By Tracey Dowdy

We’ve all been there at one time or another – the search for a last minute gift. Whether you’ve been invited to a party and can’t show up empty handed or just realized you’ve forgotten someone on your list, here are some great last minute gift ideas.

• Apps and App Store Credits – Google offers Google Play gifts in amounts from $10-$100, as does Apple in the iTunes store and Amazon offers cards from $10 – $150. All three allow you to email cards but Amazon also offers the option to send the card via Facebook.
• Gift Cards – I know, I know, nothing says “I couldn’t be bothered” more than a gift card, but a gift card with actual thought behind it is not a gift to be mocked. Because practically everyone seems to offer gift cards these days you can be specific – AMC or Regal cards for the film buff, Spotify for the music lover, Barnes and Noble for the reader…the possibilities are endless.
• Speaking of gift cards, if you don’t have time to hunt down a physical gift card, there are hundreds of e-gift cards available. Everyone from Apple to WalMart offer e-gift cards for a variety of price points. Note: Not all e-gift cards can be scheduled for delivery so you’ll want to check with each retailer to see if delivery is immediate upon purchase or if you can schedule for a specific date.
• Digital Activation Codes may sound like something that shuts down the power grid in a Batman movie but they’re actually way cooler than that and a whole lot lot safer. Retailers like Amazon and GameStop sell digital activation codes for game consoles so all the recipient has to do is punch in the access code and download the game – no disc necessary. A word of caution – be sure you buy the right code for the users system. If you’re not sure what to buy, open option e-gift cards are available for Xbox, Playstation, or Nintendo game system so the recipient can choose their own game.
• Buy yourself some time with a subscription. Whether it’s a membership at a local winery, Barkbox for dog owners, Birchbox for beauty products, Love With Food for the foodie, or Kiwi Crate filled with craft ideas for kids, there’s no end to the options available.
• Buy an experience. Instead of a physical gift, give a ticket to the zoo, a hockey game, paintballing, a play, or passes to a National Park. I have a friend whose mom gives the family season passes to an amusement park every year. It gives the family the opportunity to spend time together at far less cost than if they bought individual tickets and it makes great memories. Passes and tickets can generally be purchased and downloaded directly from the websites.

If none of these work, keep in mind Amazon offers same say delivery in most major cities and Amazon Prime even offers one hour – yes, I said one hour – deliveries in 17 cities. Obviously there’s a catch: same day deliveries usually need to be placed before noon, aren’t available everywhere and shipping costs will be higher. While we’re on it, Amazon Prime itself makes for a great gift.

Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.

By Tracey Dowdy

It seems like shiny new tech is on everyone’s wish list this time of year but before you spend your hard earned dollars on the latest and greatest gadget, consider these questions to ensure you’re making the best choices for your family.

• Have they shown any interest in technology? Sometimes our desire to make sure our kids don’t fall behind gets in the way of our better judgment. If your child would rather play with Lego on the family room floor than build a virtual world, don’t spend a lot of money on Lego video games.
• Can the device do more than one thing? eReaders are great but if your child also plans to listen to music, they’re not the best choice. Check out the specs to see what the device can do.
• Will you need to buy accessories? The purchase price of the initial device may be within your budget but if it requires additional accessories like headphones or controllers, the cost may be beyond what you’re expecting or willing to spend.
• Does the device have parental controls? Ask any parent who’s suddenly found $100 in iTunes charges when their child “accidentally” made in-app purchases and they’ll tell you all about the importance of parental controls. Depending on your child’s maturity level and the device you’ve chosen, you may want to consider choosing a device that lets you restrict internet access, block questionable content or allows you to block unauthorized purchases.
• Is it durable? The price point and capabilities of a device are irrelevant if it can’t hold up to the wear and tear your child will subject it to.
• Is it right for my child’s needs? If your child has limited motor skills devices with tiny keypads or small controllers may not be the best option. Consider their developmental level and make your choices from there. Also, make sure the device or games they’re asking for are age appropriate – that includes content as well as capabilities.
• Is it educational? If you’re looking for a device that will boost reading or math skills, a device that offers internet access or games may be distracting. Keep in mind there are countless educational games and apps available so it’s not necessary to limit yourself to one-purpose devices.
• Have you thought through boundaries and time limits? Whether it’s setting limits on the amount of time you’ll allow on the device each day, the amount you’re willing to spend on things like in-app purchases or how much freedom you’ll allow them to explore the internet, you’ll need to think things through and have a conversation to establish those boundaries from the beginning.
• Is your child ready? Are they responsible? Consider how involved you want to be in your child’s tech experience. Depending on the age and maturity of your child, some devices may offer too much freedom, others not enough. You’ll also need to have a conversation about what happens if the device breaks. Who will pay for repairs or replacement?

• Are you ready? Depending on the device you’ve chosen and the interest of your child, you may need to have conversations about internet safety and issues like cyberbullying. If the device will be used for social media, there’s a whole world that’s opened up and it warrants a conversation to ensure your child is ready.

Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.

By Tracey Dowdy

We haven’t turned that December calendar page yet but according to the Internet 2015 is already over. The annual Top Ten lists are out, so now we know Drake and Adele were the most streamed musicians on Spotify, #JeSuisParis was the most tweeted hashtag on Twitter, and depending whether you’re looking back with YouTube or Facebook, 2015 was either really fun or a really dark year.

“To put this list together, Facebook posts were analyzed in an aggregated, anonymized way, and then ranked to create a snapshot of the year on Facebook,” is how Facebook explained its results on its blog. In addition to the Top Ten lists, Facebook created a video highlighting the top news stories of the year, including the Paris terrorist attacks and the earthquake in Nepal, as well as events closer to home like the 2016 presidential election and the protests in Baltimore.

According to Facebook, the most talked about events of 2015 were:

1. US Presidential Election
2. November 13 Attacks in Paris
3. Syrian Civil War & Refugee Crisis
4. Nepal Earthquakes
5. Greek Debt Crisis
6. Marriage Equality
7. Fight Against ISIS
8. Charlie Hebdo Attack
9. Baltimore Protests
10. Charleston Shooting & Flag Debate

It’s a sobering look at some of the major events that defined 2015.

YouTube’s Top Ten lists were based on the amount of time users spent watching, sharing, liking and commenting on videos hosted on its site. And YouTube has taken a very different approach with their year-in-review video. Rather than sound bites and news clips, they’ve produced a slick look back through a pop-culture lens that features the network’s most popular creators and a number of celebrity cameos. #YouTubeRewind is seven minutes long, highlights dance crazes and lip-sync battles, features Left Shark and Joanne, and is set to some of 2015’s most popular music. It’s creative, upbeat, and makes 2015 seems like a whole lot of fun.

As an added bonus, YouTube celebrated it’s 10^th birthday this year, so the video hits a few of the highlights from it’s history. Heads up – there’s a Rebecca Black cameo. You’ve been warned.

YouTube’s look back seems to be marketed to a very different crowd than Facebook’s video. That makes sense when you consider the age of the average Facebook user in the U.S. is now 40.5. Over at YouTube, the audience skews much younger – 18-24. Although there’s plenty of valuable content on YouTube, the platform never seems to take itself too seriously. Facebook has been trying to establish itself as more than an additional platform for sharing YouTube videos, the latest memes or family pictures and their respective videos clearly reflect each platform’s goals.

Both bring interesting perspective and I found myself asking, “Was that really just a few months ago?” when several of the events were highlighted. Neither video gives a complete picture – one is thought-provoking, the other pure entertainment – but together, they’re an interesting look back on the year that was.

Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.