ML Interest Tag: smart-phone

This Bracelet Teaches Your Tween Money Management Skills & Parents Are So on Board

by Erica Loop

Your tween wants to pay on the go just like you do. Even though you’re not ready to hand over a credit card, you do have options.

The PurewristGO bracelet is an easy way for kids to make contactless payments almost anywhere. Purewrist’s bracelet gives kids (and parents too!) the ability to tap-and-pay in retail, grocery, convenience, and other stores that offer this type of contact-free feature. The best part is, you can load funds onto their bracelet and monitor their spending.

photo courtesy of Purewrist

If your child is like most tweens or teens, they’re just starting to learn money management skills. This can make shopping solo a challenge. The PurewristGO’s account gives you the option to add or decrease the funds your child has access to—and all from your phone. You can also use your smart phone to monitor what your tween or teen spends their pre-paid funds on.

The waterproof bracelets are available in a rainbow of colors and don’t require charging for use. Made from SGS certified, eco-friendly, non-toxic silicone, these bracelets combine quality and environmental consciousness.

Bracelets start at $35, $10 of which is preloaded so you can start shopping right away. To nab a PurewristGO bracelet, visit the brand’s website here.

—Erica Loop

 

RELATED STORIES

6 Tips to Help Teach Financial Independence to Kids

This New Platform Is Teaching Kids Life Skills, One Penny at a Time

Teaching Kids About Money-Management: Real Tips You’ll Actually Use

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

These Are the Most-Watched Holiday Movies, According to Movies Anywhere

by Erica Loop

It’s that time of year again! Bells are ringing, stores are stocking just about every flavor of candy cane imaginable and holiday flicks are everywhere from your smart phone to the big screen. The film aficionados at the Movies Anywhere app recently released users’ top picks—and we’ve got the scoop on what’s watched most.

With over 7,500 titles in its library and the ability to connect to participating platforms and retailers such as iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Comcast Xfinity, Google Play/YouTube, Verizon Fios TV, Vudu/Walmart, FandangoNOW and Microsoft Movies and TV, Movies Anywhere users have plenty of cinematic holiday happiness to choose from.

So what fave films topped the 10 most-watched list? According to Movies Anywhere’s stats, the winners are:

  1. Illumination Presents: Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch
  2. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
  3. Home Alone
  4. Elf
  5. Toy Story: That Time Forgot
  6. The Polar Express
  7. Rise of the Guardians
  8. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
  9. Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas
  10. Mickey’s Christmas Carol

Along with the most-watched holiday movies, Movies Anywhere also compiled a top 10 list of the most purchased flicks:

  1. Elf
  2. Home Alone
  3. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
  4. Illumination Presents: Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch
  5. Die Hard
  6. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
  7. Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas
  8. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
  9. The Polar Express
  10. Rise of the Guardians

Between these two sets of data, it’s pretty clear Elf, Illumination Presents: Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Polar Express and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York are popular picks for the holidays!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Movies Anywhere via Instagram 

 

 

RELATED STORIES

Send Holiday Cheer with a Grinch Rose Gift Box

All the New Movies and Shows Coming to Disney+ in December

Netflix Has Secret Codes to Shake Up Your Christmas Movie Playlist

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

These 10 Locally Based Apps Make Parenting EASIER

by Erin Feher

It’s no secret that her in the Bay Area we have an app for everything. And because so many of these app creators are in our own back yards, we reap the benefit of getting to try them first. We’ve rounded up 10 game changing apps that were started right here in the Bay that make family life oh, so much easier. Scroll down for the list.

1. LittleFund
It’s never too early to start planning for your child’s financial future, from teaching the value of saving for a coveted toy to socking some dough away for college. But the options are dizzying and can be overwhelming. Littlefund is an incredibly simple way to save, track and even receive monetary gifts for your child. They just launched with a few simple tools to get started saving, and will be adding 529 investment opportunities next.

2. Kango
Like Lyft for kids but with trusted, verified drivers who have passed through Kango’s rigorous screening process. Besides getting your goobers to soccer practice on time, Kango also offer one-click sitters for those hours in between, and can of course roll up with carseats and booster seats at the ready.

3. GoodEggs
Because no family can have enough fresh fruits and veggies. And since this company is a home town hero, every time they launch a new service, we get to try it first! They’ve recently hit the family sweet spot by launching family meal kits and even pre packaged kids’ lunches, made with all the top notch ingredients you have come to expect from Good Eggs. No more stuffing brown bags for you!

4. Trove
Parents are experts in STUFF. From strollers to Rock n’ Plays to baby bathtubs, we have it all, and it all takes up space. And while it’s tempting to toss all that gargantuan gear as soon as baby grows out of it, many of us keep it around while we waffle about #2 (or #3 or 4). Enter Trove. The new storage service will send professional movers to come pick up your stuff, pack it, digitally catalogue it and store it. When you need it back, just use the app to request exactly what you need, and viola, it’s back at your doorstep, all for a surprisingly reasonable price. See ya later, Jumperoo.

5. Instacart
Because going shopping is so last decade. Embrace the future and let your food come to you. Instacart will do your shopping at dozens of your favorite stores, from Whole Foods to Safeway to Costco to Target, and deliver it right to you. You can even clip digital coupons to get all the deals you would browsing the aisles IRL.

6. Cozi
If syncing your calendar with your significant other gives your little shivers of joy, Cozi will make you scream with excitement. It’s the ultimate shared family organizer that keeps schedules, shopping lists, chore wheels, recipes and even a family journal complete with photo upload options, all in one, streamlined sharable space.

7. Munchery
We’ve hit peak meal delivery, with a new company vying to deliver you dinner seemingly each day. But not all on-demand dinners are created equal. We love Muchery because there are plenty of healthy options, kids’ meals, they deliver on weekends, they sell and accept gift cards, and well, they’ve stood the test of time. (Some of our other favorite services shuttered after just a few weeks).

8. Dr On Demand
Schedule an instant video visit from a top practitioner. From belly aches to scrapes to weird rashes, these doctors can often diagnose or at least offer peace of mind right from your smart phone. Because waiting rooms are the worst when you have a sick kid.

9. Toy Cycle
Toy-Cycle works within a user’s local community (currently Beta testing in Oakland) and allows families to give, get, or exchange free used games and toys. When a user is ready to pass something on their child has outgrown (or has simply tired of), they post the offer online to their local group. Arrangements are made to pick up or exchange which should be easy given the fact the groups will remain relatively small, geographically speaking. So, no shipping, no packaging, no payments—sounds sustainable to us!

10. UrbanSitter
What do we need? A babysitter! When do we need it? NOW! Urbansitter answers the call with verified, trustworthy sitters at a moment’s notice. No more begging the neighbor’s teenage daughter to do diaper duty for the night.

What’s your favorite go-to local app? Tell us in a comment below. 

—Erin Feher

featured photo: William Iven via Unsplash

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

10 Best Baby Photo Album Services for Remembering the First Year

by Aimee Della Bitta

In today’s snap-happy world, capturing quality photos on-the-go and sharing them virtually is easier than ever before. Making sure those memorable moments don’t get lost in the digital abyss of your smart phone or laptop — now, that’s the more challenging part. That’s why we’ve rounded up 1`0 innovative companies that help you effortlessly transform your digital photo library into beautiful photo albums that you and your growing family can cherish for years to come.

Pinhole Press: Modern Simplicity

His first smile, first wave, first steps. We know you’ve got the photos, so go ahead and unleash them from the vortex of your phone and let them live in the gorgeous pages of a Pinhole Press photo album. This company is known for their contemporary, elegant designs and high-quality printing. The website is setup to be as simple and straightforward as the book designs so you can get through creating your book quickly. Also, if diving into a whole photo album seems like way too much of a commitment (we totally get it!) start with a brag book of eight favorite pics instead.

Why We Love It: Pinhole Press Designs put the emphasis where it should be: on the photos themselves. Your baby’s photos will shine as full page images and you won't have to stress about complicated layouts.

Available at pinholepress.com, $24.99-$104.99.

Do you have a favorite way to create baby photo albums? Share your secrets below.

–Aimee Della Bitta

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Usit: Atlanta’s Newest Babysitting App

by Tinybeans Team

What started as a group project in an Emory entrepreneurial class has become Atlanta newest babysitting resource. With a user-friendly app and a network of students from Emory, Georgia Tech, Agnes Scott, Oglethorpe, and Spellman, Usit—for University Sitters—makes finding a babysitter a breeze. And, there’s no membership or subscription fee. Instead, parents pay a flat 9% rate each time they complete a job and make payment through the app. It’s that easy.

How It Works

Parents download the app and complete a preliminary questionnaire, providing name, address, children’s names, and payment information. When a parent posts a babysitting job, they specify date, time, which children need care, and offered rate. Sitters in the network are able to apply to the job through the app, making a bio and prior sitting experience visible to parents. Parents then select a sitter, confirm the job (all through the app), and wait for the magic to happen. Payment information is already stored in the app but isn’t used until a babysitting job is booked and completed, and the fee is automatically calculated based on the agreed-upon rate and hours worked (all tracked by the app), plus the additional 9% user fee. Following a job, parents rate the sitter (ratings are visible to future parent employers), and the sitter rates the experience (also available to future sitters).

Whoa, That’s Cool

When a job has been booked, parents are able to geo-locate their sitters beginning 20 minutes prior to the start of the job and then track them until the job is completed—perfect for babysitting jobs that might require pick-ups of drop-offs. Parents also have the ability to FaceTime and text with sitters at any point during the job, all through the app.

A Little Background

Originally started as the brainchild of roommates whose sorority babysitting list was a prime source of college income (oh, but don’t we love college sorority babysitting lists, Atlanta?), the two saw the need for a more user-friendly platform to create, apply for, pay for, and rate a job. Fast forward two years, note an Emory entrepreneurial course in the mix, mentorship by business professors and grad students, and a well-planned technology partnership, and voila! You’ve got Usit, which debuted in Atlanta early 2017.

Whoa, Even Cooler

While 75% of all sitters in the Usit network are Emory students, the news is traveling quickly. However, to be a verified Usitter, each student must be a student of good standing at their Atlanta university (verified by Usit), and is given the option to complete a third-party background check. Sitters who have completed the background check are noted by a blue circle around their names when they apply to a job, so parents can easily discern who has and has not undergone the check. Parents can also see how many jobs each applicant has completed through Usit, and what his or her rating is.

Getting Specific

Perhaps you need a sitter several days a week for a standing job. Perhaps you’re looking for someone with reliable transportation to drive the kiddos to practices and pick up from playdates. Whatever your special need, you’re able to specify it in a comments section of the job profile that you create. Sitters who are unable to meet your need won’t apply.

Whoa, Just Whoa

On average, job posts get a response rate of 7-11 applicants. So how do you choose? Since each sitter has been rated by previous families, you could start by checking out their ratings, or by eliminating anyone from the applicant pool who hasn’t undergone an official background check. Otherwise, you are able to scan the applicant’s bio—including an image, year in school, major, and relevant childcare experience—and then decide. Referrals are also often available from families who’ve previously employed each sitter.

How to Get It

Since the concept of on-demand babysitting is steeped in real-time needs and rapid response, downloading the Usit app to your smart phone is the most important step on your way to babysitter nirvana. For more information, visit the website, or check out the Usit Facebook page.

How do you find sitters in Atlanta? Tell us in the comments section below!

—Shelley Massey

 

 

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

History Comes Alive! Take a Road Trip to Boston

by Natalia Dotto

Recent events got the family thinking about this country’s origins? A trip to Boston is one way to revisit America’s rich history. Around every corner you and your young ones will find a place that has played a significant role in America’s past. But don’t worry, even if your kids don’t know the difference between a raincoat and a redcoat, this city also offers plenty of other things to see, do and eat. Click through for our Boston hot spots!

The Freedom Trail

Put on your walking shoes, a warm hat and gloves and follow a red-bricked route through the city. On this two-and-a-half-mile route you will find 16 historically-significant sites from the time of the American Revolution that will captivate imaginations of all ages. From Boston Commons, to the Granary Burial Ground, Faneuil Hall, and Paul Revere’s House, all the way across the Charles River to the Bunker Hill Memorial and the USS Constitution, the walk is a great showcase for Boston's rich history. There are a couple of ways to take this all in. If you book a tour with the Freedom Trail Foundation, it’s possible that Mehibitale Dawes will lead you on the tour and you’ll learn why her husband almost became as famous as Paul Revere. Whichever 18th century-costumed guide you get will engage young and old along the 90-minute tour, telling tales of history that you've likely heard — and some that you haven’t. The tours cover quite a bit of ground, so If you don’t think your younger kids will manage it, then follow the route on your own.

Good to know: There is a smart phone app that you can purchase that will help guide you along the route if you decide to trek out on your own. https://www.thefreedomtrail.org/book-tour/smart-phone.shtml

The Freedom Trail Foundation

Book a Tour: thefreedomtrail.org

Purchase Tickets: Boston Common Visitor Information Center

Boston Common Park
139 Tremont St.
617-536-4100
Online: boston.gov

What are your favorite things to do with little ones in Boston? Tell us in the comments below.

— Natalia Dotto

Unless otherwise noted: photos by Natalia Dotto Photography

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

They Just Clicked: 10 Family Photographers That Really Rock

by Phebe Wahl

Ever worry that your child’s most magical moments are memorialized merely on the camera roll of your iPhone? Do your family a favor—step away from the smart phone and hire a pro to document their deliciousness in a more permanent form. Skip the posed studio portraits and check out one of these awesome Atlanta-area photographers who employ nature light and a candid approach to capture your kid in a flash.

Aharon Hill Photography

For Hill, it is about much more than getting children to smile and look at the camera. The mother of two boys and former attorney is all about documenting the magical moments of bliss, curiosity and discovery that define youth. “It is all about knowing how to communicate with children, and not being afraid to act like a child yourself,” she explains. “Children respond to a kindred spirit, so I strive to create a lighthearted atmosphere by acting silly, playing, giving high fives and singing songs—I've done it all!”
Online: www. aharonhill.com

Who gets snap-happy with your family? Tell us below!

–Phebe Wahl

Photos courtesy of Alice Park Photography, Heidi Geldhauser, Kim Busby Photography, Jen Wright Photography, Loveworks Photography, Jenny Lauren Photography, Laura Negri Photography, 6 of Four Photography, Kate Byars Photography and Sweet Aqua Photography

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

6 Free Apps to Celebrate Lost Teeth

by Christina Montoya Fiedler

Loosing a tooth is a major milestone for kids. There’s always the excitement of leaving it under the pillow for the tooth fairy. How much will she leave? When will my new teeth come in? Will I catch a glimpse of her? Plus there’s the adorable toothless grin that comes with it all. Here are six apps that will help you celebrate the loss of a tooth, and work towards better oral hygiene for your child’s new adult teeth.

The Tooth Fairy Was Here
For those children who couldn’t keep their eyes open long enough to meet the tooth fairy, this app will give them what they want. Proof! Snap a picture of your snoozing child, and super impose an image of a cute, illustrated tooth fairy. Choose from six different spritely fairies – all magical in their own way. Share with friends and family via social media with just a few clicks.

Available for the iPhone and iPad, free

Download here.

Tooth Fairy Calculator
Okay, this one might be more for the parents than the kids but it’s so worth it. As kids, the tooth fairy left us change. Today, children are getting actual paper money. If you’ve ever wondered what the going rate for a tooth is, this calculator will help. Just enter all the appropriate information and it will give you the value of the tooth lost. Of course its all just fun and games, but a good laugh nevertheless.

Available for the iPhone and iPad, free.
Download here.

Disney Magic Timer App, by Oral B
This newly released app is used in conjunction with Oral B or Crest Pro Health Stages toothbrush – for ages 4 months and up. Simply scan your child’s toothbrush and watch Disney characters come to life. Timed brushing sessions reveal hidden games and activities once completed. Good for multiple teeth brushers.

Available for the iPhone, iPad, and Android, free
Download here.

Tooth Fairy Voicemail
Need to report a wobbly tooth? Want to request a toothpick up? Need to get in touch with the tooth fairy to ask her a few questions? This app makes it possible for kids to communicate in the best way they know how – through a smart phone. Parents can record their own voices for all responses needed.

Available for the Android, free.
Download here.

Aquafresh Time to Brush
Sometimes getting the kids to the bathroom to brush is half the battle, but this app makes kids actually look forward to the task. A funny, animated blob of toothpaste dances, tells jokes, sings, but most importantly helps your child brush correctly and for the right amount of time.

Available for the iPhone, Free
Download here.

Colgate Tooth Fairy Game and Diary
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to protect your teeth from invading bacteria. This easy to navigate video game helps kids realize the importance of brushing and the dangers of a dirty mouth. Also included is a fun tooth diary where you can record specifics about baby and adult teeth, plus pictures of your child’s toothless grin. Apps for the Android and iPhone differ slightly in design but serve the same purpose and amount of fun.

Available for the iPhone and Android, free.

Moms, what do you think about bringing the tooth fairy into the digital age of smart phones? Tell us in the comments below.

— Christina Fielder

featured photo courtesy of Jenn Durfey via flickr

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Essential Potty Training Apps for Bathroom Beginners

by Christina Montoya Fiedler

Once you start potty training, there’s no turning back. It’s a wild ride filled with training pants, accidents, potty time rituals, and rewards charts – in short a messy job that takes dedication and patience. But there are a few apps that can help with the process. We’ve uncovered five of our favorite smart phone apps that help make potty training more rewarding for everyone involved.

Once Upon a Potty

This beloved book gets a digital makeover with versions for both boys and girls. Parents will like the highlighted narration that helps children develop important reading skills and kids will squeal at the hidden sound effects and songs on every page.

Available on the iPhone, iPad and Android for $1.99.

Download here: onceuponapotty.com

Moms, what are your favorite potty training apps? Share with us in the comments below.

— Christina Fielder

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement