This is a tricky question, so I asked for input from my friends who have older children: at what age should kids have Smartphones? The responses I got all agreed on one thing: A cell phone and a smartphone are two different things, requiring two different answers.

Cell phones are here to stay

Most of the moms I talked to either thought they would get their children cell phones (or already had) in later middle school or high school. Twelve and 13 were common ages. Safety and communication were the top reasons. One mom has a son that has Type 1 diabetes, so as he got older (he’s 13) and spent more time away from home and other supervised activities, she wanted him to be able to contact her if he had a medical issue. Another mom got her son a phone at age 12 after she dropped him and a friend at a skate park and his friend broke his arm, and they weren’t able to reach her. Other parents that had kids involved in sports gave them cell phones so they could let them know when they needed to be picked up. Another friend has a daughter that is starting to babysit, and some of the homes she will be in do not have land lines, so her mom wanted her to have a cell phone in case of emergency. Other parents have held out longer. I didn’t hear from anyone who got their kid a phone any younger than 11 and many who waited longer. Continue reading →

Some people think having twins would be fun and some think it would be a huge amount of work. They are both right. While I was excited, I didn’t know what to expect when having twins so I was worried about how overwhelming it might be.

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Teaching children to have a strong work ethic early in their childhood can be beneficial to them long into adulthood. Age-appropriate chores for kids as young as preschool encourages responsibility, accountability, independence and initiative. Toddlers can make beds and clean up small areas such as their room or play area. Then, as children get older they can assist with activities such as setting the table, feeding the family pet, taking out the trash, and folding laundry. Before children have paying jobs and a boss, chores give them direction that can prepare them for the “real world.”

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You know the saying, “April showers bring May flowers.” Well, we are re-writing it this month as “April showers bring $500 to Amazon!” This month we are giving away one $500 gift card to Amazon so mamas can get what the really need – may that be diapers, bottles, kid’s gear, or even 500 aromatherapy candles because you deserve to treat yourself!

To share about the April SmartMom contest on Twitter, click here. 

How to Enter the Contest:

Remember, every star you earn in the app helps your chances of being a winner so be sure to log in every day! More questions? Check out our official contest rules.

Last Month’s Winner:

The winners of the March contest for $250 to GapKids are Kailaa T. & Sierra E! Be sure to congratulate them in the app!