Technology for Parents

Everyday gadgets and services that help make raising, connecting with and entertaining kids simpler than ever.

As any proud parent knows, raising a child is both the hardest and most rewarding job you’ll ever have. With the benefit of technology on your side though, it’s easier than ever to make memories, engage scrappy tots and keep your blood pressure from reaching Mt. Vesuvius levels. So even if we’re still a ways off from diaper-changing droids or seats which automatically sedate inhabitants when vocally prompted with an “are we there yet,” the gadget- and Internet-savvy Mom/Pop can still enjoy a healthy edge. Following are several simple solutions for giving your stab at daycare a 21st century makeover:

Staying Connected
Sometimes, the most obvious answers are the best. For example: Keeping in touch with friends and relatives is made both painless and cost-efficient via the power of the Web. Free blogging software such as Blogger, WordPress and Windows Live Spaces renders maintaining an online diary easy. Users can effortlessly share text updates (“the Tooth Fairy visited today”), personal insight and photos of special events like birthdays and vacations, keeping even overseas relatives constantly abreast of noteworthy happenings.

Wallet-friendly digital cameras like Nikon’s Coolpix L18 ($139.95) or Canon PowerShot A590 IS ($149.99) also prove a godsend, letting you capture magic moments for virtual archival and online distribution. To save time, consider pairing with the Eye-Fi Share ($99.99) or Explore ($129.99) 2GB SD memory cards, which can store hundreds of pictures, and automatically wirelessly upload photos to your PC or the Internet. Once transferred to sites like Facebook, Flickr, Shutterfly, Snapfish or Kodak Gallery, images can quickly be shared with friends and family via email, or glossy prints ordered at a sizable discount over standard retail prices.

Communication and Entertainment
A USB webcam – roughly $20-$40 on average, although more advanced models like Logitech’s QuickCam Pro 9000 ($99.99) and Creative’s Live! Cam Optia Pro ($79.99) offer improved visual quality – and microphone ($10-20) are essential accessories in this day and age too. When paired with free services such as Skype, ooVoo and SightSpeed, you can instantly enjoy the magic of videoconferencing. That way, parents have the option of calling in at no charge while abroad on business to wish tots goodnight from Baltimore or Budapest, or just giving grandma and grandpa the occasional chance to see how sprouts have grown.

As much as a child’s attention span is prone to wavering, portable amusement is always a must too. Despite its $179 price, the travel-ready i-Luv 1155 combo DVD player and iPod dock remains a top pick, letting you screen favorite discs (all hail Baby Einstein) or iTunes-downloaded videos on its dazzling 8.4-inch display. The dual-screened, touch-sensitive Nintendo DS ($129.99) also earns high marks for its ability to please older children, and massive library of family-friendly hits from Nintendogs to Pokemon Ranger and Guitar Hero On Tour. No sense going all-out on the newly redesigned iPod nano ($149) or Touch ($229) either, unless price is no object and you have a multimedia-addled teen or plan to share the device with your offspring. The truth is, for digital music, the budget-conscious ZEN Stone Plus with Built-in Speaker ($49.99) makes a great alternate entry point, with the Sansa Fuze ($79.99) a solid value-minded option if video’s a must as well.

Capturing Video and Displaying Images
Rather than slather the walls in single prints, amateur shutterbugs looking to adorn their home with treasured memories might further consider stepping up to a digital photo frame as well. After all, why settle for the odd image here and there when the devices are capable of displaying dozens of snapshots in continuous slideshows instead?

Packing vivid picture clarity and filled with scenes of your smiling toddler, Pandigital’s touch-sensitive, 8-inch PanTouch ($169) is sure to brighten the mood of any room. Those who’d prefer something more feature-rich might try Kodak’s WiFi-enabled, 10-inch EX1011 ($249.95), which empowers easy wireless picture retrieval and actually plays MP3s too. Should you simply desire a way to show off your bouncing baby boy or girl at social gatherings, however, Digital Foci’s Pocket Album keychain ($29.95) is easily transportable and holds dozens of photos, viewable on a colorful 1.5-inch screen.

These days, a digital video camera is also a must, allowing you to preserve sporting events, family reunions and picnics for future generations to come. While you could go all out on a high-end model like JVC’s GZ HD-40 ($1299), which can archive 50 hours of high-definition video on its 120GB hard drive, we advise a more practical approach. A range of one-touch, pocket-ready budget camcorders such as the Vado ($99.99) and Flip Mino ($179) offer 1-2 hours of storage at standard resolution, making them an affordable, practical choice for everyday use. Provided you won’t be shooting in low-light conditions and favor the jump to HD, Kodak’s Zi6 ($179) and Aiptek’s HDV21X ($199) additionally prove welcome alternatives, offering 720p and 1080p resolution filming, respectively.

Vital Online Resources
Last, but not least, take advantage of essential online resources to seek help or advice with any child-rearing questions you might have. BabyCenter boasts a wealth of insight on developing newborns, while Education.com features both helpful parenting advice and tips for connecting with kids, planning meals and prepping for exams or college. Moms will also adore the wealth of health and developmental info to be found at iVillage, while FamilyFun offers desperate Dads countless activities to keep kids entertained. Finally, sites like Big Fish Games and iWin.com also promise instant relief in the form of brief, downloadable desktop amusements for all ages at the end of a long, stressful and, of course, always-heartwarming day.