you and your kids will enjoy while staying and studying at Monarch Beach Resort. After their homework is done for the day, take the kids to the Ocean Education Enrichment Center or head outdoors to enjoy surfing, cycling, SUP tours, family fitness classes, golfing and more. The package also includes one hour of homework help booked with a local tutor, as well as optional boxed lunch students can eat at the resort's swanky beach club
Cost: From $611 for a "sleep in one room/study in another room arrangement," plus homework help, $100 daily resort credit, and a tech welcome gift.
Marriott's Play Pass - National & International Locations
Kerry Cushman
Marriott is offering a play pass that allows families to book a stay at dozens of Marriott properties in the U.S. and beyond. Benefits include supervised kids' activities, premium Wi-Fi connection, booking access to semi-private workspaces, access to a Business Concierge and office equipment and more.
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee - Greensboro, GA
Ritz Carlton
Nestled among towering Georgia pines, the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia offers families a curated option to fit their remote working and learning needs. The Ritz Kids Study Buddy program gives kids dedicated tutors to help them follow their virtual class schedule, and families can pre-arrange extracurricular activities—like fishing on Lake Oconee, crafting, or biking along miles of nearby nature trails—before they arrive.
Cost: Room rates vary, but the additional cost of a Study Buddy program for a full day is $135 per child from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. including lunch, or a half-day for $110 per child from either 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 to 4 p.m.
Extra Credit: Nightly s'mores around a giant fire pit will round out your evening, and a handful of elegantly appointed, lakefront guest homes on property are perfect options for larger families looking for a little extra space.
With every stay, the Gaylord Palms Resort is including a “Learn from Here" package, so that school-aged kids supplement their remote learning programs through edutainment activities. The Wildlife Rescue augmented reality experience guides kids to learn, discover and rescue up to 12 different animals by taking pictures of them on their phone. Other activities include horticulture tours, animal interactions, and an in-room Adventure Kids program teaching about personal sanitary practices and social distancing.
Cost: Complimentary with a hotel stay
Extra Credit: Disney isn't too far away! Plus, there are impressive water slides at the hotel pool.
Southern California's Rosewood Miramar Beach launched the Rosewood Remote Office package to transform suite accommodations into fully-equipped office spaces for guests in need of an inspiring environment from which to work, and the Rosewood Remote Classroom add-on, which allows your students to plug-in and stay connected to their lessons from the privacy of a poolside cabana. Once work and school have wrapped for the day, a host of inspired amenities—including two pools, six dining outlets, bocce and shuffleboard courts and a fully-serviced beach—allow for well-deserved R&R for the whole family.
Cost: Guests pay a $195 daily rate per person plus $50 per additional child for the Remote Classroom, and a $295 daily rate per person plus $100 per additional adult for the Remote Office packages.
Extra Credit: Each cabana comes equipped with a flat-screen TV, Apple TV, iPad with case and stand, EarPods and classic school essentials. For lunch, children can use a $50 F&B credit to enjoy a meal delivered straight to their cabana.
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa’s #WFH or Work From Hotel Packages include 30% off stays of three nights or longer, or if you're local, you can pay a day rate of $99 for a change-of-scenery room.
Cost: Varies by room selection; see room rates for details.
Extra Credit: Situated on 10 acres between San Diego’s seaside villages of La Jolla and Del Mar, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa is a hacienda-style retreat, which in addition to guest rooms offers 10 spacious Estate Suites and a Presidential Suite.
Mackinac Island's Grand Hotel is offering a Back to School package (booking for 2021 will be available soon). Children 17 and younger stay for free, and special pricing is available for multi-night stays. The hotel has set aside a new, large space for remote learners and boxed lunches are available for purchase. The package also includes a full breakfast and dinner daily, discounts on golf, local museums and ferry boat tickets.
Cost: Room rates vary, but stay three nights and get the fourth night free, stay two nights and get the third night half off, or stay one night and get the second night 25% off.
Extra Credit: No tipping is allowed at the Grand Hotel, so budgeting for your extended stay is a breeze.
The entire city of Miami is getting in on the remote learning act, with the Work and Learn Remotely initiative. Over 30 hotels are enrolled and offer everything you need to take the education show on the road, with poolside work stations, after school camps, private tutor access, and even “Zoom lighting locations.”
Cost: Varies by property
Extra Credit: Shelborne South Beach is sweetening the deal with “after school” complimentary cabana rentals.
The Auberge Resorts Collection, with hotels in Aspen, Utah and Napa Valley, just announced its Remote With Auberge program. It offers remote working via “office cabanas,” or an in-room office and remote learning setup, through a partnership with L.A.-based tutoring service Advantage Testing for in-person or virtual learning for kids.
Cost: Pricing varies by location and room rate; contact particular properties for details.
Extra Credit: Kids aren't the only ones who can flex their mind muscles at Auberge Resorts. Adult education opportunities for adults are available through Advantage Testing and range from statistics to Latin American avant-garde art.
With a Barrier Island Ecology Field Trip package, students will participate in a 4 ½ day program taught by the Executive Director of The Reef Institute. Materials and activities are prepared for elementary, middle and high school students, with some flexibility to adapt the material to age groups. Explore dunes, go on boat excursions to sample and study water systems, and analyze microscopic coastal biospheres during your "off the computer" hours, then wrap the day up finding shark's teeth in the sand. Additionally, two classrooms with 24-hour access and high-speed internet are also available for remote learning and quiet study.
Cost: To participate, contact joseph.murphy@ritzcarlton.com. For an extended stay, the property offers a Stay Longer Package for a savings of up to 20% through December 28. The Ecology Field Trip package costs an additional $1,100 tuition per child and covers all curriculum materials, excursions, and instruction.
Extra Credit: An Amelia Island past time is searching for sharks’ teeth, which are sourced due to the dredging of a nearby channel to the north and west of the island. Some teeth found on the sandy shores date back to a 20-million-year-old geological deposit.
Known for its low density, plenty of open green space and uncrowded natural surroundings, the Texas Gulf Coast beach town and island of Port Aransas is offering parents and kids a SchoolCation. Stay in a cozy beach cottage, conventional hotel room, luxury condominium or a private beach house while you show up virtually for your classes, then head out for Port A's extracurricular offerings, which include art classes at the Port Aransas Art Center, sandcastle building lessons with the Port Aransas sandcastle guy, an ecology tour on San Jose Island and more.
Cost: Varies depending on guest lodging choices and activity selections.
Extra Credit: Home to hundreds of permanent and migrating birds, nearby Mustang Island features six sites along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. Visitors can also swim, surf, fish, hike, bike and kayak at Mustang Island State Park, or see stunning views of the island’s massive wetlands at the Port Aransas Wetland Park.
Just a stone’s throw from Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, The Lodge at Jackson Hole is the perfect spot to complete virtual learning (and work), then head out to explore the Wild West. With 154 well-appointed and spacious rooms, kiddos (and parents) can tackle their daily to-do lists before embarking on a curated, outfitter-led trip into the parks for hands-on learning. Families can embark on wildlife tours, horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking—or simply enjoy the laid-back vibe of this Western town.
Cost: Rooms start at $224.10 per night, with a Stay Longer, Play Longer option for additional discounts.
Extra Credit: The Jackson Rodeo is one of the oldest rodeos in the country, is completely open-air, and social distancing procedures are strictly enforced—making it a great place to visit if you're in town on a Saturday through September.
Head to Granby, Colorado to experience a premier luxury guest ranch getaway, where you'll find incredible service and western hospitality that's been served up for more than a century. Go to experience the rich traditions of the American West, and make use of the upgraded WiFi, a dedicated classroom for virtual learning and library space. Once you exit your last Zoom or Google Classroom call, you can head out for horseback riding, mountain biking, and even campfire evenings.
Cost: Adults Double Occupancy: $455 per night for adults double occupancy, $305 per night for children ages 3-17. Rate includes three gourmet meals a day, the Winter Kids’ Program, luxury lodging and most ranch activities.
Extra Credit: If being outdoors isn’t your thing, C Lazy U Ranch has a 12,000 square foot heated, indoor riding arena, providing year-round fun regardless of the weather. It is also an Orvis-endorsed fly fishing lodge, located just a stone's throw away from the Colorado River.
Work from Hyatt - U.S., Mexico & Caribbean locations
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe
Now available at participating resorts in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean, the Work from Hyatt package encourages work-life and school-life balance with the comforts of a premium resort experience. In addition to covering the essentials, including workspace options, housekeeping, free high-speed Wi-Fi internet access and discounted or complimentary laundry, guests will enjoy “perks” such as an adult pool cabana at Hyatt Regency Indian Wells, a round of golf per stay and a spa treatment per stay at Park Hyatt Aviara, complimentary s'mores kits at Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, and more.
Cost: Starting at $139 plus tax per night for stays of at least 7-nights.
Extra Credit:·Thinking of combining virtual learning with a ski vacation? The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa is participating in the Work from Hyatt program!
Those looking to escape to a luxury residence with their family will find plenty of options with Inspirato, the first-ever subscription-based luxury travel company that manages, staffs, and maintains an exclusive collection of branded vacation homes. Inspirato’s service teams take care of everything from pre-trip planning to on-site concierge services, giving members additional peace of mind when they travel.
Cost: For $2500 a month, the new iteration of Inspirato Pass allows members to book luxury homes from Hawaii to the Hamptons with no nightly rates, taxes, or fees and the added flexibility to cancel the membership at any time.
Extra Credit: Inspirato homes are exclusively managed, maintained, and staffed by Inspirato and are only available for members and their guests. They closely oversee and enforce rigorous housekeeping standards to ensure that you and your family are entering into a clean home.
Ojai Valley Inn,a luxury resort tucked away in the magical Ojai Valley north of Los Angeles, is welcoming fall with new outdoor and reservation-based activities and two travel packages geared toward working & learning remotely. The “Learn & Play in Ojai” package includes a luxury stay in a Fireplace Shangri-La guest room or graciously-appointed suite. Kids’ school desks in your guest room, a conference room available for individual use between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, a welcome gift of fresh-pressed juice, dried fruits & nuts delivered daily to your guest room, board games, an in-room movie and popcorn, and a one time 1-hour private rental of the Camp Oak playground and lawn games will complete your stay.
Cost: Enjoy a discount of 20% off stays of 4-6 nights and 30% off stays of 7 nights or more.
Extra Credit: Fall stays at Ojai Valley Inn include a pumpkin patch on the Artist Cottage lawn, daily pumpkin paintings, hay wagon rides and private playground breaks at Camp Oak. Winter stays include a pop-up arcade—available by reservation—and a holiday parade with Santa that ends with festive storytelling.
This luxe Maine resort is offering a Coastal Learning Package, which includes a complete home office setup upon arrival, equipped with the main essentials to get one through distance learning or remote working, including notebooks, pens, markers, flashcards and more. While this package is only available in one of the two-bedrooms cottages located on the property, you’ll only need to reserve one 72 hours in advance. After school is over, snag one of the beach cruiser bikes or golf carts to explore the 60-acre property or check out the other activities that Hidden Pond has organized to accompany little scholars. The restaurant is open six nights a week, but you can arrange to have a socially distanced outdoor dining experience as well.
Extra Credit: Hidden Pond also offers its own hands-on learning with the hotel's on-site Farm where guests can hand-pick a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit, as well as the property’s potting shed that has an assortment of vases and snipping shears to get one started.
Cost: Cottage rentals start at $945 a night, and the Coastal Learning package costs $399 for a full age-appropriate setup.
Parents have spent more than their fair share of helping their children with homework the last year, and a new study proves that it can be a struggle.
SWNS recently shared the results of a survey conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by Photomath, of 2,000 American parents with school-aged children to ascertain their math skills and approach to their kids homework. In an unsurprising twist, 56 percent of parents reported “feeling hopeless” while trying to help, and two-thirds admitting to turning to Google to help.
photo: SWNS
It’s not that parents are incapable of math homework. While 79 percent of parents surveyed can actually recall the things they learned in school, nearly the same amount stated it’s harder for them to solve their kid’s math homework (thank you, Common Core).
In a nutshell, parents feel comfortable with their math skills but less so when it comes to helping their kids. The survey found that kids ask their parents for homework help five times per week, but that fifty-four percent of parents will try to get out of helping!
photo: iStock
Jennifer Lee, Vice-President of Photomath shares “As a parent myself, I know these feelings well. We want our kids to succeed, but when difficult subjects like math come up, it’s not unusual for us to feel hesitation or even anxiety come homework time.”
So whether parents don’t remember math being quite so hard, or their kiddos are just learning it differently, they aren’t alone. The next time you’re stuck on that quadratic equation, head to Google (or Photomath) with pride.
