I'm going to give myself a little pat on the back. I've survived the first month of this very unusual school year. I've found a few things have been helping me out as my girls take on a split of in person and remote learning. Here are some finds to make distance learning easier. ...read more
Fall is the perfect time to host gatherings with family and friends in your home. We're not just talking about Thanksgiving either. With the weather getting cooler, it's nice to get together in someone's home and have a wine and cheese night. For our fall entertaining we're ...read more
Back to school is in full swing. And whether your kids are learning at home or in the classroom, literacy is at the heart of every lesson, every activity, and every skill they acquire. It's so important to foster a passion for reading skills, and boost kids' confidence about ...read more
Parenthood is humbling. This third go around, I thought I knew what I was in for. I thought I was fully prepared for the ups and downs of having a newborn and then an infant and then -- lo and behold -- a toddler. But a new kid changes the existing dynamic in the best, craziest, ...read more
Amazon is leaning into the online content they provide families and the timing couldn't be better. More of us are tackling remote learning and trying to work from home. We need solutions that can get our kids safe content and keep them secure. To start, Amazon is doing a bit of ...read more
Have you heard of the Teal Pumpkin Project? It's all about offering an allergy-friendly Halloween. There are so many kids out there with food allergies and Halloween leaves some kids feeling left out. The Teal Pumpkin Project was launched a few years ago by a Tennessee mom to ...read more
With so many kids learning from home during this unprecedented start to the new school year, many students are in desperate need of help concentrating, staying focused, and remaining in good spirits. Music might be just what the doctor (and teacher) ordered.Soothing, relaxing ...read more
The back-to-school season has arrived; and if your kids are going back to the classroom in-person, they will likely have to wear a face mask in enclosed spaces. The first sticking point for a lot of parents and educators is that some kids, particularly younger ones who don’t ...read more
Are you a child of the 80's? I sure was and while I think some of the fashions were questionable, it was a colorful and awesome time to be a girl. To celebrate all things "totally awesome" American Girl has their first new historical doll in three years. The newest doll launch ...read more
For those parents sending your daughters and sons off to college, take a moment (please) to talk with them about sexual assault. The stats here are alarming, and it happens way more than you might realize. Related: How to save for college with less stress Get Educated Among ...read more
What could be more glamorous and magical than a chandelier lighting up a bedroom? We've found 10 Chandeliers for girls that we love. It's perfect for pretending you are a real princess. I love seeing girl's bedrooms that embrace the "princess" theme without taking the easy ...read more
I'm so excited about this new line of dance clothing and accessories created by Jamia Ramsey. One of the big trends in dance apparel for kids is getting the skin tone right. Blendz Apparel has a color for every skin tone and helps young dancers feel beautiful and confident. ...read more
There comes a certain age - maybe 3rd or 4th grade - where doing homework on the kitchen table isn't going to work as well anymore. Your child will want privacy to write, storage to hold rulers and protractors, and the space to spread out. There's no need to spend a fortune on ...read more
Did you do any back to school shopping this year? I know it's been a weird start for many of us, but sticking with traditions, like new school clothes, can really help to normalize the situation. We've been adding Appaman pieces to our girls' closets for more than a decade. This ...read more
A new study indicates that 7 in 10 parents say managing remote learning for their children is a significant source of stress. But we didn't really need research to tell us that, did we? It's hard to be your child's parent, teacher, keeper, IT technician, and principal -- all ...read more
We are so excited for Halloween this year. On top of the perfect costumes kids will need a bag to store and hold their bounty of candy! This year we're starting early on the celebration and talking about updating our candy sacks. Check out our favorite Halloween treat bags. ...read more
This back-to-school season certainly feels different. As parents, we are consumed by all the uncertainty, hypotheticals, and anxiety. Can we manage another few months of playing parent and teacher? Are we going to be able to facilitate online learning? If they go back into an ...read more
School is (almost) in session. Actually, depending on where you live, the learning may have already begun. This school year is undoubtedly like no other we’ve experienced. Some kids are learning from home, others are returning to the classroom. Many of us are playing the part of ...read more
I bring news from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Every year, Wizarding World fans celebrate “Back to Hogwarts” day on September 1. This year, the day will be celebrated with a magical program of virtual activities leading up to and on day-of so we can all enjoy safely from ...read more
All us mamas know how important it is for our kiddos to get enough sleep during the school week right? I know my lil' dude and lady bean definitely wake up on the wrong side of their bed if they don't catch enough zzzzzzzs. So, our back to school bedtime routine is a very ...read more
Fashion can be so much fun. It's a way to express yourself and build confidence, but it can also be tricky, especially when you are a tween girl. From age 9-12 girls are trying on different personalities and versions of themselves, and this means clothing. Here are ten place to ...read more
It's back-to-school time! My mornings consist of packing school lunches while my afternoons are spent helping with homework and after-school activities. To save money, and to ensure that my daughter is getting a well-balanced lunch, I pack her lunch almost daily. Today, I'm ...read more
Anxiety issues are the most common mental health disorders in children. There are an estimated 18 million children and teens who suffer from anxiety. Because the start of a new school year can trigger or worsen anxiety in stressed-out children and teens, we tapped NYC Licensed ...read more
Well, this is going to be one of the weirdest and most stressful back to school season's yet. As a parent, our job is often to smooth out the rough spots. Now is the time to make back to school feel as normal as possible to set our kids up for academic and emotional success in a ...read more
We read a lot in our house. We read to the kids, with the kids, and the kids even read to us (well the oldest does anyway). So, naturally when it's back-to-school time we scour our library and Amazon, for books that talk about school. Whether it's the first day of school jitters, ...read more
With our kids going to back-to-school soon, we enlisted the help from Clickin Moms, the largest, fastest growing online community of women in the photography industry, on how to capture the first-day of school and take great pictures of our kids. Related: Get organized for Back ...read more
Stick with me friends, it might not always be easy, but I believe in the power of positivity. Just this week, I witnessed two rainbows and got my teenager to go on two runs with me. Two things that were relatively simple but that gave me great joy. Which got me thinking about our ...read more
In this crazy back to school season, most moms I know are doing what they can to stay positive and keep things moving forward. We're back to school shopping and we're setting up our homework stations all within a VERY tense and stressful framework of not knowing how this school ...read more
If you're a first time parent, take note -- that new car seat you just spent $250 on, it's going to real messy, real fast. Baby poop, puke, urine, milk, and eventually snacks will coat that upholstered puppy in all the gunk. And while taking it apart, and cleaning every inch ...read more
Crafting is going strong in our house during COVID. During COVID my teens tried some embroidery which got me thinking that most kids need basic sewing skills. I found the kits online with something for just about every age. Related: Easy sewing patterns for girls Ten Best ...read more
Whether your kids are distance learning this fall, or heading back to a physical classroom, having an organized closet is important for every student, from grade K to college. Related: Get organized for Back to School with Mabel's Labels There are some easy ways to optimize a ...read more
The summer season is coming to an end and we've got one last week of Camp Mom activities to help you keep the kids entertained until they go back to school (online or in person). Let's savor these last sweet days of unscheduled time with our kids. Related: Camp mom heads to the ...read more
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
