Kids

He's making his list, checking it twice...and so are we, to help bring you a holiday gift guide that has the top gifts of the season. Today brings us to our fifth guide, holiday gifting for  tweens and teens. Missed out on the other guides? We have your gift ideas for kids in an ...read more

Tis the season for toys and trinkets and gadgets and games galore. The kids have made their (lengthy!) wish lists, but they're not the only ones meticulously dotting their i's and crossing their t's. No, Santa is hard at work, too--so we're pitching in to help by sharing nine of ...read more

You might still be eating Halloween candy and thinking about apple picking, but I'm thinking snow. In a few weeks I'll head to Colorado to start our ski season. My girls will be doing pre-season ski training and I'll be making the rounds at the Colorado resorts. Since the snow ...read more

Baby's first night home is a huge event. You'll likely feel excited and a little overwhelmed at the thought of caring for a tiny human. We've got advice to make this momentous occasion more blissful than stressful. Plan ahead: and try to set up the nursery as much as possible. ...read more

It is tough to get through winter without getting a cold. We are amping up our vitamins, green foods, and getting as much rest as possible, but darn it if the girls STILL don't bring home colds! This week we had to do battle while I was hosting my parents for a weekend. Here are ...read more

Children need love and attention from their parents, but having two or more children can pose a challenge for moms and dads to spread the warmth evenly. My four year old and seven year old are completely different little people. I love them both immensely, but my relationship ...read more

I refuse to get exhausted by the onslaught of stories of female athletes who have been abused. That's the easy way out. I'm energized to figure out how we can help our girls and start to fix girls sports. This week Nike was once again outed for an anti-female practices. You can ...read more

Growing up, Thanksgiving was my favorite holiday. (Well, maybe it tied with Christmas.) I loved the parade, the food, the football, the family, the big feast... all of it.  In our household, being relegated to kids' table was a good thing. There were activities and crafts and ...read more

When I told friend that there was a designated STEAM room at my son's school, she gave me a quizzical look. "No, not a sauna," I replied. "A lab for Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematic." "Oh," she said. "So everything BUT reading." Ha, touché. STEM/STEAM learning ...read more

My seven-year-old doesn't really "get" my job. But then a work perk will come along that has his name all over it, and suddenly mama has the best gig on the planet.  Case in point: A few weeks ago I was offered a sneak-peek advanced preview of the new Mario & Sonic at the ...read more

All kids are different. When meeting new people, my son is quiet and reserved. It takes him a little while to warm up, but once he feels comfortable, he is true self: loud and out there and smart and silly. He is better in small groups and gives his all to one to two close ...read more

Gobble gobble. November is here which means Turkey time is right around the corner here. But before you watch the parade, throw around a football, and carve the big bird, curl up on the couch (or set up a designated reading teepee!) with your pumpkin-pie cuties and read one of ...read more

We usually have a good supply of red wine on hand in our home, but I try to have a more diverse variety stocked on our shelves and in our fridge as we approach the holidays. I like to have bottle of something fizzy and fancy chilled should we find ourselves having an impromptu ...read more

Getting my kiddos to eat their lunch at school every day is a challenge. They tend to go straight for the cookie or treat I pack and skip over the sandwich, forgo the carrot sticks, and ignore the apple. It seems I'm always looking for clever ways to get my kids to eat their ...read more

Now that Halloween is behind us, it's time to turn our attention to Thanksgiving. The stores are stocked full of cute little mini pumpkins and gorgeous fall colors that just perfect for crafting. The kids and I created this cute mini turkey pumpkin craft that can be used to ...read more

Life is a roller coaster. We all face ups and downs throughout our journey. Challenges abound. But according to children's author Karen Struck, how positively or negatively you focus your thoughts can shape the way you perceive the path you are currently on. In her picture book ...read more

Dentists love Halloween as much as the next person, but the holiday can pose a sticky situation for your teeth. However, there are ways to enjoy all those tasty treats without destroying your pearly whites.  We tapped a top dentist for his squeaky-clean tips: * This may sound ...read more

It's that time of year again... time to BOO! I love the tradition of anonymously booing (or ghosting, as some people call it!) neighbors and community friends with tricks, treats and goodies.  The kids wake up every morning and check the front stoop to see if someone has left ...read more

I have a very discerning, fashion-conscious daughter in my house. She's been wearing glasses since she was 2 years old. Each year her prescription changes and we are constantly wondering where to find cool glasses for kids. During back to school season this year, we went to SEE ...read more

On Halloween, twice as many kids are hit and killed while walking than on any other day of the year. The sugar rush, yard-to-yard running and sense of community make it easier for a “rules no longer apply” mentality when trick-or-treating--so it's important to take some ...read more

I think these Flensted Mobiles are better than bunnies, don't you?  In Denmark mobiles are a traditional craft. Artist Ole Flensted and his wife Aase are partly responsible for the modern mobile design. And I can't thank them enough. It's not that I have something against ...read more

I'm excited to explore the latest destination from Tea Collection -- Nepal. I have a deep love of travel and we've made it our mission to take our girls around the world. Each season Tea explores a different part of the world and brings the inspiration to their clothing. It's a ...read more

Now that the back-to-school jitters are out of their systems, your kids are likely starting to get comfortable in their new classrooms. Being introduced to new teachers and classmates can be overwhelming, but it’s a perfect time, as parents, to stress the importance of making a ...read more

Halloween season is certainly all fun and games but it’s important to know what to do when hazards pop up. Staying safe, being aware, and establishing a plan are all part of ensuring Halloween stays spooky only in the ways it is supposed to! Parents Editor-in-Chief, Liz ...read more

When it comes to homework, teachers have heard every excuse in the book, and for good reason; it’s hard to focus on your homework when there’s so much of it to do. Students are devoting hours each evening to their take-home assignments, some say to the tune of 17.5 hours per ...read more

The beginning of the school year is fun and exciting, but no one ever said it was easy for parents or children. These tips help ease the stress (and tears!) while sending little ones off on their learning adventures. Build Excitement: Before school starts organize a playdate ...read more

Creating quilts is a way of showing love. You can make them as gifts; they are forms of expression, works of art, and charity pieces. Quilting brings excitement, purpose, and a meaningful way to spend time, Yet, for many young people, sewing--let alone quilting--is not a regular ...read more

The second a sibling arrives home, the family dynamics are forever changed. How these developing humans get along with each other significantly depends on several factors including genetics, the environment they are raised in, role modeling of parents, and the general ...read more

This summer we mixed things up. We took a break from the kids watching videos in the backseat of our drives and opted for family audio books. Along our journey this summer, I've found two fantastic audio books for middle grade students (grades 4-9). Over the years, we've had ...read more

Are you expecting or thinking trying? The new book 9 Months In, 9 Months Out: A Scientist's Tale of Pregnancy and Parenthood is a must-have for parents ready for this journey. This new pregnancy book combines science and experience. Better Pregnancy Books Decades ago, I remember ...read more

My seven year old is obsessed with numbers and computers and science and robotics and engineering. I just may have myself a budding coder, and I'm pretty excited about his unwavering enthusiasm. (I could use my own IT guy and HTML hacker!) Seriously though,  according to the ...read more

It can be difficult to figure out how to keep a newborn "entertained." The concept itself sounds slightly absurd; after all, everything should be exciting and new and captivating to an infant. My little one is often totally enraptured staring up at the air conditioning unit on ...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

We have yet to take our young kids on an international adventure. Our travel plans have stayed relatively tame with a 6, 4, and now 1 month old at home. But I have big dreams to take them on many exciting explorations, near and far--and sooner than later! Travel incites curiosity ...read more