Gem of the week

Each day, there's a 'wonder of the day', typically a question from a kid, that is explored and answered with videos, articles and pictures. The content is aligned to K - 12 curriculum and is specifically built to titillate curious minds of every age. It does require literacy so it's best for 3rd grade readers and above to explore on their own.  If you’ve got the will, anyone K and above will find something they connect with. This is one resource you can set and forget - like a loyal crockpot. It is screen time you can truly feel good about.

This week's gem is like a million digital gems rolled into one link. And the fact that it is free is mindblowing. You know that place where you go, to touch books who knows who has touched, walk through aisles to search for what you need, then possibly face a late fee if you don't go back?  Yes, you don't have to do that anymore. Libbyapp is used by 1000s of libraries in the US. You can get ebooks, audiobooks, magazines... it is freaking amazing. You can 'borrow' books and put the links in Aneta for your kiddos and feel like a Greek God - all without leaving your home.  This is screen time you can truly feel good about. 

This free resource is one of many resources on www.highlightskids.com. There's a paid version which has tons more pictures too if your kiddos cant get enough.  What's a hidden picture game you say? It's those busy pictures that have random objects hidden in plain sight. Look closely to find for example that the duck's wing is really a banana. Everyone loves that sense of satisfaction. This is screen time you can feel good about.

This amazing and yet free resource for current events and stories is what we all need.  When the CDC puts out guidelines on limiting watching the News to protect our mental health (yes they did!), you know things are bad. KidNuz manages to produce a daily newscast that is totally kid appropriate, informative, and entertaining to boot. You can listen directly on the website or anywhere podcasts are available. The website itself is a gem of news-related resources and quizzes for the kids. This is screen time you can feel truly good about. 

Looking for some ideas for your little one's screen time? 🌟 There are many free, fun, and educational sites for our kids. We share with you our selection for April.

You know a podcast with a name that plays on toilet humor really gets kids. Who Smarted? is one of the rare gems that is as high on the 'edu' as it is on the 'tainment'.  Did you know that frogs shed their skins like snakes - and then eat it!? I didn't think so.  Trusty Narrator drops knowledge on kids ages 5 - 10 (and you!) and they'll beg to listen to more. This is a gem you can set and forget and feel awesome about. Listen on car rides to keep bickering at bay or let the kids go to town themselves by putting this in their Aneta Homeroom. 

This free website is a treasure trove of resources for kids in grade 1 all the way through high school. Want to help your scholar to practice money, multiplication, or mixed numbers? This site has got you. It's not a digital gem you can set and forget as not yet-literate kids can't navigate it. If you've got a printer, the worksheets (and answers!) are great. Not to worry if you don't - there are games and activities that you can link to for some screen time you can truly feel good about.

This free channel has 100s of videos of mesmerizing animations to go with familiar kids’ music and nursery rhymes. The best part is that the same songs are available in multiple languages including English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian. Toddlers through 1st and some 2nd graders will be hooked - whether they understand the words or not until they find themselves understanding it. This is one of those gems you can set and forget. Screen time you can truly feel good about.

The Word Search - This free channel generates word search puzzles that will delight and challenge any reader. Best online resources (websites, podcasts, games, and more!) for kids ages 2 to 10.