Parenting

40 Educational iPad Apps to Download this Summer

Posted on June 24, 2015

Busy this summer and don’t have time to entertain your children? Grab the iPad and download one of these 40 educational iPad apps to keep them busy and their brain sharp during the break, curated for you compliments of our friends at Onlineclasses.

Language and Vocabulary

Here you’ll find apps for learning the alphabet, using the dictionary, reviewing grammar rules, and more.

ABC Animals: Help young children learn the alphabet and phonics with this cute, illustrated app.
Word Magic: Kids fill in the missing letter to form words, accompanied by bright pictures.
Clifford’s BE BIG with Words: In this game, kids spell out words so that Clifford and his friends can think of things to paint.
Dictionary.com – Dictionary and Thesaurus: This easy-to-use app features a search bar, thesaurus, search history and word of the day.
Free Spanish Tutor: Introduce or help your kids review Spanish with this app that features native speaker audio, puzzles, written tests, flash cards, and a multiple choice quiz.
Textropolis: Kids have to find and piece together words in order to build up their “textropolis” in this game.
iWrite Words: Small children learn to write by tracing words with this game.
Spell and Listen Cards: Kids rearrange letters to form basic words, improving their vocabulary and sight reading.
TypeFast: If your kids don’t have time to take a typing class, they can use this app to learn how to type faster and more accurately.
Grammar Up: Help kids learn adjectives, nouns, verbs, adverbs, infinitives, gerunds, conjunctions, and other grammar basics.

History

These American and world history apps involve your kids in making decisions that determine the success or decline of whole civilizations.

Manual for the United States of America: Kids can learn about and read the Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, biographies of Supreme Court justices, and a lot more.
Oregon Trail: This classic game is now available on the iPad and helps children of various ages practice problem-solving and decision-making skills as they learn about history and try to survive the great trek West.
Civilization Revolution: Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution teaches kids about world civilizations, including Japan, Germany, China, Spain, America, and others, as they lead their people to victory.
On This Day: Help your students learn more about history with this trivia-like game that lists important events each day.

Math and Science

These apps use flash cards, games and interactive displays to teach your kids about math, astronomy and more.

Math Cards: This grade-as-you-go game teaches subtraction, division, multiplication and addition in a touch-screen game.
Kids Math Fun – Third Grade: This app is devoted to third grade math skills, including basic arithmetic. Games like Double Dare and Minute Math keep it fun, too.
The Math Master: Practice math drills and learn math facts on this app, which features a numeric touchpad.
KidsCalc 7-in-1 Math Fun: This app teaches young children number recognition, and older kids arithmetic. It features a birthday party theme, and includes flash cards, puzzle game, running timer, and more.
PopMath Basic Math: This level-based math game is supposed to be non-stressful but still effective.
Pocket Universe: Virtual Sky Astronomy: This app displays the night sky just as you’re seeing it, but with more detail and descriptions of constellations and stars.
Mathematical Formulas: This app serves as a great reference and review tool that catalogs and explains math formulas for geometry and more.
The Chemical Touch: View the periodic table and learn about chemical properties with this app.
Brain Tuner Lite: This free app is a great tool for getting your kids to practice math skills each day.
Mathemagics – Mental Math Tricks: More advanced students can practice multiplication, square numbers, and more.

Reading

Help your children learn to read and get excited about reading the classics with these apps.

Learn Sight Words: Help your children learn the expected high-frequency words they need to know by the end of 1st grade with this cute app.
Newspapers: Encourage your children to read about the rest of the world by linking them to newspapers from different cities.
Free Books: This app costs $1.99, but you’ll get to read over 23,000 classic books like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and plays by Shakespeare.
iLibrary+audio: Download whole chapters and then listen to them read aloud with this app. Books include The Call of the Wild, Emma and Treasure Island.

Art and Music

Encourage your children to explore art and music with the help of these apps.

Preschool Music: Kids can create their own songs and play a virtual piano as they play along with sheep and birds on this app.
Ultimate Guitar Tabs: Kids can read guitar chords and tabs to learn about music.
Art: Your kids — ages 12 and up — will learn about important artists like da Vinci, Georgia O’Keefe, Jackson Pollock and more with this searchable app that features quizzes, a slideshow, newsletter, and more.
Instruments in Reach Basic: Learn the fingerings for instruments like the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, bassoon, oboe and trombone.

General Education and Life Skills

These general education apps help to improve critical thinking skills through games, matching, puzzles, and more.

Monster Mix & Match: Kids practice critical thinking and problem solving skills with this game that lets them create monster cartoon characters.
Preschool Arcade: Preschoolers can learn numbers, the alphabet, and capital and lower case letters while developing critical thinking and matching skills.
Highlights Hidden Pictures: Highlights Magazine designed this game that includes eight puzzles filled with hidden pictures your kids search for while using clues and hints.
I SPY Spooky Mansion: This is a great app for helping kids think critically as they solve riddles and puzzles while collecting keys in a spooky old mansion.
TeachMe: Kindergarten: Review or help younger children get a head start on kindergarten lessons in reading, math and spelling.
10,500+ Cool Facts: This app provides an easy way to add random tidbits of knowledge to your kids’ brains. Shake your iPad to get a new cool fact.
2010 World Factbook: With this app, your children can learn about different countries, their flags, languages, government, economy, and more.
Flashcards Deluxe: Customize your own flashcards with this app, which integrates with Quizlet.com, features audio and text, and can hold over 5,000 flash cards.

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Michelle Obama hosts Surprise Baby shower for Expecting Military Families

Posted on June 23, 2015

While on a European Tour last week, First Lady Michelle Obama surprised pregnant military spouses and active duty servicewomen at a United States military base in Vicenza, Italy.

As part of the First Lady’s Joining Forces initiative for military families, Mrs. O partnered with Operation Shower, a non-profit organization that provides baby showers for military families and Glam4Good, a movement creating positive social change through style to throw the joint shower of a lifetime.

First daughters Sasha and Malia were also on hand to help.

All of the 30 women who attended the event got baby essentials and some style goodies donated from Tommy Hilfiger, H&M, Liz Lang, Alexis Bittar, Dior, and Pangea Organics. They also got a mini shopping spree styled by Glam4Good founder Mary Alice Stephenson, handbag designer Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger and beauty expert Jessica Richards.

Very Nice Work!! <3 <3

h/t HuffPo Style

My team and I are so honored to #GLAM4GOOD today with @michelleobama @operationshower, @JoiningForces and these awesome expecting moms here in the at Casa Ederle U.S. Military Base in Italy! #stylethatmatters #fashion #beauty #dogood!
A video posted by Mary Alice Stephenson’s (@glam4good) on Jun 19, 2015 at 9:30am PDT

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News

STUDY: Broadband Access linked to Teen Pregnancy Reduction

Posted on June 23, 2015

Broadband access is being credited for decreasing teen pregnancy, The Guardian reports

A recent study at the German Institute (IZA) concluded that “at least 13% of the total decline in the teen birth rate between 1999 and 2007 can be explained by increases in high speed internet access” in the United States.

Melanie Guldi from the University of Central Florida and Chris Herbst from Arizona State University conclude:

Broadband internet has the potential to shape in powerful ways the nature and intensity of individuals’ social connections as well as the quantity and quality of information received on relationships and sexual health … Americans are increasingly turning to the internet for a wide range of advice on romantic relationships, sex, and contraceptive methods.
Americans – including teens – are asking for guidance on everything from whether they should have sex with a certain individual and the most effective forms of contraception to how to deal with a cheating boyfriend. Teens, who now spend more time engaging with various forms of media – much of it on-line – than any other activity (aside from sleep), are particularly well-positioned to take advantage of new information and relationship landscape created by explosion in broadband internet.

Reducing teen pregnancies is just one of the many plus-sides of increased broadband access. Recent research shows that better internet connections can increase monthly household income by £200 ($314) in developed households, by improving access to learning and working from home.

Sounds simplistic, but the decline in teen pregnancies could also be that they’re too busy watching YouTube.

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Celebrity

Inside Tiffani Thiessen’s Baby Shower (PHOTOS)

Posted on June 23, 2015

Actress Tiffani Thiessen recently celebrated the impending arrival of her second child with husband Brady Smith at a coed baby shower in Los Angeles.

The event was color-themed to match with the fact the former Saved by the Bell and Beverly Hills 90210 star is expecting a baby boy in the coming weeks.

“For the past 5 years I have been creating fun parties for Harper and have loved every minute of it,” she wrote in a blog post titled “A Gathering in Blue” which detailed the planning of the garden-themed event. “One thing that was always consistent was the color scheme… there had to be pink in there somewhere, so it was so fun to play with the color BLUE this time for a change.”

Thiessen, who hosts the show Dinner at Tiffani’s on The Cooking Channel, provided some details on the decor on her site.

“I chose cobalt blue and purple for our sweet baby boy’s shower,” she wrote. “I’ve been eyeing these colors for some time (we’ve been designing his nursery as well). First, I chose the fabrics for the linens and pillows. They came from a great company called Guildery that my sweet sister-in-law, Jill Smith, told me about.”

Some of the guests came wearing cobalt blue. The menu was French bistro and she planned it with a friend who is a caterer, Maili Halme.

In lieu of presents, guests brought gifts that were donated to the charity for underprivileged families, Baby Buggy.

About the table decor, Thiessen shared that “the talented wizard of flowers” from Moon Canyon, Kristin Caissie, found cobalt blue bottles, clear bud vases, Belgian jars and vintage glass terrariums for the floral arrangements. “She used beautiful spring blooms in colors of blue, purple and whites, as well as small succulents and ferns,”she wrote, adding “Our gorgeous table settings came from Casa de Perrin and all the beautiful vintage rentals came from none other than Found Rentals.”

Guests included family and the couple’s super cute 5-year old daughter Harper and her friends who were treated with their own drinks and goodies.

The kids even had their own activity and craft station.

Guests went home with cute little succulents potted in cute canvas buckets (from Maika Goods) as gifts. Nice!!

Fun Times!

Photos: http://thiessenpictures.com/, Elizabeth Messina

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Parenting

5 Things to Consider BEFORE buying a Car Seat

Posted on June 22, 2015

If you are expecting a baby and need to purchase a car seat or thinking of moving up to a version for a bigger baby as your child grows, you’ll find these five things NannyPro asked us to share with you helpful before you make that final purchase

1. Budget: Because car seats can range from well under a hundred dollars to several hundred, many people automatically assume more expensive must mean a better seat. But this is not actually true. One seat that is frequently recommended by Child Passenger Safety Technicians as easy to use and install runs right around $40. All seats must pass the same basic set of testing standards and ultimately the best seat is the one that is installed and used properly, so take an honest look at your budget and then find a seat within that budget that fits your child’s needs (see below) and your vehicle well, have a CPST teach you how to install it and always use it properly. Visit www.car-seat.org to find a CPST near you.

2.Age/Size of Child: Even the best car seat is useless if it is the wrong seat for the age and size of your child. Many seats are labeled in ways that are misleading to parents. For example, many booster seats say on the package 30lbs-100lbs. We all have seen one year olds who are pushing 30 lbs. That does not in any way mean that a one year old is ready for a booster seat—many children are not ready for boosters until age seven or eight because size alone is not the determining factor. So do some research and figure out what seat (infant, convertible, forward facing, harnessed booster or unharnessed booster) is best for your child based on both their age AND their size. As of 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children under age two stay in a weight appropriate rear-facing car seat or to the maximum weight and height limitations for their car seat for maximum safety and head/neck protection. For some children, this may mean rear-facing until age three or four. A good place to start is the NHTSA website. In addition, since many harnessed car seats (often called a harnessed booster) now offer weight limits up to 80-85 lbs, it is wise to consider extended harnessing for your child for ultimate protection. There is a reason that even race car drivers use this kind of harness—it helps keep the passenger in the safest position and protects them better. Don’t be in a rush to move “up” to the next style of seat. Each step “up” is actually a step “down” for safety.

3. Needs: What is the need of this seat? Do you need one that comes in and out easily (and therefore is super easy to install correctly) since your baby needs to be transported in other vehicles often because of who is the primary caregiver or because you travel a lot as a family? Or will this seat be installed and rarely ever moved? This can affect your decision making process as you review possible seats and is a major consideration for families that need to move seats because of particular needs. Whether it’s moved often or not, you still need to be able to install it correctly every time.

4. How long do you need this seat to last? For some families on a tight budget, the need for a seat to last as long as possible is a major consideration. These days, car seat manufacturers are starting to take this into consideration and a few are making seats designed to go from infancy all the way to the booster stage and have a 10 year expiration on them. Wait… expiration? Yes, car seats have expiration dates set by the manufacturer of the seat based on when it began to fail in testing, as seats are made primarily of plastic, which breaks down over time. It’s important to know those dates as you consider various seats for your needs. For other families, budget is not as much of a concern as convenience is, so they might not mind having an infant bucket seat with a base and then purchasing a new seat when baby outgrows the bucket. It matters more to them to have the ability to lift a bucket in and out of the vehicle with the baby still in it.

5. Will you actually use it properly? A seat, no matter the cost or reputation, if not used properly, is simply not a good seat for your needs. So make sure you select a seat that is easy for you to use properly from installation to daily use. If your seat is beautiful, but takes you 30 minutes to take in and out even though you need an easily moved seat, you are less likely to install it properly due to frustration with the process. Or if it is difficult to adjust when needed, the straps might be positioned improperly and not provide the protection that is needed. If you can, it is a great idea to go to a store that will actually let you try out the various seats in your car to ensure that that particular seat is easy for you to use with the vehicle you own. This ensures you are more likely to use it properly.

Good luck!

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Celebrity

Celebrity 2015 Father’s Day Tributes (PHOTOS)

Posted on June 22, 2015

Yesterday on Father’s Day, some of the celebrity dads whose wives’ respective pregnancy Bellyitch has covered used the day to share their own photos of themselves on Father’s Day. The late Paul Walker of the Fast and Furious movie franchise fame was also celebrated by his only child, his 16-year old daughter Meadow Walker. Empire star Terrence Howard also shared a tender moment showing off his newest child, son Qirin. We love that name.

Justin Timberlake also used the occasion to gush about his First Father’s Day with his newborn.

View this post on Instagram
FLEXIN' on Fathers Day… #HappyFathersDay to ALL of the Dads out there from the newest member of the Daddy Fraternity!! –JT
A post shared by Justin Timberlake (@justintimberlake) on Jun 21, 2015 at 9:11am PDT

Justin Timberlake

Meadow Walker

@terrencehoward

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Parenting

20 Funniest & Most Touching Commercials & Shorts dedicated to Dads

Posted on June 22, 2015

Grab your tissues and get ready to cry and laugh too at the 20 most heart warming and funniest commercials and shorts dedicated to dads and perfect to check out as we wrap up another Father’s Day! Enjoy!

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Celebrity

Actors Odette and Dave Annable’s Father’s Day baby Gender Reveal

Posted on June 21, 2015

This couldn’t be better planned. Dave Annable and his wife Odette Annable, co-stars of the now defunct hit ABC TV show Brothers & Sisters, used Mother’s Day to announce the fact they were expecting their first child together.

And today, on Father’s Day, the duo shared the baby’s gender on social media.

Odette stars in the recently debuted The Astronaut Wives Club.

Dave showed a quick video of the gender reveal beach celebration with the couple’s family and friends on Instagram today.

Before the reveal, which entailed popping a couple of black helium filled balloons filled with either blue or pink confetti, guests to the event signed their name under Team Girl or Team Boy on a chalkboard to indicate their guess of the gender.

Here it is…@odetteannable and I are very proud parents to be of our little…#happyfathersday to everyone. One of the most special moments of our life. I was so confused for a second. Thought I saw both colors of confetti. Nope. #babyannable
A video posted by Dave Annable (@dave_annable) on Jun 21, 2015 at 10:34am PDT

Dave, who recently starred in Red Band Society and is filming the upcoming NBC TV show Heartbreaker, looked genuinely surprised to learn that he will soon welcome a baby GIRL!

“One of the most special moments of our life,” the actor wrote in the caption, adding, “I was so confused for a second. Thought I saw both colors of confetti. Nope. #babyannable.”

He almost ruined the surprise too, captioning a photo before the reveal: “Almost popped the damn thing getting it out of the car. Try to explain that to a pregnant Cuban.”

Funny! Although born in Los Angeles, Odette’s mom is Cuban and her dad is of Italian and French descent, but was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and raised in Nicaragua. Tres Internationale!

The couple married in 2010!

That’s going to be a gorgeous little girl, for sure!

Congrats!

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Parenting

Happy Father’s Day: 6 Songs/Videos for Dads

Posted on June 21, 2015

Happy Father’s Day!

Here are 6 songs to consider dedicating to your dad, depending on the situation: Dad who has passed, New Dad, Dad to a daughter,deadbeat dad etc…

First up, the late Luther Vandross‘ “Dance With my Father” for those who have lost a dad or whose dad is resting in peace or in heaven:

Another Fave is Creed‘s “Arm’s Wide Open” to dedicate to a brand new dad who is celebrating his first Father’s Day

Next, a favorite of mine, John Mayer‘s “Daughters” for dads to little girls

‘

Next, a song for the dad who abandoned his kid from his kid: Everclear‘s “Father of Mine“

For Dads to sons, a tender song by Elton John “Between a Father and Son“

Another brilliant father to son song from Phil Collins, titled “Father to son“. How appropriate!

BONUS: An all-time favorite Stevie Wonder‘s “Isn’t she Lovely” which he wrote when his daughter Aisha was born. It’s another good one for a dad to a new born daughter.

Roughstock has an excellent list of country songs for Father’s Day as well. Check it out HERE!

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Parenting

Study: US Birth Rate Up, While Teen Birth Rate Down

Posted on June 20, 2015

Women in the U.S. are having more babies — exactly 3,985,924 last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preliminary data show that birth rates in the U.S. were up by 1 percent last year from 2013. It’s the first increase in seven years.

But teenagers aren’t having as many babies. The birth rate in that group dropped by 9 percent in 2014 compared with 2013. For context, teen births have been on the decline since 1991.

The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics published the data Wednesday. The findings are based on nearly all births in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Among the findings in the report:

The birth rate for Asians rose 6 percent, and 1 percent, respectively, for whites, blacks and Hispanics. The rate of Native American births dropped by 2 percent.
The rate of unmarried women who gave birth declined by 1 percent.
Women in their 30s and 40s continue to have more children, fueling the rise in the birth rate last year.

One of the authors of the report, Brady Hamilton of the National Center for Health Statistics, says the increase in the number of births overall was somewhat of a surprise.

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Jeneba Jalloh Ghatt