Kids And Technology

Today’s children are surrounded by technology and the average household owns 7.3 screens according to a new report by ReportLinker.

This new survey answers the following questions:

• What are the most popular devices among children: TV, tablet, smartphones or video games?
• Do parents monitor their kids’ usage and how?
• What do parents think of this easy access to technology ?
   

Will Television be defeated by tablets?

• Children are still mostly drawn to television as it remains the most popular device used by them at home, with 62% of mentions, followed by tablets (47%), smartphones (39%) and video game consoles (38%).
• Among children aged 10 and younger, tablets are the favorite device and 58% of children aged 5 or younger use them. This figure shows the device has the potential to unseat TV as favorite for future generations.

Parents’s monitoring, where is the limit?

• Although half of all parents say they limit device use to two hours a day, 45% of those who allow devices in the bedrooms say their children use them from three to five hours per day
• 62% of parents say their kids spend three or more hours using a smartphone
• 57% say their children spend more than three hours a day playing video games
• 83% of parents recognize the importance of keeping an eye on the content their children are watching
• And 46% of parents who allow their children to use electronics before falling asleep are surprisingly more likely not to activate the parental supervision on all their devices
   

Does technology ruin the essence of childhood ?

• 19% of parents who don’t allow electronics in the bedroom believe technology ruins the essence of childhood
• Almost a third of all parents (31%)  believe their children are more isolated because they have fewer social interactions
• Also, 4 out of 10 parents believe technology promotes school readiness and cognitive development
   

To see all the survey results click here.
 

Home is The Key: Gifts That Give Back

At Home Group Inc.kicks off its new partnership with Habitat for Humanity in April by supporting the organization’s inaugural, monthlong Home is the Key campaign. The specialty retailer pledges $250,000 to help families across the U.S. achieve strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable housing and will be raising additional funds through the sale of exclusive products and by encouraging customers to donate in-store and online.

Throughout April, customers at any of At Home’s 126 stores can purchase Habitat for Humanity candles – available in Tropical Waters and Fresh Blossoms designs and fragrances – for $7.99, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, customers can make in-store donations during checkout or online at www.athome.com/habitat-for-humanity.html.

“As a company built around the importance of home, we are passionate about our partnership and shared mission with Habitat for Humanity,” said At Home CEO Lee Bird. “We know our customers will join us in supporting this wonderful organization and making the Home is the Key campaign a big success.”

In addition to the April fundraising initiative, At Home will assist in building a new Habitat home for a family in its Dallas-area hometown this month.  

“We thank At Home for their partnership during this campaign and for being an advocate to strengthen families and communities,” said Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford. “Our hope is to inspire individuals to donate to Habitat during the month of April to help more families have a decent place to call home.”

For more information about At Home, please visitwww.athome.com or connect socially at facebook.com/athomestores or @AtHomeStores on Instagram and Twitter.

ABOUT AT HOME

At Home, the home decor superstore, offers more than 50,000 on-trend home products to fit any budget or style, from sofas, dining sets, mattresses and patio furniture to lamps, pillows, kitchenware and rugs and more, plus seasonal decor that includes yard displays, lights and Christmas trees. At Home is headquartered in Plano, Texas, and currently operates 126 stores in 30 states. For more information, visit the company online http://www.athome.com or find us on Facebook (AtHomeStores), Instagram (AtHomeStores) or Pinterest (AtHomeStores).

ABOUT HABITAT FOR HUMANITYDriven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in nearly 1,400 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.

Orlando Family Adventures

There are so many opportunities to see and do in Orlando. Here are some of our families favorite attractions to see.

DAY 1:

Disney World is one of our families all time favorite places to go. Now Spring Break is crowded, so if you dont like really crowded places dont go at this time. Went to Magic Kingdom and it is so beautiful. The scenery is very majestic. So many different attraction to see.

Magic Kingdom is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. Owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division, the park opened on October 1, 1971, as the first of four theme parks at the resort.

 The Under The Sea attraction is one of our favorites.

Our favorite must have treat is the dole whip float. If you get any treat that is the way to go.

A great tool to use is the Disney app. You can buy tickets, set up your vacation and chose fast passes. 

Epcot (originally named EPCOT Center) is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. It is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division. Inspired by an unrealized concept developed by Walt Disney, the park opened on October 1, 1982, and was the second of four theme parks built at Walt Disney World, after the Magic Kingdom. 

My kids absolutely loved the monorail system.

On our trip we decided to visit some of the resorts. There was one that was our all time favorite, Disneys Polynesian Resort. 

Celebrate the spirit of the South Pacific at this oasis of tropical palms, lush vegetation and so much more. From moonlit nights immersed in the outdoor island ambience to the exotic tastes of our world-class restaurants, discover the signature tropical atmosphere that’s made Disney's Polynesian Village Resort a favorite Disney destination since 1971.

When we was touring the resort we were asked to be the honorary family to do the torch lightning ceremony. The kids were so excited. They got to greet the tourist at the resort with an "Aloha" before the ceremony started. 

Stay Tuned for Day 2 of our OrlandoAdventure.