We're so happy to wish a happy 40th anniversary to Free to Be...You and Me, that groundbreaking collection of songs and spoken word pieces that introduced me to the concepts of equality and tolerance at such a young age. For instance, ta…
After spending a few minutes on Pinterest at this time of the year, I start to feel seriously inadequate in the crafting arena. I don't mind stretching a little bit to make something awesome, but I'd rather not lose my mind in the proces…
It's a tradition around our house that my kids give handmade gifts (made by their hands!) to their siblings and grandparents. But coming up with new ideas--especially ones that don't require me to be the one doing all the work--can be a …
As much as I love the holidays, hearing Christmas music in stores and on the car radio since Halloween has squashed my desire for another spin of Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer . Luckily, like a surprise from Santa's elves, three of …
Stocking-stuffer alert for the sleep-deprived: I'm used to listening to Justin Roberts' songs with the kids in the car, with the volume turned up more than halfway. In my opinion, he is one of the best at sing-along choruses, clever word…
If you are shopping for a vehicle-obsessed child who can't wait to get more Things That Go, you're in luck. This holiday, some of our favorite small companies are offering such cool, eco-friendly toys that fly, choo-choo, and zip--with a…
There are so many ways to count down the days to Christmas, from beautiful artistic calendars, to fun DIY printables, to even 24 punk-rock tunes that'll have you oi-ing around the kitchen. But if you want an advent calendar with loads an…
I still remember the very first Pixar short film I ever saw, way back in 1986. It was called Luxo Jr. and told the story of two lamps playing with a ball. Such a simple story, from the little start-up animation company that grew big . Fa…
I may still be full from the Thanksgiving feast, but I'm already thinking about decking those halls, trimming the tree, and getting my hands on an Advent calendar before December 1st rolls around. But no worries: You still have about a w…
Of all the things I'm thankful for this holiday , my family and friends rank right at the top--which is why I love this funny game we play during our Thanksgiving meal. It keeps us on our toes (and laughing hysterically), even after we'v…
Search our archives and past gift guides for the publisher Chronicle Books , and it's pretty obvious we've been big fans of many of their printed products, from the helpful Chore Board chore chart, to the sweetest tooth fairy keepsake bo…
Just in time for holiday shopping, Fids and Kamily has released their Top 15 Kids CD's of 2012 this morning. Which means that you now have a bunch of great gift ideas for every kid on your list that you won't mind listening to either. Yo…
For the past few years, my husband has kicked off November cleanly shaven and ended it in full mustache-mode. I don't even complain because he's doing it for Movember , an annual worldwide mustache-growing fundraiser to raise awareness a…
My singing voice is best kept in the shower. But that didn't stop me from singing to my kids when they were younger, though I'd usually do it along with the lovelier voices of Laurie Berkner, Frances England, and Charlie Hope. (I think m…
Kids may need to wait until their 11th birthdays before they can start looking for a Hogwarts acceptance letter, but there's no reason to keep the magical world of Harry Potter away from our youngest wizards. If you've got some good ol' …
My son has a very special lovey called Meow that he sleeps with every night. She is still his happy bedtime companion, but after being hugged tightly night after night for almost eight years, she is starting to look a little worse for we…
My daughter was a bit nervous before her first trip to the eye doctor, especially since she knew there was a good chance she'd need reading glasses. Fortunately it wasn't a scary visit, and she loves her cool new fuchsia frames, but I wi…
My tween is finally beyond the check-under-the-bed-for-monsters stage, and is now onto reading scary stories "for fun." So once she hangs up her Halloween trick-or-treat bag for the night, I know she'll enjoy digging into this smart and …
There is no question in my three-kid household that one of the favorites in our fleet of ride-on toys is the Mini Kick scooter . From the moment they could balance on the stable footrest, my kids were cruising the driveway and declaring …
Do you have a recommendation for a good "Books I've Read" journal or notebook for kids? -Suzanne, via Facebook Book logs or journals are a great way to give kids tangible pride in all the reading they've done, as well as a place to look …
My boring ol' to-do list may grow hourly, though it's way more fun to think about my "want to do" (often more morbidly called a bucket list) which is filled with all those things that sound like fun, an adventure, or just something I kno…
Of all the scary things my kids might face on Halloween night, one thing looms most terrifying in their minds: the prospect of trick-or-treating at homes with no candy left to give. (Yes, First World Problems, I know.) Which is why this …
It took a while for me to get the appeal of no-carve pumpkin ideas. However every year, we grab some pumpkins in anticipation of carving them into fabulously silly or scary faces--then reality hits, and I remember that carving pumpkins i…
If you are juggling a needy infant or a get-into-everything toddler this October, the last thing you probably want to think about is spending hours creating a fancy Halloween costume for your little pumpkin. It's one of the reasons we lo…
