The holiday season is an excellent time for teaching kids charity. They’re already observing how friends and family give each other gifts over the holidays, but they also need to be introduced to the joys of giving to the less fortunate and people they don’t know. Watching your kids giving back to the community is one of the great joys of parenthood. Here’s how to cultivate a sense of philanthropy in your children. Start at
It’s October, which means it’s time for Halloween craft ideas. This year we’re focusing on pumpkin crafts because what’s Halloween without a big grinning jack-o-lantern? Playdough Pumpkins Pumpkin carving is the basis for many Halloween craft ideas, but small children lack the hand-to-eye coordination to safely handle a knife. Rather than risk a trip to the emergency room, introduce little ones to the first of our three pumpkin crafts—playdough jack-o-lanterns. All you need for this
How do you calm an upset baby? We all know the answer—you rock him, coo and hush him, and—if you’re like most people—you sing to him. Singing to babies is one of those habits that transcends cultures. Across the world, parents sing to babies and babies respond, even when they’re in the womb. Why is Singing to Babies Important? Singing may well be the first language lesson we give children, and according to
Birthdays are important milestones for children, and as parents, we try our best to make each birthday as special as possible. Sometimes, however, life gets in the way, and we find ourselves scrambling to put a party together with little time to prepare. Last Minute Birthday Ideas We’ve listed a few last-minute birthday ideas to help arrange a great party at a moment’s notice. For the party itself, consider some of these options:
In today’s work of smartphones, on-demand television, and electronic distractions, kids’ sing-along songs sometimes feel like part of a different era. They don’t have to be though. Kids of all ages still love to sing, whether they’re belting out a tune at a karaoke party or singing around a family campfire. The Benefits of Singing Singing teaches children many of the skills they’ll need in school. When you sing, you need to consider patterns
Travel, they say, broadens the mind. This is as true for kids as it is for adults. Just because you’re on the road doesn’t mean children must stop learning. Use these suggestions to help keep little minds active while you travel. Find the Color I Spy is a time-honored road trip game, but it can get a little too complicated for younger travelers—not to mention how difficult it is to play I Spy when
School’s back in session, and the novelty of seeing old friends, a new classroom, and a new teacher has begun to fade, to be replaced by the hard work of studying. We’ve collected a few studying tips for kids to help keep them on top of their homework, reading, and test preparation. Keep Them Organized A planner is an excellent tool for tracking assignments, quizzes, and to-do lists, and teaches children the value of
The changing seasons fascinate kids. Watching the green leaves of summer turn to golden brown and yellow is exciting—and a reminder Halloween is just around the corner (and then Thanksgiving! And then the winter holidays!). Help your little ones welcome the new season with these three fall crafts for kids. Leaf People Fall transforms gardens and familiar parks as the leaves turn color and fall. Take a walk with the kids to look for
*This article was written by Scott Smith and originally posted on Consumers Advocate. For centuries, people have wondered what their dogs are thinking. Sure, we can all translate when our dogs’ tails are wagging — it means they’re happy. When they’re barking and circling the front door, it means they want to go outside. Sometimes our dogs swat their paws at us because they want us to pet them. But still, seeing life through
There’s nothing like the unconditional love of a dog! When our kids have had a bad day—or when I have, for that matter—hugging our dog and receiving love back can be just the thing needed to turn the day around. Dogs have a calming effect, despite how hyper they may be as a puppy. When our kids are scared or nervous about something, they think about our family dog and it helps them to calm
