Training parents about all things preschool and kids aged 18 months–5 years
I remember the Christmas tree standing proudly in front of the living room window for all the world to see. I don’t remember if it was real or artificial, flocked or natural, but to my five-year-old eyes it was beautiful. Shining silver tinsel hung from the branches, and colored lights adorned the tree. Today’s standards…
The holiday break from school is long. Like, really long. Eventually, you’re going to get tired of baking cookies, decorating gingerbread houses, and building forts with your kids. I’m tired of all those things already and have yet to do any of them. Luckily for us, there are many, many, many Christmas specials on Netflix…
Lots of experts say getting your kids to help you in the kitchen is a surefire path to getting them interested in healthy eating. The same is true of making cookies — without all the cajoling and vegetable disguise, of course. But even if you’re just baking up a sugary confection with your kids, the…
Ooh boy, nothing derails a well-oiled toddler schedule faster than the holidays. Add in the glut of Christmas treats, generalized toy excitement, Santa anticipation, and time with extended family, and you’ve got a recipe for one cranky, hyped-up kid. But be not afraid – it is possible to survive this time of twinkling lights while…
Remember how we talked last week about weird relatives? Bad news – your kids are weird around the holidays, too. Mostly because they just cannot calm the flip down but also because they get a little greedy this time of year. In fact, the title of this article is a direct quote from a child…
My little sister and I are less than two years apart. So when Christmas came around each year, we usually ended up getting the same gifts, just different versions. From clothes to toys to Hello Kitty pencil boxes (one of my FAVORITE gifts ever, by the way; well done, big brother), we were twinsies. However,…
It’s almost Christmas – the time of year when we check our lists for the second time and notice a few problems: Too much stuff for Kids #1 and #3 – not enough for Kid #2; Remembered all of the cousins – except that one; Thought you weren’t seeing your mom’s best friend’s family for…
You may remember this big announcement from Target back in August that they were doing away with gender labels in their toy section after customers, including young customers, complained that toys should be for anyone who’d enjoy them, regardless of gender. Of course, there was the predictable backlash from people “sick of political correctness” followed…
It’s December! Now that Thanksgiving is over, I give you permission to celebrate Christmas. (As if you needed it.) It’s time to candy stripe EVERYTHING! I’ll be completely honest – aside from our Christmas tree, the stockings, and a giant jar of colorful glass ornaments I set out by our fireplace, my Christmas decorating skills…
Christmas is the best time of year for crafting. If you’re like me, your house is already smothered in decorations, and adding some personal touches from the kids — memories of their small hands and hearts that you can cherish forever — just makes the whole experience more magical. Plus, a little handmade touch to…
