websites for parents

Today is my birthday. Which means for the last 10 years, it's the day I refuse to turn on any news media whatsoever and re-experience the hell that I did more than a decade ago on this date. But now that my kids are getting older and ask…

If you're like us, one of your new year's resolutions has a little something to do with getting organized when it comes to family management. You've already told us a ton of amazing ways you put your Google calendars to work for you and …

While not every one of these websites are brand new, these are the ones that we fell in love with in 2011, may of which experienced terrific upgrades and improvements that make our lives a lot easier or more entertaining. Culling from re…

Now that we've open the last book in our advent calendar, I get to deflect the When is Santa coming? questions all day long. But now I can just pop the kids in front of my computer for a little geography lesson as they track St. Nick's t…

The holiday list-making has hit full-force in this house. Yesterday my nine year-old handed me a list not only for the upcoming holidays but a second prioritized list for her birthday. My 7 year-old, who I insanely showed the copy button…

The idea of trips with the girlfriends or big family vacations sound amazing until you actually have to plan and organize them. Then, let's just say the magic disappears pretty quickly. That's why I'm super excited about a new site that …

If you find yourself in front of your computer or smart phone more than you are in front of a baby book, you may love how easy it is to record all your pregnancy thoughts onto this brand new digital storybook site, courtesy of the UK meg…

My nine year old daughter has a lot to say about everything. She likes to let her opinions be known about what books she's willing to read, what foods she'll eat, what toys she'll play with. Now, with today's release of a very cool new w…

We know the one thing integral to keeping your sanity during back to school time is organization. Whether you volunteered to be the classroom mom and need to help wrangling 26 families or you're just trying to keep track of your own, we'…

Our readers are often the source of the coolest finds, like this one -- a fantastic little self-funded website that allows young children to create, imagine, and play without the help of a single TV character. Click around the whimsical …

I do what I can to give back and support the causes that are dear to my heart, but with four kids and a busy schedule, I feel limited in how much I can commit. However since discovering this amazing new site, I can take on simple daily c…

With a ton of trips coming up, including the big BlogHer conference in San Diego this week, I feel like I'm losing my mind trying to keep it all organized. In fact, last night I had a brief panic attack as I tried to track down my airlin…

Aside from Fridays when I receive my US Weekly issues in the mailbox, there isn't much else that I anticipate from the local postal truck. In fact, I've been noticing an increase in the number of odd catalogs, random mailers and junk mai…

I love summer for so many reasons. Kids footloose and fancy-free, the fun in the sun, and no deluge of paperwork from all our school events, fundraisers, PTA meetings and volunteer opportunities. I love volunteering in the class and chap…

"The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." One of my favorite quotes by Marcel Proust. So the name Proust seems appropriate for a new website designed to help people share their stories with family…

Are you spending every visit home showing your dad how to turn the computer on... again ? Fielding frantic phone calls from your mother about how her monitor is "broken," when it turns out it's just sleeping? Then you're going to love Go…

I never actually realized how much I relied on my print-scan- fax trifecta of printer features until the thing bit the dust a few months ago. Since then, I've been begging neighbors to scan docs for me, and hitting the local office store…

The Parent Show is hosted by Angela Santomero, whose name didn't ring a bell until I realized that she's the creator of Blue's Clues and Super Why! Those shows I know. Verrrry well. She's teamed up with PBS Parents to create short, engag…

There was once a magical time. A time when children waited in breathless anticipation for their favorite Christmas Special to play on TV. There was no DVR or Video On Demand; no rewinding or fast-forwarding; no YouTube; no bathroom break…

Between after-school activities, weekend soccer games, getting Caleb a birthday present for his party on Saturday, flu shot appointments, sending in the permission slip for the field trip, and, uh, you get the gist, it's a wonder I don't…

With Animoto, you can create your very own free (free!) 30-second video and the results look, well, like you paid a pro. Here's how it works. Related: Splice is a cool video editing app that we're loving Just upload photos, add a few tex…

I know that there is no text or email worthy of taking my eyes off the road while driving, especially now that I'm carrying precious cargo in the back seat. But the urge is strong, oh so strong, to see what message has just popped up, an…

I'm really thrilled to introduce you to my new obsession, Skillshare , a wonderful community that offers online classes to help you learn new skills and dial up your creativity--or simply get it back. If you're like me, you often see all…

Let's be honest, air travel with kids is not the easiest. Between weather delays, checked baggage fees, and the fear that your toddler will kick the seat in front of you the entire time, I'd say it ranks on the anxiety meter somewhere ar…