When I first started this website in 2008, my goal was to help parents navigate the constantly growing landscape of digital learning experiences for their kids. There were very few educational websites that existed to provide quality age-appropriate content but ABCmouse was one of them. Today ABCmouse has been updated for a new generation of explorers, thinkers, and creators and their parents who want their kids to have the best safe personalized learning experiences. Keep reading for a full ABCmouse review of their free Basic Access and how it supports special education needs.

About ABCmouse 

Created by Age of Learning, ABCmouse has been providing engaging, research-driven, digital experiences for ages 2-8 for over 15 years. Current content includes 13,000 reading, phonics, math, science, art, and music activities along with puzzles, interactive books, and more. Open-ended play through the app fosters early STEM skills, coding fundamentals, and critical thinking skills.

An impressive 50 million children have completed over 13 billion learning activities and ABCmouse has supported more than 700,000 teachers and has been trusted by 40 million families.

ABCmouse Plans: Free Basic vs Paid Premium 

ABCmouse offers two plan options: Basic Access (free) and Premium Access (paid). Both Basic and Premium provide safe, engaging learning experiences. Here’s an overview of how they differ, although this ABCmouse review focuses on free content available through ABCmouse Basic.

ABCmouse Basic (free) offers daily access to a selection of 10 learning activities per day without the worry of being charged. Basic is designed to give families meaningful access to engaging activities with no subscription or payment required. With ABCmouse Basic, there’s no trial and no charges—just safe, educational ways to learn every day, without the worry of being charged.

ABCmouse Premium (paid) provides access to the full curriculum, unlimited play, and added features for families with multiple children. Premium includes more than 13,000 engaging activities and personalized Learning Paths for up to three children. ABCmouse Premium content can be enjoyed through the website or app. The current cost of ABCmouse Premium is $14.99/month with a 30 day free trial or $45/year.

ABCmouse Review: Opening the App for the First Time

Upon first opening ABCmouse, the mouse character, ABC Mouse, or also referred to as ABC, appears on a yellow background before disappearing to show the ABCmouse logo with the name of the app.

The mouse appears again upon the launch of the home screen greeting kids with “Hello, it’s good to see you” or another salutation while its hand glows for a high five. This friendly welcome encourages immediate interaction, even before kids begin to explore learning through the app.

Learning with ABCmouse

The ABCmouse home screen is broken up into four different sections: Daily Learning Quest, My World, My Classroom, and My Learning Path. Each section is either a rectangle or square with a small amount of text and characters. All sections appear on the home screen, eliminating the need for scrolling. Having all available content on a single screen makes ABCmouse streamlined for learning and it helps get kids learning faster. 

A white gloved hand with an outstretched pointer finger highlights suggested activities kids can complete to work towards a surprise. Most kids probably won’t need the app’s suggestions because the captivating visuals entice them to tap to find their first learning activity.

ABC, in the lower right corner of the screen also provides verbal suggestions. At any time, kids can tap on him for app guidance.

ABCmouse allows parents to change child settings to customize learning.  For the purposes of this ABCmouse review, activities were selected based on a 4 year old named Sally with a pre-K reading and pre-K math level.

ABCmouse Review: Daily Learning Quest Section

The Daily Learning Quest section occupies the most screen real estate on the home screen and features content that rotates daily. The written name of each activity is overlayed on the colorful visuals enticing non-readers to tap to play.

Most of the Daily Learning Quest activity names are self-explanatory to adults. Visuals provide clues to kids about what they’ll be learning, even if they’re not quite reading. Over time, early readers will start to learn the name of the activity through sight word recognition, a key early reading skill.

Kids will be enticed to tap on content based on visuals and will enjoy the discovery aspect of the app.

On the first day I used ABCmouse, Daily Learning Quest appeared with the words New for You! It highlighted educational experiences developed in partnership with companies such as NASA, San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, and Major League Baseball.

On the second day, Daily Learning Quest featured activities such as Printing Skills, Shapes, My Classroom, Winter Sports, Word Fluency, Music, Logic, Letter Names, Vocabulary, Numbers, Life Skills, and more. There were also tiles navigating to the My World and My Classroom sections of the app. These two sections also appear on the home screen. Keep reading for information about the My World and My Classroom sections.

Here’s a look at some of the Daily Learning Quest activities provided to my fictional 4 year old, Sally during my ABCmouse review.

Daily Learning Quest: Logic

Instead of spoken instructions, a directional arrow with a pointing hand appears on the screen to indicate to kids to swipe up, left, or right to practice fine motor skills as they move their penguin through a maze of snowy boulders.

Along the way, there’s a train that travels from left to right, a river, rolling snowball, and other obstacles that require local thinking to help their penguin reach the end.

Daily Learning Quest: Life Skills

The Bright Smiles Safari activity requires kids to help Harper the Hippo brush and floss her teeth. Music with subtle but catchy lyrics repeat the word brush while kids drag their finger to move the flossing pick or toothbrush to make the gunk in Harper’s mouth disappear.

This activity reinforces the importance of tooth brushing and flossing in a fun way while requiring kids to practice fine motor skills. It really took a lot of scrubbing finger motions to get Harper’s teeth clean!

Daily Learning Quest: Letter Names

During this activity, kids drag Sparkle the Unicorn from side to side to catch the featured letter while avoiding the incorrect ones. The featured letter appears 3 times at the top of the screen, indicating the number of times kids need to catch it. The repetitive nature of having to recognize the same letter multiple times as other ones drop is helpful in teaching letters. 

To reinforce letters, each letter is said as Sparkle catches it, whether it’s the correct one or not. Correct letters are celebrated with stars whereas incorrect ones bonk Sparkle on the head and cause swirls to appear.

Daily Learning Quest: Word Fluency

Word fluency requires a knowledge of letters. In this activity, kids are given a word like ‘cake’ to spell. Each of the 4 letters appears at the top of the screen in a box with the letter written in gray. As the ABCmouse character jumps to catch a letter in the word, the letter color at the top of the screen changes from gray to black.

Daily Learning Quest: Space Partnership with NASA

The ABCmouse Space Collection in partnership with NASA helps young learners build fundamental knowledge in science and space through a variety of different learning activities. Branding is minimal but it’s distinguishable from other content because ABCmouse appears dressed in a space suit with a space shuttle.

As a mom who has written about the importance of encouraging STEM learning and has two college-age engineering majors, I’m always interested to see how app-based digital learning experiences in STEM can foster curiosity in young ages. I was pleased to see such a wide variety of activities targeting various learning styles. Here’s a look at just a couple of the many learning tasks through the NASA partnership.

The Wonder Files: The Moon

Since The Wonder Files: The Moon was my first activity for the day, the ABCmouse app let me know I had 9 activities left to play. Basic users are allocated 10 learning experience each day and users are reminded of how many remain during play.

This animated video features a girl asking her dog, Rocky, questions like: Why does it change shape? What is the ground of the moon like? She pondered possibilities that maybe the surface of the moon is rocky, hilly, or could be covered in space grass and said the more she thinks about the moon, the more questions she has.

This short video featured a perfect age-appropriate introduction to space ages 2-8 would understand. Thinking about the moon and having questions encourages kids to be curious about the world around them. It also introduces the first step of the scientific method: Ask a question. The end of the video also teases a book called the Wonder Project, a place to write questions and find out answers together, like a scientific notebook used by scientists.

Meet Our Moons- Part 1

Meet Our Moons is an animated non-fiction text featuring a character named Ben who provides facts about the moon and the moon’s phases. Text is highlighted in yellow as it’s read by Ben. This helps beginning readers make the connection that there for each written word, there is a spoken word. Learning to recognize sight words and understanding 1-1 correspondence is an essential skill for learning to read. Additional animations layered on the story’s visuals enhance learning.  

While learning can be done in any order, content in Meet Our Moon- Part 1 answered questions about phases of the moon from the previous activity, The Wonder Files: The Moon.

ABCmouse Review: My Learning Path

The My Learning Path section of ABCmouse provides kids with a choice to complete sequential lessons in either reading or math. Customized learning levels for kids selected by parents through Settings appear under each subject. For our 4-year-old, Sally, I selected math. Keep reading for information about how to customize your child’s learning level through Settings.

The first My Learning Path math lesson involved teaching to count to the number 20. The series of 6 lessons involved watching, listening, reading, and playing to reinforce numeracy through each short lesson that provided essential math concepts.

Writing the number 20 by tracing the number 20 with your finger on the screen served as a quick first lesson to introduce the number in an engaging way. Upon completion, the learning path screen appeared and the character moved to the next stepping stone.

The next activity featured a video with Miracle. As Miracle counted, each number from 1-20 appeared on the screen and was highlighted as spoken. 

To reinforce learning, the counting was repeated but this time with cookies. As cookies appeared on the screen, the number appeared on it as it was counted.  

The Learning Path took us to the next activity which was a digital 2 player Connect 4 game. Just like the real-life game, this involved using hand-eye coordination and strategy to get 4 of the same color in a row. When beaten by the app, the words You Lost were accompanied by cheery balloons.

Next on the Learning Path was a book called Counting Fingers and Toes, a math-based story that combined literacy and numeracy in a nice way. Bonus: Words were highlighted as they were being read, something I always appreciate as a former first grade teacher who taught my students how to read!

The final activity was called Show What You Know, an interactive assessment to determine how well kids knew their numbers up to 20.

A question appeared at the top of the screen, was read, and then number choices appeared below. Kids were required to figure out what number came next to complete the sequence.

Each number was read aloud and could be read again if tapped. Four questions were asked in total before the entire Learning Path was completed and kids earned tickets for their work.

Despite many learning activities, the entire My Learning Path only counted as 1 out of the 10 daily activities allowed through the ABCmouse Basic plan. I highly recommend making sure your child completes either reading or math lessons in their Learning Path each day to maximize the 10 activity allowance.

ABCmouse Review: My Classroom

 The My Classroom section is where kids can discover learning by subject area including Reading & Writing, Math, People & Places, Science & Health. These subjects are depicted on “shelves” on a screen with a classroom-like appearance. Icons for these subjects appear in the center of the screen with the words underneath them.

Smaller shelves on the right-hand side of the screen feature games, videos, art, and reading icons. Aboard to the right of the teacher highlights a subject for the day which was Reading Readiness on one of the days I was working on my ABCmouse review.

Upon opening My Classroom, a friendly teacher character appears saying, “Welcome to the classroom, Sally. Here we can explore reading, writing, and math.”

Gentle guidance is provided if kids hesitate to select a learning area to start with through prompts like, “I think you’ll like the activities in the Reading and Writing shelf. Let’s look in the Math shelf.”

Always interested in STEM learning for the youngest ages, I explored Math and Science & Health.

As an ABCmouse Basic user, I could access content under Featured Activities. Scrolling down, I could see topics like Animals, Human Body, Weather and Climate, Earth and Space, Habitats and Environments, and Healthy Habits.

There were 109 Science & Health and 434 Math activities that I couldn’t access without the paid Premium plan but there was still plenty to choose from among the Featured Activities through the free Basic version.

Here’s a look at some of the Math and Science & Health activities presented to our 4 year old, Sally.

Pet Vet: Bandages

This health lesson about cleaning and bandaging wounds also incorporates shape matching and fine motor skills. Kids are required to practice hand-eye coordination to clean scratches with a cotton ball.

After wounds are clean, a selection of different shaped bandages appear and kids must match the best shaped bandage to cover the wound.

Snack Stack

Snack Stack is a virtual version of stacking blocks but in digital form with food shapes like square cubes of waffles and cinnamon buns, rectangular glazed donuts and bacon, along with irregular shaped foods like t-shaped broccoli, curved bananas, round apples, and wedge-shaped carrots.

Screenshot

Items fall from the top of the screen and can be manipulated by using the arrows to the right or left of center to turn them however, some items, like the banana, are tricky to manipulate to stack more food on top, making the snack stack fall. 

Kids get multiple tries to stack snacks, making it a fun digital version of blocks for a new generation.

Mixed Up: Seasons

This activity requires kids to categorize items associated with different seasons into bowls labeled with the name of the season. For this game, Sally was looking for items used in winter, spring, and summer. As items appear on the conveyor belt, kids can tap on it to hear the name of the object before correctly sorting it. Each season required 3 items to be correctly sorted before the chef would disappear.

 Once all chefs had full bowls, a progress bar graph appeared and kids were given the opportunity to choose a treat to feed the cat on the final screen.

ABCmouse Review: My World

Through My World, kids can explore five thematic topics that address certain learning objectives and customize an avatar.

Bot Beats Coding

Bot Beats involves dragging blocks of code to program different parts of the robot to complete an action. Kids can tap on the robot’s head, feet, or arms to program them to make music or dance. For the head, kids choose among 6 different blocks of code with various facial expressions and drag them into 8 distinct spaces to program the robot’s head to make distinct beats.

A single block of code dragged into place will make the robot’s feet dance. Kids can program the robot’s arm movements by choosing among two different blocks of code to drag into four spaces.

This visual, block based interface is an effective way to introduce young children to coding concepts that they’ll be exposed to later through platforms like Scratch, ScratchJr, Tynker, or Code.org which is what I used in my 8^th grade middle school computer science class.

Safari Life Science

This activity allows kids to explore an animal park by tapping on different icons on the safari map. They’ll learn facts about giraffes, lions, and many other animals while acting as zoo veterinarians in charge of their care.

Some of the tasks include washing and caring for a giraffe’s health, keeping a lion cub still to be weighed by choosing calming music, and figuring out what toys and foods active lion cubs need to stay healthy.

The numerous activities in the Safari Life Section of ABCmouse serve as an interactive way to learn science in an age-appropriate way.

Hamster Spatial Logic

Every child who has always wanted a hamster will love choosing a pet hamster and selecting various tubes and accessories to design a hamster habitrail. Kids drag and drop straight and curved to connect already existing pieces or can choose a tube with a bubble as a hamster lookout tower.

Having to think logically about the space and what is needed to get their hamster from one part of its habitat to the other is a great spatial logic activity that is important for STEM learning. 

Other topics in My World include Pet Town for Narrative Play and Aquarium for Social and Emotional Learning.

Customizing Learning with ABCmouse

Under the ABCmouse Basic plan, your child will be listed as Friend in the upper left corner. To change the name, tap on Settings, enter your birth year, and the square that says Friend.

From the Edit Child screen, you can edit your child’s name, birthday, reading grade level, and math grade level. I appreciate that reading grade level and math grade level are separate and can be adjusted for more relevant learning experiences since reading and math skills can vary widely for ages 2-8. 

How ABCmouse Supports Special Education Needs

A wide variety of features support diverse learners, including those with special educational needs. Audio narration, interactive visuals, and self-paced activities support different learning styles. The flexibility to set or change the grade level to match needs is also important since app content can be used to supplement classroom learning through specialized education plans determined by a child’s educational team.

ABCmouse Review: Summary

In a world where free versions of apps are known for providing extremely limited learning experiences for kids unless parents pay for costly subscriptions, free ABCmouse Basic is a welcome change. Parents will appreciate the high quality safe personalized learning experiences while kids ages 2-8 will find the content engaging and easy to navigate.

With a myriad of topics that are relevant, there’s no shortage of learning that can be done through the 10 activities per day limit under the Basic plan. Parents might also appreciate having a limited number of activities to help moderate screen time in favor of healthy digital habits.

As a mom who used to teach middle school computer science and engineering, I have to say I was extremely impressed by some of the STEM learning provided by ABCmouse. Activities such as Bots Beat Coding and Hamster Spatial Logic are great ways to familiarize kids with programming concepts in an age-appropriate and fun way.

The content partnerships with NASA, San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, and Major League Baseball (MLB) produce impressive content that is a value-add for ABCmouse and young learners. My only criticism of the content was I wanted more! Content from all 3 partners appeared on my first day of using ABCmouse but because Daily Learning Quest content rotates, I didn’t see any partner content pop up during the next two days of app use.

Even though I would have loved to continue exploring this content, there was still plenty to choose from and it keeps me wanting to go back to ABCmouse for more.

Download ABCmouse Basic for free here. At any time, you can upgrade to ABCmouse Premium at the cost of $14.99/month with a 30 day free trial or $45/year.

While this is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own and based on my perspective as a former teacher and parent. Images courtesy of ABCmouse.

The post ABCmouse Review: Free App Personalizes Learning for Ages 2-8 appeared first on Tech Savvy Mama.

      

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10 Easy Ways to Spring Clean Your Tech

Spring clean your tech by starting with any of these 10 simple tasks. From hitting the unsubscribe button on the way too frequent marketing emails, affixing a label on a new device, or washing your overused screen cleaning cloth, all are quick tasks to help you feel lighter as a new season approaches.

Declutter Devices and Accessories

Spring clean your digital life by decluttering things related to your digital devices. Start by tackling that one spot in your home serves as your electronics graveyard.

It’s time to get rid of old phone cases, screen protectors, and chargers for phones you previously owned. That free PopSocket or webcam cover you picked up and haven’t ever used? Chances are if you haven’t used it by now, it’s time to let go of it.

It’s also time to evaluate your earbuds. If they no longer hold a charge for a decent amount of time, give yourself permission to get rid of them. Grubby smart watch bands should also go, especially if they don’t fit your current timepiece.

Anything rubberized that feels sticky is not worth keeping. I found a portable charger that felt gummy and was just collecting dust and lint. Rubber gets sticky with age and even though some say rubbing alcohol can fix it, it’s a very temporary fix.

Give Favorite Devices a Glow Up

Time spent giving your favorite devices a glow up can extend their life and save money by replacing a part instead of the entire thing. Here are some ideas on how you can give devices a glow up as you spring clean your tech.

Evaluate Bluetooth headphones

Chances are your favorite over-the-ear style Bluetooth headphones work just fine but the vegan leather earpads may be disintegrating. Fortunately, it’s easy to replace them. Just search over ear replacement pads on Amazon to find ones that fit your current pair.

Pairs of replacement pads generally run $12-20 a set making them a budget friendly way to breathe new life into your current pair.

Clean your keyboard

We don’t usually think about what collects in between the keys of our keyboard but giving your keyboard a good dusting can do wonders! Start by putting your computer to sleep and spraying a soft cloth with a little Windex to wipe down your keyboard.

While this gets rid of grimy residue, a can of Dust-Off pressurized air will do wonders to rid of dust and crumbs hiding between keyboard keys.

Replace broken screen protectors

Even though phone glass is engineered to endure falls and drops, screen protectors can help. But if your screen protector is cracked and broken, it becomes less protective and a hazard to use. Do yourself a favor and spend 5 minutes removing the old and applying a new one. After all, you deserve to stop looking at and using your phone through the broken screen protector!

Check out what I learned about phone glass engineered by Corning Incorporated during my trip to their Research and Development facilities in Corning, New York!

Label devices and accessories

As we get new devices, we often forget to label them. Affixing a label from Mabel’s Labels helps ensure your iPad, Kindle, portable charger, AirPods, etc. finds its way back to you.

Replace cases

Take a look at your cell phone or tablet case. If your digital device is housed in something that is cracked, worn, or just shabby, consider replacing it. Cracked and worn cases will only protect your device so much. If you’re looking for cases in fun prints and patterns that hold up well, I’ve had one from Casely on on my iPhone for 3 years now and it’s held up beautifully! 

Wash your screen cleaning cloth

If you use a cloth to clean your screen or glasses, throw it in the laundry. There’s only so much dust and grime it can take before it needs to be cleaned too! 

Dispose of E-Waste Responsibly

Sort through items and dispose of them responsibly to spring clean your tech. Items that are in good used condition that are of no use to you but could be used by someone else are great to give away on a local Buy Nothing group. Old electronics should be deposited in e-Waste bins for proper disposal.

Google to find how to properly dispose of e-Waste by you. Many Best Buy locations have e-Waste drop offs close to the front of the store. Just be sure to wipe all data from your devices before recycling them.

Edit Your Inbox

If you find yourself deleting too many marketing emails without even wanting to read them, it’s time to unsubscribe for good. Time spent selecting and deleting emails you don’t want to read can be better spent doing something else.

This post contains affiliate links.

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About the National Building Museum

The National Building Museum has always been a family favorite, especially when my kids were little. Conveniently located just across the street from the Judiciary Square Metro stop (red line), it was a place where we could spend an entire day.

I have the best memories of my kids running from end to end of the vast Great Hall before heading upstairs to investigate exhibitions. Hands-on learning opportunities that fostered curiosity about the world we design and build were perfect early STEM experiences for my kids.

About The Big Draw at The National Building Museum

For the third year, visitors of all ages are invited to come to The Big Draw at The National Building Museum. This free event will feature a full day of playful, hands-on creativity with artists, educators, and cultural partners to celebrate the power of drawing.

“At The Big Draw, we see drawing as a powerful tool for communication and understanding,” said Maggie Wald,  Manager of Early Childhood Programs & Community Partnerships for the National Building Museum. “It’s not just a finished product, but an essential part of the design process—helping us share perspectives, solve problems, and build connections in the wider world.” 

Plus, David Macaulay will be there doing live drawing demonstrations and free, 30-minute small-group workshops for participants ages 10 and up who pre-register here. Visitors can bring their own sketchbooks or use materials provided by the Museum.

You may know David Macaulay as the renowned author and illustrator of The Way Things Work: The Ultimate Guide to How Things Work but he’s also a lecturer at Dartmouth Engineering! I love how he talks about the importance of sketching as a way of seeing things in this video.

My kids would study David Macaulay’s illustrations in The Way Things Work for hours.

They’d lie on the floor, heads together, book between them, talking about what they saw. The inner workings of the most mundane things in our everyday lives captivated them, especially when explained by David Macaulay.

It’s probably not surprising that an early fascination of how things work led them to majoring in engineering as current college students!  

Additional experiences in the Great Hall include workshops, storytelling, and local artists. Book giveaways, virtual reality drawing, and hands-on activities will showcase how drawing can deepen our understanding of the world around us.

The Big Draw Schedule of Events

Below is a schedule of the events for The Big Draw

10:00–11:30 am- Illustrator Trap Bob Coloring Book Workshop
Hands-on coloring workshop led by Illustrator Trap Bob.

• Participants 7 and older are encouraged to pre-register herefor FREE coloring book workshop with illustrator Trap Bob. The first 40 participants will receive a copy of Trap Bob’s new coloring book. 

10:15–11:45 am- Storytime
Storytime is packed full of reading, songs, and activities designed to promote language and literacy skills.

11:00–11:45 am- David Macaulay Drawing Demonstration
Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator David Macaulay shares sketches and techniques.

1:15–1:45 pm- Polish Embassy Storytime
The Polish Embassy presents stories celebrating culture, history, and international connections.

1:15–4:45 pm- David Macaulay Guided Workshops
30-minute hands-on illustration workshops with David Macaulay, suitable for all ages and skill levels.

• Participants 10 and older are encouraged to pre-register for FREE, 30-minute drawing workshops with David Macaulay. See the full workshop schedule and pre-register here.

Featured Participants at The Big Draw

The following organizations will be at The Big Draw at The National Building Museum this Saturday from 10-5pm:

• Turning the Page – Engaging families for student success through workshops, museum experiences, and free books.
• DC Public Library – Bringing stories and activities to inspire young readers.
• Illustrator Trap Bob – Celebrate her new coloring book launch with a life-sized coloring book! 
• Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) MFA Program – Showcasing innovative illustration and artistic practice.
• National Building Museum – Hosting activities and exhibitions that celebrate design and architecture.
• National Museum of Women in the Arts – Championing women in the arts through engaging programming.
• National Postal Museum – Sharing history, creativity, and cultural storytelling.
• Polish Embassy – Experiencing the work of VR drawing with Tomasz Wiktor, and celebrating the cultural and international connections.
• Positive Chalk DC – Creating spaces for children and families to imagine and inspire their communities.
• Urban Sketchers – Sketching the Museum from new perspectives.

The Big Draw is free however, there is admission for current exhibitions separate from The Big Draw.

All images courtesy of The National Building Museum. No compensation was received for this post. Amazon affiliate links are included.

The post The Big Draw at The National Building Museum Celebrates Drawing (free Sat 3/14) appeared first on Tech Savvy Mama.

      

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Tips for Building a Fast Pinewood Derby Car

Pinewood Derby cars are an expression of a child’s creativity and blend science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in a fun, hands on activity. Kids learn real skills as they race aerodynamic cars down a track fueled by gravity.

As a mom of a Pinewood Derby veteran who participated in the race for years before moving on to Scouts and eventually becoming an Eagle Scout, Thomas had plenty of wins. He won his share of heats as a younger Scout. His years of participation led to more car building experience and there were even a couple of first place pack finishes and the chance to represent our Troop among others in the area at the district-wide race.

But just like many things in life, winning isn’t everything. As proud as I was of Thomas and his cars that performed well on the track, there were also disappointments. Lessons learned one year were helpful in building a fast Pinewood Derby car the following year.

Since Thomas graduated from Scouts, he thought it would be helpful to share lessons learned with other families participating in the Pinewood Derby. Whether you’re a new racer or an experienced veteran, here are some tips for getting started and Thomas’ tips for building a fast Pinewood Derby car.

5 Things to Do Before You Start Building Your Pinewood Derby Car

Look at the Calendar

When is your Pinewood Derby race and what is your work style? Our pack’s race was always in early March. This meant Thomas started thinking about his car in January and then would spend February working on his car. He preferred to work on his car over a long period of time but knew other Scouts who thrived under pressure and completed their car the weekend before. Knowing your child, knowing yourself, and knowing your family’s schedule can keep Pinewood Derby car building fun while minimizing time-related stress.

Get Inspired

What is your child’s vision for their car? Search on Google or Pinterest for inspiration but a less overwhelming gallery of images can be found on Boys’ Life where they showcase car photos submitted by Scouts for each year of the competition. The body design of a Pinewood Derby car impacts its performance on the track because some shapes are more aerodynamic than others. Derby Monkey Garage believes “a Pinewood Derby car should be designed to move as little air as possible as it speeds down the track” and compares two body shapes to give you the lowdown on which is more aerodynamic.

Learn About the Physics of Car Design

The laws of physics can affect the speed of a Pinewood Derby car on the track since any friction can slow down your car. 5 Keys to Pinewood Derby Performance discusses how gravity is a constant force but how elements such as friction and momentum come into play when racing. Tip from Thomas: The most aerodynamic designs tend to be faster so make sure your car isn’t too tall.

Assemble Materials

Most packs provide Pinewood Derby Kits but what other things does your child want to use to execute their vision? Talk about paint colors, raid the Lego bin, buy stickers, and hit up the neighborhood Buy Nothing group and former Cub Scout families for supplies. Use what you have around the house to use before buying anything. 

Know the Rules

According to Boy Scouts of America, each local Pinewood Derby committee determines the rules for building and racing cars so be sure to know your Pack’s rules before you start building.

Construction Time: 6 Tips for Building a Fast Pinewood Derby Car

Now that your child has figured out their design, it’s time to build their dream car. Here are some suggestions to help the building process go smoothly.

Come Up with a Construction Plan

Based on your child’s idea, what do you need to do to make it come to life? Talk about what shape they want it to be. If it will need to be cut, what tools will be needed? Assemble the tools you need, including paint colors. Tip from Thomas: Make it look fast with a cool paint job.

Figure Out Who Will Do What Task

As you talk through the construction plan, talk about what parts of the construction they can do and what they might need help with. Younger Lion and Tiger Scouts can be given the responsibility of hand sanding their block of wood and hammering in the axles while you assist with sawing. Lions and Tigers who are new to the process are likely to need more hands-on help from parents while Webelos can draw upon previous Pinewood Derby experience.

Talk About Safety

All Scouts need to know that safety comes first. Younger Cub Scouts need guidance and but as they get older, be as hands off as possible if you can trust that your child will be safe.  At the bottom of the BSA’s Pinewood Derby Rules page is a Safety section with 10 helpful tips for families.

What About Weights?

Some kids like to incorporate the weights into the car design while others prefer to keep them hidden. There are many different kinds of weights, like tungsten weights, sphere weights, tapered weights, adhesive weights that can be easily cut with scissors, moldable tungsten putty, and more that can be bought for Pinewood Derby cars but you can also get creative and add quarters or washers as weights. Just make sure some of your weights can be easily removed from the car in case it happens to be overweight on Derby Day check-in. Tip from Thomas: Put weight at the center and back of the car to make it faster.

Pay Attention to Detail

Boy’s Life says a little extra time and effort with an adult’s help can result in the ultimate Pinewood Derby car and shares why you might want to extend the wheelbase, create glue holes, sand your car a bit more, and lubricate the wheels. Tips from Thomas: Polish the axles with sandpaper to make them smooth, use an old toothbrush to clean the wheels with toothpaste, and fine graphite powder applied the axles can make your car faster. Thomas recommends this graphite powder because it has a fine applicator!

Review the Rules

Know the rules words written on ripped paper with red background. Conceptual know the rules symbol. Copy space.

I know I mentioned this before but you don’t want to be surprised by the rules when you check your car in on Derby Day!

3 Things to Know About Making Modifications at Car Check-In

Even when you know the rules and build your car accordingly, you might still need to make modifications before race day. I watched Thomas plan his car design, create it, tweak it, and tweak it some more. Thomas learned certain modifications to your piece of wood can make the difference between a fast or slow car on race day but sometimes changes need to be made at check in right before the race.

A Scout might be told their car is too heavy, too tall, or too wide in order to meet race requirements. As a Scout mom who has worked the check-in table before the race, sometimes the fixes are quick and other times it means modifying the car to the point of frustration and tears. Here’s how to minimize the heartbreak of being told your car is too heavy, too tall, or too wide.

Be ready to modify your Pinewood Derby car if it’s too heavy 

All cars are weighed upon check in. There’s no right answer to the perfect weight for a car since there are multiple factors that contribute to speed but it can’t exceed the weight limit. Prepare your child for the fact that their car could be too heavy. Talk about what that means and have a game plan if this situation arises.

Decide how much you want to alter the design of the car

Depending on the design of the car, it can be tricky to remove weight. I’ve seen occasions where kids pull off all the weights, come re-weigh their car, and it’s still over! One solution is to drill out the bottom of the Pinewood Derby car but be sure to discuss this with your child first. If they’re not comfortable drilling into their car, allow them to take some ownership by showing you where they want you to drill into their vehicle.

Car too light? It’s ok to just let it be!

There’s no reason why you have to push the weight limit to make your car the required weight. There’s something to be said about maintaining the design as your child planned it.

The main goal for Cub Scouts participating in the Pinewood Derby is to have fun and learn about car design through hands-on engineering. It’s great to want to win but there are lessons to be learned about building a fast Pinewood Derby car each year your Scout participates. Focus on the process and the lessons learned and have a great race!

Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post.

The post Building a Fast Pinewood Derby Car: 14 Tips from My Former Scout appeared first on Tech Savvy Mama.

      

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Now that my kids are older, I know even the smallest things my parents taught me that I’ve done as a mom have mattered. My college-age kids understand why I’m constantly armed with our handheld vacuum a few days before the start of the new year. Cleaning the house is symbolic for driving away bad luck from the year before. My daughter cleans her dorm room in advance of the New Year, knowing that cleaning on the first day of the new year will sweep away any good luck that could come with it.

With our kids being in college now, I love that they’re continuing to observe Chinese New Year and share the traditions with their friends. We send li see envelopes filled with cash, sweets to start the year, and order Lunar New Year paper products to celebrate the day with her friends.

Lunar New Year gift boxes at Kee Wah Bakery in Los Angeles

If you’re looking to celebrate Chinese New Year in your home, here are some of the traditions I grew up with that are easy to do with your family to commemorate a new year. Please note that these are Chinese traditions that I grew up with as a Chinese American. Other Asian cultures celebrate Lunar New Year with different traditions.

Celebrating Chinese New Year

Growing up in California, recognition of the coming New Year began well before the actual date it started. My mom and I would go shopping for oranges to give as gifts to friends and family to bring them luck and wealth.

When given with leaves, oranges and tangerines send wishes for a long life

Besides the color, the Chinese word for orange sounds similar to gold. Sometimes we’d throw tangerines in too because that word is like luck. If we could find oranges and tangerines with leaves, even better! Leaves signify longevity and long life.

When I was younger, the orange and tangerine exchange always seemed a bit silly. We’d visit my grandparents or another friend or relative with our bag of oranges and tangerines and they’d give us one too. We’d always come home with about the same number as we took but as my mother always explained, it was more the significance of the act of giving rather than getting rid of the fruit itself.

In addition to the orange and tangerine exchange, we also had to be sure we cleaned the house prior to the start of the New Year.

“We want to sweep out the bad luck but keep the good,” my mother explained. It’s important to sweep out the bad luck from the previous year but customary to not clean for the first week to avoid sweeping away any good luck the New Year may bring. You’re welcome for the excuse to avoid cleaning for the next week!

For a look at what other things you should avoid to prevent accidentally bring in bad luck for the year, check out my girl Rosie’s (aka TheHustlingMama) Instagram video and be sure to click to read her caption!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rosie |SoCal Blogger (@thehustlingmama)

With a clean house filled with oranges and tangerines, we were ready for the start of a New Year. I’d wake up and put on a new piece of clothing, greet my parents with “gung hay fat choy” (Happy New Year in Cantonese), and be presented with a li see, or lucky money.

Li see envelopes and gold coins for Chinese New Year

Tucked inside the red bearing our last name written in gold in Chinese, would be a bit of money to represent prosperity and good luck. I was eligible to collect li see until I got married at which time the tables turned. Now my husband and I are on the giving side, with li see envelopes ready give unmarried children like our nieces and nephews.

In the evening we’d join my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and good family friends for a Chinese New Year banquet. Of course there was the orange exchange and the giving of li see to me and my brother from all of our married friends and relatives before sitting down to a long dinner with many courses.

The sweetness of beng, or cookies is said to bring a sweet life in the New Year

Arranged months in advance, our banquet was a time to come together and eat traditional Chinese foods that bring good luck in the New Year. Whole fish with their head and tail attached to represent abundance, the vegetarian Jai dish made with ingredients to bring good luck, long noodles for long life (also popular at birthday banquets), and a sweet red bean soup accompanied by oranges and fortune cookies were just some of the dishes we enjoyed during our long meal.

In the absence of relatives and my parents living all the way across the country, I used to wonder how well I’m doing sharing the customs and traditions of Chinese New Year with my own children. There were times when I felt like I was doing well and other times when I felt I’m faltering. Now that my kids are older, I can see how incorporating the customs and traditions associated with Chinese New Year have become an important part of their lives. If you’re a parent of young kids and are struggling, know that anything you do to maintain knowledge of your culture is better than not doing anything at all!

Teaching Kids About Chinese New Year & Family Traditions

Los Angeles Chinatown

If you’re curious about Chinese New Year and want to learn more about the customs, traditions, and foods associated with the celebration, here are some resources along with some of our favorite books.

• Find out what Chinese zodiac animal is associated with your birth year
• Learn about Chinese red envelopes. Referred to as li see or  hong bao, read about the significance of red envelopes in How to Give Red Envelopes 
• Brush up on your Chinese New Year greetings thanks to The Woks of Life. They feature 23 greetings in both Mandarin and Cantonese and my favorite recipe for cha siu bao (barbecue pork buns).
• See Lunar New Year celebrations from around the world thanks to The Guardian who shares how The Year of the Ox is being welcomed in China, Thailand, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, North and South Korea, Russia, England, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and more countries in Asia and beyond. 

Favorite Books About Chinese New Year and Culture

Don’t forget to read about Chinese New Year and get to know about AANPHI culture, history, and traditions through picture and chapter books! Here are some of our favorites!

Picture and Board Books About Celebrating Chinese New Year for Young Readers

• My First Chinese New Year
• Chinese New Year Colors
• Ruby’s Chinese New Year
• Chloe’s Lunar New Year
• Dragon Dance
• Our Lunar New Year
• The Tray of Togetherness
• Playing with Lanterns
• A Sweet New Year for Ren
• Asian Adventures: Delicious Asian Foods from A-Z
• Dim Sum for Everyone
• Yum Yum Dim Sum

Books about Celebrating Chinese New Year for Elementary Readers

• Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Chinese New Year
• Sam and the Lucky Money
• Bringing in the New Year
• Eyes That Kiss in the Corners

Graphic Novels for Older Readers

Fighting to Belong! A History of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Vol. 1.

Fighting to Belong! is a brand new book just released yesterday that introduces students to Asian American and Pacific Islander history as an important and dynamic part of American history. This graphic novel will take readers on a trip through time with middle school protagonists and their guide, Kenji, as they observe key events in AANHPI history from the 1700-1800s. This is the first book to be published in the Fighting to Belong! series. I wish this book existed when my kids and I were in the middle grades because it’s great for AANHPI students and their peers to see themselves in history books.

Bilingual Titles:

• 12 Lucky Animals: A Bilingual Baby Book
• Home for Chinese New Year: A Story Told in English and Chinese

Favorite Cookbooks for Celebrating Chinese New Year

Woks of Life

During the pandemic I decided I wanted to learn how to make more Chinese food, especially char siu bao, the baked pork buns our family loves. I found the Woks of Life blog and was instantly hooked. Everything I tried tasted like favorite dishes from restaurants frequented in and around the San Francisco Bay Area where I grew up and like those my parents always cooked. When I heard there was going to be a Woks of Life cookbook, I preordered it and anxiously awaited its arrival. These days it’s a trusted resource that I turn to for delicious meals at home and still subscribe to Woks of Life emails to be the first to know about their new recipes. 

Amazon Affiliate links included in this post. All opinions are my own.

The post Celebrating Chinese New Year: Teaching Kids About Lunar New Year & Family Traditions appeared first on Tech Savvy Mama.

      

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Despite living in the Washington, D.C. area for almost twenty years, an invitation to The White House is always special even if you’ve been before. Last week I went to the White House for the third time where my two day visit involved spending a glorious fall day planting basil, peppers, green beans, and sweet potatoes in the White House Kitchen Garden alongside Debra Eschmeyer, Executive Director of Let’s Move! and Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy, members of the National Park Service, and other volunteers before sitting down with First Lady Michelle Obama the next day.

Yes. I got to sit down for a conversation with Michelle Obama herself.

Prior to the visit, I did what any good reporter would do. I prepared for meeting Mrs. Obama by reading the latest news about Let’s Move and the White House Kitchen Garden, queried my audience for their gardening questions, and practiced deep breathing to calm my nerves to avoid being too fan-girl nervous upon sharing the same air space with the First Lady of the United States.

But despite the coveted invite to one of the most exclusive residences in the United States to sit down with an icon, visiting Michelle Obama was refreshingly real and like visiting the house of a very good friend.

Why Interviewing Michelle Obama Felt Like Seeing a Good Friend

Start by Ringing the Doorbell 

Just as you would ring the doorbell at a friend’s house to announce your arrival, the same is true at the White House. The smart doorbell at the White House gates isn’t too different from my own. When you push the button, it activates audio and contains an embedded security camera to provide a video feed. The only difference is that the Secret Service answers Mrs. Obama’s door and you’ll need to pass your driver’s license or passport to them on a sliding tray to get a badge that lets you inside.

With driver’s license and press badge in hand, the rest is much like TSA security proceedings. Watches, cell phones, and keys go in a tray to be put on the belt along with your purse, backpack, etc.

Just don’t put your press badge in the tray. You’ll need to scan that to get through the turnstile. Even though I made that mistake the first day, I sure didn’t the next day!

And once you get through security, you may or not be able to walk to the house by yourself. On past visits, I’ve walked pass Press Row (where the major networks have their equipment set up for those great shots with the White House in the background) and waited in the White House Briefing Room. This time I met my group and we waited for a Secret Service escort.

Get a Dog Greeting

When people come to our house, they tend to meet our pets first. If you come to the back door, you’re likely to be greeted by our trio of backyard chickens (aka feathered security detail) and Oliver, our 8 year old Yellow Labrador. Oliver may or may not bark at you but he will definitely give you the sniff test, hoping you brought him a cupcake. Or a steak.

I have to say the First Dogs are much better behaved.

While it was a gorgeous fall day, we were kept in a holding area past the Press Briefing Room right at the side of the house. This was my view.

Beautiful when looking up but otherwise, a not-so-pretty part of the house. I likened this spot to the one (ok, many) embarrassing part(s) of my house that I hope no one really notices when they visit.

But I was quickly distracted by the appearance of Sunny and Bo, the First Dogs. The much-admired Portuguese Water Dogs came sauntering out of the doors off-leash with their handler and my contact for this visit saying, “We hear you’ve been waiting awhile so I thought I’d bring you some visitors.”

And in an instant I was smitten. Sunny and Bo were friendly, fluffy, oh-so well behaved, and absolutely willing to take a selfie!

The surprise appearance of Sunny and Bo was like the cherry on top of what I knew would already be a great day.

Also? It caused Oliver to give me a full sniff test upon returning home to figure out where I was and who I had been playing with during my time away.

Pass the Time by Admiring the Décor While You Wait

Sometimes friends aren’t ready when you come by to meet them and you’re left looking around their house trying not to pass the time by snooping too much while they run back upstairs to get ready.

This is how I felt once we were inside the White House. I got a quick peek at the famed corridor flanked by the Rose Garden that’s the location of many famous photos of current and past presidents walking with The Oval Office in the distance, then being ushered through the Center Hall where portraits of former First Ladies hang, past the Diplomatic Reception Room, up the stairs to the grand Entrance Hall, and into the Family Dining Room where our interview was to take place. I wanted to stop and linger in these places to absorb their history but didn’t want to be too nosy either.

Once we were upstairs in the Family Dining Room and the doors behind us closed, I took a moment to soak in the details of the room before pulling out my camera to capture the details.

The stately Federal chest with a modern silver tea set.

A china cabinet holding the Obama’s pattern with place settings from past presidents.

The neatly arranged table bearing place cards for each of us and spots set with White House note paper, pens, and water glasses that sat on glass coasters lined with a ruffle paper edged ones bearing the presidential seal.

This was no ordinary dining room but it felt warm, comfortable, and friendly. The only way you could tell that we were nervous was by the quiet that overtook the room as we were waiting for Mrs. Obama to enter.

Greet Each Other with Hugs

With each door that opened, we wondered if it could be her until it was. There she was. Tall, graceful, and even more stunningly beautiful in real life, Michelle Obama could be incredibly intimidating if she hadn’t been so warm as she welcomed us into her home.

I wasn’t sure what the protocol was for meeting Michelle. Handshake? Move into a hug and risk getting separated by her security detail? Luckily those ahead of me worked out the kinks although no Secret Service intervention was necessary.

As a true hostess does, she greeted each and every one of us with a hug and a kiss on the check, while thanking us for coming. She even complimented me on my necklace before we posed for a photo. No selfies necessary!

First Lady Michelle Obama greets Leticia Barr of Tech Savvy Mama prior to a “Let’s Move!” initiative roundtable with parent bloggers in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House, Oct. 5, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Catch Up Over Great Food

A get together with a friend is always better over tasty food and Michelle didn’t disappoint. In a corner of the room sat a gold rimmed china plate with yellow squash and zucchini quiche rectangle and veggie bundles wrapped in the thinnest of cucumber slices with a dollop of herbed yogurt on top. The only difference was that these tasty morsels were made by Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa herself, using vegetables from the White House Kitchen Garden.

Like Michelle, I love using seasonal produce from my garden and sharing the bounty with guests. I just wish I had Ina to help in my kitchen! And note the stack of cocktail napkins bearing the presidential seal fanned out next to the delectable treats. 

Acknowledge Your Time Together was Short but Wonderful and Good for the Soul

Seated around the table with our place cards, White House note paper with a basic ballpoint pen beside it, and water glasses upon fancy coasters, Michelle welcomed us and reiterated how glad she was that we could join her.

For the next hour, we had a lovely conversation about the many successes of the Let’s Move initiative, the future of the White House Kitchen Garden, and how we, as parents, are effective change makers when we begin by changing things about our own lives. Through our conversation she talked about the importance of being good role models for our kids, acknowledging our good habits while trying to change the bad, and starting small, rather than being overwhelmed by the magnitude of the big picture.

As I sat across from Michelle, I spent the entire hour we had together completely mesmerized as she spoke. Not only was she eloquent and passionate but her words resonated with me. Like so many other parents, I’m a mom who tries to be the best role model I can be for my kids. I know I’m not perfect but I know that I can create effective change by starting in my personal universe that begins at home with my family first.

Just as time with a good friend can validate the good job that you’re doing but also provides food for thought, Michelle did just that. Our conversation was like a pat on the back. We talked about the tough challenges that families face around food in our country like wanting healthier school lunches, trying to cook more and eat out less but feeling like there’s never enough time in the day, food deserts, etc. These challenges were certainly acknowledged as difficult challenges that we face as parents but at the same time, they’re also not insurmountable if we start small with the things we have the power to change

When my time with Michelle came to an end, I had to take a moment to acknowledge that 1) I was in the same room as the First Lady of the United States, 2) she loved my necklace and told me “I have to get on that” when I described my blog and what I write about, and 3) my time with her was good for my soul because it provided a much needed perspective on parenting.

And whether or not that perspective comes from Michelle Obama or a good friend, it’s one that each and every one of us needs from time to time.

The post Why Interviewing Michelle Obama at the White House Felt Like Visiting a Good Friend appeared first on Tech Savvy Mama.

      

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In 2016 I went back to Memphis for the first time in years, first during my visit to St. Jude and then with my family a month ago to run the St. Jude Memphis Marathon. More important than joining me in Memphis to watch me run a race I had trained so hard for, I felt it was critical for them to visit the National Civil Rights Museum. I wanted my kids, then ages 13 and 10, to better understand the historical milestones that marked the struggle for freedom and justice that continues today.

The museum is laid out like a timeline, starting with the history of slavery in America, highlighting each poignant event that was part of the civil rights movement, and ending with visitors peering into the room where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stayed before he was assassinated. Preserved as if he’s going to re-enter at any minute, it’s a sobering reminder that despite the progress our country has made, we still have a long way to go.

How to Teach Kids About Martin Luther King, Jr. and Civil Rights

We remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday but does it have meaning for our children other than being a day off from school? Do our kids know of Dr. King’s contributions to the history of our country and how his beliefs inspired so many?

Knowing Dr. King from classroom lessons isn’t enough. Do a deeper dive to further their understanding about who Dr. King was, his beliefs about equality for all, and his impact on the civil rights movement in an age appropriate way. If you’re struggling with how to talk about Dr. King with your child and how to help them wrap their heads around what Martin Luther King Day means, start small and reflect as Coretta Scott King encouraged people to do when she King provided a vision of how the holiday honoring her husband should be observed:

“The holiday must be substantive as well as symbolic. It must be more than a day of celebration . . . Let this holiday be a day of reflection, a day of teaching nonviolent philosophy and strategy, a day of getting involved in nonviolent action for social and economic progress.”

—Coretta Scott King to The Washington Post, 1983

In honor of observing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in a way that Mrs. King hoped we would do, here are resources for kids of all ages that can aid your conversation about Dr. King and topics of race, privilege, equality, and civil rights to further their education today and throughout the year.

Teaching Preschoolers About Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right, at microphones, after meeting with President Johnson to discuss civil rights, at the White House, 1963 / WKL courtesy of Library of Congress

Though young, preschoolers have an incredible amount of empathy and compassion towards others. There are many lessons from Dr. King that can be shared in impactful ways but one of the best ways is just to have a conversation and embrace the teachable moments throughout the year as your preschooler has questions.

Here are some age appropriate conversations you can ask your preschooler to teach them about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s beliefs:

• Dr. King inspired so many individuals throughout his life through his speeches, actions, and beliefs that he was a role model. Talk about what a role model is and ask them who inspires them. It could be anyone- a family member, community leader, friend, etc. The possibilities are endless!
• Dr. King stood up to others to create social change. Ask your child to talk about a time that they wished they could change something at home, school, or in your neighborhood and how they would go about creating change.
• Dr. King spoke about freedom, peace, and love. Talk with your preschooler about what each of the words means to them.

Books to read: Picture book loving preschoolers learn best through stories so take a trip to the library to check out books that introduce them to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. My friend, Thien-Kim Lam of I’m Not the Nanny, recommends Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. because “the author uses quotes from Dr. King’s speeches to tell the story of his life in this biography geared towards young children.” She recommends taking of the timeline and additional resources in the beautifully illustrated picture book and shares other diverse picture book biographies in her post, 11 Inspiring Multicultural Biographies for Kids.

Complete a day of service: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” MLK Day is also The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, making it the perfect day to engage in family friendly community service activities in your area by simply entering your zip code at AllForGood.org

Teaching Early Elementary Ages About Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., half-length portrait, facing left, speaking at microphones, during anti-war demonstration, New York City / World Journal Tribune photo by Don Rice courtesy of Library of Congress

Kindergartners through second graders can develop a deeper understanding of who Martin Luther King, Jr. was and his importance to the civil rights movement through a myriad of activities that get them thinking and reinforcing growing academic skills as part of their learning. Before you begin, Learning for Justice encourages families to ask their kids what they know about Dr. King to start the conversation. This helps you know what they have learned in school and the kinds of things you should be talking about at home.

NORTH FRONT ELEVATION – Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home, 501 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, Fulton County, GA courtesy of the Library of Congress

Take a virtual tour of Martin Luther King’s home in Atlanta and look at photos and thanks to the National Park Service

Read this National Geographic Kids’ Martin Luther King, Jr. article. It’s perfect for fluent readers interested in knowing who Dr. King was. The kid-friendly layout makes it easy to read and meaningful photos are interspersed throughout the text.

Integrate some math by watching Britannica’s video featuring a timeline of Dr. King’s life. After you watch the video, write down the dates and events, mix them up, and use the dates to discuss ordering numbers according to the tens and ones place.

Read age appropriate historical fiction and fictional stories about Dr. King.  A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr., My Dream of Martin Luther King, The Story of Ruby Bridges, and National Geographic Kids’ Rosa Parks are some of my favorites.

Incorporate geography by pulling out a map of the United States to show your child where you live in relation to where Dr. King grew up in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. where he gave his iconic I Have a Dream speech.

Help them understand why it’s important to engage in service activities on Martin Luther King Day and how Dr. King’s birthday evolved into a national day of service with videos by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Examining photos from the March on Washington at the National Civil Rights Museum

Look at these 12 Powerful Images of Martin Luther King, Jr. as a family. Taken by LIFE’s photographers and compiled by TIME.com, it’s an incredible collection of images.

Watch these Top 7 Martin Luther King, Jr. Videos on YouTube curated by Amiyrah Martin of 4 Hats and Frugal and then read her post on teaching your child to be an advocate for change.

Reinforce literacy with this MLK Find-a-Word free printable from Mama Knows it All.

Teaching Tweens and Teens About Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King press conference, Marion S. Trikosko, photographer courtesy of Library of Congress

Tweens and teens know about Dr. King and the civil rights movement are at the age that they want to know more. Take advantage of multimedia resources that gives them a sense of what it was like to live during that time in history and will personalize their learning in a way that makes sense for them.

Participate in a virtual non-violent protest. What was it like to be part of the non-violent protests during the civil rights movement? The National Civil Rights Museum has an eLearning Sit-In Activity where kids walk through the protest experience through a series of questions. It’s a powerful learning activity that gives tweens and teens a chance to get a feel for what it was like to live in that moment in history in the United States and living in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Experience what it was like to face discrimination on bus rides. Rosa Parks is well known for refusing to give up her seat on the bus which led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The Before the Boycott eLearning Activity from the National Civil Rights Museum has kids serving as a newspaper reporter. From this perspective, they’re guided through a series of bus stops where they’re given scenarios of unfair treatment and conditions that blacks were subjected while riding buses in Montgomery, Alabama. After completing Before the Boycott, take a look at these incredible photos of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Freedom Riders.

Learn more about other civil rights leaders. John Lewis. Ruby Bridges. Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery. These are just some of the individuals who were also civil rights leaders. The Corporation for National and Community Service has a playlist of videos where tweens and teens can hear them speak about Martin Luther King, Jr.

Help the connect the past with the present. While our country has made a lot of progress in terms of equality, we have a long way to go. Help tweens and teens connect the dots between our country’s history and current events through meaningful discussions. You don’t need to have the answers but an open mind to help them think through what is happening in today’s world.

Encourage the use of historical primary resources. One of the best ways to encourage this age to learn is through historical primary resources like those from The King Center and the Library of Congress. These national treasures serve as powerful records of history as it happened and looking up primary resources helps reinforce research skills tweens and teens are learning in school while promoting critical thinking. The King Center’s digital archive features nearly a million documents associated with the life of Dr. King and for those interested in Rosa Parks, the Library of Congress has many resources including photos, notes, fliers advertising a lecture, and even a pancake recipe!

For additional resources about how to continue the conversation about Dr. King, read “Going the Extra Mile for MLK Day”, and take a look at my post: Teaching Kids About Race, Privilege, Equality & Civil Rights in an Age Appropriate Way.

No compensation was received for this post. Photos were taken at the National Civil Rights Museum during my hosted trip to Memphis with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the trip that was personally paid for when I returned to run the St. Jude Memphis Marathon. Photos of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are used with permission from the Library of Congress‘ digital archives. Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post. All opinions are my own.

The post How to Teach Kids About Martin Luther King, Jr. and Civil Rights appeared first on Tech Savvy Mama.

      

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Kids of all ages learn best through engaging age-appropriate experiences designed to captivate their interests. With over 3,000 activities designed by experts in early childhood education, the Lingokids app features interactive games, songs, and videos that combine play, entertainment, and educational experiences. Keep reading for a full Lingokids review featuring an in-depth look at how the app is a safe, ad-free,  interactive way for kids to learn and be entertained at the same time. 

About Lingokids

Lingokids PlaylearningTM methodology seamlessly turns screen time into meaningful play to help young kids develop academic and practical life skills. With over 185 million families trying the Lingokids app and engaging more than 20 million kids every month worldwide through its platform (not only the app), Lingokids is the #1 entertainment platform for young kids. 

The company continuously updates its educational curriculum that’s designed in-house by early childhood learning experts. Subjects like literacy, STEM, physical activity, socio-emotional skills, daily habits, and more cover 750+ learning objectives through age-appropriate content in one safe, interactive, and ad-free hub. 

Lingokids content includes a neurodiversity section for children with autism, ADHD, dyscalculia & dyslexia. Content has been approved by the Child Mind Institute, The Autism Cafe, and multiple experts on neurodiversity.

This multi-IP platform is rich with curated content where beloved characters from globally recognized brands like Mickey and Friends, Moana, Frozen, Blippi, Pocoyo, and more come together with Lingokids original content to providing diverse educational offerings. Current partner companies and organizations include The Walt Disney Company, American Airlines, Moonbug Entertainment, Animaj, BBC Earth, NASA, Oxford University Press, and the World Literacy Foundation.

Since Lingokids makes safe and healthy screen time a priority, the app is ad-free. Parental control features guarantee a 100% safe digital environment for children. It’s also certified by kidSAFE, follows The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and information about game play stays on your device. 

Beyond the app, families can enjoy Lingokids content across multiple formats. The platform includes podcasts for kids, physical workbooks, curiosity episodes videos on YouTube, and music available on all major streaming platforms.

Lingokids Review: Opening the App for the First Time

When you open the Lingokids app for the first time, you start by customizing your child’s experience by choosing their age and topics you’d like them to focus on.

I set my child’s age to 4 and selected math, literacy, life skills, art, science, and music. I left English and technology unchecked.

After customizing my child’s experience, I was taken to a payment screen for Lingokids Plus. Lingokids offers a free week as a trial and when it ends, a year is currently priced at $74.99 (normally $191.88) or $15.99/month.

I selected to try Lingokids for a week. Then I was shown a highlight reel of Lingokids content and asked to enter my birthday. 

I was also given the option to create a profile to save my child’s progress on all my devices by entering my email, connecting it to my Apple account, or through Gmail. To get started, you can download Lingokids hereand begin customizing your child’s learning experience.

Customizing Learning Through Lingokids

The next screen asked me to enter my child’s first name or nickname. For the purposes of my Lingokids  review, content is geared towards a 4 year named Sadie.

Lingokids asked if I wanted to make Sadie’s learning interactive. Through written text on the screen, the app told me “For Sadie to get the most out of Lingokids Plus, enable access to the microphone, camera, and gallery. It’s 100% safe- this data never leaves your device.”

I appreciated the message about safety, especially knowing that it will stay on my device. Without this, I probably would have chosen Maybe Later instead of Enable.

I tapped Allow three times to grant access to Lingokids to access my phone’s microphone, camera, photos, and use speech recognition. After about 10 minutes of initial set up, I had gained access to Lingokids Plus, the premium version of the app. 

Learning with Lingokids

The Lingokids home screen features Your Daily Picks, Topics, Worlds to Explore, and What’s New sections. Each activity is centered around learning through Lessons, watching engaging animated videos through Theater, or activities encouraging social learning and collaboration via Family Time.

According to Lingokids, millions of children have completed at least one Lesson, showing a significant +90% increase in cognitive skills.

At first glance, the app is vibrant. There are many different things for kids to choose with a single tap after scrolling horizontally and vertically to see all choices.  

Lingokids Review: Daily Picks

Daily Picks occupy most of the screen real estate. Daily Picks are shown through large rectangular icons that display characters and words indicating the subject. Daily Picks lessons are guided learning journeys that provide structured, engaging learning experiences. 

There are guided lessons in key subjects including Math, Literacy, Socio-Emotional learning, Science (in collaboration with NASA), Nutrition (in collaboration with Stanford scientists), and Dinosaurs (in collaboration with BBC’s Walking with Dinosaurs), among others. 

4 year old Sadie’s Daily Picks included:

• Health featuring Elliot, the Lingokids panda
• Household Chores with Mickey & Friends
• Spelling with Elsa from Frozen
• Sorting featuring Moana
• Dinosaurs 
• Animals
• Counting
• Division with Elliot 
• Design with Billy, the Lingokids bird
• Addition, also with Elliot

Design- The Robot Game 

I thought about what would have been of interest to my daughter when she was in preschool at age 4 and tapped on Design. This took me to The Robot Game, a game requiring dragging and dropping various parts to build a robot. 

As robots parts are selected, the name of the body part is said aloud and the written word appeared in the upper right corner. I appreciated the inclusion of this early literacy skill for a 4-year-old, a former first grade teacher who knows the importance of kids making the connection between a written and spoken words.

The Robot Game involves decorating the robot’s body with colors (color names are spoken and shown on the screen as they’re used), activating the robot’s body parts, and making it dance. Verbal instructions, engaging interactions, and lots of positive feedback make this game a fun early STEM activity.

After completing the first Daily Pick, kids are given the option to choose another activity or go back to the Home Screen. I was presented with Adjectives with Lingokids characters or Sequencing with Moana. 

Adjectives with Lingokids Characters

Since most 4-year-olds can’t read words like Sequencing or Adjectives, they’d probably choose an activity based on the characters represented on the icon. 

Some might choose Moana due to familiarity, but I wondered what Adjectives might look like for a 4-year-old so chose that as Sadie’s next activity.This Adjectives game was centered around hats. 

Players are required to drag one of two baseball caps- a clean hat or a dirty hat- to place it on the head of the friend on the screen. The next set of hats were big and small. 

As hats were tapped and dragged to be placed on the character’s head, the adjective appeared on the screen and was spoken, making this an interactive vocabulary lesson. It took less time to play Adjectives than The Robot Game, but I appreciated how much learning was packed into this game in a short timespan that could hold a preschooler’s attention.

Lingokids Review: Topics

Located below Lingokids Daily Picks are Topics. Topics are lessons arranged by subject area. The 7 topics for 4-year-old Sadie included:

• Lessons
• Gratitude
• Literacy
• Math
• Art
• Engineering
• Life Skills

As a mom of two college students majoring in engineering, I selected Engineering.

Engineering Spatial Cognition Puzzles: Problem Solving

Under the Spatial Cognition area, I tried Puzzle Path: Soccer, Engineering Tools: Technology Vocabulary, Engineering Materials: Recycling, and Engineering Tools: Tracing. Below is a Lingokids review with details about each of these mini lessons.

Puzzle Path: Soccer

Having taught middle school computer science, I love this game as a beginning coding experience! In Puzzle Path: Soccer, players are required to drag and drop pieces on a soccer field to help Lisa score a goal. 

Straight and curved pieces are presented at the bottom of the screen to teach sequencing. These commands can be moved on and off the field easily as kids learn debugging. When ready to execute the program, players tap Lisa for her to run to the goal and score.

Engineering Tools: Technology Vocabulary

Technology Vocabulary caught my eye because I was wondering what words would be helpful for 4-year-olds to know to encourage a love of STEM.

The game is focused on camping in the forest and putting everything where it belongs. Objects such as a tent, fishing pole, campfire, flashlight, tree, and lake appear on the left side of the screen and outlines of each appear on the screen to indicate where they should go.

As objects are tapped, Lingokids says the word as they’re dropped into place. Unlike The Robot Game and Adjectives in Daily Picks, no written word to accompany these objects appeared on the screen. 

I like this game for building fine motor coordination in preschool ages, but it would be more effective if kids this age could learn vocabulary words as part of the activity. 

Engineering Materials: Recycling

Not all Lingokids experiences are interactive such as Engineering Materials: Recycling. Considered part of Lingokids Theater offerings, this 90 second video reinforces the importance of recycling different materials such as paper, food, plastic, and glass. 

Kids learn how to sustainably dispose of materials through recycling and composting. This teaches them to take care of our planet with a catchy song: “Pick up a paper and put it in, in the recycling bin.”

I appreciated the relaxed and immersive content experience. The high-quality educational videos featured engaging storytelling, music, and characters. The only thing that would have made this recycling video and song better is if the words appeared at the bottom as they were being sung to teach kids the written word that accompanies the spoken one. This teaches vocabulary and one-to-one correspondence, essential skills for early literacy and pre-reading.

Engineering Tools: Tracing

Tracing a wheelbarrow appeared as an option so I selected it next. This is a simple activity that requires kids to trace an outline with their finger, building fine motor skills. 

As the wheelbarrow was traced, the line turned green, was filled with dirt, included additional animations, and celebratory confetti. 

This activity did contain the written word on the bottom of the screen and was spoken when the outline was completed. A small sound button to the right of the word also indicated it could be pressed at any time for the word to be spoken. 

Lingokids Review: Worlds to Explore

This section features Mickey and Friends, Elsa, Moana, and other characters from Lingokids faces featured in round icons. Kids can select learning experiences with their favorite characters from Worlds to Explore.

Lingokids Review: Most Played Activities & What’s New

Most Played Activities includes learning games already played through Lingokids and the What’s New section provides kids and parents a chance to see the newest activities available.

Lingokids Review: Summary

With so many ways to learn about a variety of topics in age-appropriate ways, Lingokids serves as a single, safe, curated destination you can feel good about having your up to 8-year-olds kid use for both learning and entertainment. While Lingokids may categorize their educational experiences for kids as Lessons, Theater and Family Time, any time spent on the playlearning platform can reinforce learning and skills.

Collaborating with top children’s media brands uses kids’ existing affinity to known characters. This draws them into the platform to learn and keeps them engaging with Lingokids own characters as they learn. 

As a parent and former teacher, I appreciate that the Lingokids’ catalog is constantly evolving to provide new and different learning experiences. As kids get older and need to focus on different skills, it’s good to have a platform that can age with them, instead of having to find another app that’s less familiar and could jeopardize their safety. 

Lingokids offers a free week as a trial and a year of Lingokids is currently priced at $74.99 (normally $191.88) or $15.99/month.

Is Lingokids worth the cost? 

My honest answer is yes. I spent extensive time looking at Lingokids and think if you’re giving your phone to your child for playlearning, you can’t beat Lingokids for high-quality educational content through a safe platform you can trust.   

Download Lingokids here. 

While this is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own and based on my perspective as a former teacher and parent. Images courtesy of Lingokids.

The post Lingokids Review: Effective Playlearning App for Young Kids appeared first on Tech Savvy Mama.

      

Other posts you may enjoy

• ABCmouse Review: Free App Personalizes Learning for Ages 2-8
• Best Teacher Gifts for Favorite Teachers
• 2025 Holiday Gift Guides

 

This unconventional way of gifting shifts the focus away from stuff in favor of helping others in your community, in other areas of the country, and around the world. There’s no time like the present to have these important conversations with your kids as you teach them about the importance of giving and inspire giving at every age.

10 Easy Ways for Your Family to Give Back on Giving Tuesday

There are so many different ways you can give back on Giving Tuesday. It doesn’t matter how you give or what you give. The only thing that matters is that you give.

By simply giving, you’re creating a global impact driven by local action. In the U.S. alone, 300 community campaigns rally thousands of nonprofits, foundations, grassroots organizations, small businesses, and generous individuals to give back. Whether helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill, or finding virtual volunteer opportunities with their favorite causes—everyone has something to give and every act of generosity counts.

Here are easy ways you can give back on Giving Tuesday and beyond in support of animals, education, and children here in the United States and around the world.

3 Ways Animal Loving Families Can Give Back on Giving Tuesday

If you love animals, consider donating to these 3 organizations.

Heifer International

Even though both of our kids are in college now, they still look forward to thumbing through the Heifer International catalog that comes in the mail to figure out what gift of animals they want to give to others. Heifer is incredible organization that has a long history of empowering families to achieve sustainable income through animals. Donations as small as $20 can purchase a flock of ducks, chicks, or geese whose eggs are not only a source of great protein for the family but can be sold at a market for money that is used to send children to school, and provide proper housing, water, hygiene and other essential resources.

During Thanksgiving, Thomas selected the Hope Basket of chicks and rabbits ($50) and Emily chose to give a Trio of Rabbits ($60) as their gifts this year. Many times Heifer is able to match donations so I like to keep an eye out for these times because it means our family’s gifts goes even farther. Between now and December 3, Heifer is doing a 4x matching gifts which means our $110 donation becomes $440.

Save Elephant Foundation

Years ago our family volunteered at Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand and got to see the work that Save Elephant Foundation is doing to preserve the population of 30,000 elephants left on our planet. Save Elephant Foundation rescues elephants who have been hurt because of logging, victims of landmine explosions, and subjected through elephant tourism like trekking, begging, and street performing. Flash floods in Northern Thailand this past October caused Elephant Nature Park to evacuate elephants and swept away many of the structures.

Now more than ever a donation to Save Elephant Foundation is needed so Elephant Nature Park can rebuild in order to provide elephants with a safe home, the best veterinary care, and chain-free enclosures in order for them to live the life they deserve.

Your Local Animal Shelter or Pet Rescue Organization

When we were looking to get our first dog, we sought out local rescue groups in our area. Our first dog, Oliver, was given up by his family and we were able to give him a forever home thanks to Mutt Love Rescue. Goldie was 6 months old when we met her through Lab Rescue. Lab Rescue also rescued Murphy, his mama, and his 9 brothers and sisters from a dog breeder in North Carolina who felt in over his head after taking over the business from a family member. We’ve loved giving forever homes to our rescues and appreciate the great work animal shelters and pet rescue organizations to save animals and make sure they get to live the life they deserve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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There are wonderful animals near you looking for a forever home. Monetary donations help staff at your local animal shelter buy needed supplies for pets waiting for their forever home but you can also donate used towels, sheets, tennis balls, and other items that your family no longer needs to benefit the animals. Visit the website of your local shelter to see what might be needed or give them a call! I know they’d love to hear from you!

3 Ways Families with a Passion for Education Can Give Back on Giving Tuesday

If you’re passionate about education, support learning with a donation to any of these 3 organizations.

DonorsChoose

According to Education Market Association, 99.5% of public teachers spend their own money to equip their classrooms. DonorsChoose is a charity that connects teachers in communities with donors who want to help. Teachers request funding for classroom materials that aren’t provided by the school and fall outside their personal budget, individuals find and fund projects, and teachers obtain necessary supplies for classroom instruction.

Since 2000, 6,314,705 people and partners have contributed $1,720,553,973 to support 3,090,313 teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences. DonorsChoose vets each request, ships the funded resources directly to the classroom, and provides thank yous and reporting to donors and school leaders. Visit DonorsChoose to see what projects teachers need help funding in your area and make a donation since every amount helps!

HaitiProjects.org

During my years of visiting Haiti, I’ve seen some incredibly impactful projects but Haiti Projects stands out because of how their initiatives truly empower women in and around Fond des Blanc, a rural town on the southern coast. Haiti Projects’ mission is to empower women and their families by providing access to jobs, healthcare, and education. Their programs invest in women, build capacity in and engage the community, while also facilitating economic development and leveraging technology. 

Haiti Projects Community Library, Fond des Blancs, Haiti

In 2018 I was invited to attend the opening of the Haiti Projects Community Library that includes an off-the-grid state of the art Maker Library with books, computers and internet access for hundreds of kids, and a laboratory for incubating ideas, innovation, and fabrication. The mechanical and electronic fabrication library provide the community to access to tools, machines, and a maker community so residents can learn skills, design, and be able to build anything they dream of.

Haiti Projects TechnoClub in Fond des Blanc, Haiti

I sat in on a health education session with the girls soccer team where members learned about menstruation and puberty, education that isn’t taught to girls in Haiti.

Haiti Projects Pad Project

I took a walk through the country to visit a beekeeping site that’s part of the Beekeeping Project even though I’m allergic to bees. Empowering Haitians through knowledge and skills has been critical and a donation to Haiti Projects will help helping Haiti rebuild. A couple years ago I traveled Haiti to work with Haiti Projects to design educational initiatives for women and girls and shared my experience through a series of blog posts.

Malala Fund

 There are more than 120 million girls out of school today and The Malala Fund works to reach the most vulnerable girls who are denied an education. By breaking down barriers that hold girls back, The Malala Fund supports girls in refugee camps, girls living in poverty, and girls afraid to go to school because of gender-based violence and aims to provide girls in the most vulnerable communities a chance to learn.

They build networks of education advocates, work to hold leaders accountable to ensure resources and policy changes are made to ensure girls get a secondary education, and help develop the next generation of female leaders who will stand up and tell leaders what they need to learn in order to reach their full potential. Education is a right and The Malala Fund works to secure 12 years of safe, free, quality education for all girls so they can learn and lead without fear. 

4 Ways Families Can Give Back to Kids Around the World on Giving Tuesday

If you care deeply about kids, these are my three favorite organizations that do incredible work for children here and around the world.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In 2016 I traveled to Memphis to tour St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis and my visit was life changing. I was impressed with their mission of treating and finding cures for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases but also the incredible care they take of kids and families being treated. St. Jude is a place where parents never have to pay for treatment, food, or housing during their stay. St. Jude believes that parents should focus on what matters most- helping children live.

I expected my visit to be filled with sadness and instead, the parents I met made me realize that St. Jude is a place that provides hope. I realized that as a healthy mom of 2 healthy kids that I wanted to help St. Jude kids and families because if my own kids were to ever get sick, I’d want them to be taken care of in a way that St. Jude cares for families.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This is why I’ll spend this Saturday running the St. Jude Memphis Marathon as a St. Jude Hero. As a Hero, it’s my mission to run and raise money in support of St. Jude kids and families so other parents can focus on their own kids whether in the United States or around the world. Help me help St. Jude families by donating any amount to my St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend race. 

Shot@Life

The topic of vaccines is a controversial one in the United States for many reasons but what if you lived in a country that had a high mortality rate for children where access to vaccines would prevent deadly and disabling diseases like polio, pneumonia, measles, and diarrhea? The truth is, 1 in 5 children around the world don’t have access to the same vaccines we do in the United States and every 20 seconds (or approximately 1.5 million children a year) die from a vaccine preventable disease. A $20 donation to Shot@Life protects a child for life from polio, pneumonia, measles, and diarrhea and is an investment in a healthier world.

The Sandals Foundation

If you’ve ever visited a Sandals or Beaches resort, you’re probably familiar with The Sandals Foundation. The Sandals Foundation is a non-profit organization launched in March 2009 to help Sandals Resorts International continue to make a difference in the Caribbean. All costs associated with administration and management is supported by Sandals Resorts International so that 100% of every dollar donated goes directly towards funding impactful and meaningful initiatives within the key areas of Education, Community and Environment.

Sandals South Coast, Jamaica

While teaching in Jamaica this past September as a volunteer for Great Shape! Inc., Beaches Negril was our host thanks to GreatShape! Inc.’s partnership with Sandals Foundation. Exactly a month after I returned home, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in the exact area where I taught, devastating Jamaica. Hurricane Melissa made landfall near the parish border of Westmoreland, where the school where I taught is located. She brought 185 mph winds and tied the record for the strongest recorded landfall in the Atlantic basin with pressure and wind speed. Flooding, wind-damaged structures, washed out roads and bridges, possibility of landslides, and more plague the entire island.

The Sandals Foundation housed employees and their families to keep them safe during Hurricane Melissa. They have continued to pay employees even though some resorts are not yet open to the public. They’ve also partnered with World Central Kitchen to provide space for them to set up kitchens and feed Jamaicans. 

Save the Children

With the belief that every child deserves a future, Save the Children works in the United States and around the world to give children a healthy start in life as well as the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. They are always dedicated to doing what it takes for children on a daily basis as well as during times of crisis.

One of the best ways to make a lasting impact with your Save the Children donation is to sponsor a child. Sponsoring a child for less than $1 a day helps provide nutrition and health and also supports their child development and education. If you’re looking to give a gift that gives back, you can purchase and send a themed gift box for $50. Themes include fight hunger, promote girl empowerment, or a general save the children one for $50.

Wondering how to teach your kids about giving? These past Giving Tuesday posts of mine can help!

• Giving Tuesday for Families: 4 Things Parents Should Know
• How to Inspire Giving at Every Age on #GivingTuesday and Beyond
• 6 Simple Ways to Teach Your Kids to Give on #GivingTuesday & Throughout the Year

2025 Holiday Gift Guides

Below is the entire list of what you can look forward to this year. These links will go live as guides are published so bookmark or pin this post now so you can come back to it as you do your holiday shopping since I’ll be updating it often!

• Favorite Advent Calendars for All Ages
• Best Gifts College Students (inspired by my own college students!)
• Best STEM Gifts for All Ages (preK-teen)
• Best Subscriptions Boxes for All Ages
• Best Host and Hostess Gifts
• Gifts for the Best Dogs and the People Who Love Them (inspired by Goldie and Murphy, of course)
• Favorite Gifts for Outdoor Lovers (inspired by our family’s love of skiing, hiking, backpacking, water sports, and National Parks)
• Best Teacher Gifts for Favorite Teachers
• Favorite Ways to Teach Kids to Give Back

FAVORITE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES FROM PAST YEARS

In case you wanted to start making your shopping lists now, here’s a look at past gift guides that are full of great ideas:

• Toddlers & Preschoolers
• Early Elementary Ages (grades K-2)
• Tweens (ages 9-12)
• Teens (ages 13+)
• College Students 
• Best STEM Gifts for Kids
• Best Gifts for Outdoor Lovers
• Gifts the Best Dogs and the People Who Love Them (inspired by Goldie and Murphy, of course)
• Favorite Advent Calendars for All Ages
• Best Subscriptions Boxes for All Ages
• Fair Trade Holiday Gifts
• Best Gifts for Unplugged Fun
• Gifts for Outdoor Adventures
• Gifts for Gadget Lovers
• Gifts for Hostesses
• Gifts that Give Back
• 9 Gifts that Make it Easy for Families to Give Back

I hope you enjoy this year’s 2025 Holiday Gift Guide picks and wish you happy and stress-free holiday shopping!

Note to PR: The window for holiday gift guides has closed. I am happy to consider items for sponsored product reviews in December or specialty gift guides in 2026. Please be specific about the products you’d like me to consider reviewing. Samples are required for sponsored reviews and gift guides. Thank you!

The post 10 Easy Ways to Give Back on Giving Tuesday and Beyond appeared first on Tech Savvy Mama.

      

Other posts you may enjoy

• 9 Easy Ways to Give Back on Giving Tuesday and Beyond
• 9 Easy Ways for Your Family to Give Back on Giving Tuesday and Beyond
• How to Help Jamaica and Haiti After Hurricane Melissa

 

I think it’s safe to say that during the school year, our kids spend more of their awake hours with their teachers than they do at home. Show how much you appreciate your child’s hardworking, dedicated teachers with a handwritten thank you note paired with a thoughtful gift. If you’re not sure what to get and your child has no idea what their teacher(s) will like, I’m here to help! Spoiler: The best teacher gifts aren’t the ornaments or mugs proclaiming World’s Best Teacher or featuring apples!

Best Teacher Gifts for Favorite Teachers

After years of watching my mom open gifts from her students and then bringing home a box of goodies from my own class each December, I know how important it to give your child’s teacher something that will show that you appreciate them. They spend each and every day instilling knowledge in your child. Any one of the gifts below will show how much you appreciate how hard they work all year long even though you aren’t quite halfway through the year. Looking to give a class gift to your teacher? Scroll to the bottom of this post for Best Teacher Gifts from a Group!

Free to Inspire Tote from The Tote Project ($45)

This year give a teacher who inspires your kids the Free to Inspire Tote. It’s one of the best teacher gifts because of the rainbow print outside and what’s inside- an interior water bottle pocket, and cell phone pocket. This roomy tote is made of sturdy cotton canvas in a fair-trade factory in India which means that workers receive a fair wage for their day’s work. Plus 10% of the profits from this purchase are donated to fight human trafficking and support educational opportunities for survivors and children at-risk of trafficking.

Modern Lunch Box & Snack Cup from Bentgo ($50.99, regularly $57.98)

*Purchases support Feed the Children

When I was teaching, the middle schoolers who ate lunch in my computer lab used to make fun of my yogurt lunches. Honestly, they were healthy and easy but had I had the Modern Lunch Box and Snack Cup to pack my meals in, I might have packed myself real food for lunch daily. This 2-piece bundle contains Bentgo’s Modern Lunch Box & Snack Cup. The Lunch Box makes it easy to bring different kinds of foods thanks to customizable compartments that hold up to 5.5 cups. The Snack Cup is lightweight, durable, and convenient for granola, nuts, chips, or fruit that need to be separate from the contents of the lunch box. Both feature a leak-resistant design that is easy to clean and reusable. I’m also a fan of Bentgo’s Chill Max Lunch Box ($39.99) and Glass Salad Container ($24.99).

Personalized Name Necklaces from Mint & Lily ($49, regularly $98)

I adore Mint & Lily as a place to find pieces that elegant and affordable gifts for friends and family and their pieces also make the best teacher gifts. Over the years, I’ve given and been gifted their earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. While you can’t go wrong with any of their items, I their Personalized Name Necklaces make the best teacher gifts. Available in a variety of different fonts and finishes (925 Sterling, 18K gold plated, 18K rose gold plated, 18K gold over sterling, or silver), a Mint & Lily name necklace is a gift a teacher will treasure for years to come.

Hidrate Spark Pro 2 Smart Hydration Water Bottle or Tumbler ($49.99 or $56, regularly $79.99 or $69.99)

Drink smarter, feel better- that’s the idea behind HidrateSpark’s smart water bottles that help your teacher keep track of their hydration. Hidrate Spark 2 Pro Tumbler or Water Bottle are tech savvy teacher gifts that features a rechargeable USB-C base that can be customized to glow and make a certain sound as a reminder to stay hydrated. Embeded SipSense technology uses advance weight sensing to track every sip towards your hydration goal. Drink Sync syncs your liquid consumption to the HidrateSpark app to help you drink more water. The app integrates with Apple Watch & Heath and if you ever misplace your Hidrate Spark, it also works with Apple Find My so you never lose your bottle.

The HidrateSpark Pro 2 Tumbler ($56, regularly $79.99) holds 30 ounces of liquid and has a splash-resistant press-in lid with a dual position slider, straw, ergonomic carry handle, and is cup holder friendly. The Hidrate Spark Pro 2 Smart Hydration Water Bottle holds 21 ounces. Both products let you chug or sip, are vacuum insulated to keep cold beverages chilled for 24 hours or hot for 4 hours, and have a 21 day battery life per charge.

Two Rivers Flavored Coffee Pods Variety Pack ($20.95)

For coffee loving teachers, Two Rivers Coffee’s Flavored Coffee Pod Sampler makes a great gift because of the 40 different flavors that come in each box. Two Rivers makes these amazing coffee pods with premium arabica beans, the exact same quality beans they use in all their coffees. Beans are carefully slow roasted in-house, then flavored, and ground at the pinnacle of freshness, giving you the best cup of flavored coffee your teacher will ever try!

The AM Insulated Coffee Mug from Outsider ($31.99)

*Purchase of products support the Navy SEAL Foundation and Gold Star Wives

Every teacher needs a good mug and The AM Insulated Mug goes above and beyond, just like every teacher does every single day. Made of triple insulated steel, The AM holds 17 ounces and keeps hot beverages hot for 10 hours and cold ones chilled for 40 hours.

It has a screw-on lockable lid and a thoughtfully designed 180-degree swivel handle which means the handle rotates out of the way so it can fit in car and truck cupholders for morning commutes and weekend outings that might involve riding in golf carts, boats, watching kids’ sporting events, and more. 

Smart LED Desk Lamp from Verilux ($59.99)

Classroom lighting is always awful so give your teacher a break from overhead fluorescents with the Smartlight LED Desk Lamp from Verilux. This contemporary take on the traditional gooseneck lamp features full spectrum LED light that light that mimics natural light. It features simple touch settings for on/off and a USB port. It’s perfect for days that teachers stay at work until it’s dark outside and the compact size means this mighty little light is easy to take home during the summer months.

Dearist: A Kids Guide to Writing Letters (starting at $19.99)

Those of us from certain generations know the joy of writing letters and getting mail back. In the age of digital communication, letter writing has become lost and Dearist is working to bring the benefits of letter writing back to a new generation of kids. It’s listed among my best teacher gifts because it’s perfect for elementary teachers or middle school English teachers who teach letter writing. This darling book and stationery series is age-appropriate. Each of the 3 kits feature just-right guidebooks for each age group, stationary, envelopes, and Forever Postage Stamps in a keepsake box.   

Little Dearest Trio (for ages 8 and under, $19.99) focuses on the emotional reasons for why someone might choose to write a letter. It includes a writing prompt and example letter, as well as instructions on how to prepare an envelope for delivery. Dearist Signature Kit (for ages 8+, $34.99) instills the wonder of the mail, drawing references from history, art, literature, public service, and beyond. Each guidebook provides instruction on key aspects of letter writing, such as the parts of a letter, how to address an envelope, and the role of postage stamps. Dearist Bundle (multi-age, $39.99) includes both a Little Dearist and Dearist Signature Kits in a Keepsake Box.

I love that Dearist includes everything needed to write (and mail) great letters so kids can begin writing at the peak of inspiration. Founder Jennifer Yang sees letters as a genuine paper trail to the past and wanted to help her kids find the magic of letter writing.

Baby Foot Spa Bundle ($34)

Give teachers who spend all day on their feet the gift of relaxation with the Baby Foot Spa Bundle. This trio includes a foot peel, foot scrub, and premium foot soak designed to exfoliate and moisturize and leave feet baby soft. Here’s hoping your child’s teachers will have lots of time to put their feet up and relax over their winter break! 

418 Scarf from Puffer Hug ($55.99, regularly $69.99)

Every teacher could use a hug so why not wrap them in one each and everyday thanks to the new 418 Scarf from Puffer Hug! A couple of years ago the Original Puffer Hug was on my Best Teachers Gifts list and this year I’m excited to include the Puffer Hug® 418 Scarf on this year’s list! This lightweight and versatile piece that transforms from a cozy scarf to an elevated vest in a snap! It’s for teachers who love spending time outside with their class during recess, have outdoor bus duty, or whose classrooms are too chilly during school hours. Outside school, Puffer Hug 418 will keep teachers cozy on chilly commutes, at sporting events, during dog walks, while enjoying holiday lights with their family, while traveling, and so much more! And why the 418 Scarf? The 418 Scarf got its name from the latitudinal position of Chicago (41.8° N), home of the Puffer Hug!

Personalized Name Labels from Mabel’s Labels ($29 for the Basic School Label Pack)

Help your teacher keep track of their classroom things with Mabel’s Labels. As a teacher, my Mabel’s Labels helped me ensure my stapler, tape dispenser, hole punch, etc. didn’t wander off and end up staying in a classroom down the hall. I could instantly tell which school issued laptop was mine when I affixed my Mabel’s Labels to the front. With so many different shapes, designs, fonts, and graphic icons to choose from, Mabel’s Labels are an incredibly practical gift that no teacher would turn down which is why they’re on my Best Teacher Gifts list. Plus, your child will have just as much fun creating custom Mabel’s Labels for their teacher as their teacher will enjoy using them.

CORDBRICK ($14.99, regularly $29.99)

I used to hate when my charging cables would slip off my desk in my classroom and I’d have to crawl around on the dirty floor trying to fish them out from behind! CordBrick would have been the answer to this classroom problem which is why it makes a great gift for your child’s teachers. This patented device and cord solution is made of silicone and weighted with steel so it weighs down and gathers cord ends with a weighted, specially designed BRICK of silicone. The 6 special channels are designed for holding: 4 cords and wrapping/grabbing 2 cords and phones. All 6 channels can fit Apple AirPods, and things like pens, too. Its unique design allows it to adapt to ANY charging situation and since there’s no adhesive, it can be used multiple times. It comes in several colors, including glow-in-the-dark (limited availability). Get 10% off your total purchase using this link or use TECHSAVVYMAMA at checkout which is one step past the cart page.

HEY DEWY Wellness Humdifier ($99.99)

Hey Dewy’s Wellness Humidifier is a must have for teachers who are subjected to forced air heat in their classrooms during the winter months. Hey Dewy features a 1.5 liter capacity and an 24 hour mist run time, ultrasonic wave technology for quiet and efficient cool mist control, continuous and intermittent settings, and soft evening LED illumination. Small in size yet powerful, Hey Dewy’s size makes it perfect to keep on your teacher’s desk. The cool continuous mist dispersed from Hey Dewy helps teachers stay hydrated and healthy throughout the year which is important because no teacher really wants to have to subject their students to a sub when out sick! Having to not write sub plans is a reason enough for Hey Dewy to make my Best Teacher Gifts list! 

PURA 4 SMART FRAGRANCE DIFFUSER ($34.99, regularly $49)

Fragrance has the power to change the energy and atmosphere of a space, which is why Pura 4 Smart Fragrance Diffuser makes my Best Gifts for Teachers list. What teacher wouldn’t want to be transported to a new place of have their mood enhanced with scent? Pura 4 is a smart fragrance diffuser that uses innovative smart features paired with premium, clean scents for modern, customized, and high-end scents. Pura 4 pairs with the Pura app so schedules and timers can be set so fragrance isn’t being diffused in the classroom on the weekends or over breaks. Pura last technology allows your diffuser to learn from your feedback to efficiently fill your space with your desired scent intensity for up to 120 hours per smart fragrance vial. I love Pura’s smart fragrance technology and the clean scents made with ingredients safe for kids.

Help Fund a Donor’s Choose Classroom Project

While not a gift for your teacher, donating funds to your teacher’s DonorsChoose.org project is always appreciated since it’s money they don’t have to personally spend on classroom supplies. Helping to fund a Donor’s Choose project is a gift you can feel good about giving because it’s something your child (and others after them) can enjoy using in the classroom this year and for years to come. To find out if your teacher has a project, visit the DonorsChoose.org site and use the search boxes to type in your teacher’s and name of your school along with your zip code or just ask your child’s teacher!

Uber Eats/DoorDash/GrubHub Gift Card

For most teachers, lunch time is never glamorous. I used to spend my 30 minutes of lunch time helping students and getting ready for my afternoon classes. My colleagues often made copies, graded work, tried to return parent phone calls, or use their time to complete paperwork. Treat your teacher to lunch with a gift certificate to a favorite local restaurant or a gift card to Uber Eats, Postmates, GrubHub, Domino’s, etc. Gift cards make my list of Best Teacher Gifts because they can help satisfy a mid-day craving for lunch. Not having to think about dinner can also be a great pick me up on a hard day or a long day with staff meetings or parent-teacher conferences that keep teachers at school later than usual.

Best Teacher Gifts: Group Gift Ideas

I always loved serving as the room parent for my kids’ elementary school teachers. I enjoyed using contributions from family members and coming up with gift ideas for my child’s teachers based on their interests and needs. If the parents at your child’s school take up a collection like I used to do, here are my ideas for best gifts for teachers to give as a class gift.

Tieks Ballet Flats (starting at $205)

If you’re looking to give a group gift to a teacher this holiday, a gift certificate to Tieks would be a wonderful luxury. I’ve had multiple pairs of these classic ballet flats over the past 10 years including Obsidian Black, Wild Copper, and most recently, Copperhead Snake. I love how they can be dressed up or dressed down to wear inside and outside the classroom.

Tieks feature a unique split sole, flexible midsole, and are designed to mold to the wearer’s foot. This design also allows them to be folded to tuck away in the included pouch, making them great to pack to an early morning gym class for a quick shower and change before school. Thick non-skid rubber outsole provides traction and shock absorption while advanced foam cushioned insoles provide all day comfort and long-term wear against hard linoleum floors. Instead of an elasticized back that tends to wear out, Tieks have a cushioned back so they fit just right on your heel and don’t slip down during the day.

With over 70 prints, patent leathers, classics, and more to choose from, a gift certificate to Tieks for your teacher to choose their own pair will be among the most treasured and memorable best teacher gifts they’ll receive. Plus, each pair comes beautifully packaged in a solid turquoise box with gorgeous flower topper, making the box a gift in itself.

Restaurant Gift Certificate

Everyone has those days when they don’t want to cook and teachers do too! Find out your teacher’s favorite restaurant and purchase a gift certificate they can use on those days where it is just too much to go home and make dinner. If they live close to school, give them a gift certificate to a local place so they can stop and get dinner on their way home or use Restaurant.com. Put the gift card inside a great lunch bag so your teacher can carry their leftovers to school in style.

Streaming Services for Movie Nights

A gift card for a year of streaming is a great way for your teacher to unwind and enjoy a night in after a long day or week of work. Pick up a gift card for Hulu, Netflix, Disney Plus, or Paramount+ at the gift card station of your favorite retailer and put it in a basket with microwave popcorn and boxes of movie theater size candy.

Fund a Getaway

Have a teacher with family far away? It is hard to travel on a teacher budget especially since winter break days likely fall on blackout days where fares are higher. Help offset the cost of travel by taking up a collection to send your teacher away on a real vacation or be home with their family for some real TLC with an airline or VRBO gift certificate. If know they’re traveling somewhere new for winter break, you can also give them CityPass to help them explore the city they’re visiting.

Give the Gift of Flowers

Flowers always brighten anyone’s mood especially when they are a surprise. Teachers swoon when they see beautiful bouquets delivered to the office and hope they are meant for them. 1-800 Flowers.com has a great selection of flowers that are available for same day delivery. A monthly flower subscription also makes a great gift to show your appreciation throughout the year.

Send the Gift of Fruit

If your teacher loves fresh fruit, send a fruit bouquet to school or check out Harry and David’s fruit clubs where you can have 3 months of fresh fruit delivered for as little as $94.99. 6-12 month fruit of the month clubs are also available depending on your budget.

2025 Holiday Gift Guides

Below is the entire list of what you can look forward to this year. These links will go live as guides are published so bookmark or pin this post now so you can come back to it as you do your holiday shopping since I’ll be updating it often!

• Favorite Advent Calendars for All Ages
• Best Gifts College Students (inspired by my own college students!)
• Best STEM Gifts for All Ages (preK-teen)
• Best Subscriptions Boxes for All Ages
• Best Host and Hostess Gifts
• Gifts for the Best Dogs and the People Who Love Them (inspired by Goldie and Murphy, of course)
• Favorite Gifts for Outdoor Lovers (inspired by our family’s love of skiing, hiking, backpacking, water sports, and National Parks)
• Best Teacher Gifts for Favorite Teachers
• Favorite Ways to Teach Kids to Give Back

FAVORITE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES FROM PAST YEARS

In case you wanted to start making your shopping lists now, here’s a look at past gift guides that are full of great ideas:

• Toddlers & Preschoolers
• Early Elementary Ages (grades K-2)
• Tweens (ages 9-12)
• Teens (ages 13+)
• College Students 
• Best STEM Gifts for Kids
• Best Gifts for Outdoor Lovers
• Gifts the Best Dogs and the People Who Love Them (inspired by Goldie and Murphy, of course)
• Favorite Advent Calendars for All Ages
• Best Subscriptions Boxes for All Ages
• Fair Trade Holiday Gifts
• Best Gifts for Unplugged Fun
• Gifts for Outdoor Adventures
• Gifts for Gadget Lovers
• Gifts for Hostesses
• Gifts that Give Back
• 9 Gifts that Make it Easy for Families to Give Back

I hope you enjoy this year’s 2025 Holiday Gift Guide picks and wish you happy and stress-free holiday shopping!

Note to PR: The window for holiday gift guides has closed. I am happy to consider items for sponsored product reviews in December or specialty gift guides in 2026. Please be specific about the products you’d like me to consider reviewing. Samples are required for sponsored reviews and gift guides. Thank you!

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