Not everyone has kids that want scary Halloween decorations around the house. Like mine, for example. Hosting a trick-or-treat party is one of my kids' favorite traditions of the year, and they totally love Halloween, but they'd prefer w…
Two years ago, when I learned about Parents magazine lifestyle editor Amanda Kingloff's cool, modern crafts book Project Kid , I flipped. For joy. These were crafts my kids could easily make , and I'd actually want to keep. (Sorry, glitt…
This year, with all five of my nieces dressing up as Star Wars characters, I couldn't think of a more perfect Halloween craft than creating Star Wars Halloween pumpkins together. So I've searched the web for them -- and all of you! -- an…
With the cooler weather around the corner, we've got one terrific way to get ready for lots of indoor play: The fun new craft kits and art supplies from our most excellent sponsor, Handmade Charlotte Kids , now available at Michael's sto…
If you ask me, it's never too early to teach a child about emotional intelligence. I still remember my teacher making us practice "I" statements -- as in, "When you steal my Hello Kitty pencil, I feel hurt and sad." A couple of decades l…
The thermostat may not reflect it where I live just yet, but tomorrow is officially the first day of fall. And though I likely won't touch a sweater until November, I'm still finding ways to make it feel like autumn with scented candles,…
We've always made it our mission to encourage kids to keep the art of handwriting alive, and to help parents looking to do the same. So we've put together some really terrific handwriting practice printables for kids of all ages . Yes, e…
Update: Most of these Olympic crafts work just perfectly for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Yes, the one in 2021. I have to admit, it's been a little difficult to get as excited about the summer Olympics as usual with all the trouble su…
We love a good birthday party around here. In fact, we've loved sharing our ideas for Minecraft , Star Wars , Minion , Finding Dory , and even storybook birthday parties for your kids. But some of the ideas we've seen on Pinterest (or ou…
With all the buzz about the brand new Harry Potter and the Cursed Book and JK Rowling's recent birthday this past weekend, our kids are starting to catch Harry Potter fever all over again. And whether or not they're ready to imagine him …
With the Summer Games set to begin on August 5, we are getting ourselves ready to do some Olympic-sized television viewing as we cheer on the amazing athletes from around the world. So if you're celebrating what is sure to be a spectacul…
The adult coloring trend is here to stay, and rightfully so, considering it can help you focus and give you some much-needed relaxation. And best of all, no special skills required , just some cool coloring material and art supplies, lik…
As a child, I long believed that dreamcatchers capture your nightmares in their web to keep sleep sweet and worry-free. As an adult, they still have a nostalgic pull on me. Plus, they're really gorgeous. I recently found some truly fanta…
Of all the toys that have passed through the hands of my three kids over the past dozen or so years, there is no question that LEGO bricks have been the most enduring and versatile. From their first little plastic bucket of mixed bricks,…
Now that we're deep in the heart of summer, I find my kids like cooling down in the afternoons with some crafting time, and free printable coloring pages for kids often do the trick. Whether you're passing time, celebrating a summer birt…
Over the years, we've featured loads of great craft kits for kids that flex our children's creative muscles as they try their hand at making cool new works of art. But I've never seen anything quite like the brand new craft kits for kids…
I was one of those parents who insisted that I'd raise the kind of kids who would play fun, screen-free car games on our family road trips, or perhaps watching the world whiz by while asking intelligent questions about all the sites and …
While we've been talking about Father's Day gift ideas for a few weeks now, some of us (not naming names) still have some shopping to do. So we've collected plenty of our favorite ideas for you, from DIY gifts your kids can make at home …
Looking for some inspiration for your child's next birthday party that goes beyond animated movies? You may not have to look any farther than one of the well-worn storybooks your child lovingly keeps by their bedside. In fact, we love th…
The other night, I went to a birthday dinner with four of my nearest and dearest mom friends. We've been a mom squad ever since our now 8-year-olds were in an infant playgroup together. Truthfully, back then, I found being a new mom tota…
If innovative baby gear is any indication, we can confidently say this is an awesome time to be expecting. My youngest just turned 6 years old, so I'm only a few years out of the baby stage, and yet there has been so much amazing change …
As much as my older kids love their electronics, good old-fashioned crafts still hold some appeal for them, especially if the finished product is something really worth making. And with summer vacation fast-approaching, I really want to …
Around here we have the same problem each year: We start looking for cool Mother's Day gifts for all of you weeks in advance...and that means, we sometimes forget to get our own gifts taken care of. (Cobblers' children and all that). Hey…
It's Teacher Appreciation Week, and we definitely want to recognize all the VITs (Very Important Teachers) who help nurture our kids' love of learning. So, along with a handwritten note of our gratitude , we like the idea of giving a DIY…
