Parenting Help

Brightwheel's search is built to help parents and guardians to cut through the noise, it’s a streamlined directory of preschools and daycare centers vetted by real parents and educators. In Los Angeles alone, without filters, it shows more than 2,900 options. You can sort by location, curriculum style, and even whether you’ll need to pack snacks. Think Yelp meets Montessori with less stress and more peace of mind. Try it here

Winnie makes it easy for parents to find and connect with the best local daycares, preschools, after-school care and more. With one tap you can search over 250K licensed child care providers, Think Google Maps meets Yelp, but specifically designed for the chaos of finding quality childcare. The app includes pricing info, licensing status, and real parent reviews - essentially everything you need to make informed decisions without playing phone tag. (iOS App) (Android App)

Sittercity is one of the OG babysitter sites and still one of the best 4 Best Babysitting Apps and Websites, Tested and Reviewed. Think of it as the LinkedIn for childcare. It's professional, comprehensive, and surprisingly fast at connecting you with candidates. Premium membership runs $94.99 for 3 month, but the streamlined process and helpful resources (like built-in interview question templates) make the investment feel purposeful rather than painful. See it here

Care.com is the Swiss Army knife of caregiving platform. It includes childcare, eldercare, pet sitting, you name it. With robust filtering options that let you hunt for everything from CPR-certified sitters to non-smokers who'll tidy up after snack time. At $38.95/month for premium access it's pricier than some options, but the extensive background check capabilities and massive candidate pool make it worth considering for parents who want options, options, options. Learn more

Helpr is an excellent option for families needing last-minute or emergency babysitting, when offered as a benefit through one's employer review. This is the VIP lane of childcare apps. If your employer offers it as a benefit, you're golden. All sitters are background-checked, and typically the employer pays for the caregiving up to a certain amount. It's like having a childcare concierge service, but you need the right employer to unlock this level of convenience. Learn more

Meet the LinkedIn-meets-Nextdoor of childcare apps. It taps into your social network to show sitters your friends and neighbors already know and trust. You can browse availability in real time, read parent reviews, and even book someone on short notice. The interface is slick, the sitters are often college-educated, and the transparency is a breath of fresh air. At around $35/month for premium access, it’s not the cheapest, but if social proof matters more than sheer volume, it’s a compelling pick. Check it out

Think of Healthychildren.org as the Mayo Clinic meets your mom group - except everything is actually reviewed by pediatricians and not that one mom who swears honey cured her kid’s RSV. Powered by the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP), it’s a clean, intuitive site full of practical answers on everything from feeding schedules to behavioral red flags. No paywall. No fluff. Just deeply vetted guidance for parents who want signal over noise. See it

If WebMD is a panic button, KidsHealth is the calm voice that talks you off the ledge. It’s broken down by age group and written like the authors actually like children - rare in medical writing. Bonus: it includes sections for kids and teens, so they can learn how their bodies work without you needing to Google “What is puberty?” at midnight and coming across less than ideal content. Check it out

The content isn’t just medically accurate, it’s parent-friendly, which means fewer acronyms and more “what should I do about this rash?” vibes. Their mental health and behavior sections are a standout, especially if you're raising a tiny human with big emotions (read: every toddler ever). It’s like having a pediatrician in your pocket, minus the copay and is a bookmarkable free resource. See it

Yes, they sell toys. Beautiful, Instagram-bait worthy toys. But buried beneath the curated wood and organic cotton is something parents actually need: sharp, stage-based guides that explain what your kid’s brain is doing and how to support it. No purchase required. It’s like a growth roadmap for parents who want to foster development without Googling “Is this normal?” 14 times a day. Bonus: you’ll actually understand why your toddler is obsessed with putting everything in a box. See thier blog and Guides

Think of Pathways.org as the GPS for your child’s development journey.Whether you're navigating tummy time or tackling toddler tantrums, this platform offers clear, expert-backed guidance.With resources vetted by pediatric professionals, it's like having a trusted co-pilot to help you understand and support your child's growth every step of the way. Learn more

If toddlers came with a user manual, this would be it. Big Little Feelings takes those daily emotional meltdowns - yours and theirs - and reframes them as teachable, survivable moments. Run by a licensed therapist and a parent coach, their posts, courses, and bite-sized tools turn chaos into connection. It’s not crunchy or clinical. It’s tactical, relatable, and designed for parents who want less struggles and more peace without having to become a child psychologist overnight. Learn more

PBS KIDS is what happens when nostalgia meets legit pedagogy. It’s screen time that doesn’t feel like a compromise. Think: Sesame Street, Daniel Tiger, Curious George which all deliver math, reading, and social-emotional growth wrapped in characters your kid (and you) already love. But it's not just passive entertainment; the games and interactive tools are built with educator input and align with key learning benchmarks. And unlike most apps in the toddler-targeting space, PBS KIDS isn’t trying to upsell you. No pop-ups, no ads, no hidden subscriptions, only a clean, safe space to help your kid build curiosity, empathy, and foundational skills. It’s public media done right. Reay for it?

Khan Academy Kids is the rare unicorn: it’s actually free, actually good, and actually backed by early learning science. Built by educators and designed for ages 2 to 8, this app delivers story-based lessons on reading, math, social-emotional learning, and problem-solving. It’s gamified just enough to keep kids hooked but not so over-stimulating that they turn into screen zombies. The interface is intuitive, the activities are developmentally sound, and the content is constantly evolving. If you’re looking for a guilt-free digital tool to support early learning- especially for preschoolers and kindergartners - this is a no-brainer. See it

Starfall has been the quiet MVP of early childhood literacy for two decades. It's so good, it still holds up. This platform specializes in helping kids learn to read using a phonics-based approach that’s both playful and methodical. The free content (yes, there’s plenty even without a paid membership) includes interactive books, songs, and early math games, all designed to keep young minds engaged without burning out their attention span. What makes Starfall unique is that it feels like a digital version of a great kindergarten classroom. It's structured but warm, repetitive and not boring. It’s perfect for the parent who wants their child to read before they hit grade school. See it

Originally built for pandemic shutdowns, this resource stuck around for a reason. It provides ready-to-go daily “learning journeys” with books, videos, and mini projects curated by Scholastic’s editorial and education teams. It’s sorted by age, tied to standards, and doesn’t require hours of setup. If you want structure without subscribing to a boxed curriculum, or if you just need a rainy-day plan that doesn’t end in a meltdown, this is the link to click: See it

If access to books is a barrier, Unite for Literacy smashes it. This site offers hundreds of digital picture books in multiple languages with read-aloud narration. The stories are simple, engaging, and culturally inclusive which is perfect for early readers, multilingual households, or parents looking to add more diversity to story time. It’s low-friction, low-gloss, and high-impact: a quiet powerhouse for language development and representation. See it

Vroom.org (not com) takes all the neuroscience of early childhood development and delivers it in a sentence or two... right when you need it. Think of it as a coach in your pocket, turning routine moments (brushing teeth, making lunch, changing diapers) into micro-opportunities for cognitive growth. The tips are personalized, fast to read, and developmentally aligned with your child’s age. It's a gift for busy parents who want to build smarter, more connected kids, even in the middle of chaos. No login, no pressure, just research-backed reminders that your everyday moments matter. See it

Think of this as the FEMA-endorsed playbook for families.Ready Kids offers age-appropriate tools to help children understand emergencies without inducing fear. From interactive games, learning how to build and follow a plan and the ability to create customizable family emergency plans, it's a comprehensive resource that turns preparedness into a family affair. See it

The Red Cross isn't just about blood drives; it's a cornerstone in emergency preparedness.Their "Be Red Cross Ready" program provides step-by-step guides, checklists, and even mobile apps to ensure families are equipped to handle disasters.It's like having a disaster response team in your pocket and shows you how to prepare for and work through natural emergencies. See it

Backed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, this site offers medically sound advice on preparing for various disasters.It covers everything from creating emergency kits to addressing children's emotional needs during crises. See it

For over 50 years, Sesame Street has led the way in explaining complex topics to young minds. Their emergency preparedness resources use familiar characters to teach children about safety in a comforting and accessible manner.It's education wrapped in empathy. See it

FEMA's Youth Preparedness section offers a wealth of resources aimed at educating children about emergencies.From activity books to interactive tools, it's designed to empower the younger generation with knowledge and confidence in crisis situations. See it

Save the Children's Prep Rally program transforms emergency preparedness into an engaging experience for kids.Through games and activities, children learn essential safety skills, making the concept of emergencies less daunting and more manageable.. See it