My son comes home from school every day with all types of "treasures." Sometimes it's a homemade slingshot (insert eye-roll), other time, it's a totally new invention. You see, his favorite free-time activity in his Kindergarten classroom is "make and create." Basically, he's ...read more
Some of my happiest memories growing up include digging in the garden. I remember my mom working hard to prepare the soil, plant the seeds strategically and tend to it lovingly. We started an organic no-till garden nearly 10 years ago and the bounty we reap every year is ...read more
Big mom moment here... My youngest is heading off to Kindergarten in mere months and I can not wrap my head around it. In fact, the school has called three times (insert embarrassed emoji here!) to remind me to register her. To quote the director of enrollment, "Mrs. S, this is ...read more
I love shopping for new moms. There is something so heartwarming about selecting a special gift for a new little life. The thing is: I've been blessed to see many babies come into this world. From my sister, to my closest friends, to colleagues...I've bought a LOT Of baby gifts ...read more
I went to a big trend-spotting media event back in December, where they tried to claim that the unicorn was no longer in vogue; and that the uni-explosion of the past few years was getting old, getting tired, and getting over played... But, um, if you ask my three-year-old ...read more
Although we keep joking about "sprinter" and impatiently waiting for the season to catch up with all we know and love about it, we are keeping positive with a keen eye for the latest spring trends for the kiddos. Our calendar is filling up fast with garden parties, communion ...read more
Who could use some helpful tips for picky eaters? I'm certainly in that boat! My kids used to eat everything and then literally overnight one day, they seemed to want nothing. They're both naturally very thin just like the hubs and I were growing up so I feel helpless when it's ...read more
We are blowing through this first part of the year and have found ourselves already at spring break. If you're planning to "hug the hearth" as they say, we have five fun-filled spring break staycation ideas to avoid the ever-daunting, "What are we going to do tooodaaaaayyyyy?" ...read more
Who needs some last minute Easter basket filler ideas? Never fear...I'm here to help. I can totally relate to you busy Easter bunnies who haven't quite nailed down your baskets yet. Now, if you're a parent, you've probably found that your kiddo has many aspects to her or his ...read more
We are ready to welcome spring for real and not just because the calendar says so. Thanks to our latest blast of snow, we are still digging out our walkways instead of digging up our gardens. But we are beckoning spring to shower us with its fresh scents and lovely awakenings and ...read more
As a parent and educator, toys that inspire curiosity, imagination, problem solving all while being engaging, entertaining and fun are always on my radar. It's a tall order to fill especially when you eschew battery eating, noisy toys that can be a nuisance to parents and too ...read more
We had so much fun making this DIY Easter Bunny Basket and Carrot Hunt Command Game. The kiddos really enjoyed hunting for carrots and acting like bunnies.Easter is two weeks away. So, we have been prepping for all the fun festivities!We have been doing alot of activities ...read more
March is Women's History Month and as a mom who is raising two girls, as well as a son, I am always eager to learn tips to navigate a path that builds my girls up, raises them to believe in themselves and challenges them to see their reflection as one deserving of equality. The ...read more
How do you raise digitally savvy kids? That's a question that weighs heavy on most parents' minds these days. Am I right? Screen time has become such a polarizing topic the past few years. No matter how we feel about it, the fact is our kids are being raised in the age of ...read more
My kiddos love holidays—every holiday! They don’t discriminate. So, even if we aren’t technically Irish, we still make a big deal of St. Patrick’s Day. We wear green, we chase Leprechauns, we hunt for that veritable pot of gold, and we eat ALL the corned beef and cabbage. (It’s ...read more
It is getting so close to St. Patrick's Day. And this year, we wanted to do more than just wear green and bake Irish soda bread muffins. To celebrate, we have been reading How to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam Wallace.My kiddos learned how quick leprechauns are, how mischievous they ...read more
The wind is howling the rain is pelting the snow is falling... somehow all at the same time! It's a noreaster and one last big blast of winter here on the East Coast. Schools are closed, and the kids are home. Keep cabin-fever struck kiddos entertained and engaged with a few easy ...read more
How will you be celebrating tomorrow? For what, you ask? Tomorrow, March 2 is the birthday of the zany, talented and beloved author, Theodor SEUSS Geisel, known to everyone as Dr. Seuss. We have rounded up a few of our favorite ways to celebrate the man that made reading fun for ...read more
March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, right?Welcome to a confusing month! The weather is going to be all over the map here on the east coast, but that's okay--if it means spring is approaching! Yes, the official countdown is on, and we're ready for longer, sunnier days! ...read more
Our local library is incredible. Almost every weekend, they host a free art, STEM, or learning workshop for the kids in our small community. They get to make crafts, build towers, and socialize with friends--and there's almost always a take-home treasure. A few weeks ago, my five ...read more
Three, four, and five year olds are like sponges. They are eager to learn, excited to experience, and perpetually asking questions. They are curious answer-seekers, and that makes this time the perfect opportunity to kick start their education. “Young children have the capacity ...read more
As the parent of a child with certain needs, I can tell that you preparing for a meeting to advocate for his rights was and still is a daunting thing. After countless bouts of tears and heart wrenching agonizing, I finally realized that his dad and I were his only chance to ...read more
Did you know there are over 3.5 million children who sustain sports-related injuries every year? Fortunately, you can help your school-aged athlete avoid injury and burn out, resulting in a longer love of and participation in sports.As a personal trainer and the owner of SAPT ...read more
I just love seeing all the Valentine's Day cards at the store. There is such a selection of them for kids to pick out to give to their friends.But when I was a kid, I preferred to make my Valentine's Day cards. And I still do. So, I am passing that on to my kiddos too!This DIY is ...read more
We are so excited about watching the Winter Olympics this year. We have been looking up the different sports to see which ones our kiddos are into watching. My son's favorite is bobsledding. He thinks it looks like so much fun.To keep him excited about it, I decided we should do ...read more
As an educator, nothing pulled on my heartstrings more than a student that would find himself alone in the middle-school cafeteria. Mealtime should be about letting off a little steam, making connections, and sharing stories, problems and jokes. No one should have to deal with ...read more
If you're a mama, you know how excited the kiddos are when they leave a fresh tooth tucked under the pillow for the tooth fairy to find. We all want to make the tooth fairy happy and keep our smiles bright, and the best way to do this is to establish a healthy dental routine at a ...read more
I'm not a big football fan, but I am a major Super Bowl supporter... I mean, good food, great drinks, and lots of friends to share the fun with. What's not to love? I'm all in!I have to admit, I don't necessarily watch the game, but I try to at least follow the score and see the ...read more
Who wants to hear about some fun Valentine's Day ideas for kids?! I knew you would... Now I love any and all holidays, but Valentine's Day is one of my very favorites. It's probably because my mom always made such a big deal out of it when we were growing up. Not only did she ...read more
I have always loved Stella McCartney's kids fashions. The designer has a way to combine playfulness with fashion in a way I just adore. And it turns out, she's a ski mom! Stella has been designing ski capsules for a few years, and this year we got to sample Stella McCartney kids ...read more
National Celebrate Handwriting Day is January 23, and as a teacher I am excited that much-needed attention is going to focus on what many call, "a lost art". When your child (or you for, that matter) puts a pencil to paper so much more is happening than meets the eye. Handwriting ...read more
We're sharing an adorable ski craft created by Ludavia Harvey from our 2018 Ski Guide!When the weather isn’t cooperating for a perfect bluebird day, you can still have ski fun. Create this mini snowscape. You can do this craft one-on-one with your child or with a group of ...read more
Do you know someone who would love to rock a DIY Trolls headband? I sure do...Once in a while your entire family falls in love with a movie. That's what happened with my people and Trolls. The colors, the music, the TROLLS. We loved it all from the first time we watched that ...read more
Today is Kid Inventors' Day! I know, I know. It feels like there's always some crazy made-up holiday on the calendar; but this one was invented (get it?) to celebrate kids who love creating, building, and tinkering, and that's a notion I can get behind.My brilliant five-year-old ...read more
Did you know that almost two thirds of all children are wearing shoes that are too small! That means only 35% of kids are actually wearing the correct size in sneakers, and only 11 % of those few have room to grow. It might not sound like a big deal, but squeezing those growing ...read more
We got a lot of snow in these parts last week. School was canceled on Thursday and Friday, and we ended up having an unexpected four-day winter-wonderland weekend. It's our first January in our home, and this winter has already seen significantly more accumulation than last. So ...read more
When the temperature drops and winter's blustery, brutal blows, that's when dry, itchy skin flares up! A child's skin is particularly vulnerable and sensitive. Nearly 10 million children have eczema in the United States alone. And while the direct cause is not known, low temps, ...read more
3…2…1… We're blasting into the New Year with a little help from American Girl’s 2018 Girl of the Year, Luciana Vega! Luciana is the newest addition to American Girl’s line of inspiring characters meant to encourage young girls to think about who they want to be and how they want ...read more
Does anyone else feel like this has been one looooong holiday break? Thanks to Christmas falling on the day that it did, our kids don't go back to school for another week. I also know we aren't the only ones in the same boat. So, now seems like a good time to share some easy ...read more
Growing up my mom always made a point of establishing special holiday traditions with my sister and me...And we still continue those traditions to this day. So, when I found out that I was having a baby girl of my own, I instantly started thinking about what kind of mother ...read more
Santa is loading up his sleigh, but we still have 2 more days of giveaway! For those that need last-minute ideas or perhaps you celebrate all week long like we do, find the clickable guides by category, (babies, toddlers & preschoolers, school-age kids, tweens and teens, college ...read more
Tis the season to curl up and cuddle with your cuties and enjoy some seriously deserved down time. The holidays are hectic, and y'all deserve a quiet break, a sweet snuggle, and some holly-jolly magical family moments. This weekend will inevitably be stressful leading up to the ...read more
The Momtrends team hails from all parts of the country originally and most of us travel a lot, especially during the holiday season. If you've ever had to watch the rest of your family leave for a family visit without you, you know what it's like when germs keep you away from a ...read more
Although most of us are knee deep in shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating and other holiday (madness) merriment, we can't help to think about the New Year right around the corner. The children asked a lot of questions about New Year's resolutions and we shared our year goals. ...read more
Decorating a gingerbread house is one of my children's favorite holiday traditions. I, on the other hand, have never been a huge fan. First, there's all the sugar and candy and frosting and dye. Then there's the fact that the traditional kits are nearly impossible to complete. ...read more
A recent survey found over 90% of parents believe it's important for their kids to cook, but only 1/3 actually get cookin' in the ktichen with their kids on a weekly basis. Furthermore, 75% of parents in North America feel that cooking with their kids is important because it ...read more
We're a teeny-tiny bit Santa obsessed over here.We've written lots of letters, visited his workshop (conveniently located in our local mall!), and read all the stories about the big jolly man in red. Suffice to say, we're excited for Christmas Eve. We can't wait to bake batches ...read more
The holidays can get a little hairy, no? Busy parents often have a lot (too much?) on their plates and it is hard to feel like there will be enough time to fit it all in. This year, we aren't striving for perfection, we're just trying to enjoy the present and make the most of the ...read more
Last week I got an invite from the powers that be at Facebook to come preview a new app. I'm going to tell it like it is, as a woman who makes her living from social media, you pretty much have to jump through hoops when Facebook says jump.They control about 10-15% of all ...read more
One of the most iconic holiday scenes has to be a child sitting upon Santa's lap sharing (in hushed voices) his big wishes of gifts to be found under the tree on Christmas morning. Santa reminding children to write to him at the North Pole, with promises of dreams come true. We ...read more