COVID has cut back on a lot of opportunities for teens to feel like they are a part of the community. Sports, music and theater programs have been slashed leaving teens feeling isolated and bored. With the fall looking dubious at best for a normal school season, it's time to keep ...read more
How are you feeling about the school year? For many families, what school will look like is still up in the air. We've been looking into trends for the year and gathering tips for getting ready. Here are some tips from Sara Skirboll, Shopping and Trends Expert at RetailMeNot. ...read more
We love fun in the sun, this week's Camp Mom activities are all about making life a beach. These eight summer camp activities, give kids a chance to get outdoors and soak in the vitamin D while also staying safe and distant from families outside of the bubble. Related: Camp mom ...read more
I recently heard the expression "decision fatigue," for the very first time. Without explanation or definition, I instantly understood the meaning and it immediately resonated with me. Right now, I am experiencing major decision fatigue. Most of us are. Parents have been ...read more
I still remember the Christmas my parents brought out The Dollhouse. Mine was all wood, constructed from a kit my parents are bought and painstakingly put together. It was plain and unadorned, but in that house, I brought to life all kind of stories and sagas. Want to give your ...read more
We've been busy dragging and dropping testing out the new virtual design tool from Carousel Designs. They just released "Version 3.0 of their popular Nursery Designer, the company's unique interactive design tool that allows parents to play around with designing a custom ...read more
Even with the unusual school year we are prepping for, smart moms know they need to stay on top of Back-to-School shopping. Take if from me, don't wait until Labor Day weekend to start back to school shopping--now is the time to make a plan. We put together tips for getting ...read more
With all the extra family togetherness, it's likely you've had time to take some adorable photos of your kids. Sure, we are at times stretched thin, but we are also getting more time than ever to observe our kids doing all the quirky and cool things that make them so special to ...read more
With a summer overshadowed by COVID-19, parents are taking a hard look at how to make the right decisions regarding their kids’ increased reliance on screens— which are helping to maintain a sense of normalcy during this socially-distanced time— while also finding the right ...read more
This is not how high school and college students (or anyone for that matter) imagined their 2020 summer would play out. Internships have been canceled, summer jobs are limited, and social distancing is making networking challenging as everyone works to stay safe during the ...read more
This one is for all the wanna be witches and wizards out there. No matter how you feel about J.K. Rowling's politics, it's hard to resist the imaginary Hogwarts world she created. This week we're supplying eight Camp Mom Harry Potter themed summer activities. Why this week? Well ...read more
Running out of ideas on what to do with the kids. Why not slow things down and throw a teddy bear tea party. If you don't do the princessy thing, no worries, you can have a super hero tea party. It's all about small sandwiches, sweet bites, sipping from a cup and making ...read more
Can you believe we are more than halfway through summer? I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like I'm running out of ideas. Thankfully, I have over 14,000 articles on Momtrends to help keep me inspired. This week we are focused on foodie fun, and we have eight ideas to ...read more
Introducing our brand new series, Momtrends MVP's. We're sharing our top eight to 10 picks across multiple categories--from car seats to strollers to sunscreens to red lipsticks to travel destinations--to help you make better decisions and smarter purchases. First up: double ...read more
It’s that time of year -- when parents worry about how to protect little ones from the heat and sun. Summer is a joyous time to relish in the outdoors, but unless proper precautions are taken it can also be a very dangerous one. Children can suffer short and long term damage of ...read more
When was the last time you heard "I'm bored" in your house? While I do subscribe to the view that a little boredom never hurt anyone (and often can lead to creative play), I also know that this summer is extraordinary due to the COVID virus. Camps across the nation are closed and ...read more
Fluffy slime (or any slime) is not only fun to make and play with, it's also for a great way to pique a child's interest in science. After all, the ingredients work together to actively create a textural reaction! Related: Camp mom summer ideas All you need to do is mix up three ...read more
Tis the season to go outside and get on a bike. Wheels on the ground, breeze in your hair, and thrill of the downhill glide making your heart race and eyes smile. Time to teach those little ones how to ride a bicycle for themselves. We're sharing a few tips from Sir Chris Hoy and ...read more
Happy Fourth of July extended weekend, besties! It's time to celebrate America with delicious food, great drinks, and fabulous company. We hope you have amazing plans with family and friends—and we want to help you kick off the festivities with the easiest, brightest, yummiest, ...read more
If you are an American tennis-lover, you've likely known that Labor Day is dedicated to watching the US Open in Flushing Queens. I've been to the event a few times and it's awesome. This year will be a little different, and we're staying up to date on the event and family ...read more
We never mean to neglect the little men out there. They deserve the very best in fashion too. Since we're talking about updating summer supplies this week, I've got a great resource for all the boy moms out there. It's never been easier to dress your little dudes thanks to KidPik ...read more
Wearing red, white and blue for 4th of July is pretty much a must. The kids and I wanted to make our own shirts this year, so we came up with this fun DIY firework shirt that even my 2 year old helped with (after he woke up early from his nap of course) Related: Macy's 4th of ...read more
We're in our third week of Camp Mom summer ideas and we have eight great activities to finish up June and get ready for the 4th of July. Get ready to be patriotic and celebrate the diversity that makes our country great. Related: Get Week 1 Activities Here MOMTRENDS SUMMER CAMP ...read more
School didn't exactly look the way we wanted it to these last few months. There were tears and fights and all sorts of mom-teacher blunders. (No, I was not meant to be my own child's educator.) My son and I clashed over everything from the ideal working space to his Zoom meeting ...read more
This is going to be an unusual summer for travel. Some states are wide open and others are partially back to normal with many COVID-19 precautions in effect. We've noticed a few summer travel trends emerging and are sharing the top summer travel trends for families to inspire you ...read more
Bubbles are a classic source of wonder and amazement. The simple act of mixing soap and water can entertain kids for hours. I took the kids to the country for a week of decompression. We relied on water, grass and sun for most of our fun. A healthy stash of bubble juice from ...read more
Parenthood is equal parts giving in to what you can't control (i.e. living in the moment) and avoiding disaster. So it should come as no surprise that summer will bring lots of new challenges and amazing opportunities for baby and mom (yes, dad too). We've got some tips to help ...read more
School is out and camps are closed, find eight ways to keep the kids entertained this summer with our Camp Mom activities. We're back with week two and we've got some great ideas to keep the kids from driving you batty. Related: Get Week 1 Activities Here Family Fun: Head to a ...read more
I have a confession to make. I tried Rosé for the first time with the Momtrends team last summer. I know right, crazy?! For some reason I was always a little nervous about trying it. I always stuck to reds or whites (or margaritas). But, once I had that first glass of Rosé I ...read more
This is a judgment-free zone, so refrain from giving me side-eye when I gently ask, "Can we have play dates now?" It's a tricky path to navigate, and I supposed it depends on where you live, what precautionary measures you take, and personal comfort level. After three months of ...read more
What are you going to do with kids this summer? Across the country, day camps and overnight camps have been shut to help stop the spread of COVID-19. We're here for you. Each week we will be dropping a week's worth of ideas to get you through summer. This list is exclusively for ...read more
Water play all day! (I think I need to hashtag that!) It’s been insanely hot in New York. Sunny, stifling, sticky, and humid as H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks. Related: Screen free summer activity ideas for kids And, let me just tell you, my two babies do not take well to the heat. ...read more
It's finally here! Summer break has arrived. I don't know about you, but I'm not sad about saying goodbye to the regimented schedule we have had to live with during the school year. It will feel like such a relief to deal with a more laid-back vibe the next few months. That being ...read more
Camp Mom is in session. While my almost six year old big boy goes to our town's summer recreation program, my little lady bug is stuck at home with yours truly. She loves me and all, but I know my social butterfly would want to be playing and crafting and singing and running with ...read more
I have killed many a houseplant in my time. Thankfully, succulents and air plants are on trend and easy to work into crafting projects. Set aside some time this summer to make and air plant terrarium. It’s part toy, part project, and part science experiment! Related: DIY mini ...read more
A burger bar is a fun way to keep your BBQ simple and to turn dinner into a casual party. Giving your family or guests lots of options for toppings and condiments keeps everyone happy. Now that more and more families are staying in, this is the type of meal that feels special. ...read more
I fall into bed exhausted after a full day of learning and playing and homeschooling and working and assuming the role of referee to my wrestling quarantined kiddos. It's a long day when you know you have nowhere to go and nobody to see and tons to get done. I wake up, bee-line ...read more
I have the hardest time trying to help the kiddos pick a Father's Day gift to give their dad. He's a hard one to shop for. If he likes something, he'll go get it. So, it leaves me struggling and scrambling to put something together or pick something out for him. Related: Recipes ...read more
Moms always get breakfast in bed on Mother's Day, so why not serve donuts to Dad on Father's Day? We thought it was a cute idea, so we made a DIY painted mug to serve Dad his coffee in on Father's Day. Check out this simple tutorial and get our easy donut recipe at the bottom ...read more
Looking for a fun craft for the weekend? We discovered this fun Confetti Popper Toilet Paper Tubes from Elmer's and the craft blogger, Smashed Peas and Carrots. They are a great way to upcycle empty toilet paper tubes into a fun summer craft perfect for small hands to make and ...read more
Stick a fork in me... I am done with virtual learning. I cannot fight with my kids to attend zoom meetings with their class and to complete the eco-system project we're a week late submitting and to read for exactly 45 minutes and to participate in a remote talent show--what does ...read more
Across the nation, families are celebrating teachers. We're hosting social distance parades, writing thank you notes and generally coming to terms with all that teachers do to make learning come alive. In the new normal of our times, we are missing all the support we used to have ...read more
The Postal Service and educational publisher Scholastic have again teamed up to promote letter writing as a critical English language skill for U.S. schoolchildren. Related: Pen pal tips and ideas for kids Activities to Get Kids Writing I'm using the time of social distancing to ...read more
Even if we all have to stay local, summer is going to happen and kids are going to find water. They have also very likely outgrown their swimsuits from last year. Just in time for summer, Tea Collection is rolling out a big deal on swimwear for kids. That's right, we can all all ...read more
Creativity is a child's bread and butter, and teaching them about saving money is a crucial component to helping them understand the value of their belongings. To prepare for Financial Literacy Month, TD Bank has come up with clever ideas to promote conversations about money and ...read more
Bounce, jump, and jiggle... We are in that in-between stage; Baby Girl is no longer considered an infant, but she's barely a toddler. She's a love bug and a sass monster. She needs to be nurtured, but also wants to exert her newfound independence. I can barely keep her still ...read more
The first Thomas & Friends story was created 75 years ago by the Rev. W. Awdry for his son, Christopher. Today, Thomas is just as beloved by children as he was when he first chugged down the tracks in 1945. Related: Unplugged creative play with BigBoxPlay Writer Jia Tolentino ...read more
Since summer jobs will be hard to find and many camps are up in the air, millions of parents are wondering how to keep teens busy outdoors this summer. Thanks to a classmate, my teen has discovered geocaching. It's a fun and (mostly) free activity to get them moving and engaged. ...read more
You probably already know that Mexico celebrates Cinco di Mayo on May 5th, but did you know that Japan celebrates Children's Day on May 5th? Related: Summer Camp Out Party What: Kodomo no hi, also known as Children's Day. Families celebrate the health, happiness and well being ...read more
Every child knows that for Mother's Day, Mom AT LEAST gets a card. Hopefully you've grown up with that tradition and still hold onto it. Nothing beats a handmade card. Even if you aren't so much for written sentiments, making a beautiful card will speak for itself. This ...read more
