Your life is filled with joy, frenetic activity punctuated by nap times and occasional diaper duty. Days are long and uninterrupted nights are a fond memory when small children are in your world. Here are several high tech gadgets and old school ideas to make life easier for anyone caring for children.

Safe Video Monitors

Non-wifi video monitors are a real lifesaver for senior care givers. Now you can know exactly what is happening while loading the dish washer, doing laundry or cooking your little man’s favourite lunch and non-wifi models come without any of the current concerns associate with them being hacked for other purposes.

There are several highly rated systems available and the good news is that it won’t break your already strained budget. It’s easy to get a good non-wifi monitor system for less than $200. And because most seniors don’t move as quickly as they once did, the monitor helps grandparents keep tabs and handle problems before they can become serious.

High Tech Learning

Finally you can get a high tech learning toy for toddlers and young children that will grow with them and won’t break the bank. Kindle Fire Tablet for kids comes with a variety of child friendly apps and games for toddlers and older children too. This is not just a tech toy either because the Fire Tablet for kids includes a one year free subscription to Amazon Free Time Unlimited and free access to thousands of child safe films, TV shows, educational apps and games.

The cost is less than $100 and the rugged child safe case protects it from accidental damage. If it does suffer a mishap, you can rest easy because the tablet is available with a two year no questions asked warranty.

Bite-Proof Toddler Cups

Soft topped toddler cups are often a problem because toddlers soon learn how much fun it is to bite the end off or poke a finger through it so milk and juice pour out onto the carpet. Enter your new hero: bite proof sip cups.   Bite proof Sippy cups are nearly indestructible and are very affordable. With these handy drink dispensers buying new sip cups with every weeks shopping will soon be a thing of the past.

Low-tech gadgets, games and toys

Keeping young children and toddlers occupied is a challenge but it doesn’t always require Internet access, batteries or TV.  Many of the same toys and games that were loved by previous generations of children can still work just as well today.  Keep the den or play room stocked with some Lincoln Logs. Put a blackboard on the wall stocked with coloured chalks and a shelf full of classic board games like Snakes and Ladders and Monopoly.

Older children might enjoy arts and crafting activities or playing with models. The most important thing is that these kinds of games and toys stimulate creativity and provide hours of learning and self-discovery through hands on play.

Outdoor Lifesavers

Take the low tech road outdoors as well to keep youngsters happy and busy. Badminton, bean bag toss games or child safe versions of horse shoes and lawn darts are all popular. You can enjoy a quiet afternoon outdoors watching them play or even better, join in yourself. 

A combination of technology and traditional fun is just what busy grandparents need to make child care easier and more rewarding for everyone.  As more seniors take an active role in childcare it is important to make use of every opportunity to enhance the experience. Technology can make it easier to keep young ones safe and help them develop.  Being involved in your grandchildren’s lives rewards you with happy experiences and a healthier, more active life. Read a book, share your little one’s favourite movie or just get outside and play. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it.