I have two teens that commute by themselves to school here in New York City, so as we prepare for going back to school, I’m so happy we can stay connected via Verizon Wireless. I’ve been a Verizon Wireless customer since 1999 (which I’ve talked about many times) and it’s important to me to have that reliable service with my two teens, especially since they both commute without me to school (middle school and high school). Going back to school with Verizon Wireless is just smarter! At the end of this post, I’ve got a special offer for Back to School from Verizon Wireless that you don’t want to miss- Verizon Wireless has a buy one phone, get one free offer running just in time for back to school!

My son is almost 16 and has a lot of freedom – he bikes or walks to school and having good phone service from Verizon Wireless is essential for him. He also uses his phone for managing his Type 1 Diabetes. He uses a continuous glucose monitor called Dexcom, which then talks to his phone and displays his current blood sugar. We also set up and use the glucose monitor system using his iPhone.

His phone talks to my phone and lets me see his blood sugar levels. I can either quickly grab his phone to check his blood sugar when I’m with him (using the Dexcom app) or see it on my phone, thanks to my service with Verizon Wireless (when I am away from him). It’s a good peace of mind to be able to let him have the freedom to be away from me but still know what his blood sugar is. Verizon Wireless has never let us down with service outages. We also like the customer service. I’m always able to talk to a live person and their tech support is awesome.

My son has his phone and his Insulin Pump PDM with him constantly and I feel so secure knowing we have good service to be able to see his blood sugar numbers and be in contact with him to discuss treatment.

Plus when my son had a bike accident in June, he was able to reach me using his phone and I came to get him immediately. I used the Smart Family App to find him in our local park, which definitely saved us some time (he was upset and didn’t know exactly where he was. He was fine, but I took him to the Children’s ER to get him checked out.

As he healed from his bike accident and I drove him to school and back for the rest of June, I was so happy that he had his phone with him and could reach me if he needed me again.

Our Commuting Younger Teen

Our daughter got a phone two years ago when she started commuting 40 minutes from our home to get to her middle school at age 11. Since things are very different with the subway system now, she takes the bus each way, which is 55 minutes. As she is on a bus now, I can always check in with her. I can also see her location, which also makes me feel better.

We use the Smart Family app through the Just Kids Plan with both kids which helps me manage their internet usage. It gives me a savings each month and I like all the features for my children.

The Just Kids plan is a smartphone plan lets parents manage screen time, content and other great features.

• Unlimited 4G LTE / 5G Nationwide  data at a maximum speed of 5 Mbps 
• Verizon Smart Family Premium for parental control and location tracking ($9.99/month value)
• Unlimited talk and text with up to 20 parent-approved contacts
• DVD-quality streaming (480p)
  

We’ve also found some great apps to help her with her homework and explain the steps for her higher level math problems.

Since my son’s iPhone 8 is 2 years old now, I was considering getting him the iPhone 11 and upgrading my daughter’s phone from an iPhone 7 to the 11 also. With Verizon’s Back to School offer, that would be a no brainer!

Special Offer From Verizon Wireless

Buy One Phone, Get One on Verizon Just in Time for Back to School!

From now until 8/10. Make sure to go to the site below for details & restrictions.

Get it here: https://m.svnlnk.com/m/p/32024886/12452020/c?afsrc=1

#VZWBTS

The post Going Back to School With Verizon Wireless appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

A Case

I always get a good case (and insurance), since my iPhone 4S got run over the second day I had it, back in 2011. I usually recommend a Spigen, Otterbox, or Lifeproof. The Spigen one I bought doesn’t seem to be on Amazon right now, so I think this one would be great.

Spigen Tough Armor Designed for iPhone 12 Pro Max Case

https://amzn.to/37qMoGI

Screen Protector

I like to get something with blue light and anti-glare protection.

https://amzn.to/2Vha8HT

Cables:

Cables — oh, you need multiple cables! My iPhone 12 Max Pro only came with one cable (and no charging brick or headphones). My go-to cable is usually from either Anker, Aukey, or Apple, so I picked up a few of these from Amazon.

Anker iPhone 12 Charger Cable, New Nylon USB-C to Lightning Charging Cord

https://amzn.to/3l79Lda

Car Charger:

I purchased a USB-C car charger from Aukey via Amazon. It’s tiny and I liked that it also had a USB port also (as my husband and kids use Lightning to USB Chargers).

USB C Car Charger, AUKEY 21W Car Charger Compatible with iPhone 12 Mini/12 Pro/12 Pro Max with Power Delivery 3.0,Cigarette Lighter USB Charger – https://amzn.to/33jr58P

Phone Holder

If you’re going to use your phone for directions, you should have a phone holder so you can see as well as hear Siri give you directions. It makes a big difference. We love anything MPow too (I own several products from them, including headphones –

https://amzn.to/2HBkgYJ

Portable Chargers

While I’m not traveling as much as I normally would be, portable chargers have saved me from a dead battery many a time. Problem? Almost all the chargers I have don’t have a USB-C port so I can charge my new iPhone 12 Max Pro. Enter this one.

RAVPower Portable Charger, Most Compact 10000mAh Power Bank, with 20W PD/QC USB C Output & Premium Battery Pack.

https://amzn.to/3lnTLni

Pin This for Later!

The post The Best Accessories for your iPhone 12 Pro Max appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

To refresh your memory – 5G is the 5th generation of wireless technology. Its faster and more robust than 4G and it’s becoming available! 5G means quicker downloads, quicker streaming (we all know we watch so many shows via streaming now), more reliable network reliability, and access to information more quickly.

Super-connected autonomous cars, smart communities and more will all rely on 5G. 5G will provide data transfer rates that are super fast, with a high bandwidth and greater connectivity and reliability. It’s going to be around 20 times faster than what’s possible with 4G service. Over Verizon’s 5G network, lag times will be almost impossible to detect. It’s going to change being online from the way we know it now. Verizon feels very strongly about this – they will not call their 4G Network a 5G Network is customers aren’t getting the performance or capability upgrade that only 5G can deliver. That sounds pretty serious to me! 5G Ultra Wideband Capable Smartphones from Verizon Are Available Now!

Verizon started offering 5G Home, the world’s first 5G Network this past October in parts of Houston, Sacramento, Los Angeles and Indianapolis. Recently, Verizon announced the names of 20 more U.S. cities that will get 5G Ultra Wideband service in 2019: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Des Moines, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Little Rock, Memphis, Phoenix, Providence, San Diego, Salt Lake City and Washington DC.

Now, you can get 5G Ultra Wideband phones from Verizon.

Check out the awesome phones available!

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

Description from website:
“Stream movies and show off your latest photos on a nearly bezel-free 6.7-inch AMOLED Infinity Display.² A revolutionary 6-lens camera setup with Pro Assist uses multiple frames to clarify and optimize every shot. Go for longer with an all-day battery.³Then share your power with other compatible smartphones, wearable devices and accessories using Wireless PowerShare.⁴ Choose between 2 colors: Crown Silver and Verizon-exclusive Majestic Black (subject to availability).”  You can pick the 256 GB or 512 GB size. Buy Samsung Galaxy S10 5G. 

LG V50 ThinQ 5G 

Description from website:
“With the LG V50 ThinQ you get 5G Ultra Wideband¹ connectivity on a sleek device that’s nearly all screen with an LG OLED Fullvision Display. Take stunning photos using a 5-camera system well-suited for nearly any occasion. Or let the music surround you courtesy of a loud, electrifying Boombox Speaker. The LG V50 ThinQ 5G features a 4,000 mAh battery and Qualcomm® Snapdragon 855 Processor for maximum performance and reliability.” Buy LG V50 ThinQ 5G . 

5G Ultra Wideband Capable Smartphones from Verizon Are Available Now!

Motorola moto z⁴

Description from website:
“Say hello to the moto z4, Motorola’s newest 5G-upgradable smartphone. Snap unforgettable photos on a 48 MP camera sensor – their biggest yet. Then switch to the 25 MP selfie camera with special features like background blur and AI-based beautification. The moto z4 features an edge-to-edge Max Vision OLED display, integrated fingerprint reader and 3600 mAh battery for up to 2 days of use time per charge. Buy Motorola moto z4. 

So, which one catches your eye? I’m considering the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G!

 “My blog may contain links to other websites. I am not responsible for the privacy policies of those other websites. When you click on a link, your information may be collected by those websites so I encourage you to read their privacy policies. Any affiliate links are not associated with Verizon.”

#AD #Verizon5GFuture @Verizon

The post 5G Ultra Wideband Capable Smartphones from Verizon Are Available Now! appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

My daughter leaves for summer camp in a few weeks and in her backpack will be the Canon IVY CLIQ+. Canon IVY Cliq+ from Best Buy is a small and fun instant camera and mini photo printer that can fit in your pocket so you can take it anywhere (like summer camp!). Plus, you can also save photos to an SD card! Make On-The-Spot Memories With Canon IVY CLIQ+ Instant Camera

I’ve been using a canon digital camera (I’ve had several versions of the Elph) for a long time, plus I also use a Canon DSLR. I was excited to test out the Canon Ivy CLIQ+ and let you know my thoughts.

It’s super simple to set up, just open the back and put in the ZINK paper. I took the camera to the park to test it out. 

It was so simple to use and the pictures I took just printed out instantly!

Instant memories for my kid to share with his friend of his playdate! That’s definitely worth it’s weight in gold. 

Then download the Canon Mini Print app (available in the App store and Google Play). Add in an optional (and sold separately Micro SD Card) if you want to keep digital copies of the photos you take. If you love selfies, just use the large selfie mirror with an 8 LED Ring Light to look awesome. 

Features:

Get your CLIQ+ at Best Buy.

The post Make On-The-Spot Memories With Canon IVY CLIQ+ Instant Camera and Mini Photo Printer appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

I love to listen to music when I work out because it really helps me center and get into my groove. I’m loving SkullCandy Push True Wireless Ear Buds available at Best Buy because they are so easy to use and can keep up with my workouts. They fit right in my ears and don’t fall out, plus they were so simple to set up. ‘Memba those days when you would fight with your mobile to pair your new earbuds to bluetooth? With the SkullCandy Push True Wireless Ear Buds, that is a distant memory. Plus they have a 12 hour charge!

I had them set up and paired in less than 30 seconds. I love the little case it comes it. It will charge the Push Earbuds (wirelessly) as well as hold them. I’ve lost so many pairs of earbuds that I appreciated that touch. 

The SkullCandy Push True Wireless Ear Buds have a great fit, cool color and work amazingly well. You can listen to up to 12 hours of music on a single charge. They use Bluetooth so no wires needed. Use a single button to control volume, music, and call control. They offer the secure FitFin gel ear tips to fit comfortably and they have a water-resistant design to withstand exercise and outdoor use. 

I love to listen to music when I work out because it really helps me center and get into my groove. I’m loving SkullCandy Push True Wireless Ear Buds available at Best Buy because they are so easy to use and can keep up with my workouts. They fit right in my ears and don’t fall out, plus they were so simple to set up. ‘Memba those days when you would fight with your mobile to pair your new earbuds to bluetooth? With the SkullCandy Push True Wireless Ear Buds, that is a distant memory. Plus they have a 12 hour charge!

The post The Perfect Wireless Ear Buds for Your Workouts appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

My husband and I love to share photos and videos with our family members (who doesn’t!). While social media is my job (and passion), there are a lot of photos and videos of my children that I want to share only with family. Most of the time, we share photos via text or email with family members or through a private message on social media. We have cloud accounts and rely on them often, but there really wasn’t a way to have our photos and videos live in one place. I would try to upload to a photo sharing site to try to organize them, but then someone else is hosting my important photos and I never know what’s been uploaded and what’s not been uploaded. Plus I always feel that I am missing out on photos from my husband’s phone or my mother’s phone unless they send them to me. My father-in-law loves to send photos also, but I forget to save them to my own devices. So, what’s a modern parent to do? You get ibi. ibi is a smart photo manager that can give you control over who you share your special moments with. ibi connects to its own mobile app and it lets you share photos and videos with who you want, when you want to share it. It saves, organizes and protects your precious photos and videos.

You can give family members their own private area on your  ibi to start their own albums. What I liked the best about ibi (besides the fact that it was probably the easiest piece of technology I’ve ever set up) is the fact that you can connect it to Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox, and Google Photos, as well as other types of drives so you can gather your photos and videos from those places and organize them. That was huge for me because I’ve been through 8 phones since I started Facebook ten years ago! I had no way of finding those cherished photos and videos anymore! ibi offers 2TB of space (that’s 2 terabytes and huge) – which means it can hold over 500,000 photos and 200 + hours of videos. As someone who currently has 20K videos on her phone, 1 TB in iCloud, and 1TB in Google Drive, I was pretty happy to hear that even I may not  run out of room with ibi!

How to Set up ibi:

– Plug it in to an outlet.
– Download the app and sign up for a free account.
– The app basically did the rest of the work and guided me through set up. You’ll need to find your ibi and connect it to your home Wi-Fi network.
-You can give ibi permission to back up your photos and videos from your phone. It works in the background, so you don’t have to keep it open all the time. Being that I had so many photos on my phone, I appreciated that.

And that’s it!

Next, I’ll be organizing my photos into albums and searching my Google Drive and Dropbox (I know I have a ton on those platforms).

Also, you can add members. Each member gets a private place that nobody else can see. Members can contribute memories to be visible to other members. You can also write comments.

You can also add a desktop app – request the link right from the ibi app.

Works with iOS (10+), Android (Ver 6.0+), Windows® (7+) and macOS® (10.9+).6
Wireless router for internet connection.

ibi retails for around $179 and you can get it on ibi’s website:  https://www.meetibi.com/ or at Amazon or BestBuy.com.

Sale Alert: If you go to ibi’s website right now — they’re running a special sale for Father’s Day. Get  ibi for $149.99 down from $179.99. This runs to 11:50 pm CDT on June 15. 

This post also contains affiliate links.

The post A Smarter Way to Manage Precious Family Photos and Videos appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Last weekend I hosted an intimate Moms’ Night Out, sponsored by Google for Education. We met at Cipollina Gourmet in Forest Hills, Queens, NY and enjoyed a delicious dinner. The topic of the night was Google for Education’s Be Internet Campaign and how we can teach kids to learn to act responsibly and kindly online, which you may remember I wrote about recently. How To Help Kids Be Kind Online – Google For Education Moms’ Night Out Recap | The Mama Maven Blog

After giving an overview of the program,  I explained about my own children’s history of being online and how I had to put the breaks on some of the things my oldest son was doing online…We also talked about how to spread kindness online and how to go from being a bystander to an upstander.

It was actually great to hear the stories from my other mom guests. Turns out I wasn’t alone — what I experienced was common. A lot of us had children who were going online a bit too much (it’s a real struggle) and acting inappropriately. Other moms shared stories about their kids, some older and some younger-  which was helpful seeing how other families handling restricting online access or why they didn’t restrict it. Most mothers did mention that their kids wanted to be online almost all the time and they had to set boundaries. There were no wrong answers and we found the advice given was very helpful. One mom had a son that was a year older than my son — a straight A student who loved to game. Hearing how she handled his being online was really interesting to all of us and actually inspiring. Another mother explained how being online had actually really helped her child. But we all agreed on the fact that kids need to know how to act online. That’s something that really wasn’t taught to us and most schools aren’t covering this yet. One mother mentioned that her child was being taught how to act appropriately online, which we all thought was a great start. It’s a new digital age and while we didn’t grow up online, our kids are doing just that. 

If you remember, the Five fundamental topics of digital safety and citizenship form the Internet Code of Awesome:

• Share with Care (Be Internet Smart)
• Don’t Fall for Fake (Be Internet Alert)
• Secure Your Secrets (Be Internet Strong)
• It’s Cool to Be Kind (Be Internet Kind)
• When in Doubt, Talk It Out (Be Internet Brave)

We discussed what being a “Bystander” versus and “Upstander”. According to Google for Education’s Curriculum, “behind every username and profile there is a person that is real. They have real feelings and we need to treat everyone the way we want to be treated. When bullying or mean behaviors happen, there are different people included —

• The Target
• The aggressor/bully
• Bystanders
• Upstander

While we can easily figure out the target and the aggressor/bully role, we defined what bystander and upstanders are. There are witnesses to what’s going on, usually called bystanders. There are witnesses to what’s going on who try to positively intervene, often called upstanders. We can also encourage each other to be “upstanders”: people who help the person being hurt when they see something hurtful happening and help turn negative situations into positive ones.” 

More on being an upstander

• They find a way to be kind to or support the person being targeted
• They call out the mean behavior in a comment or reply (remember to call out the behavior, not the person) if you feel comfortable with that and think it’s safe to do so
• Deciding not to help the aggressor by spreading the bullying or making it worse by sharing the mean post or comment online
• Getting a bunch of friends to create a “pile-on of kindness” – post lots of kind comments about the person being targeted (but nothing mean about the aggressor, because you’re setting an example, not retaliating)
• Reporting the harassment. Tell someone who can help, like a parent, teacher, or school counselor.

We went through some scenarios (pretending to be in elementary and middle school) and discussed how we would act in those situations. It’s not always easy to be an upstander, but we agreed that it is something that kids may have to work at.

There is a really easy way to put kids on the spreading kindness online track – team them how to be kind online. Also – playing “Kind Kingdom” on Interland is a low-stress way to let kids actually navigate individual situations. All in all, we had a fantastic night, thank you to our sponsor, Google for Education!

How can you start?

Play Interland with your kids and put your kindness skills to the test at g.co/KindKingdom

Learn more about how to Be Internet Awesome at g.co/BeInternetAwesome and tell your kids’ teachers about the online curriculum so they can introduce these activities in the classroom.

Download Curriculum right here: Be Internet Awesome Curriculum

For more info: Go to: g.co/BeInternetAwesome  

#BeInternetAwesome #ItsCoolToBeKind  

Huge thank you to all the mamas that came out!

Read our first post on this: https://www.themamamaven.com/teaching-kids-to-make-good-decisions-online-and-be-internet-awesome/

The post How To Help Kids Be Kind Online – Google For Education Moms’ Night Out Recap appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Did you know that October is National Bullying Prevention Month? We all know that the internet can be a terrific place when things are positive or miserable when people bully other people. We want to teach our children to promote positive interactions and find ways to ensure that they never make someone uncomfortable. Teaching Kids To Make Good Decisions Online and Be Internet Awesome

What we know about bullying:

• • 28% of students have experienced bullying personally.
  • 71% of students have witnessed bullying directly.
  • Only 20% – 30% of students notify adults about bullying.
  • Over 50% of parents are concerned about their child being bullied

This month, I’m partnering up with Google for Education to promote their Be Internet Awesome Internet campaign to pass on positive messages to share that the “Golden Rule” is important online (as well as offline).

Be Internet Awesome is Google’s free multifaceted program designed to teach kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence. The program is available in English and Spanish and consists of an ISTE standards aligned curriculum, ready-made Pear Decks for each lesson, Interland – an adventure-packed online game about digital safety and citizenship – and plenty of resources for educators and parents.

The five areas of Internet awesomeness:

• SMART: Where we learn to share with care
• ALERT: Where we learn not to fall for fake
• STRONG: Where we learn how to secure Our digital stuff
• KIND: Where we learn that itʼs cool to be kind
• BRAVE: Where we learn that, when in doubt, we talk it out

Making Good Decisions Online:
My oldest child is now 13 and has been on the internet since he was 7, when he and his dad started sharing a laptop. Even though I’ve been blogging since he was a baby and used the internet for a long time, I didn’t really think to tell him how he could act. We let him play Minecraft and were upset to find out he was using the chat function. We shut that down pretty fast but let him play Minecraft. Fast forward to him getting his own smartphone. He started thinking that he could just do what he wanted online and that’s just not the case. We want him to consider actions, consider that what he says could be on the internet FOREVER, and could impact others, just as well as other people can impact him.

Basically, we want our son and his siblings to make good decisions when choosing what to say on the internet and how to deliver it. You can express yourself and still do it respectfully and positively. My mother always told me to treat people the way I wanted to be treated and this goes as well 

So, how can you start a conversation with your kids about this?

Google for Education suggests starting with this:

Let your kids know that kids their age are exposed to all kinds of online content, some of it with negative messages that promote bad behavior.

ASK
“Have you (or anyone you know) seen someone be negative on the web? How did that make you feel?

Have you (or anyone you know) ever experienced a random act of kindness on the web? How did it make you feel?

What simple actions can we take to turn negative interactions into positive ones?

After your kids give their thoughts, you can add, “We can respond to negative emotions in constructive ways by rephrasing or reframing unfriendly comments and becoming more aware of tone in our online communication”

The takeaway should be that “reacting to something negative with something positive can lead to a more fun and interesting conversation – which is a lot better than working to clean up a mess created by an unkind comment.”

What else can you do?

Play Interland with your kids and put your kindness skills to the test at g.co/KindKingdom

Learn more about how to Be Internet Awesome at g.co/BeInternetAwesome and tell your kids’ teachers about the online curriculum so they can introduce these activities in the classroom.

Download Curriculum right here: Be Internet Awesome Curriculum

For more info: Go to: g.co/BeInternetAwesome  

What are some of the tips you would share with other parents on how to teach children to act kind online?

Check out our event recap post: https://www.themamamaven.com/how-to-help-kids-be-kind-online-google-for-education-moms-night-out-recap/

The post Teaching Kids To Make Good Decisions Online and Be Internet Awesome appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

When I think about sound — Bose is the first company that comes to mind. But it gets even better. You can get that superior Bose sound with unlimited entertainment possibilities. The new Bose family of smart speakers and soundbars has built-in voice control from Amazon Alexa that puts millions of songs that you can just ask for. And with Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® compatibility, you can wirelessly stream whatever you want, however, you want. And in the future, software updates will give you even more features. When You Need a Good Sound System in Your Home – Bose Soundbars Have You Covered

But you can have control way beyond just speaking. You can enjoy one-touch access to your tunes by using the Bose Music App.

The post When You Need a Good Sound System – Bose Smart Speakers and Soundbars Have You Covered appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Chromecast is designed to make the most of the apps and entertainment already on your phone. Shows, movies, live TV, YouTube, photos and more. It’s all just a tap away from all of your family’s devices.

The post Should We Cut the Cord? Considering Google Chromecast appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

My daughter is going into 5^th grade in September and things will be different this year. Her big brother is going to middle school 20 minutes a day and my daughter will be walking home several days during the week by herself, as her younger brother is attending our school’s afterschool program. We’re in NYC and while her commute is short, I want to get her a phone so she can call or text me to let me know once she is on her way home. However, I don’t want to spend a fortune. There are so many smartphones on the market and getting something pre-owned can be a smart way to ease her into the world of being digitally connected. I’m excited to be partnering up with Trademore to let you know about how you can pick up something pre-owned that won’t break the bank and download my smartphone contract for kids at the end of this post. When It’s Time To Get Your Kid a Smartphone  

If you’re not familiar with Trademore, they offer a large selection of devices with very competitive prices. All devices go through a 30-point functional and cosmetic inspection (for quality, reliability, and functionality) and receive a 100% inspection score. Your new pre-owned phone will be delivered quickly, with free 2-day shipping. And the best thing – the website is super easy to use and you can get the Trademore Certified device that you want – at a fraction of the retail price!

How to Pick out a Device at Trademore:

You simply look for what you want – the manufacturer and device. Then pick the carrier, then the capacity, color, and then the condition. From “Good” up to “Like New”. You can also see what will be coming in your box (like the device + a charging cable). Then you verify the captcha to see the price and then purchase your device! It’s really that easy.

One of the phones that I’m looking for my daughter at is the Samsung Galaxy S7. I checked the price on an online retailer’s website for an unlocked one and it was double the price for a gently used one on Trademore. My daughter loves her Samsung tablet so a Samsung phone, which I am dying to try, could be really a good fit for her.

I’m also looking at the iPhone 6S for my daughter. We are an Apple family so that could be the direction we go.

While I’m not exactly sure which smartphone from Trademore that we’re getting yet, I do know that I have to make sure my daughter has rules for her smartphone. We didn’t really give my 12-year-old son rules for his phone when we bought it last November and we had issues. Here’s a family smartphone printable you can use. Click the link below to download and print out.

Download here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IOOtLCg2C0TQ8Op-pu7OIAT-DMwD0BDb/view?usp=sharing

Find your next smartphone at Trademore.

#TrademoreCertified

My blog may contain links to other websites. I am not responsible for the privacy policies of those other websites. When you click on a link, your information may be collected by those websites so I encourage you to read their privacy policies. 


These affiliate links are not associated with Trademore.

The post When It’s Time To Get Your Kid a Smartphone appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Update: The newest Ace is the 3 and it’s what I would buy for my child these days — link here: https://amzn.to/3AUdST9. As I’ve mentioned, my 12-year-old son has Type 1 Diabetes. Even though he has gained 20 pounds since diagnosis (he was underweight and sorely needed it), I am hoping to instill healthy food and health habits while he and his younger siblings are still young enough to listen to me. That includes making exercise a daily priority. Right now my oldest son is healthy and even though he has an autoimmune disease (which is what Type 1 Diabetes is) he needs to do whatever he can to make sure he stays healthy. I want to build habits that last into adulthood. The Fitbit Ace Activity Tracker for Kids is made for ages 8 and up and this showerproof wristband tracks steps, active minutes and sleep — and rewards kids for making their goals. While my son does exercise, he isn’t wild about it. However, he’s competitive and I was wondering if challenging him to do 10,000 steps would do the trick to get him to reach that daily goal. Did it? Read on for our verdict and the chance to win one for your child! Fitbit Ace Activity Tracker for Kids 8+  

Fitbit Ace is sized for kids. It fit my 12-year-old son’s wrist perfectly and was secure on his wrist (with a watch-like closure). Here are all the features.

Features include:
Activity Tracking
Rewards and Badges
Step Challenges
Showerproof
Battery Life up to 5 days
Sized for kids
Sleep Tracking
Reminders to Move
Wireless syncing
Clock Faces
Clear Display
Fitbit App: Parent view
Fitbit App: Kid view

To set up:
If you have a Fitbit account, log into it on your smartphone to start setting up. You want to do this so you can then set up a child account and then set up your child’s Fitbit Ace.

Your child doesn’t need their own phone, but if they have a phone, you can set it up so your child’s Fitbit Ace can connect to the child account on their phone. The Fitbit app literally walked me through it and while there were several steps, it was super easy. Once you install the Fitbit app on your child’s phone, sign into your account and then go into your family account on your child’s phone. Select that child and then switch to “Kid View” and then set up your Fitbit Ace.

I do limit what apps I put on my child’s phone, but I want him to really get the most out of his Fitbit Ace, so I was happy to put it on his device.

Your child will need to have their Bluetooth on, as the app will ask to pair to it.

Your child can choose which wrist to put it on.

Then you add a nickname. I tend to leave my children’s names off anything that would be displayed, so I picked a name that he likes to use on social media. And no, this isn’t the name we really used for this, just an example.

What I’ve always liked about Fitbit is that you can customize – I let my son pick the way he wanted his clock face displayed.

It will let your child know the ways to access it. I did tell my son to be gentle, as I didn’t want a broken Fitbit Ace on my hands if he whacked it too hard.

The Fitbit Ace has reminders to move. This is great for squeezing it at least 250 steps an hour.

Keeping A Charge:

Let’s talk charging cables. This is the only thing I don’t really like about Fitbit. I want a universal charging cable. I lose cables and I need a cable that I can run out and buy from a big box store, not a special cable that costs $20 and I can only get online. I’ve owned several Fitbits over the years and I always end up having to buy extras, and the ones that I still have in the house aren’t compatible with the Fitbit Ace. Make it a micro USB Cable or something that is widely available. The good news about the Fitbit Ace is that you can charge around every 5 days. However, if you are going on vacation or maybe travel often, I would see about ordering another one to keep on hand.

My son challenged himself to reach 10,000 steps on day 2 of wearing his Fitbit Ace and has been able to keep that up daily.

The Fitbit Ace is certainly inspiring my son to move around more and in my opinion, this is something I can totally recommend. Buy here: Amazon

Related Posts:

The post Fibit Ace: The New Fitbit Activity Tracker for Kids 8+ appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Danielle Cassagnol of the Consumer Technology Association gave us some terrific tips and product recommendations on how to use tech to make summer travel easier.

So, how can you get more out of your summer travels with your tech?

1. Use Smarter Travel Products

Did you know that “Roughly 40% of all U.S. air travelers arrive late?” (Source: Forbes). Plus, flights are not considered late by the FAA unless they are more than 15 minutes late. Make sure you are prepared.

We checked out the Modobag, which combines a suitcase with the innovation of personal mobility to create the world’s first rideable carry-on luggage. It was amazing! It fits in overhead bins, holds up to 85 percent of a typical carry-on, charges your electronic devices and travels at speeds up to 8 mph. It’s the perfect travel companion for road warriors and individuals with mobility issues who are looking for an efficient and safe way to get to their destination. Modobag is also fun, because we believe getting to your destination should be just as fun as the destination itself.

• Nanosafe Battery System complies with airline, FAA, TSA and IATA requirements.
• Travel range up to 10 miles on single charge at speeds of 5 and 8 mph.
• Stowage for personal items and padded compartments for electronics and mobile devices. Duel USB ports. Companion GPS.

Suggested retail price: $1,495.00

Get it here: http://www.modobag.com

2. Take Better Photos 
While we love our smartphones, digital cameras will take better photos.
Digital Cameras have:

– Optical zoom lenses, which capture far away objects with more clarity
– Better focusing technology, which enables them to track objects and people
– Larger image sensors, which capture more detail and richer colors.

Sony RX100 V premium 1.0-type sensor compact camera with superior AF performance

The RX100 V boasts the world’s fastest AF speed (0.05 sec.), world’s fastest continuous shooting speed (24fps) with world’s most AF points, 315 for a compact camera.2

• The RX100 V boasts the world’s fastest AF speed1 (0.05 sec.)
• The RX100 V boasts the world’s fastest continuous shooting1speed (24fps)
• The best-performing compact with 1.0-type sensor

Suggested retail price: $949.99
Get it here: https://amzn.to/2JQY90M

3. Protect Your Smartphone
Did you know that 25% of people have cracked their phone’s screen?
-Look for a case with materials that absorb shock.
Make sure there’s easy access to ports, buttons, and the camera.

Check out the Speck Presidio CLEAR for iPhone X. ThePresidio CLEAR is part of Speck’s slimmest, most protective line of cases yet with innovative new materials, drop-test standards and designs — all while offering 20 percent less bulk than previous Speck cases. The line includes Presidio CLEAR, Presidio CLEAR + GLITTER and Presidio CLEAR + PRINT, all of which showcase these brand new features:

• IMPACTIUM CLEAR: Presidio CLEAR’s soft, inner layer is made of IMPACTIUM CLEARTM, an innovative, dynamic shock-absorbing material that protects your phone against impact.
•  8-Foot Drop Protection: All Presidio CLEAR cases have been tested to withstand and protect a phone from 8 feet high, so you can be confident it will hold up to everyday drops.
• Stays Clear: Made with materials that resist UV yellowing and scratching, Presidio CLEAR cases are designed to stand up to everyday use.
• Lifetime Warranty: All Presidio cases come with a lifetime limited warranty.

Suggested retail price: $39.95-$44.95  Get it here:  https://amzn.to/2HPnMNr

Did you know that 90% of us panic about losing power on our phones?

4. Keep Your Tech Charged

myCharge can help. We loved the myCharge Pride limited Edition. 

The Pride Limited Edition power bank provides enough power (4,000mAh) for about 2x extra battery life for a smartphone. The power bank features convenient fold-out wall prongs so it can be plugged directly into a wall outlet for recharging, no extra cable needed. The Pride charger only weighs 0.42 lbs., making it the perfect lightweight power bank to stash in a bag or pocket for extra battery life while attending Pride festivities, traveling or everyday use. 5% of sales from the chargers will go to The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to the LGBTQ community.

• Pride Limited Edition is a 4,000 mAh portable battery that provides up to 2x extra battery life and features a USB port to charge a variety of devices.
• Features a built-in foldable wall plug for ultra-fast recharging and the battery pack serves as both a wall adapter and a portable charger
• 5% of sales from the chargers will go to The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people ages 13-24.

Suggested retail price: $34.99

Get it here: https://amzn.to/2I1iKt8

5. Find the Right Headphones
When you’re traveling with your family, you don’t want to be distracting to the driver or fellow travelers by watching videos/listening to a song or a podcast without headphones.

– For in-ear models, check to ensure there are at least 3 pairs of ear tips to ensure a proper fit.
-If you’re using headphones for working out, make sure you get headphones that are rated IPX4 or higher to make them sweatproof.

Sony makes the SP700 N Noise-canceling True-wireless Headphones for Sport which are perfect for taking on any road trip or flight. This is the world’s first true wireless noise canceling headphones with a splash-proof design. It offers a cushioned fit and sweat resistance, and the Noise Canceling technology minimizes sound from noisy passengers and traffic, leaving you with just the music.

 

Get it here: https://amzn.to/2WxaDvO

6. Travel without Leaving Home

VR headsets deliver more than just gaming:

• Take Expedia VR tours of hotel rooms
  – Plan a staycation. Visit a different locale every night in VR.
  Hundreds of VR apps and games available.

 

Get it here: https://amzn.to/2WxaDvO

7. Stream on the Go
Need your Netflix fix on the road? Take your streaming stick with you!

The Roku Streaming Stick is a small, powerful and portable streaming device that you can pop in your purse. It features a quad-core processor and 802.11 AC dual-band MIMO wireless, performance is at the core of the Roku Streaming Stick. It has 50% more processing power than its predecessor. With its fast, smooth and responsive navigation, users can quickly access their favorite entertainment whether they are at home or on-the-go. Features such as Hotel and Dorm connect make it easy for users to take the Roku Streaming Stick with them while traveling, in dorm rooms or moving from TV to TV at home. The Roku platform provides streamers with access to 500,000 movies and TV episodes plus more than 5,000 streaming channels. Roku Search makes it easy for users to find their favorites across 500+ channels with unbiased results that are ordered by price.

• Hotel and Dorm Connect for easy connection to wireless networks away from home
• The Roku Streaming Stick and power cord plug into the back of your TV for a clutter-free setup.
• Comes with a voice remote with TV power and volume buttons.

Since I already have a Roku TV and a Smart TV, I gave this to my parents, who surprisingly don’t have a smart TV. Using a HDMI cable, I was able to connect the Roku streaming stick to the HDMI port and introduce Netflix and Amazon Video to my 80-year-old father. I plan on asking him to borrow it when we go on our two road trips this summer.

Suggested retail price: $39.99

Get it here: https://amzn.to/2K2xQU8

Thank you to Techlicious and the Consumer Technology Association for giving us a wonderful lunch and samples. No compensation was received. As always, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, it does not affect your purchase price.

Most photos are courtesy of Suzanne Cohen for Techlicious.

#CTATravel @Techlicious @CTATech

Make sure not to miss: 

https://www.themamamaven.com/6-ways-to-protect-your-digital-footprint-to-keep-you-and-your-family-safe-online/

 

The post 7 Cool Tech Products To Make Summer Travel Easier appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Did you know that June is Internet Safety Month? The internet has become such an integrated part of our lives, that we don’t always stop to think about our digital footprint and how we may be compromising our own safety as well as our family’s safety. 6 Ways to Protect Your Digital Footprint To Keep You and Your Family Safe Online  

Leaving a digital footprint is something that happens when you’re least aware of it. For example, when you click on a website or when you buy something online, that’s leaving a digital footprint. Your activity on social media is especially vulnerable. You’re also leaving a digital footprint when you leave a comment on a social media platform like Facebook, when you check into a restaurant or when you post a photo from your vacation. The more activity you do online and the more information you share online, the more active your footprint. An active digital footprint can potentially require more protection.

Here’s how you can protect yourself:

The easiest thing you can do is simply to periodically look up your name on search engines. You may find old tweets or blog posts that you do not want current friends, co-workers or even potential employers to see. If you “liked” an article on LinkedIn, for example, make sure it showcases your current professional and industry-related interests.

When it comes to social media, be careful not to overshare information. Don’t use your full name, avoid sharing your birthday and stick to the rule of thumb that the less information you share – the better. It’s always smart to set your social media to “friends only”, as opposed to sharing with the public. Potential employers do sometimes look at your social media if it’s available to the public, so you may want to either be careful what information you reveal online or keep social media accounts private.

If you tend to download lots of apps, using an antivirus app is a good idea, as it can protect you from potential viruses that come in the form of texts and emails that you never sent, or even apps that somehow end up on your phone.

Creating a password that’s not easy to hack is important. Use upper and lower case letters, as well as symbols and numbers. Even better – use an entire sentence as your password. Changing your password often is always a smart move. Finally, be sure to use different passwords for different accounts.

If you shop online you might consider installing an anti-spyware software in order to protect your payment information and avoid identity theft.

Unfortunately, kids can fall prey to online scams and may leave a larger digital footprint than you – without even knowing! If you have a child who is active online be sure to speak to them and explain consequences that may result in being active online, especially on social platforms, which are very popular among teens and even younger children. Kids should think twice before posting or commenting, as people can keep the post forever using screenshots, even though the post can later be deleted. They also need to be very careful about which photos they are sharing. It’s always a good idea for parents to know who their kids are communicating with online and the type of information they are sharing.

For more tips on protecting your online safety visit: Hidden World of Data

Want to find out the size of your digital footprint? Take this six-question quiz.

This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.

The post 6 Ways to Protect Your Digital Footprint To Keep You and Your Family Safe Online appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

I fight a constant tech battle in my house — as I try to find apps that will entertain my kids AND actually teach them something. Recently Kidomi asked me to see what my son Skylar (age 7) thought of their app. Kidomi brings together the world’s best kid’s learning entertainment content – all in one place. There are tons of puzzles to solve, adventures to read, inventions to build, creations to make and games to play from the top content creators that kids know and love including Care Bears, Thomas the Train, Toca Boca, The World of Eric Carle, My Little Pony, Crayola, Sago Sago, Highlights for Children and more; and new activities will be added every day. A brand new game or book seems to pop up every day we use Kidomi, which really delights my son.  KidomiApp Educates and Entertains Children With Help From Their Favorite Characters

But what I really liked? It had features that other apps didn’t have.

My favorite features were the Weekly Learning Chart (see an example below).

I could even set a daily time limit for all activities or choose a daily time limit by activity type (games and/or books).

I could also make a favorites playlist for my son or just choose activities by subject.

My son literally couldn’t run out of things to do and his big sister loved sitting with him and learning alongside. She’s 10 and I was happy to find some games and books that were appropriate for her age too.

My son has Strabismus (Lazy Eye) so he wears an eye patch during screen time to help strengthen his good eye.

Which was a win/win in my book.

Kidomi satisfies kids’ endless curiosity with thousands of hours of play, hundreds of activities and new content daily.

Your Kidomi subscription:
– Gives your child access to hundreds of engaging learning activities, robust games, and creativity platforms.
– Unlocks a new activity to discover and play every day
– Provides easy parent tools to manage screen time easily
– Kidomi gives insights to everything your child is playing and learning

Subscribe to Kidomi for $7.99 a month or $59.99 a year. Right now it’s available on Google Play and will be coming to IOS soon.

Follow Kidomi on social:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KidomiUS/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kidomi_US
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidomi_us
Website: https://kidomi.com

#KidomiApp

The post Kidomi App Educates and Entertains Children With Help From Their Favorite Characters appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Note: I also use backups at home, but I’ve had my kids unplug things and sometimes the power fails. With IDrive, I don’t have to worry about any of that. 

IDrive Features:

• Multi-device backup — with IDrive, users can back up all of their devices (laptops, desktops, phones, tablets) into a single account for one low fee, while competitors charge a fee any time a user want to add a device.
• Apps for iOS and Android — protect your mobile devices with apps for iOS and Android, allowing users to back up precious photos, videos, contacts, and more. Also, access your account through the mobile device so you can view and manage files.
• Online file sync — Your files and folders will be synced in real time across all the devices that you link using IDrive.
• Security and Encryption — transfer and store your files with best-in-class encryption using a user-defined key that is not stored anywhere on the IDrive servers.
• Facebook and Instagram backup — easily back up photos uploaded by you or that you’re tagged in on Facebook, as well as photos you share on Instagram.
• Share Anything — share your files/folders via email, Facebook and Twitter.
   

  

SPECIAL DEAL: Sign up at idrive.com through my link below and get 1TB of Cloud Backup + 1TB of Cloud Sync space for $13.90 for the first year. For subsequent renewal and upgrade, normal charges are applicable. https://www.idrive.com/idrive/deals/pdn/themamamaven

Follow IDrive:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IDriveBackup/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IDriveBackup

I was not compensated for this post, but I will receive a small payment if you sign up for IDrive though my affiliate link in this post. 

The post IDrive is the Best Backup Solution for Your Computer and Tech Devices (+ Discount) appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

I like that the back is clear and I can actually see the back of my phone, plus the dual cameras are protected. The LifeProof case is lighter than other protective cases and offers amazing protection to the elements – it’s drop proof, dirt proof, snow proof, and water proof. While the iPhone 7 is waterproof, I still believe in protecting my phone. It helps me get good resale value because my iPhone looks brand new, even after 2 years, after I remove the case. 

Setting up the LifeProof Nuud Case is super easy. Included is a NÜÜD case, a microfiber cloth, a water test unit, a case key, and a LifeProof sticker. I did the water test to make sure it was really waterproof. Just pop it onto your iPhone and snap it together. 
However, the fact that my case is drop proof is what really makes me happy. I had jury duty last week and one of the court officers dropped my phone on the floor as he checked my things. My phone was fine, but it could have shattered on the marble floors if I didn’t have a good case on.

One thing I don’t like about LifeProof is that I had to wait from December to February to get my new case. I bought a case to last me the two months between that, but I was nervous that my new iPhone 7Plus would get destroyed in the meantime. But when the LifeProof cases are released, they really are great cases — just speed it up a little, LifeProof!

 

TO BUY (Special Promo Code) – good until 5/21/2017
10% Off All LifeProof Protective Cases And Accessories. Use Promo Code LFP10 During Checkout At LifeProof.com. Coupon Code: LFP10

If you want the LifeProof Case with the Alpha Glass — 

Product Exclusions:  This applies to ALL LifeProof products, including their most current models
Shipping:  FREE Shipping included on orders over $50

I was given a sample for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links — I get a small percentage if you buy through this blog post. So buy! Keep Your iPhone 7Plus Protected with LifeProof Nuud Case 

The post Keep Your iPhone 7Plus Protected with LifeProof Nuud Case + 10% Off Promo Code appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Hello Fellow Strawberry Shortcake fans! I’m so excited to let you know that Strawberry Shortcake has joined Budge World. This app includes so many activities that promote creativity, learning, and fun. 

 Strawberry Shortcake has its own portal (just look for Strawberry Shortcake’s picture) with many activities. When you play, you can get access to new themed lands, new characters to collect, games, learning activities, and more! The app also inspires learning — kids can practice spelling and math skills (counting) in a fun and engaging way. Collect new characters and customize your world with prizes, stickers and more!

There are 10 Strawberry Shortcake themed activities that you can do.

My daughter basically grabbed my phone – she was so excited.She loved the Strawberry Shortcake Bake Shop. 

Subscribing to Budge World gives your family full access to all the content in the app for as long as your subscription is active. Every month, your family can enjoy brand new exclusive content! As an exciting bonus, some additional content only becomes available as kids progress in the game. Rewards and achievements unlock prizes, stickers and new Budge characters. Note: There are no ads or in-app purchases for subscribers. My little gal loved it!

Download Budge World today! http://apple.co/2mMwgGn

I am a Strawberry Shortcake Ambassador. I receive compensation and perks for my participation. As always, my opinions are always my own.  Berry Good News! Strawberry Shortcake Joins Budge World App

The post Berry Good News! Strawberry Shortcake Joins Budge World App appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

How about a Samsung 4K TV?

Samsung UHD TV

 

Thinking about getting a 4K TV? The UHD TV offers amazing pictures and details. The entire TV has been slimmed down, no more bulkiness (‘member those big bulky TV’s??). The picture looks better, no more worrying about zones of your TV looking different. It also has Smart View – watch your TV entertainment on your mobile device –or your mobile media on your TV via the Smart View App.* Check out what’s on sale with 4K TV’s at Walmart.

Samsung Galaxy Tab E 9.6”

The Samsung Galaxy Tab E lets you watch shows, check on social media, take photos. This tablet is super easy to navigate. gives you just what you need to do what you love. The 7,300mAh battery keeps you going for all of this. Note: Wi-Fi connection required.  Expand your storage with a microSD card slot that can expand your tablet’s memory from 16GB** to up to an additional 128GB. We have the Galaxy Tab S from several years ago and I think it’s time to upgrade. Check out the Samsung Tablets at Walmart.

DAV- Soundbar 

The Samsung Bluetooth Soundbar 2.1ch 130W WirelessSubwoofer (HW-KM36/ZA) helps you to enjoy cinematic sound, featuring TVSoundConnect to make it easy to set up with just one push of a button. The Bluetooth design means that you can connect wirelessly. This TV soundbar uses 3D SoundPlus, a feature that makes 3D movies more incredible by analyzing the depth of the images as they appear, then synchronizing to what’s onscreen for making the illusion of three dimensions even more powerful. It has 130 watts, which deliver volume, bass and power. It’s 2.1 channels of sound allow for stereo sound. You can use the Samsung Audio Remote App from your smarphone or smart device to control your home theater. How cool is that?

Straight Talk GS7 GLTE Prepaid Smartphone

There are many pre-paid Samsung smartphones at Walmart and I think I would choose the Straight Talk Samsung Galaxy GS7  4GLTE Prepaid Smartphone for my son. It’s back in stock and retails for $599. The Straight Talk Galaxy S7 G930VL LTE is the smartphone that’s big on screen and slim on profile. It has an IP68 rating that protects it from spills, splashes and even dunks, just wipe if off and keep going. It has the world’s first dualpixel smartphone camera makes capturing low-light photos a breeze. It also offers fast wireless charging, the Straight Talk Galaxy S7 powers up from 0 to 100 percent in no time. With expandable memory, you can add up to 200GB of storage. So if 32GB⁴ isn’t already enough, you can add an additional 256GB with a microSD card.⁵ No clouds, no hard drives.

Features:

• 1Water-resistant in up to 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.
• 2Samsung wireless charging pads sold separately.
• 3Compared to Galaxy S6 edge+ and Note 5. Battery power consumption depends on factors such as network configuration, carrier network, signal strength, operating temperature, features selected, vibrate mode, backlight settings, browser use, frequency of calls, and voice, data and other application-usage patterns.
• 5 SD card sold separately.

Get the Straight Talk Galaxy S7 G930VL LTE at Walmart.
What are you spending your tax refund check on?

Follow Samsung on Social Media

• Samsung Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SamsungUS 
• Samsung Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/SamsungUS

• † Samsung Protection Plus℠ sold separately

The post Got Your Tax Refund? Get Great Deals at Samsung at Walmart appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

We put the Screen Time App on my daughter’s Android Tablet and my oldest son’s iPad Mini. While my daughter was fine with it over this past month, my son wasn’t as happy. We had sat down with our kids and discussed it. We had even signed a pact. But kids are kids and he’s a sassy 11-year-old. After some behavior we weren’t pleased about, I took the tablet away for 3 days. I had just given him his tablet back when my son did something I was shocked about. He tried to dismantle the Screen Time App. While I’m not exactly sure what he did, he did something. But before he could come and yell for me to help him, the Screen Time app on my iPhone let me know that he compromised it. I got this message. 

I kept my cool. After I reminded him of the family pact we agreed to and told him that I didn’t want to have to take his tablet away again, he agreed to keep it on his iPad Mini and follow our digital rules. Because he had earned it back by having a better attitude at school and at home, I agreed to let him continue to use his tablet. 

With Screen Time installed, I could let him go on his tablet and know that he only had the time I gave him or longer if he completed some tasks (like being kind to his siblings or cleaning his room). We still spend plenty of time outside and doing other activities, but whether I like it or not, my kids love to use their tablets. There has to be a balance – activity + screentime. 

I wasn’t sure how long to let an 11 year old be on his tablet, Screen Time recommends an hour for kids between 2-5, but he was 11. I had made it 1 hour and 32 minutes, provided that he did his homework, chores, and practicing his musical instrument. It also had to replace TV time if he used the full time of 1 hour, 32 minutes. While I’m still not sure if that’s too much time per day, it’s pretty rare that he actually gets to use it that much from Mondays to Fridays. On the weekends, it’s different, there’s just more time. I’m also more relaxed on a weekend and I would give him tasks and chores and increase his time if he did them. 

This is what Screen Time can do: 

The post Can You Strike a Digital/ Life Balance with Your Kids? Screen Time App Can Help appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

I love that my children embrace technology, as it’s opened up new worlds for them. They love looking up musicians on YouTube (I’m looking at you Sing Movie), Google Earth, as well as Minecraft and Angry Birds, and educational apps. I do believe that kids’ lives can be enhanced with technology, but it’s important to not overdo it. Technology helps with developing social skills like empathy, coordination, reaction time and language skills. However, too much screen time can diminish real-life discovery and make my kids downright anti-social! We do try to manage our children’s screen time, but with three kids and a busy life, I can’t always watch how long they are on their tablets and what exactly they are doing. That’s why I’m excited to partner up with Screen Time app, to make things better in my house. Screen Time  is a device-management app that helps parents like me ensure their kids are balancing their use of technology with real-life adventures and activities.

Built by parents for parents and launched in 2013, Screen Time includes features such as daily time limits (yes!), a pause-and-play button, app blocking, online monitoring and more. With over one million downloads worldwide, Screen Time offers a free 14-day trial and is available for iOS and Android wherever you get your apps. 

How much time should kids actually be on tablets and mobile devices? Here’s the formula, according to Screen Time. 

My husband and I sat down with our kids and we signed the Our Family Screentime Pact that Screen Time provided us with. While my kids weren’t entirely happy about it, we explained that as parents, it’s our job to care. We have to make sure we are making sure they aren’t on their tablets too much and while we have a rule that tablets aren’t to be used from Monday to Thursdays, we hadn’t been really monitoring what they were doing on Fridays to Sundays. Somehow, 20 minutes would stretch into 35 or 40 minutes and it has been getting out of control. Luckily it’s not like last year, when we found out that my oldest son was in chatrooms on Minecraft. We took away the WIFI from him and really tried watch what he did on his tablet. He still isn’t allowed to go in the chatrooms, but we recently let him get a private instagram account, which we monitor. My daughter is easier, she has only the apps that I’ve put on, but if I don’t monitor how long she’s on her tablet, she won’t get off. Also, both my husband and I are guilty of being on our phones a little too much. This pact will help our family and I am excited to report in a few weeks how we do! 

We’ve installed the Screen Time‘s App on our children’s devices and I am really pleased. I am using the Premium Account and I get a daily report in my inbox of what apps my children are accessing and for how long. I’m excited to see how this can help my family get a handle on our screentime. Note: we did try a screen time monitoring app before and while it was okay, I feel that Screen Time is different and more comprehensive. Plus, it was super easy to set up and the reports in my email inbox make it much easier for me to check what’s going on as I’m on the go. 

Check out the features of Screen Time below.

Screen Time Features:

Free 14-day trial for Premium service

Basic Account is free and you get:

• Remote device monitoring
• Web and search history
• One device per child

• Premium Account is $3.99/month and you get:
  • Daily web and app use reports
  • App download approval
  • App blocking
  • Time limits
  • Bedtime and school time restrictions
  • Pause & Play to pause a device or reward with bonus time
  • Homework and task lists with parent notifications for completion
  • One account with unlimited devices
  • Remote management
  • Multiple administrators
  • Uninstall prevention

Now, we haven’t started using the bedtime or school restrictions yet or rewarding with bonus time, but I expect we’ll start to very soon. I love that I can award time for chores and good behavior — which is a proven incentive in my house. 

For more information on Screen Time:

Website: https://screentimelabs.com/
FAQs: https://screentimelabs.com/help-center/faq-home/
Screen Time Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScreenTimeLabs/
Screen Time Twitter: https://twitter.com/screentimelabs

Screen Time isn’t all bad, but I feel there are benefits and drawbacks  — parents should be informed. 

Benefits of Screen Time:

• Screen time can help develop some physical and cognitive skills (Psychology Today)¹
  • Playing with tablets and iPhones can help develop coordination, hone quick reactions, and sharpen language skills¹
• Electronics can be used as supplements for learning enhancement (Phys.org)²
  • “The benefits of technology depends on the way children, parents and teachers choose to use it to enhance learning. When used well for educational purposes, the latest technology can help create opportunities for more active and meaningful learning experiences.” – Professor Mark Brown, director of Massey University’s (NZ) National Centre for Teaching and Learning².
  • Moderate use of electronics facilitates digital literacy, a valuable 21^st century skill².
• • Those who spend more time on social networking sites and who instant message more often are better at dispensing “virtual empathy” and social support³.
  • Practicing virtual empathy leads to increased ability to express real-world empathy³.Use of social networking and messaging sites can provide outlets for developing social skills and relationships (Rosen, 2012)³

Downsides of Excessive Screen Time:

• A large amount of screen time can impede the development of cognitive and physical abilities (Psychology Today)¹
  • Between birth and age three, the brain is building the permanent foundation for later brain function.¹
    • A child needs specific stimuli from the outside environment in order for their brain’s neural networks to develop properly. These stimuli are not found on electronic screens.
    • “The ability to focus, to concentrate, to lend attention, to sense other people’s attitudes and communicate with them, to build a large vocabulary – all those abilities are harmed [by excessive screen time].” – Dr. Aric Sigman¹
• Less time for play
  • Studies have demonstrated a negative correlation between amount of screen time and amount of physical activity (Anderson et al., 2008)¹⁰.
• Loss of social skills
  • Screen time can inhibit children’s ability to gauge the emotions of others (TIME)⁹.
    • Researchers at UCLA found that children who were deprived of screens for five days got significantly better at reading people’s emotions than children who continued using screens⁹.
• Behavioral problems
  • Excessive screen time can lead to irritability and mood dysregulation in children (Psychology Today)⁸.
  • Screen time can induce hyperarousal and a demand for constant stimulation^8.
  • Obesity
    • A 2013 longitudinal study by Mitchell et al. found positive associations between screen time and body mass index for adolescents (International Journal of Obesity)⁶
    • Lowering screen time could contribute to reducing the prevalence of adolescent obesity⁶.
  • Irregular sleep schedules and shorter duration of sleep
    • As screen time increases, sleep time decreases at the current time as well as longitudinally (Barlett et al., 2011)⁷
  • Sleep also functions as a mediator between screen time and negative health outcomes.⁷ Excessive or poor-quality screen time can lead to the following negative health/behavioral outcomes (Mayo Clinic)⁵:

Benefits of Non-Electronic Play

• Unstructured playtime is more valuable for a young child’s developing brain than electronic media (Mayo Clinic)⁵.
  • Children younger than age 2 are more likely to learn and remember information from a live presentation than they are from a video⁵.
• Play allows children to use their creativity while developing imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive and emotional strength (Shonkoff et al., 2000)¹¹
• Imaginative play is vital in the development of capacity for a child’s cognitive flexibility and creativity (Psychology Today)¹²
  • Make-believe games are precursors for the capacity to self-regulate, including decreased aggression, civility, and empathy¹².
  • Taking on different roles in imaginative play allow children to learn social skills such as communication and problem solving¹².
• Outdoor play for children provides a wide variety of benefits, such as (Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center, a subsidiary of the US Dept. of Health & Human Services)¹³:
  • Becoming fitter and leaner
  • Developing stronger immune systems
  • Lowering stress levels
  • Encouraging active imaginations and creativity
  • Developing respect for themselves and others.

Citations:

1. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/behind-online-behavior/201604/is-what-screen-time-really-does-kids-brains
2. http://phys.org/news/2013-01-technology-essential-children-success-professor.html
3. Rosen, Larry D. iDisorder: Understanding our obsession with technology and overcoming its hold on us. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.
4. https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/pages/media-and-children.aspx
5. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/screen-time/art-20047952
6. http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v37/n1/full/ijo201241a.html
7. Natalie D. Barlett, Douglas A. Gentile, Christopher P. Barlett, Joey C. Eisenmann & David A. Walsh (2011): Sleep as a Mediator of Screen Time Effects on US Children’s Health Outcomes, Journal of Children and Media.
   2011. Link: http://www.drdouglas.org/drdpdfs/BGBEW_JoCaM_2011.pdf
8. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mental-wealth/201508/screentime-is-making-kids-moody-crazy-and-lazy
9. http://time.com/3153910/why-access-to-screens-is-lowering-kids-social-skills/
10. http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-8-366
11. Shonkoff JP, Phillips DA, eds. From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2000.
12. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/beautiful-minds/201203/the-need-pretend-play-in-child-development
13. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/teaching/eecd/nature-based-learning/Benefits%20of%20Nature%20and%20Outdoor%20Play/outdoor-play-benefits.pdf

The post How to Manage Your Child’s Screentime Easily and Without Tears with Screen Time App appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

The microsite and the associated weekly newsletter for subscribers will feature videos starring animated Galxyz Blue Apprentice characters inspired by Popular Science articles, and will be marketed to the brand’s audience. The microsite will also feature the latest news, breakthroughs and discoveries emerging in real time in the physical, life, Earth and space sciences, communicated via both brands’ signature educational, approachable style.

My almost 6 year old really liked it. He needed help with directions (he doesn’t read yet). I would say this was for kids that are a little older — a lot of the science concepts didn’t register with him.

Galxyz’s intergalactic science adventure game, Blue Apprentice, which allows kids to solve problems covering over 45 science topics and will be available for download on all mobile and online devices.

A subscription to Blue Apprentice unlocks dozens of episodes of gameplay in story mode, multiple sandbox levels where children can freely explore science topics, and a customization and crafting tool based on the Periodic Table of the Elements. Subscribers also receive access to all new game content, which will be continuously added by the Galxyz team.

Some notable features of Galxyz’s Blue Apprentice include:

● iPad and Mac/Desktop browser compatible

● A combination of Pixar animation and cutting-edge learning design.

● Lessons in Physical, Life, Earth and Space Sciences.

● Text-to- speech feature helps early readers enjoy the story

● Evolving gameplay that changes with the decisions made by the player.

● Currently, the game takes approximately 38 hours to complete.

We were not compensated for this post. Galxyz and Popular Science Partner To Introduce Science Concepts To Kids

The post Galxyz and Popular Science Partner To Introduce Science Concepts To Kids appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

The Imagination Movers are coming to NYC this March so if you’re looking for a high-energy, interactive spectacle for your kids this is the show for you! Known for their kid-friendly relatable lyrics, upbeat music and fun “props” such as giant balloons, flying toilet paper and tons and tons of confetti, Imagination Movers are here to bring delight and positive energy all around!

The Imagination Movers’ ninth album, “Licensed to Move” came out in 2015 and they’ll be performing in NYC on March 12th and Huntington, LI on March 13. Below is info on their NYC show. Scroll down for a chance to win two tickets to their March 12 NYC show.

When: March 12, 2016 at 2pm

Where: The Concert Hall at New York Society for Ethical Culture
2 West 64th Street

Price: $37.50 (plus fees)

To buy tickets click here or call (877) 987-6487

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win two tickets to the show on March 12.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the show.

———————————————————————————————————

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written forThe Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 9, 6 and 3) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post The Imagination Movers Concert appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

By snapping together colorful programming blocks, children can make characters move, jump, dance and sing. In the process, kids will learn to solve problems, design projects and express themselves creatively. PBS KIDS ScratchJr allows kids to not only learn to code, but also code to learn.

“PBS KIDS ScratchJr uses the power of technology to help children learn,” said Sara DeWitt, Vice President, PBS KIDS Digital. “The PBS KIDS ScratchJr App puts kids in the driver’s seat, where they express themselves through storytelling. While kids are playing with their favorite characters, they are also exploring the basics of coding, an important 21st-century literacy.”

In tandem with the launch of the app, PBS KIDS ScratchJr companion activities will also be available. Local PBS stations, schools and other organizations will be able to use these activities to create educational hands-on experiences for young children with PBS KIDS ScratchJr. These activities are available through PBS LearningMedia in conjunction with Computer Science Education Week (December 7-13) and the Hour of Code. Additional materials will be available in the coming months.

The app has been developed as part of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and PBS Ready To Learn Initiative with funding from the U.S. Department of Education. Ready To Learn is a federal program that supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted at preschool and early elementary school children and their families.

PBS KIDS ScratchJr is now available for free from the App Store on iPad and from the Google Play store on Android tablet. More information on PBS KIDS apps is available at pbskids.org/apps.

The post PBS KIDS ScratchJr Lets Kids Code appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

I’ll admit that I’m technical, but up to a point.

So here’s the official description:

“The ReadyNAS 200 Series Network Attached Storage is powered by a dual core ARM Cortex A15 1.4GHz processor with 2 Gigabytes of RAM, dual Gigabit Ethernet ports with Link Aggregation technology and delivers up to 200MByte/sec data transfer speed. It offers an industry leading 5 levels of protection on all your important files and data. The ReadyCLOUD web-based user interface works seamlessly on PC, Mac, smartphones and tablets and makes the RN200 the ideal network attached storage for consumers looking to create their own secure private cloud due to its simplicity and ease of use.”

So, what does that mean? My files, my pictures, everything on my laptop gets backed up. The ReadyNAS is my storage device that houses my hard drive and files. ReadyCLOUD is the service that connects to ReadyNAS and allows me to access, upload, share, and stream my content from anywhere, using virtually any device. It comes with a 3 year warranty.

The Setup:

The unit is pretty small. Remember to put it somewhere where there is air circulating (ie. don’t shove it away in an airless cabinet). It needs to plug into your router and an outlet.

I had a hard time setting this up. until I actually moved closer to my router and it practically set up itself. Seriously. The unit is small. Once my laptop recognized the ReadyNAS, I was able to hook it up easily and I used my Macbook Pro and the ReadyNAS wizard set up quickly. Once that was set up, I set up the ReadyCLOUD so I can access my ReadyNAS content from my laptop and my iPhone.

I couldn’t believe how easy I was able to back up my computer — which is a new one and needed it badly. Note: MAC users, you can set up Time Machine to work for backup, but I chose to set it up using the ReadyCLOUD.

Just set what you want backed up.

Features:

• 2-bay Network Attached Storage with 5 levels of protection for all your photos, videos, and important files
• Securely store and share files in ReadyCLOUD – your own private cloud
• Automatic backup and sync from a Windows PC with the ReadyCLOUD app
• Stream movies and music to your mobile devices with DLNA or iTunes
• View, share and backup photos, videos and important files on your devices from anywhere with the ReadyCLOUD mobile app
• 1.4Ghz processor and 2GB on-board memory for swift data transfers
• Easy installation with a tool-less drive tray

Get your own ReadyNAS Backup System from NETGEAR. It comes either diskless or with 4TB or 6TB.

Purchase on Amazon 

I am a NETGEAR Ambassador and this post contains an affiliate link. 

The post NETGEAR ReadyNAS System Backs up Computer Files Simply and Securely appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

So, if you are wondering how to save money on buying a used iPhone or iPad for your child, this post is for you! We’re thinking of getting a certified pre-owned device for our son. He doesn’t need the latest gadgets and the newest version. And I can save as much as 40% off retail value!

How To Save Money on Buying A Used iPhone for Your Kid

Gazelle is the smarter way to buy smart devices. Gazelle Certified pre-owned is designed for consumers (or their children) who want devices like an iPhones, iPads or Androids at a lower cost than retail value. To be able to get a gently used iPhone is much better than buying a new iPhone (so expensive).

Whether you need a replacement gadget quickly because yours or your child’s just broke or was lost (and you aren’t eligible for a discounted upgrade) or just want to avoid the high hidden costs of buying new, Gazelle is proving that buying used is a really smart and safe way to own a smartphone. Nearly 70% of parents reported that a child in their household has broken or lost at least one smartphone, according to a Gazelle survey.

Gazelle is the only used gadget provider to offer a rigorous 30+-point inspection on all devices and back every transaction with a 30-day money back guarantee. Buying a used device from Gazelle is easier than buying from a wireless carrier – no contracts and no strings attached. Gazelle provides a great customer experience.

If you’re not quite ready to buy,  subscribe to the Gazelle email list to receive a $10 voucher when you buy within 2 weeks. NOTE: Wait on the page until the pop-up appears, and then enter your email address without closing out of the box.

Shop Gazelle.

The post How To Save Money on Buying A Used iPhone for Your Kid appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Visit the site to learn what card is right for you.

For Digital Imaging:
We like SanDisk’s products, from range from professional-grade camera memory to point-and-shoot SD cards to microSD cards, deliver industry-leading performance and reliability. SanDisk SD cards are also designed to meet the security, capacity, performance, and environmental requirements of next generation devices—because your stories span generations and your memory solutions should too.

For Smartphones, Tablets, and Action Cameras:
You want power so you can capture ultra quick action. Plus it works better to record more 4K Ultra HD and Full HD video. Transfer speeds are up to 60MB/s. It’s over 10x faster than ordinary cards. For DSLR Cameras and camcorders, transfer speeds are up to 80MB/s.

When you add a SanDisk microSD card to your smartphone or tablet, you can carry more of the media and apps you love. We added one to my daughter’s Galaxy Tab S to expand her storage from 8MB to 64MB. Thin and light computing devices, tablets, and smartphones demand the compact form factors of SanDisk microSD cards.

We depend on our mobile devices to share stories every day, no matter where we go. You have to make sure their performance can keep up. SanDisk microSD cards give your smartphone or tablet a more responsive camera function and smoother media playback. Whether you want more storage for your phone or a card that makes it easy to shoot high resolution video on the go, you can choose the way you want to add fast, reliable data storage with capacity options from 4GB to 200GB.

USB FOR iPhone and iPad:
Allows for easy transfer between iPhone, iPad, and computers AND Frees up iPhone and iPad memory with both lightning and USB connectors.

Dual USB for ANDROID devices: 
Allows for easy transfer between Android device and computers AND Frees up space for photos, videos, music and more.

Get SanDisk at Best Buy.

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

The post Is Your Tech Ready for Back To School? Best Buy Can Help! appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Lindsey from Philips talked about using beach-proof products for the beach, showing off Philips Shoqbox Mini Speaker (BT2200). 

The Philips Shoqbox mini is a highly-portable, rugged, water resistant Bluetooth speaker that can be used at the pool, beach or in the shower. Plus, the sound is strong for the size of the speaker and you can also use it as a speakerphone for work calls at the office, at home or on the road. The retail price was just reduced to a very affordable $49.95. And yes, you can even drop it in water and play your tunes.

If you are looking for products to survive beach and pool use, look for rugged products.

• “Ruggedness” is defined in two ways: Military spec rating, MIL-STD810G and ingress protection ration, IPXX.
• MIL-STD810G tests products against: high temperature, low temperature, rain and immersion, humidity, sand and dust, vibration, shock. Actual requirements vary based on the product’s intended usage.
• MIL-STD810G is usually referenced in relation to dust and shock ratings. It includes ingress protection testing.
• IP ratings are for dust and water resistance and use a two digit code: IPXX
  • First number is dust resistance
  • Second number is water resistance
  • The higher the number, the more it’s protected

Most electronics are at least IP22. An “X” (e.g., IPX6) doesn’t mean it doesn’t offer protection against dust, just that it’s not rated. The minimum beach rating is IP56. The 5 means that the device allows some dust to pass inside. A 6 would be entirely dust-proof. The 6 means that devices are protected if a wave washes over them. Only a 7 or 8 in that second digit position means you can use the product under water. A 7 means you can go snorkeling with it. An 8 means you can take the product further than 1 meter underwater for 30 minutes.

The next sponsor was Panasonic. I’ve used Panasonic products for a long time and have even worked with the company on some reviews – here’s my review of Snow Day Essential from Panasonic and Link2Cell Cordless Phone. Dan Unger of Panasonic showed us the Panasonic Lumix G7 Camera. 

The revolutionary Panasonic LUMIX G7 offers over 24 compact lens options built on the next generation interchangeable lens camera standard (Micro Four Thirds) pioneered by Panasonic. It’s “mirrorless” design enables a lighter, more compact camera body, while also offering cutting-edge video, audio, creative controls, wireless, intelligent-focusing, and exposure technologies not possible with traditional DSLRs. And with our exclusive LUMIX 4K Ultra HD video pause and export as a 4K Photo mode, you’ll never again miss that one shot that perfectly captures a scene.

• The 4K PHOTO function includes three different modes, all leveraging the G7’s 30-frames-per-second video capture rate.
• 4K Burst – Continually captures 8 megapixel photos when the shutter button remains pressed.
• 4K Burst S/S (Start/Stop) – Simply record a 4K video and then Play, Pause and Extract any frame as an 8 megapixel photo. It’s the easiest way ever to capture that perfect photo.
• 4K Pre-Burst – 4K Pre-Burst mode initiates a 4K video sequence one second before and after the shutter button is pressed. This gives you an extra 60 images from which to select and is perfect for those unpredictable, spur-of-the-moment photo ops.

Smartphones are driving the volume of photos being taken. In 2007, Apple introduced the first iPhone. Last year, we were uploading & sharing 1.8B photos per day. By 2017, 78.8% of all photos will be taken with a mobile phone.

Dedicated cameras really shine with superior photo quality. They use optical zoom lenses, which bring far away objects closer. Digital zooms on smartphones offer “pretend” zoom that simply crops an image and loses resolution. Cameras have a faster shot time and faster burst modes to capture movement better.

They offer better image stabilization and far bigger image sensors capture more light. A smartphone’s sensor is 1/2.3” (6×4.5mm) and Panasonic G7 sensor micro is 4/3 (17.3x13mm).

I had the chance to check out the Panasonic G7 Camera a few weeks before this event and was pretty impressed. I have a small point and shoot and end up using my iPhone 6Plus all the time. Upgrading to a better camera is definitely on my wish list!

I received a Philips Shoqbox mini for attending this lunch. All opinions are my own. 

The post Techlicious CE Week Lunch Recap #shoqboxsummer #4KPhoto appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

My almost 10 year old son loves his iPad Mini. A little too much. But Family Protector from Intego puts the control of his iPad Mini back in my hands. Family Protector helps me keep an eye on his web browsing history and app usage, limit his device usage, prevent in-app purchases, and freeze his device if I need to (if I give him a timeout or if he just won’t turn it off). These new iOS mobile device parental controls will help parents manage Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices.

To use Family Protector, you need to sign up for an account (they offer a free 14 day trial), then add a device, add a child, and then assign that device to the child. It’s actually pretty simple to set up, which is exactly what I want when I set up a new program. Family Protector was designed with the busy parent in mind and offers on screen wizards to make set up really easy.

After I installed Family Protector on my son’s iPad Mini in around a minute and handed it back to him, asking him to use the Rook Browser instead of Safari.

Family Protector Lets Parents Set Restrictions 

After you’ve installed Family Protector on your child’s device, then you can add settings and restrictions for your child. My son is almost 10, so I was able to choose his age and then select the level of web restriction that I wanted. Family Protector helps families with multiple children and kids manage their IOS Devices (plus the apps on each one).

If I was to let my daughter or my younger son use the tablet, I would add their profile and select their age level. This way, the littler ones aren’t looking at things that aren’t age appropriate for them.

Family Protector has brought me peace. While my son usually asks for apps and tells me what he’s doing, he hates to turn OFF his tablet and it leads to an argument. With Family Protector I can choose the time to turn his tablet on and off – either for dinnertime, bedtime, or when he gets in trouble.

I can also set his web restriction level.

• Strict Restrictions mean that the child can only browse to websites on your list.
• By Request means that the child can only browse to websites on your list, but can make requests.
• Monitored means the child can go anywhere, but you can see it in web history.
• None (self-explanatory).

I chose “Monitored” for my son’s settings. I wanted to be able to see what he’s done on the web, but I didn’t want to restrict him yet. He does ask before he goes to a website or before he downloads an app, but I still want to check up and see what he’s doing.

When you install the Family Protector on your child’s device (to have their web use monitored) they can’t use Safari, but Family Protector’s own browser called Rook (which is automatically installed). Note: Safari is hidden when your child uses their device, but if you want to use it, just change the settings. My son actually liked the Rook Browser and was fine using it.

Restrict App Downloads and In-App Purchases

We’ve all heard the stories about the kid who racks up $600 from in-app purchases. I am afraid of this happening, so I was very happy to see that Family Protector offers a way to turn OFF in-app purchases.

Scheduling Rules
This was also a terrific feature. I loved that I was able to set up a schedule for his tablet time this summer.

You can also send text messages to your child to call you. Until they actually call you back, they’re locked out of all apps and the message keeps popping up.

I can hit “Timeout” and lock his device instantly. That is much better than trying to wrestle his tablet away from him (yes, it’s happened).

While you can still swipe to get onto the device, the Rook Browser will not work, Safari will be hidden, as will any game apps. Meaning, they’re not going to be doing anything fun.

The price of Family Protector is $5 per month ($60 per year). In my opinion, being able to monitor web usage and set controls is worth it. And not having to wrench away the tablet from my son when it’s time for bed is amazing.

Family Protector will manage usage on 15 iOS devices and offers an unlimited number of family administrators (ie. parents, grandparents, or guardians).

Use this coupon code at checkout-  when you go to purchase the product after your 14 day free trial.

To sign up for Family Protector, go here.

Never miss a post!   Name:*   Your email address:* Please enter all required fields Correct invalid entries   No spam, ever. Promise. Powered by FeedBlitz

The post Family Protector Puts Parents in Control of Their Child’s IOS Device appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

We were there to check out their Signature Studio: which is an new interactive experience lets girls design one-of-a-kind fashions to take home the same day! It’s available in American Girl Place Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. It was amazing experience for my little girl — more about that later in the post.

This was our first time in an American Girl Doll Store. The building has three floors! After we went up to the third floor, we were taken care of by our own personal shopper, Maria. She asked my daughter questions and guided her to choose a Truly Me American Girl Doll that looked like her. You can see how Maria helped my daughter in the video at the bottom of this post.

A was so excited to see her doll!

It was love at first sight. A named her doll Jade Annie.

Since A has glasses, I purchased a pair ($10.99) for Jade Annie so they could match.

Next we headed to the Hair Salon, where stylist Remy did the “Waterfall” braid in Jade Anne’s hair and told us how to take care of her locks. You can use a spray bottle with water, but no styling products! She also told us to use the American Girl hair brush and a regular ole toothbrush to smooth Jade Annie’s hair.

After Jade Annie had her hair done, we were off to the Signature Studio to design pajamas (for Jade Annie) and a backpack (for my daughter). This was absolutely genius — kids get to be fashion designers by choosing their fabric and printed details. My daughter was in heaven, because she wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up. Note: This does cost extra.

A loves dogs, so she decided to put a dog on the pajama top and on the bottoms.

Next, A designed her backpack. Of course she put a dog on it!

A was so happy when Maria brought out her printed in store backpack and pajamas for her doll.

She was thrilled to see the design that she made was in her hands (it’s printed on site and takes around 20-30 minutes to be done).

How to Design in Signature Studio.

Your girl can be a doll fashion designer—and show a style that’s Truly Me in three simple steps:

1. Using a tablet mounted on the wall,  start the fun by picking a doll outfit or girl-sized backpack
2. Make a design like no other from several choices of images and patterns
3. Get the piece printed in-store to show off to friends that same day

Available in American Girl Place Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.

For our final activity of the day, we sat down to a delicious meal in the American Girl Cafe. I was really pleased with the menu choices (since I am watching my diet, I researched it before we went).

You can actually sit right next to your American Girl Doll at the cafe, with clip on doll booster seats provided.

We started off with a platter of soft pretzel sticks, hot dog muffins, and blanched broccoli and carrots. My daughter ordered chicken fingers and mac and cheese for her meal. It came with a fruit skewers, which was a huge hit.

Dessert was a fun Chocolate Mousse Flower Pot and a cupcake.

My daughter loved having dinner with her American Girl doll.

Check out the video I shot of our experience.

Thank you to American Girl and The Little Style File for such a terrific afternoon. This is a memory that my daughter and I will always have together. We were not compensated for this post, but received a TrulyMe American Girl Doll, Hair Salon, Signature Studio experience, and a meal in the American Girl Cafe. I paid for the eye glasses and the stuffed dog. As always, all opinions are my own. 

The post American Girl Signature Studio Experience #TrulyMe [VIDEO] appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.