using technology at home: a parents primer

Parents have numerous demands on their time and energy. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to save time, stay organized, and streamline your day by adopting a digital lifestyle. Giving your house a digital home makeover will allow you to be more efficient while reducing stress and providing your family with opportunities to have fun together. Here are some simple and fun family activities you can do using digital technology.

Sit down with an online calendar and plan out the family meals for the week. There are numerous recipe sites you can visit to generate ideas for new dishes. In many areas, food retailers feature online services to deliver groceries straight to your door, saving you a trip to the supermarket. When planning dinner, invite your kids to help and teach them the basics of building healthy, balanced meals.

No working parent wants to be concerned with how their kids are spending their time when they return home from school. With a little forethought on Sunday, you can use a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) to plan out a schedule of wholesome, educational programming to keep your children entertained and informed until you return home each weekday. DVRs utilize an onscreen television menu allowing you to choose what your children are able to watch, and cable boxes feature parental controls to prevent your children from watching inappropriate content while you are not home.

It can often be difficult to coordinate a family's schedule around the broadcast of family-friendly films on TV. Today's time-shifting technologies, such as DVRs and Video On Demand (VOD) channels, allow you to watch movies at your family's convenience. With the use of a DVR and VOD, it has never been easier to plan a time for the whole family to enjoy a movie at home together.

You and your kids can conduct research online to organize a weekend outing to a nearby public park or recreation area. A few minutes on the Web will provide you with details such as driving instructions, hours of operation, and amenities offered by your destination. If you need to stock up on picnic supplies, outdoor games, or sporting goods, there are a number of online retailers available to meet those needs. Make sure you consider weather forecasts and dress appropriately.

Often during the summer your children's outdoor plans get washed out, leaving you responsible for finding an entertaining alternative in a pinch. Plan ahead for rainy days by spending a few moments to set aside engaging activities for your children to enjoy indoors. Go online and bookmark a few sites featuring fun games and puzzles for your children. You should also save up a few hours of wholesome, educational programming on your DVR and be familiar with movies and TV programs that are available over VOD. These options will be waiting for you on a moment's notice when you unexpectedly need to provide your kids with stimulating activities for an afternoon or two.

Many communities boast a number of fascinating historic places that get taken for granted when encountered on a daily basis. Help educate and enlighten your children by encouraging them to research the history of their community on the Web. Most museums and historical societies maintain Web sites featuring a wealth of interesting facts and information, offering your children a richer appreciation of their community.

These are just a few basic suggestions on how adopting a digital lifestyle can save you time and energy when dealing with today's hectic parenting responsibilities. You will be surprised at how much difference a digital home makeover can make in your life.