homeschooling

Along with books, YouTube channels , and educational apps , there are loads of smart and fun websites that both my kids and I agree are worthwhile supplements to their schoolwork. And as I get ready to start my eighth (gulp) year homesch…

Back-to-school is in the air and even young preschoolers can benefit from a little extra help at home with the help of fun educational apps, the latest feature in our Back to School Tech Guide . Some little kids' apps are more educationa…

We're pretty diligent around here about making sure our kids understand math concepts, and math apps can be a helpful and even fun way to get them excited about it. Year after year, math just keeps building on itself, so it's super impor…

My five-year-old son heads to kindergarten in two weeks. (Cue sobbing.) While he talks a blue streak and wields a glue stick like a lightsaber, we're still working on his reading skills. So I was absolutely tickled by how quickly he beca…

My kids' love of electronics is not going away just because the grass is green again, which is why I really like a new educational iPad app that gets kids excited about the great outdoors---and even asks them to put down the iPad and go …

What kid hasn't dreamed of rocketing off into outer space to see what is out there? The problem is, that cardboard box in the living room isn't going anywhere so fast. Junior Astronaut - Breaking through the space barrier is a standout e…

Finding nifty little apps of merit for the kids can be a chore all on its own. Every so often though we come across sweet and simple apps that not only entertain them but that also impress us. Color Genius for iOS does just that. It's re…

If you've got an alphabet-hungry kid and are craving some awesome ABC apps for your iPad, I understand completely. When my son little, he was so obsessed with the alphabet that he saw letters in everything: a scotch tape dispenser was a …

For the last few months, my oldest daughter has been designing a website and online game in her paper journal. But now she's decided that she's ready to bring it to life, which presents a bit of a technical challenge, and a possibly expe…

When my son was younger, one of our favorite activities together was his Snap Circuits set. It gave him an opportunity to explore his creative side and gave me a chance to think that I was a whiz at electricity and physics. It's these ty…

I review a lot of apps for kids and thus, am inundated with spinning, whirling, jumping, and shrieking characters/animals/aliens on my iPad. But once in a while, an app comes along that makes me breathe a sigh of "well, finally." Such is…

I have 12-year-old and 3-year-old daughters who I'd like to find some good educational websites for. Any suggestions? - Michelle Thanks for your question, Michelle! There are a huge number of educational websites out there geared towards…

I get excited watching my kids begin to understand the basics of music composition and creation -- which doesn't mean karaoke to Call Me Maybe in our living room. Okay, it does, but I don't want it to stop there either. If you've got a k…

If you're looking for a way to get the kids up close and personal with the presidents this Presidents' Day, check out a new app that will have them learning while they play. In fact, in just a short time, they'll probably be teaching you…

If you could see how bananas my grade-school-age kids just went over an "alphabet app," you might think they were watching some ridiculous YouTube video. Surely an eight and ten year old couldn't be hysterically laughing while playing an…

Today's Inauguration gives us a great opportunity to talk to the kids about the role of our President and some of the more interesting and colorful figures to have graced the Oval Office. But, if you slept through history class as much a…

Ever since my son learned his five multiplication tables before he could even write his numbers correctly (thanks Schoolhouse Rock ! ), I've found that math is one of those subjects that doesn't necessarily need to be taught in any cut-a…

Watching my daughter have to think hard while she is playing with an educational app makes me smile big. And being able to finally take advantage of the booming educational app market is a joy when presented with some of the amazing opti…

The more parents are realizing that tablets can be an awesome educational resource for our kids, the more companies are jumping on board to make their device more appealing to parents than others. Starting today, Kindle becomes an even b…

My kids, like all kids it seems, are big fans of the blockbuster Fruit Ninja app. So when I heard about a new app that pretty much rips it off but adds math to the equation (heh) I was interested in checking it out. Now I'll start with t…

Whether you're headed over the river and through the woods this Thanksgiving, or you're just trying to get things ready for the big turkey dinner without tripping on a hungry kid, there's a smart new U.S. geography app that is so much fu…

A lot of readers ask us about great math apps for kids. (Cut The Rope only counts sort of) I've found a great one that's equal parts science lesson and math course with a sprinkling of cool graphics thrown in for good measure. My kids ar…

If you're like me, if you're plunking down cash for an app, you really want it to be worth it. So an app with four games in one has my name all over it. And when all four games are educational for the kids, my heart swoons. Smash Party i…

In my neck of the woods, all eyes are on the trees to see when the colors of fall start putting on their gorgeous show. Add that to two kids who are itching to learn Spanish this year, and I'm so pleased to have found a great song to get…