Back-to-School Apps that Make the Grade

Despite owning a smartphone and doing much of my work in the online world, I’ve never been what you might call tech-savvy. I still keep a paper calendar, and I write my to-do lists the old-fashioned way – with good old pen and paper.

But I’m starting to realize that modern technology has its advantages. Apps, for example, can be an essential tool for keeping your kids on track and your household running smoothly during the busy back-to-school season. Need help managing homework, sports schedules, meal planning and more? These popular apps all make the grade.

For Managing the Family Schedule

With multiple family members always on the go, it can be hard to keep track of everyone’s meetings, practices and deadlines. That’s why Cozi -- an app with a shared calendar that syncs to multiple devices (something my paper calendar just can’t do) – is my new favorite way to keep individual family members all on the same page.

In addition to a family calendar, the free version of this app also includes a shopping list, a family journal and, my personal favorite, the ability to send automatic reminders in advance of important dates. Now my well-meaning but easily distracted husband can no longer conveniently “forget” about the school play or make other plans on a busy morning when I need him to drop the kids off at school.

Other popular organization apps for families: TeamSnap for organizing your child’s sports team, Chore Hero for keeping track of who does which household chores, Remember the Milk for families in need of the ultimate virtual to-do list. 

For Helping with Homework

No student loves doing homework, but a good app has the potential to make the process a little less painful. The myHomework app, for example, gets rave reviews because it allows students to virtually keep track of assignments, due dates class schedules and more. And Mashable’s list of 10 Must-Have Apps for High School Students is a must-read list of apps that will make homework, if not easy, then at least easier. 

Other popular homework apps: Study Aid for creating virtual flashcards, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary app for the immediate retrieval of correct spellings and definitions.  

For Feeding the Family

Think feeding your family has nothing to do with school? Think again. Food is fuel, which is why so many parents struggle to serve brain-boosting breakfasts and fill lunchboxes with healthy, nourishing foods on a daily basis.

Take the stress out of school year meal planning with an app like LaLa Lunchbox, which gets kids involved in packing their lunches through interactive games and a customizable Food Library. And if you like the lunchbox version, a LaLa Breakfast app is also available for busy mornings.

Other apps for simplifying mealtime:  Grocery IQ for organizing your shopping lists and coupons, Dinner Spinner for quick meal ideas on busy nights.

For Keeping Kids Healthy (and Knowing Where to Turn When They Get Sick)

Keep kids healthy enough for school by encouraging healthier lifestyle choices with apps like Fooducate and Fitness Kids. Not sure if your child is too sick to be in the classroom? Turn to the comprehensive Kid Care app from the experts at St. Louis Children’s Hospital to find out when a cough is just a cough, and when it’s something more. 

Other apps for fighting school-year sickness and germs: Ella’s Hand-washing Adventure for kids in need of gentle encouragement, Is It Lice for the day when the dreaded head lice letter comes home from school.   

For the Love of Learning

One of the biggest reasons to love apps is their amazing ability to get kids excited about their education. Help your beginning reader practice phonics and sight words with an app like Words That Go with Richard Scarry’s Busytown Cars, or get your preschooler ready for school with AR Flashcards Shapes and Colors.

Other apps that encourage learning and exploration: Mini Monet for kids who like to color and draw, Operation Math for fun ways to build math skills, iTunes U for the world’s largest digital catalog of free educational content.

What apps do you use to make back-to-school season easier for your family?