toy sailboat for toddlers

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Sailboat is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.

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Set sail to the open seas with the PlanToys Sailboat. Made with solid rubberwood, PlanWood, and natural rubber - the PlanToys Sailboat will let children's imagination catch ideas in their sails as they explore open-ended play. This floatable toy can be disassembled for play or kept intact. Use the hull and bow of the sailboat as a water scooper during water play. The PlanToys Sailboat develops fine motor skills, imaginative thinking, and hand-eye coordination. Play with it in the bathtub or a natural water source!

• Sustainably made in Thailand with chemical-free rubberwood trees, formaldehyde-free glues, organic pigments, and water based dyes.

Package Dimension (W x L x H):

9.06 in  X  2.95 in  X  7.4 in

23.01 cm  X  7.49 cm  X  18.8 cm

Product Dimension (W x L x H):

8.31 in  X  4.92 in  X  2.56 in

21.1 cm  X  12.5 cm  X  6.5 cm

Package Weight:

*the biggest part:, award information:.

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Wooden Toy Sailboats

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Table stand for toy sailboats, wall stand for toy sailboats, boat reel for toy sailboats, masthead streamer for toy sailboats, promotional dvd.

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11 Best Toy Boats For Toddlers In 2024

Bath time will never be boring again.

Tom Green is an experienced early years educator and deputy head at a Thailand-based international school. He has 16 years of teaching background in Bangkok and Seoul. He currently guides a team of early years educators, fostering a hands-o... more

Priti Bose is a poet, songwriter and blog writer. She did her masters in English, Public Relations and Advertising from Delhi University. Her creative skills and hunger for details make her do in-dept... more

Shreya is a gold medalist with a master’s degree in clinical psychology from SGT University, Gurugram. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in applied psychology from Amity University, Gwalior. Her ... more

Trisha worked as a schoolteacher for three years before taking up professional writing in 2021. She completed her masters in English from the University of Calcutta and bachelors in Education from the... more

Image: MomJunction Design Team

Make your little champs look forward to their bath time by getting them the best toy boats for toddlers. These toy boats are appealing and available in vibrant colors.

The toy boats are perfect for engaging your child in pretend play as they include interactive features. Furthermore, they help make bath time easier for you and them. So, check out the features of the best-selling and parent-recommended toy boats on this list and pick one for your munchkin.

Best Lightweight: Munchkin Little Boat Train Bath Toy

Best magnetic: 3 bees & me magnet boat set, best for fine motor skills: wonder wheels by battat ferry boat, best for hand-eye coordination: ubbi boat & buoys bath toys, best recycled: green toys rescue boat with helicopter, best food-grade: fun little toys bath boat toy, best for developing imagination: disney junior muppet babies tub time cruiser, best safe: iokuki 2.4g rc boats, best eco-friendly: yeonha toys light-up boat floating rubber set, best inflatable: lianman toys cochain speed boat toy set, 11 best toy boats for toddlers, 1. best lightweight: munchkin little boat train bath toy.

Featuring six floating toy boats, the toys have funny faces and numbers for easy arrangement, counting, and ordering. The vibrantly colored Munchkin boat train is suitable for children aged four months and above. They can scoop up water and strain when turned upside down. Easy to stack, these lightweight toys provide your child a firm grip . This quality-tested toy playset can enhance hand-eye coordination and boost their learning and language development.

• Improves imaginative skills
• Introduces basic math
• Stimulates color recognition
• Made of plastic material that does not attract mold
• Boats may not stay together
• May have tiny holes at the bottom

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

The tried-and-true product has earned over 12,217 good reviews on Amazon.

2. Best Magnetic: 3 Bees & Me Magnet Boat Set

3 Bees & Me set includes four non-toxic, BPA-free, colorful boats that can float. Equipped with a safely enclosed magnet, each boat can attach to the next one in line. This durable toy can enhance the child’s imagination and motor skills. Suitable for children aged 18 months and above, the tried-and-tested toy is easy to grasp, free of sharp edges, and comes with a 60-day return policy.

• Encourages creativity
• Helps in color and number recognition
• Fine detailing
• Easy to make boat train
• May trap some amount of water
• May not withstand rough use

"My son was thrilled to receive these boats as a birthday present. They're also easy to grip, and their magnetic feature adds to the fun. However, I’d recommend drying them thoroughly to prevent mold buildup."

3. Best For Fine Motor Skills: Wonder Wheels By Battat Ferry Boat

Made from recyclable plastic and other safe materials, this toy is suitable for boosting children’s fine motor skills. The floating toy boat consists of two toy roadster cars and space to ferry other toys to the port. Suitable for children aged one year and above, the set also includes portholes, floatation devices, a wind-up propeller, and an anchor for your toddler’s imaginary commutes. Learn more about the tried-and-tested plastic bath toy set in this review video .

• Features a loading ramp
• Ideal for developing motor skills
• Bright and colorful
• May catch mold
• Wind-up propeller may be flimsy

"This toy boat's built-in ramp and accompanying cars have made it my kid's favorite in no time. It's also durable, and the colors look vibrant. I did feel like the wheel mechanism could be smoother, but the overall size and sturdiness have made it worth it."

4. Best For Hand-Eye Coordination: Ubbi Boat & Buoys Bath Toys

The Ubbi bath toy boat set contains one boat and four buoys to ensure ample bath time fun. Made from silicone, the durable toys can easily float, scoop, and pour water with drain holes. Soft to grasp, the toy promotes children’s hand-eye coordination and imagination. The toy is top-rack dishwasher-safe and can be easily air-dried.

• Doesn’t catch mold
• Lightweight
• Free of BPA and PVC
• Stimulate creative play
• Rings may have a rough edge at the bottom
• Colors may be subtle

"The rain effect produced by this boat toy keeps my little one entertained throughout the bathtime. It even flats seamlessly in the tub, and the stackable design is a boon for storage."

5. Best Recycled: Green Toys Rescue Boat With Helicopter

Suitable for toddlers aged two years and above, this engaging toy from Green Toys can enhance the toddler’s creative skills. Made from recycled plastic milk jugs, this quality-tested four-piece set includes a toy rescue boat, a helicopter, a Captain Duck, and a Pilot Bear. The floatable toy is safe for children as it is free of harmful chemicals such as BPA, phthalates, and PVC. Printed using soy inks, you can easily clean this toy in a dishwasher.

• Stimulates imagination
• Boat meets FDA food contact standards
• Sturdily built and floats easily
• Free from external coatings, dyes, and paints
• Figurine may be tiny and cause choking
• May attract mold

Over 2,259 customers on Amazon have opined that this is one of the best products in its category.

6. Best Food-Grade: Fun Little Toys Bath Boat Toy

The Fun Little Toys boat set includes a green speedboat, a red fireboat, and a blue sailing boat toy made of premium-quality, food-grade ABS plastic. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, these fun speedboat toys can enhance the child’s sensory skills , creativity, and imagination, making them one of the funnest boat bath toy sets.

• Colored with non-toxic paint
• Boats have a flat bottom
• Features smooth edges
• Safe to play on the sand
• Easy to grasp
• May not be dishwasher-safe
• Plastic may be a bit thin

7. Best For Developing Imagination: Disney Junior Muppet Babies Tub Time Cruiser

The water toy from Muppets has an appealing design that includes a Captain Kermit water squirter and his floating toy pirate ship. Water comes out from the pirate’s outfit whenever squeezed . Suitable for ages two and above, the toy ship has three secret reveal windows to enhance the child’s creativity and imagination.

• Includes water strainer
• Has burr-free edges
• Well-crafted design
• Encourages role play
• Ship may require constant draining to make it float
• Water may get stuck in certain parts

"My toddlers love Muppet characters, so this Kermit toy was very well received. It does occasionally flip over, but the kids are delighted with it. Plus, it has made bath times less stressful."

8. Best Eco-Friendly: Yeonha Toys Light-Up Boat Floating Rubber Set

The set of six different brightly colored bath toy boats feature an appealing design and are suitable for toddlers aged six months and above. Made using premium-quality rubber, these floatable toy boat models feature two sensors at the bottom which immediately light up in the water . The safety-tested and eco-friendly toy is waterproof and easy to grasp and is designed to enhance children’s imagination and coordination skills.

• No-hold design
• Has a long battery life
• Suitable fish tanks
• Doubles as party decor
• Flashing of light may not be controlled
• May be smaller than expected

"The standout feature of these boat toys has been their flashing lights. They are smaller than expected, but they float upright and have held up well to the rough handling of my kids."

9. Best Inflatable: LianMan Toys Cochain Speed Boat Toy Set

LianMan bath and pool toys are made of high-quality, non-toxic plastic, with six colors. Inflatable in nature, this wind-up yacht toy is suitable for children aged three years and above. Convenient to grasp, the indoor and outdoor toy boat comes with a tail motor, a gas blowpipe, an inflator pump, and an instruction manual.

• Easy to assemble
• Convenient to fill the gas
• Comes in attractive bright colors
• Ideal for playing in lakes, pools, bathtubs, streams, and outdoor water
• Winding the motors in the water may be a bit hard
• Motors are not break-resistant

"With adorable designs and good floatation, these boats have become a well-loved addition to my daughter's bath toys. She took time to get used to its wind-up feature but can now use it independently. Overall, they've been a good purchase."

10. Best Sturdy: Matty’s Toy Stop Plastic Boats Set

Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, the toy boat set is ideal for children aged three years and above. It includes three lightweight and sturdy boats, a purple speedboat, a blue fireboat, and a red sailaway boat toy. These baby boat bath toys require snap assembly.

• Made of plastic material
• Smooth edges
• Well-crafted finish
• Lightweight design
• Boats may fill up with water quickly
• May have excess plastic left from the mold

"I've found these classic boats to be a delightful addition to my child's bath time. They are appropriately sized for her little hands, and she seems to be quite taken with them. They're also easy to clean and maintain, making bath times fuss-free and fun."

11. Best Educational: Liberty Imports Wall-Mountable Pirate Ship Bath Toy

The multifunctional pirate ship is a premium-quality, colorful bath toy with a small button under the cannon for operating the paddle. You can fill the adventure ship with water and turn the wheels to move the pirate captain. A long stream of water is released from the canon by pressing the large button. This educational toy ship is apt for enhancing the skills of children aged one year and above.

• Suction cups hold the ship firmly
• Features turnable radder
• Easy accessible buttons
• Improves hand-eye coordination
• May not float
• Water-pouring scoop may be smaller than expected

"This pirate ship bath toy brings fun to tub time, especially its swaying motion. It has also been perfect for facilitating imaginative play. The cannon can make bath times a little messy, but the joy it brings has made it worthwhile."

How To Choose The Right Toy Boats For Toddlers?

Here is a list of essential factors that can help you select the best toy boat for toddlers.

• Built: Choose a toy boat built using high-quality materials to make the toy durable and long-lasting. Consider a toy made of food-grade plastic for the best quality.
• Waterproof: Make sure the toys are waterproof and floatable to use in the bath.
• Age: Ensure the toy is apt for your child’s age and suits their needs.
• Safety: Ensure the toy is free of hazardous chemicals and toxins. Choose a toy boat made from eco-friendly and premium-quality materials.
• Multifunctional: Choose a toy that can enhance the child’s sensory skills, creativity, and imagination. You may also refer to reviews from other parents to learn more about a product’s features

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are toy boats safe for toddlers?

Toy boats made with non-toxic, BPA-free plastic materials, or child-safe materials are safe for toddlers. Moreover, they should not contain any loose parts or sharp edges that may pose risk.

2. How long do toy boats last?

The durability of toy boats differs for each brand and model. The quality of the material, its construction, working mechanism, and care and maintenance determine the toy’s durability.

3. How should I clean toy boats?

Toy boats are easy to clean as they are made to float in water. You can wipe these bath toys with disinfectant wipes immediately after the bath and allow them to dry before you store or use them next time. Some bath toys are dishwasher safe and are easy to clean; you may dip these boats in vinegar solution for deep cleaning.

4. Do toddlers enjoy toy boats?

Yes, toddlers enjoy toy boats as they make the boring bath time joyful.

5. Does the toy boat color fade out?

While this may not be the case with all bath toys, they might fade over time when exposed to direct sun for extensive periods.

Boating is a joyous activity for children, and boats, in general, are highly fascinating for them. So, if your little one seems amused by boats, this list of the best toy boats for toddlers may help you choose the perfect gift for them. For young children, choose lightweight, colorful boats made of non-toxic, BPS-free materials. Also, ensure the toy is easy to grasp and has no sharp edges. You could also opt for dishwasher-safe toys so you can easily clean them.

Infographic: How To Use An RC Toy Boat Properly?

RC toy boats facilitate thrilling and action-packed play, especially during bathtime for children. It’s crucial to follow essential precautions while using them to ensure the child’s safety and prolong the boat’s life. Explore the infographic below for valuable insights on the proper usage of RC toy boats.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

• Nevin Cetin Dag et al.; (2021); Children’s only profession: Playing with toys https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8430366/

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Why Trust MomJunction?

Priti Bose is experienced in creating interesting content on children’s toys and games. In this post, she has put together a list of the best toy boats to keep your toddler entertained during bath time. The writer has scoured various websites and considered several user reviews to arrive at this selected list. She has ensured that the products are child-safe and has provided a buying guide to help you buy the right toys.

• Fact-checker

Tom Green PGCEi

Priti bose ma (english), shreya vishwanathan msc, trisha chakraborty ma, bed, latest articles, himalaya baby massage oil vs. sebamed baby massage oil, mamaearth soothing baby massage oil, & chicco baby moments massage oil: which is better.

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24 Delightful Boat Activities for Toddlers

Introducing toddlers to the world of boats can be an exciting and educational experience.

Whether you’re planning a day at the lake, a beach vacation, or simply looking for fun activities to do with your little ones, there are plenty of boat-themed adventures to enjoy.

From playful water games to hands-on crafts, these boat activities for toddlers are designed to entertain, engage, and ignite their curiosity about the wonders of the sea.

Get ready to set sail on a journey of imagination and exploration as you discover exciting boat activities for toddlers entertained and enthralled.

Sailboat Races:

Create a mini sailboat race for your toddlers using small boats made from recycled materials or bathtub toys. Fill a large container or a kiddie pool with water and set up a course using markers or floating objects. Let your little ones blow wind through straws to propel their boats forward and cheer them on as they navigate the course. This activity not only encourages fine motor skills but also introduces the concept of wind power and the thrill of friendly competition.

Fishing Fun:

Set up a fishing activity for your toddlers by creating a simple DIY fishing game. Cut out fish shapes from colored paper or foam, attach paper clips to each fish, and place them in a small container filled with water. Give your little anglers a toy fishing rod with a magnet attached to the end of the string. Let them cast their lines and try to “catch” the fish by hooking the paper clips. This interactive game promotes hand-eye coordination, patience, and concentration, all while sparking their imagination about life on a fishing boat.

Boat Building:

Engage your toddlers in a boat-building project that allows their creativity to soar. Using materials like cardboard, popsicle sticks, and craft foam, provide them with the tools and materials they need to construct their own mini boats. Encourage them to decorate and personalize their boats with paints, markers, or stickers. Once their boats are complete, take them to a pool or a shallow water area and let them test their creations. This hands-on activity stimulates problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and imaginative play.

Related: 20 Sensational Letter S Activities for Preschool

Ocean Animal Hunt:

Take your toddlers on an exciting ocean animal hunt using toy figurines or pictures of sea creatures. Hide the toys or images around the house or outdoor space, and provide your little explorers with a magnifying glass or binoculars to assist their search. As they find each animal, encourage them to identify and learn about it. This activity promotes cognitive development, vocabulary expansion, and a deeper understanding of marine life.

Sensory Sailboat Art:

Engage your toddlers in a sensory-filled art experience by creating sailboat masterpieces. Set up a craft station with paper or cardboard sailboat cutouts, non-toxic paints, brushes, and various textured materials such as cotton balls, bubble wrap, or fabric scraps. Let your little artists explore the different textures and use them to create unique sailboat designs. This sensory art activity enhances fine motor skills, stimulates tactile senses, and encourages self-expression.

Watercolor Waves:

Let your toddlers explore their artistic side by creating beautiful watercolor wave paintings. Provide them with a large sheet of watercolor paper and a palette of blue and green watercolor paints. Encourage them to experiment with different brushstrokes and blending techniques to depict the movement and colors of ocean waves. This activity stimulates creativity, fine motor skills, and an appreciation for the beauty of the sea.

Related: 20 Interesting Letter R Activities for Preschool

Boat Float Experiment:

Teach your toddlers about buoyancy with a fun boat float experiment. Fill a basin or bathtub with water and provide them with various small objects such as toy boats, plastic animals, and household items. Help them predict which objects will float and which ones will sink. Let them test their predictions by placing the objects in the water and observing the results. This hands-on experiment introduces basic science concepts and encourages critical thinking.

Paper Plate Portholes:

Engage your toddlers in a simple craft activity by making paper plate portholes. Cut out the center of paper plates to create circular frames. Provide them with markers, stickers, and craft materials to decorate their portholes with ocean themes or colorful patterns. Once they’re finished, attach string or yarn to hang the portholes in their play area. This craft promotes fine motor skills, creativity, and imaginative play as they pretend to peer through their portholes into the underwater world.

Sailboat Snack:

Combine creativity and snack time by making sailboat snacks with your toddlers. Cut slices of cheese into triangular sail shapes and insert toothpicks or pretzel sticks into slices of cucumber or apple to create the boat structure. Place the sail on top of the boat and let your little ones enjoy their edible sailboats. This activity encourages fine motor skills, promotes healthy eating habits, and adds a touch of whimsy to snack time.

Floating Alphabet Letters:

Turn bath time or water play into a learning experience by introducing floating alphabet letters to your toddlers. Purchase foam alphabet letters that float in water or use foam stickers to create your own. Fill a basin or bathtub with water and let your toddlers explore the letters, identifying the different shapes and practicing letter recognition. This activity supports early literacy skills and makes learning the alphabet a splashingly fun adventure.

Nautical Sensory Bin:

Create a captivating nautical-themed sensory bin for your toddlers to explore. Fill a large container with water or blue-colored rice, and add seashells, toy boats, plastic sea creatures, and scoops or cups for pouring and transferring. Encourage your little ones to use their hands to feel the textures, engage in pretend play with the toys, and discover the hidden treasures within the bin. This sensory activity enhances tactile skills, imaginative play, and sensory exploration.

Boat Parade:

Organize a boat parade in your backyard or at a nearby body of water. Provide your toddlers with small toy boats or homemade boats, and let them decorate their vessels with flags, ribbons, or stickers. Line up the boats and create a mini parade as your little ones proudly display their creations. This activity encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and social interaction as they engage in a shared experience with their peers.

Floating Obstacle Course:

Set up a floating obstacle course using foam noodles, pool floats, and inflatable toys in a shallow pool or calm body of water. Guide your toddlers through the course, helping them crawl over floats, navigate under arches, and balance on noodles. This activity promotes gross motor skills, coordination, and balance while adding an element of adventure and excitement to their boat-themed playtime.

Seashell Sorting:

Collect a variety of seashells and present them to your toddlers for a sorting activity. Provide trays or containers and encourage them to sort the shells based on size, color, or texture. Talk about the different characteristics of each shell and engage in discussions about the creatures that once lived inside them. This sorting activity develops cognitive skills, and classification abilities, and introduces basic concepts of marine life.

Boat Story Time:

Create a cozy reading corner with pillows and blankets, and gather a selection of boat-themed books for a boat story time session. Choose engaging picture books that feature boats, oceans, or sea creatures. As you read to your toddlers, encourage their participation by asking questions, pointing out details in the illustrations, and sparking their imagination with stories of high-sea adventures. This activity fosters language development, listening skills, and a love for reading.

Sailboat Shape Matching:

Create a sailboat shape matching game to help your toddlers develop shape recognition skills. Cut out sailboat shapes from colored paper and draw corresponding shapes on separate pieces of paper or cardboard. Mix up the sailboat shapes and ask your toddlers to match each sailboat to its corresponding shape. This activity promotes cognitive development, fine motor skills, and shape recognition in an interactive and playful way.

Captain’s Hat Craft:

Engage your toddlers in a captain’s hat craft activity that they can wear and enjoy during their boat adventures. Provide them with white construction paper, markers, glue, and craft materials such as feathers, glitter, or stickers. Help them create their own captain’s hat by folding the construction paper into a hat shape and decorating it with their chosen materials. Once the hats are ready, let them wear their creations proudly as they embark on imaginative journeys as little boat captains.

Sink or Float Experiment:

Conduct a sink or float experiment to explore the buoyancy of various objects with your toddlers. Gather different items such as a toy boat, rubber duck, sponge, plastic bottle, and more. Fill a basin or bathtub with water and have your toddlers guess whether each item will sink or float. Drop each item into the water one at a time and observe the results together. This hands-on experiment introduces scientific concepts, encourages prediction skills, and enhances observational abilities.

Sandcastle Building:

If you have access to a sandy beach or a sandbox, take your toddlers on a sandcastle building adventure. Provide them with small buckets, shovels, and sandcastle molds to create their own miniature beachside kingdoms. Encourage them to use their hands to dig, mold, and shape the sand. This activity enhances fine motor skills, stimulates creativity, and allows for imaginative play as they construct their sandcastles and explore the wonders of the beach.

Boat-themed Yoga:

Introduce your toddlers to boat-themed yoga poses that promote physical activity and mindfulness. Teach them poses such as the Sailboat Pose (balancing on one leg with arms extended like sails), the Rowing Pose (sitting on the floor and mimicking rowing motions), and the Fish Pose (lying on their backs and arching their upper body off the ground). Engaging in these gentle exercises helps improve flexibility, body awareness, and focus while incorporating the boat theme into their movement and play.

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Sohaib Hasan Shah

Sohaib's journey includes 10+ years of teaching and counseling experience at BCSS School in elementary and middle schools, coupled with a BBA (Hons) with a minor in Educational Psychology from Curtin University (Australia) . In his free time, he cherishes quality moments with his family, reveling in the joys and challenges of parenthood. His three daughters have not only enriched his personal life but also deepened his understanding of the importance of effective education and communication, spurring him to make a meaningful impact in the world of education.

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Why parents take young kids to Disney World, even if they won’t remember it

Nadia Ramos’ toddler had no idea Walt Disney World existed, but she got excited every time she saw the Disney+ logo or Disney castle on screen before a movie.

“We kept thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, what if we actually took her to go see the actual castle and took her to Disney?’” recalled the 28-year-old from Texas. ”At first, we thought it was kind of a crazy idea because we didn't know what to expect. But we figured, why not? I mean, she's just going to be little one time. We might as well take her and make a trip out of it.”

Disney World is free to visit for children under the age of 3, making the already popular destination especially appealing to young families.

“Families looking to create a boundless collection of memories with their little ones can experience it all at Walt Disney World Resort – everything from legendary entertainment and world-class service to hidden gems around every corner that make acting like a kid just as special as being a kid,” the Florida resort shared in a statement with USA TODAY. 

Is it worth it ? 

Making memories

“It's definitely worth it,” said Nykeisha Stainback of North Carolina, whose three kids range from ages 2 to 8.

She first took her eldest and middle children to Disney World when they were each 2 ½ years old and her youngest at 8 weeks.

“When (people) say they won't remember, it doesn't matter. I will remember it,” said the 28-year-old mom. “It's something that will always be a core memory for yourself as an adult, to be able to bring that magic to your kids’ eyes.”

Stainback recalled her youngest swooning over Disney princesses and not wanting to let go of Anna when he was 1.

“For the moment they believe that Tinkerbell is real, for the moment that they believe Princess Tiana, she's real, just soak in it, adore it,” she said. “Soak in that moment when they are little because that magic isn't going to be there forever.”

Ashley Douglas of Georgia started taking her kids to Disney World when they were each 5 months old. They’re now 5 and 7 years old and visit annually.

“As soon as they could walk, we have videos of both just running to Mickey and just being so excited and hugging him,” said Douglas, 33. “They've always loved the parades and the characters and just seeing things and not necessarily even riding things.”

Ramos’ 18-month-old took it all in.

“She loved all the rides that we got on. She didn’t get scared for one bit.” Ramos said. And she loved the fireworks. “That was her first time seeing fireworks, and she just kept looking at everything, and then she’d turned back, making sure we were watching, and she’d just go back and turn back to the fireworks, and she’d start clapping.”

Is Disney character dining worth it? What families should know before booking

Making the most of it

That doesn’t mean everything will be breezy. Even though the parks offer numerous resources for parents and guardians of young children, like baby care centers and rider switch services at attractions, there will inevitably be hiccups with young kids.

On one trip, Stainback’s daughter caught a stomach bug and kept getting sick as they headed home to North Carolina.

“Never go to Disney by yourself with a toddler and a baby,” Stainback said with a laugh. “I gotta be honest. I was crying at the end of that trip.”

Ramos, from Texas, recalled her daughter not wanting to be in line for Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Ride queues can be tough on little ones who don’t know why they’re in a line or what’s coming up ahead. 

“‘It’s going to be worth it, I promise,’ we kept telling her,” Ramos said, noting that once they got on the ride, her daughter had a great time. 

The toddler also got a little fussy in the summer heat, but Ramos said portable fans helped a lot. They also took midday breaks back at their hotel, where her daughter napped in the air conditioning and got freshened up for a second round in the parks.

“We tried to make the best of it during her tantrums and during any bad moment,” Ramos said.

Douglas, from Georgia, said her family never goes back to the hotel for breaks, only because they probably wouldn’t return to the parks. Instead, her kids rest in a stroller.

“That's just a place for them if you're walking around and they want to take a little nap or they just want to sit down because it's so much walking, even for us as adults,” she said. “Stroller 100%.”

Splurge or save? Moms share how they do both at Disney World

Going with the flow

Douglas lets her kids take the lead on their Disney trips.

“If they want to wait in a long line for something, then we'll wait, and if they don't feel like it, then we won’t,” she said. “Then, at the end of the day, we didn't miss out on anything. We just got to do exactly what they wanted to do.”

They do schedule a few things, but they’ve never purchased Genie+ . Instead, Douglas checks attraction wait times and show times on Disney World’s free My Disney Experience app.

Other guests prefer to plan everything out, booking dining reservations as soon as they open 60 days out and making checklists of everything they’d like to see, eat and do. 

“If planning makes you feel better and that's something that you need, then obviously do that, but I would just be realistic and know that this is a lot for them, it’s a lot for you, being around crowds and all these new things,” Douglas said.

“You're not going to get everything done,” Stainback affirmed. “It is OK. Definitely just go with the flow. You’ll stress yourself out more trying to make it magical.” 

Ramos’ plans fell apart at times, but she said that’s to be expected with kids so young. 

“I mean, it was hard at some points, but just those good moments were just so good that it made the entire trip worth it,” she said.

Visiting Disney World with toddlers, babies

Several resources are available across Disney World for guests with young children:

◾ Each theme park has a baby care center with private nursing rooms and changing stations. Essentials like diapers and formula are available for purchase.

◾ Rider switch is available at select attractions so parents and guardians can take turns staying with kids who may not meet the height requirement or want to ride the ride, while the rest of the party enjoys it.

◾ Children under the age of 3 can eat for free at buffet and family-style venues. 

◾ Mobile ordering is available at many quick-service dining locations, so parents and guardians don’t have to wait in long lines with little ones.

◾ Outside food and nonalcoholic drinks are allowed in the park.

◾ Laundry service is available across Disney World resort hotels if guests want to pack less or wash anything.

◾ Cribs and pack-n-plays are complimentary at all Disney World resort hotels.

◾ Strollers are available to rent at all four theme parks and Disney Springs.

◾ Splash pads and other outdoor play areas are available across the parks and resort hotels.

Eve Chen is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Atlanta. You can reach her at [email protected] .

National News | Jeannette, Pennsylvania house fire kills 4…

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National News | Jeannette, Pennsylvania house fire kills 4 kids, 1 adult

Four children and one adult are dead following a house fire in Jeannette, Pennsylvania.

Fire Chief Bill Frye told CBS Pittsburgh that eight people were inside the home before the fire started around midnight on Wednesday.

One adult and two children were rescued from the blaze.

“It’s a very sad night here in Jeannette,” Frye said at the scene. “Please keep the family and the first responders that responded tonight in your thoughts and prayers in the coming days and weeks here in the city.”

He added that “some complications” with the water supply from a hydrant and the intensity of the fire upon arrival prevented rescuers from saving everyone in the house.

“We had an issue with the water supply,” Frye said. “The first hydrant that we hit gave us a little bit of water but not even enough to make it up the hill to the scene, so we did run off of tank water at one point. At that point, the fire was well involved and we had to pull our guys out.”

The fire spread to a house next door, but the occupants were able to escape without injury.

Both homes were completely destroyed by the flames.

The names of the victims were not released. According to TribLive, a 27-year-old man and several children under the age of seven were deceased . A woman and two children who were rescued from the house were taken to Pittsburgh hospitals in unknown conditions.

Chief Frye said a city firefighter fell and broke their elbow at the scene.

State Police fire marshals are leading the investigation into the cause of the blaze.

Jeannette is about 27 miles east of Pittsburgh in Westmoreland County .

The fire comes a week after a house explosion left two dead in nearby Crescent Township , roughly 50 miles to the northwest.

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A couple of kids wrote a science book about Tesla & EVs, by kids and for kids

A new children’s science book about Tesla and EVs, Everything Tesla: From How They Work To How Fast They Go And All The Fun In Between! , launches today, written by twin 9th graders Aiden and Eliana Miao, and targeted at kids between the ages of 8 and 13.

Aiden and Eliana are from Palo Alto, California and spent the last 4 years assembling the impressive tome, which was originally going to be 20 pages long but swelled to over 200 pages as they researched and wanted to add more to the book.

The authors say that they wanted to inspire kids to learn about science and electric cars and to care about the environment. They say that their parents’ Model 3 inspired them to think about climate change, along with wildfires and smoke days that have increasingly become a feature of California summers and autumns as climate change continues to worsen.

For their research, they read and watched a number of EV news sites and Youtube channels, including us here at Electrek (hi kids!). They pitched us over email and frankly, it was one of the more professional pitches we’ve gotten, and the book really impressed us when they sent us a copy.

Eliana says they also held meetings with professors and engineers to fact-check their writing over the course of the 4 years of work they put into this book (more than a quarter of their lives working on one book? they’re veritable George R.R. Martins).

After years of writing the book and being met with a significant amount of rejection from adults, Aiden and Eliana found an editor, Alexander Cox, and a designer, Sadie Thomas of LS Design, who helped them turn their idea into a real book.

The book is exceedingly well-realized (way beyond what we expected when we read their initial pitch email – Stanford, keep an eye out for these kids’ college application when it comes in), with full-page graphics on every page and quite a lot of information.

Everything Tesla largely focuses on Tesla and Tesla-related topics, though a lot of these points are generalizable to other electric cars, like how electric motors work or dispelling battery-related myths, or to related topics, like sections on solar panels and climate change.

The book as a whole is written in language that is accessible to young audiences, but still has a wealth of information that could probably teach some adults the basics about electric cars. The authors think this might be the first kids’ science book written by kids and for kids. Or at least, they couldn’t find any others in their own search.

While the book is not endorsed by Tesla, it does adopt a very positive view of everything related to the company. We here at Electrek also appreciate Tesla’s leadership in the EV industry, but our praise for the company and particularly its leader might have been a little more moderated than what you’ll read in the book.

Nevertheless, this is a much more impressive effort than, uh, anything I’ve ever seen a 9th grader do. Kids these days, am I right?

Everything Tesla releases today, is self-published and is available on Amazon in Kindle or hardcover versions, and at Books Inc in Palo Alto. The authors will have a book launch event at Books Inc on March 23rd at 2pm, and are excited to give an author talk next week at their old elementary school, where they attended when they started writing the book. Find out more about the book on its website at https://everythingteslabook.com .

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Things to Do in Elektrostal, Russia - Elektrostal Attractions

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Hilary Duff's 4 Kids: All About Luca, Banks, Mae and Baby on the Way

Hilary Duff is a mom to three kids — Luca, Banks and Mae — and is expecting her fourth

Contributor, PEOPLE

In addition to her career as an actress, singer and author , Hilary Duff is also a mom to three children — and a baby on the way!

The How I Met Your Father star welcomed her first child, son Luca Cruz, 12, in 2012, with her then-husband Mike Comrie . Following their split, Duff began dating Matthew Koma . The pair got married in 2019 and welcomed daughters Banks Violet, 5, and Mae James, 2, in 2018 and 2021, respectively. In December 2023, Duff announced she was expecting her fourth child .

In an interview with PEOPLE, Duff revealed that she loves the " mayhem " of raising three kids. "I love when everyone's full of energy and the house is buzzing. You never know what the day is going to bring or what your kid's going to say," she said. "We're in the thick of it, and it feels good."

The Younger actress also discussed motherhood during an appearance on The Motherly Podcast in 2019. "Being a mother has been shocking, and it was also the happiest, most beautiful experiences, so those two things butting up against each other is quite a strange mix sometimes," she said. "Once you do find yourself again, you have the biggest thing under your belt that nobody can take away from you and you're so confident."

Duff regularly provides glimpses into her family life on Instagram. In December 2022, she shared a photo of her holiday card with fans, which featured an image of Luca, Banks and Mae holding her and Koma hostage while they ate cupcakes and laughed.

In May 2023, Duff appeared on the Lipstick on the Rim podcast , where she talked candidly about prioritizing her family.

"I'm obsessed with my kids. I truly enjoy watching them grow and being there with them," she said. "I always get a little bummed out when I finish a project and someone is like, 'What's next?' What's next is I'm going to go be a part of my family. I want to be packing all the bags and the lunches. It's super important to me."

A month later, she described parenting to Shape as " f---ing hard " and "endlessly rewarding."

Duff added: "I’m in my family-making phase. I built this and I wanted this and so I have to be here to enjoy the joyful and the painful and everything in between."

Here's everything to know about Hilary Duff's kids.

Luca Cruz Comrie , 12

Duff and Comrie welcomed their son, Luca Cruz , on March 20, 2012. "Welcome to the World Luca Cruz Comrie! Tuesday evening, we became proud parents of a healthy 7 pound 6 ounce beautiful boy," Duff tweeted. "We are overjoyed and feel like the luckiest parents in the world. He is surrounded by so much love!!"

The Lizzie McGuire star was just 24 years old at the time. She later discussed the challenges of being a young mom during an appearance on The Motherly Podcast , admitting that the experience was "isolating" since none of her friends had welcomed children yet.

"I did feel like after I had him, I lost a big chunk of my identity for maybe the first year and a half," Duff explained. "I did spin it as a positive thing because sitting in it when it was happening maybe I was a little sad about it and I didn't feel like I had anyone to go through the experience with, but then I came out on the other side. I'm like, I'm a freaking super woman and I can do anything and I have confidence for days."

Although Duff and Comrie split in 2016, Duff has said she is " really proud " of their co-parenting dynamic. "We are a unit and we're going to be a unit for the rest of our lives," she told PEOPLE. "We realized [as a couple] we weren't where we used to be. But I feel so lucky this happened when Luca was young because this is his normal now."

Duff's husband Koma has also taken on a role in Luca's life. In her 2020 cover story for Parents magazine , Duff revealed that Luca wrote a poem about their blended family and read it aloud at her and Koma's wedding.

"He wrote something really beautiful," Duff said, "and it started off with, 'Our family is a galaxy shooting off of the cosmos.' He was so brave to get up and talk into the microphone."

On Luca's 10th birthday, Duff posted a sweet tribute to "the greatest kid around."

"Luca Cruz what a gift you are to all that know you. I can't imagine how it's already been 10 years since I got to first hold you in my arms and meet your big blue eyes," she wrote. "This time with you has been something I can't even explain. It's my pleasure to watch you grow. To know your heart and be loved by you. You are magic and I can't wait to see all the cool things you do and will teach me over the next 10 years."

A few weeks prior, the mother-son duo attended a Justin Bieber concert together. Alongside videos of the pair lip-synching the words to Bieber 's "Sorry" and "Baby," Duff wrote, "The. Best. Time. @justinbieber I think this is the last year Luca will put up with this out of me so I sang reaaaaaal loud."

In February 2023, Duff discussed motherhood on the Good Guys podcast with her fellow child actor Josh Peck .

"I was a teen mom," she joked, referring to welcoming Luca at the age of 24. "I think that I was just really ready. I always wanted to be a young parent ."

Duff added: "It was hard cause I didn't have any friends that were having kids yet. But I just like figured it out and loved it. I love being a mom so much. I wouldn't change it at all."

Banks Violet Bair , 5

On Oct. 25, 2018, Duff and Koma welcomed their first child together , a daughter named Banks Violet. Duff posted a photo of herself and Koma cradling the newborn, captioned, "Banks Violet Bair❤️ this little bit has fully stolen our hearts! She joined our world at home on Thursday afternoon and is absolute magic." The couple had announced they were expecting "a little princess" that June.

Despite their 6-year age gap, Banks and her older brother Luca have a sweet relationship and he is very protective of her. "It's the best," Duff told PureWow of the two siblings' relationship. "It's a chemical reaction between siblings sometimes where he knows he has to protect her ." She added, "He doesn't want her to ever fall off the couch."

In January 2020, Duff shared a black-and-white snap of Luca giving Banks a kiss on the cheek. "I don't know why he likes her so much.... she stalks and harasses him every minute of the day," she jokingly wrote in the caption.

A few months later, Duff and Koma celebrated Banks' second birthday with heartfelt Instagram posts.

"My love, my sweet sweet angel girl. Thank you!!!" Duff wrote under a highlight reel of baby Banks. "Two amazing years with your smile and your bright eyes (swoon) It seems you yelled at me, your dad, and bro for most of this time although no one would believe that with all the happiness that pours from you when you smile! Now … you are curious, at ease, [confident] and brave. I love you so so so many times and again. Thanks for choosing us!"

For his post, Koma wrote, "It's the greatest privilege of my life to be your dad."

Banks is also a big fan of her mom's music . In an interview with Cosmopolitan , Duff revealed that her then-3-year-old daughter loved to listen to her album Breathe In. Breathe Out — specifically her hit track "Sparks."

"I can't get away from it because someone exposed my 3-year-old to it," Duff joked. "We get in the car, and I have to listen to my own music because my daughter's screaming, 'I want 'parks, I want 'parks.' "

Another singer Banks likes is Harry Styles . For her fourth birthday, she received a sequined pillow with the British pop star's face on it as a gift from her grandmother. "My mother wins best Present!" Duff wrote alongside a photo of Banks engrossed in her gift.

Duff also took the birthday girl to one of Styles' concerts to celebrate. Koma shared an adorable video of Banks that showed her in pure awe as she watched Styles perform.

"Harry 4th Birthday Banks Bair. May you always sing with the most engaged and concerned look on your face," he wrote alongside the clip. "Love you more than you'll grow up to love Dawes."

Mae James Bair , 2

Duff and Koma welcomed their second daughter on March 24, 2021. Duff subtly announced the news with an Instagram photo of Banks. "I'm a big sister ... marinating on how I feel about that!" Duff captioned the snap, which showed Banks in a bathtub with a thoughtful look on her face.

The couple revealed the newborn's name , Mae James, the following day. "Mae James Bair - We LOVE you beauty 3-24-21," the mom wrote on Instagram alongside a black-and-white picture from her at-home water birth. The photo showed Duff holding the newborn in a tub surrounded by her kids and Koma.

Ahead of her birth, Duff spoke with PEOPLE about how much more relaxed she felt about the pregnancy compared to her other two.

" This pregnancy feels easier because there was a lot of fear with bringing a new baby home when Luca was already 6½," she said. "There's a security in knowing what we need with having a newborn in the house since we kind of were just there with Banks. Both kids are super excited about the new baby and that's a comfort I didn't have the first time around."

In March 2022, Duff shared photos of a cake-covered Mae at her 1st birthday party. "Happy ONE Mae Mae — This family loves you so much! What a fun/crazy/tiring year it has been!" she captioned the post. "I truly enjoy you being my little barnacle … your face, with those big eyes just amaze me … It's especially cute and you know it!! Only a matter of time until you will be keeping up with your sibs little darling and I am one grateful mama to [bear] witness to it all. Happy birthday cake monster. I love you."

That November, Mae got a new haircut courtesy of her mom. Duff shared a series of adorable photos of Mae rocking her new bangs, captioned, "Today I cut Mae bangs… and it's cuuuuute."

In March 2023, Duff celebrated Mae's 2nd birthday with a sweet post on Instagram — calling her youngest daughter "bold, confident and funny."

"You smell like fresas and shake your booty through most of the day. Your circle of friends might be bigger than mine and in the last month you've turned into a real chatty Cathy doll 😂We love you major little bit," the actress captioned a carousel of images.

Duff and Koma's Baby on the Way

Duff announced she was expecting in December 2023 when she posted her family's Christmas card on Instagram, showcasing a picture of her cradling her growing belly.

"So much for silent nights," the card read. "Love, the Duff-Bair-Comrie Crew."

On the back of her card, Duff confirmed the news, writing, "Buckle up Buttercups, we're adding one more to this crazy bunch!"

Fraser Rise shooting, Melbourne: Shots are fired near Memorial Park playground in 'targeted attack'

•  Gunmen open fire near playground
•  Second shooting in Melbourne within 24 hours
• READ MORE: Husband's desperate plea to Samantha Murphy's alleged killer

A man was forced to dodge bullets while taking his dog for a walk near a popular children's playground in Melbourne 's north-east.

The alleged shooting took place at Memorial Park on Fraser Rise shortly before 7pm on Wednesday night, and police suspect it was a targeted attack.

A witness said they saw a blue car cruising past slowly before the incident. 

'Then we heard this loud bang, bang and looked and saw this man with his dog running away from the blue car on the street,' he recalled.

'He left his dog at the fence to the park and jumped over and just took off.'

Witnesses told police that they saw two men in black balaclavas each holding a gun who fired up to a dozen shots. 

READ MORE: Dozens of school kids pulled from burning boat in Port Phillip Bay

'We heard this loud bang, bang and looked and saw this man with his dog running away from the blue car on the street,' one man told the Herald Sun . 

Another witness told the publication the shooting unfolded really quickly.

'I think the reason the police got a phone call was because the sound [of the gunshots] carried through the area, and everyone was home at that time to hear it.'

Police quickly cordoned off the park and called in the dog squad as an investigation was launched.

It's understood the alleged offenders fled the scene in the blue car, which was later found burnt out 4km away in neighbouring suburb Hillside.

Police are also investigating whether a second burnt-out car found in Caroline Springs is linked to the shooting.

'It is believed that this was not a random attack, and no one was injured as a result,' a police statement read.

It comes hours after three men were injured in a late-night shooting 18km away in Tarneit shortly before midnight on Tuesday.

Two men suffering from gunshot wounds were found in separate locations while a third later presented himself to hospital with an arm injury.

A crime scene was set up at a nearby MacDonald's, where police examined two Mercedes vehicles.

'Police believe an altercation took place between two groups however the exact circumstances in relation to the shooting are still being determined,' a statement read.

'Detectives are treating the incident as targeted and the parties involved are known to each other.'

Anybody with information, CCTV, or dashcam footage in relation to either incident is urged to call Crim e Stoppers.

How a mom with 4 kids who drives for DoorDash and Walmart Spark struggles to make ends meet: 'It is a never-ending vicious cycle'

• Bri, a single mom of four, is struggling to make ends meet driving for DoorDash and Walmart Spark.
• Bri turned to gig driving after a knee injury made her previous job at an Amazon warehouse untenable.
• Despite working long hours, she can barely pull in $400 a week after accounting for expenses.

Bri, 40, is lost on what to do next. The single mom of four, who lives in Fort Worth, Texas, pulls in about $400 a week driving for DoorDash , Walmart Spark, and Skipcart, which isn't enough for her and her kids to live comfortably.

She drives while her kids are in school and after they're in bed, and she's using her daughter's car since she can't afford to buy a new car. She said after delivering food all day, she waits in line at a food pantry to get food for her and her kids.

It's what she has to do to provide for her family, given her osteoarthritis that makes it difficult for her to do other types of work. Bri asked to just use her first name for fear of professional repercussions.

"When we file taxes, we're self-employed, so we pay the self-employment tax, but gig drivers aren't prepared for that throughout the year," Bri told Business Insider. "It's hard to put money up when you're depending on literally tips."

Bri is one of many single parents who recently told BI they cannot work a stable 9-to-5 job while caring for their kids and instead rely on gig driving. Income is unpredictable and money is tight for many gig workers having to pay childcare costs.

Lyft said in February it would guarantee weekly earnings for drivers at 70% or more of what riders paid after external fees. Lyft noted that the typical US driver earned about $23 per engaged hour — or hours spent picking up or dropping off customers — after expenses. Uber said the typical US driver earned about $33 per engaged hour before driving expenses, per an announcement in November. DoorDash said that in New York City, drivers earn minimum guaranteed earnings of $17.96 per active hour.

In reality, given some drivers only have rides for half the time they're on delivery apps, these hourly earnings are frequently lower.

Gig driving with a disability

Bri was a business owner in home healthcare, but once the pandemic struck, she lost access to many of her clients.

She decided to work at an Amazon warehouse , which was somewhat flexible with her schedule, especially raising a child with Down syndrome. She was assigned to pack boxes and lift heavy items, often working 10-hour shifts and making about $600 a week.

In February 2022, she fractured her knee on the job, which developed into osteoarthritis. She was paid 60% of her normal paycheck while on medical leave. Recovery from the injury took a long time, especially since she faced cancer in her early 30s.

Since her doctor told her not to do physically intensive work, she pivoted to something less demanding. She was unsure how long Amazon's disability payments would last, and gig driving was one of her only options.

She got accepted to DoorDash first in March 2023, followed by smaller apps such as Skipcart and Roadie. She's still waitlisted for Uber Eats and GrubHub nearly two years later due to high saturation. She said she bypassed Walmart Spark's waitlist by putting in her location for a more rural town half an hour away.

When she started, she made about $800 on average, driving when her knee felt good and her kids were cared for, though sometimes she would need to drive with her kids.

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From the end of March until the second week of June, she said she wouldn't bring home anything less than $700 a week working full-time. She drove in the mornings while her kids were at school, took a break, then drove for another few hours around dinner. She was consistently getting good orders, including some where she would get $10 to $15 driving just two miles.

She saved enough for a weeklong beach vacation in Galveston with her kids. But after returning from her trip, she said she lost her Top Dasher status.

"If you take some days off, it affects your ability to make money when you go back to work," Bri said. "If you are sick and can't work, you are penalized and are now going to make less money."

This meant she would have to schedule in advance when she would want to do deliveries. She said if there are not enough Top Dashers on the road, then the lower-tier drivers can come out without scheduling and "pick up the scraps," Bri said. She said she usually books a slot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Doordash from Monday to Friday and then drives for other companies.

"I looked over my earnings, and it's drastically getting lower. It's just dropping," Bri said. "I can barely bring in $300. I'll go out and I'll drive for two hours, and there are zero orders. I'll sit in front of restaurants that I know are busy, zero orders."

Screenshots show she was offered a 20-mile ride in one direction for $10.70, with little chance of a similar return trip. She's worried that if she keeps rejecting unprofitable rides , she may struggle even more over the next few months to find good deliveries. She recently became more picky — she rejects about 60% of her rides — as she's noticed she would lose money for some rides, particularly those that are only $3 or $4.

"We have to, in 30 seconds, figure out if it's worth the money to take the trip or not, and if you say no to too many, then you get knocked down a level," Bri said. "I'm a contractor, so if I don't want to take the offer, I shouldn't be penalized if the dollars aren't making sense."

Driving as a single parent

Bri has an apartment with her kids, though she said the conditions are unsuitable for the long term. She said she wants to move out of Texas later this year, though she hasn't had the money to relocate. She said she gets long-term disability payments from Amazon until August, and she has used that money to pursue a degree in data analytics.

She ensures her children go to school every day to get breakfast and lunch. She's driving her daughter's car after she wrecked hers a few months ago. Her kids, including her son with Down Syndrome, don't qualify for Medicaid or food stamps since she makes too much for the cutoff.

She said after her driving sessions delivering food for other people, she gets right in line at a food pantry and gets food for herself and her kids. On many days, she's only eating one meal a day to make sure her kids are fed.

"It is a never-ending vicious cycle that lures you in with great money at first, to the point you feel it can be relied on, then bam, now you're making $4 per delivery on average and have to run more than one delivery app at a time and only accept the orders that make sense," Bri said.

She drives her daughter's car because she can't afford to buy another car after "running it into the ground." She puts her kids to bed at night and then goes back out.

"You always feel like you have to be available because there's always going to be money out there," Bri said. "I have bills to pay. I've got a $300 electric bill. I can't take time off even when I need to."

She estimates she's pulling in $500 total between DoorDash and other platforms like ezCater and Roadie, a UPS company. On Skipcart, she's pulling in more per ride, though the demand is lower and rides are more sporadic. She also occasionally drives for Walmart Spark, though she calls it a "last resort" if she's having a slow week.

"I start school in March, and then I can change and do something different," Bri said. "You can't do what you've been doing all your life, and I have to re-strategize."

Are you a ride-hailing driver who's struggling to pay bills or has had recent success? If you'd like to share your story, reach out to  [email protected] .

Watch: How truck driving became one of the worst jobs in the US

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

I hate boats but this swanky, kids-free voyage changed my mind about cruises

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I. Hate. Boats. And the thought of spending what is meant to be a relaxing holiday on a cruise has never appealed to me.

From being dragged onto rickety fishing boats as a child to catch mackerel for dinner while water sloshed over the edges, to stepping onto the annual ferry across to Calais and watching my poor stepmother be sick over the side… they just aren’t for me.

I also watched the Titanic far too many times in my formative years – not to mention Jaws – so anything that floats on the ocean generally doesn’t bring me much comfort.

As someone whose never been on a cruise – and hearing some deeming them ‘tacky’, full of screaming children, and plagued with budget entertainment – it had never occurred to me to book one.

That is, until, I set foot on Celebrity Ascent cruise liner in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where I was promptly informed that it wasn’t a boat… it was a ship.

Semantics aside, that ship shattered the misguided preconceptions I had about cruises and three days later when it was time to disembark I found myself not wanting to leave.

I’ll admit I had been relieved when I rolled up to board and couldn’t see a single offensively yellow water slide in sight. There wasn’t a single child around either. Now, I have nothing against kids, but I think even some parents may agree it’s just easier to chill out when it’s kid-free.

As I stepped onto the ship, wandering through the sprawling levels of offerings and five-star hotel level decor with glistening floors and chandeliers, I went in search of my room.

My expectations had been a small cabin, instead I was greeted by a stunning suite on the 11th floor, complete with a bathtub and balcony, as well as a large double bed, sofa and dressing table.

It was a spacious Sky Suite – better than most of the hotel rooms I’ve stayed in – and to my delight I couldn’t feel the ship moving on the water whatsoever.

After settling in, my first stop was lunch and I opted for sushi at Raw on Five. Being gluten free means sushi isn’t always the safest for me but the exceptional chef ensured I had battered crispy shrimp followed by the best sushi I’ve ever eaten. Each roll was perfectly fiery and fresh, and the staff were so attentive I quite literally wanted for nothing.

Belly full, I decided to explore the ship, passing countless restaurants (one of which, Le Voyage, belongs to Daniel Boulud) where I the bar at Eden and drank more than my fill of apple cocktails at the back of the ship – where the entire wall is glass.

It makes for the perfect spot to watch the sunset in the evenings, which is precisely what I did at dinner time at A Taste of Eden. It’s a restaurant with an entirely open kitchen, so you can see every morsel of food on your plate being made from scratch.

Honestly, I was torn between watching that and the stunning burnt-red sunset that I had a front row seat of from my table.

The meal began with a pineapple amuse-bouche, followed by delicious tomato prawns, a fillet steak which was cooked to medium-rare perfection and a rather wacky pudding – carrot creme brulee – which, yes, tasted like carrot but was also delicious.

Now I’m not one for entertainment on holiday as I, in this case wrongly, assume it’s going to be cheesy and terrible.

But once again, this cruise ship proved me wrong. As I sat at the Martini Bar (while the chandelier lit up in a mesmerising light show) a magician ventured over to my table. I’m a sceptic but this talented man made cards in my own hand turn to glass – without touching me. That is pretty darn impressive.

Then it was off to the theatre. There’s a whole theatre on this ship, along with a night club and spa – you quite literally want for nothing. It’s like its own little upmarket society on the sea for it’s 3,000 guests.

The show I watched was Awaken. It’s a performance of popular songs told through dreams and the performers were very impressive. While I did thoroughly enjoy the performance, it wasn’t something I found myself itching to go and watch again, even though they have more shows on offer. If theatre is your thing though, then you’ll love it.

For breakfast there’s not much to say apart from there’s an abundance of choice – you’ll be spoilt on board. Did I mention there are 32 different eateries?

Just make sure you double check the allergens with the chefs behind the counters – sometimes the GF label meant gluten free options available and it wasn’t referring to the options on display.

At this point, after I’d eaten about 40 waffles and a full English I realised we had sailed to the Bahamas. So I headed up to the Sunset Bar in the glorious weather to take in the views (and drink the bar dry).

For fans of Below Deck Mediterranean, you’ll be pleased to know Captain Sandy is the ship’s Godmother. I discovered this when I bumped into her on my floor and had a good chinwag, where I asked her why she chose the ship over her yacht.

Captain Sandy told me: ‘It’s seven star. I would never go on a cruise – I’m a yacht person but this is next level.’

And she’s right – my dinner at Blu that evening proved it. Run by a Michelin-star chef the restaurant is only for AquaClass guests and is centred on healthy eating – although my wine glass never ran dry (but I’m not complaining).

Did I have another immaculately cooked steak? Yes. Then I donned my glitziest outfit and headed up to the Shine the Light Deck Party. There’s no other way to describe this than – just a good bit of fun. Everyone looked their best and danced by the pool as the DJ mixed hit after hit and a dancer with a disco ball head proved to be the life of the party.

While that party is a new addition to Celebrity Cruises, the most impressive part of the ship was the Magic Carpet. Now, if you’re thinking Aladdin, you’re going to be a bit upset. However, the platform floats off the side of the ship, reaching heights of 13 stories above sea level.

It’s home to a bar and often has live music performed on it, offering uninterrupted views of your next destination.

The platform can also descend to sea level, creating somewhat of a mini pier where you can board your tender (which doubles as a lifeboat) to shore to explore. They’re quite swanky little boats in themselves – they’re no Titanic paddle boat that’s for sure.

Before I knew it it was time to disembark and I reluctantly showed myself off the ship back in Fort Lauderdale – I perhaps would have been more inclined to leave if I was stepping on the shores of the Bahamas.

The only downside is it’s not a cheap holiday but value for money definitely makes it worth it if you can. If I win the lottery you can best believe I’ll be frequenting Celebrity Ascent as I travel the world.

Now I find myself sat at my desk, having done a complete U-turn, and I can’t help but wonder where I’ll take a ship to next.

Celebrity Ascent pricing:

For Celebrity’s upcoming  7-night Greece, Turkey & Italy Cruise  departing on the 20th July 2024 from Athens (Piraeus), prices start at £1,023pp for two adults sharing an Interior Stateroom.

If you want to book a suite like the one I stayed in it’ll set you back £3,999pp for the trip.

Cheaper options include:

OceanView Stateroom: £1,178pp

Balcony Stateroom (Infinite Veranda): £1,407pp

Concierge Class: £1,797pp

Aqua Class: £2,106pp

Main dining is included in the above prices which will give you access to the Cyprus Restaurant (Greek food), the Tuscan Restaurant (Italian food), the Normandie Restaurant (French food) and the Cosmopolitan Restaurant which offers American dishes.

Speciality dining like Raw on Five and Eden cost extra on top of your cruise package price.

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