Best Math Apps for Kids

Photo by Annie Spratt/Unsplash

For those of us who are not good at math, we need a little help. I was a straight-C math student all my life. But, if I'd had all the help​ that kids have today? My math story might have turned out a little better! 

Do you know how to teach Common Core math? I sure don't. So I've rounded up fifteen apps that we think will help the kids best learn math and figure out that math homework without making you tear out your hair.

For more math and science fun through hands-on experiments, check out our Guide to Science Experiments for Kids and Fun STEM Activities.

Legoland New York Delays Opening to Summer 2021

Legoland New York's opening has been pushed to summer 2021. Photo courtesy of the resort

The long-awaited Legoland New York Resort is the latest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic. The resort, located in Goshen, New York, 60 miles north of New York City, announced Tuesday its opening date has been delayed to summer 2021. It was previously scheduled to open on July 4, 2020. An exact date has yet to be announced, but for now, consider all those plans to peruse Miniland or meet Master Builders to be on hold.

The resort said its decision came after consultation with the CDC.

24 Best Classic Board Games for Family Game Night

Pull out a block, place it on top but don't let the tower fall in the fun and challenging Jenga.

Why not go old-school for family night this week and gather around the table to play one of these classic family-friendly board games? Board games have a lot to offer: They inspire competition. They can build spelling skills (Scrabble and Boggle), math skills (Monopoly and Hi-Ho! Cherry-O), and some are just plain fun (Sorry!). Here, we've rounded up a pile of options for every age group. More good news: None of these 24 board games break the bank, and you might even have some of these board games in the back of your closet, gathering dust.

Need more options for screen-free family time? We've got tons of resources and activities in our Games and Activities Guide for Family Fun.

18 Science Summer Camps for Houston Kids

In the long weeks of summer, encourage your children's invention, curious nature so they don't begin conducting experiments in your house. STEM, science and tech summer camps work both sides of your kid's brains, and there are lots of options around Houston

Below you'll find a plethora of camps around Houston that encourage children to think outside the box, foster a love of the sciences and keep boredom at bay, all while presenting educational information in an entertaining way. And for more summer and vacation camp ideas, check out our comprehensive camp guide and full directory of camp listings.

Note that camp openings and closures are changing frequently in the 2020 season; click through to the camp website for the most current information.

Free Virtual Tutoring and Sitting Service Connects College Students with Kids

Give your kids an hour of tutoring or fun with a virtual helper at Heart Over Hands, Photo by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

Whether working from home or just dealing with housebound life during coronavirus, most parents could use break from their kids right about now. (Psst...they could use a break from you, too.) Yet, parents are justifiably uneasy about having sitters or even grandparents over right now. Enter Hearts over Hands, a new virtual sitting service that pairs families with student volunteers from New York City's Columbia University.

The college students will play games, conduct art projects, chat and provide homeschool help and tutoring with kids ages 7 and up—all online and for FREE.

Read on to find out more about Hearts over Hands, available now on our newly launched Poppins@Home website, which offers additional virtual classes for kids, enrichment, birthday entertainers, and more programming for kids.

Working From Home with Kids: A Big List of Activities To Keep Kids Busy

Photo by Ally Noel

Almost overnight, many parents have begun working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Juggling the challenges of keeping our families’ homeschool education on track while maintaining our work schedule from home is not an easy task. 

The Mommy Poppins team are seasoned WFH pros. With a handy set of noise-canceling headphones, we can work in almost any situation. When the sign on the door that states “Working:Do Not Enter” stops ...well... working, this list of independent play activities should keep everyone engaged and entertained. Some of these activities require a little bit of set-up depending on your child’s age. Take one tip from this pro: save screen time for the end of the day. It’s the perfect activity to wrap up your workday or respond to a few last emails. 

65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age

Teach 'em to tie during downtime.

We were about half a day into the great pandemic-induced homeschool experiment of 2020 when I lost my cool for the first time. With a full-time work schedule for my husband and myself, plus three kids to teach, how exactly were we going to manage?

I worried about workspace, bandwidth (both our Wi-Fi connection and my own), and common core math problems. And then, I decided to sort of... give up. Sure, we'll do our best to keep up with the schoolwork of three kids in two schools in three vastly different stages of their educational journeys, but we'll also focus on some good, old-fashioned life skills.

Day 1 found me schooling my son on how to make his teen-diet staple, ramen noodles, and a home ec class full of chocolate chip cookies for my younger daughters. I mostly stayed back, and let my girls do the measuring and mixing that I typically like to micromanage. On Day 2 we sewed up the holes in some favorite stuffed animals. By Day 3, my youngest was eagerly awaiting the day's lesson, and that inspired me to reach out to colleagues and friends to put together this list of life skills. Of course, most of these essential skills are worth teaching kids at any time but it feels apt during this forced slowdown. Without further ado, 65 real-life lessons to teach your kids.

If you're looking for more at-home and indoor Boredom Busters, we have plenty to recommend, including science experiments and crafts.

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