Slime is sweeping the globe. And I don't mean that in any sort of metaphorical way. So we looked for some good, natural, homemade slime recipes for you all because eek, there's been a lot of talk about how dangerous the traditional Borax…
Well, this isn't something we get to share everyday: A new, never-before-published Mark Twain story will be released this fall. (Can you hear us cheering from here?) The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine is a fairy tale that Twain left …
Once again, we're happy to have compiled the best lists of all the best children's books of the year, curated by the top publishers, reviewers, organizations, and bloggers we respect. And boy, was it a fantastic year for children's liter…
Research shows that the happiest families are those who spend their money on experiences instead of on things. I totally get it. Looking back at my childhood, I can remember only a handful of toys my parents gave me over the years -- a S…
My family has a tradition of reading Christmas books at bedtime every night during Advent. Some years, I wrap each holiday book in our collection, so they'll be surprised which book we're reading each night. Other years, we take turns ch…
Now that Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, it's really starting to feel like Christmas to me. And as much as I love the shopping and the hot cocoa and the decorations, my favorite part is the parties. Instead of sending the kids to…
Houses up and down our street are starting to turn on their holiday lights, and it's beginning to look at lot like Christmas in our neighborhood. My craft-loving kids would like for us to DIY everything holiday around here -- cotton-ball…
Our favorite crafts around here are simple ones that don't require an MFA, and it's a big bonus when we don't even have to head to the craft store for supplies. And if these crafts help us have conversations about the world around us, al…
With the massive popularity of Cards Against Humanity, it was only a matter of time before someone created a G-rated (ok, G-rated-ish) adaptation that pays homage to its irreverent mastery. Enter Not Parent Approved , a truly hilarious, …
In an effort to reduce screentime at home, especially with Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks around the bend, I've been stocking up on some arts and crafts-type activity books for kids. Instead of everyone sitting on the couch, looking a…
In a world where a quick Google search can answer even the toughest question in just seconds, we love the delicious act of waiting for a surprise in the mail. But while most subscription boxes give you a pretty good idea of what to expec…
I'm barely getting to the store before all the good candy is gone, so I'm definitely not looking for over-the-top complicated crafts and activities that are going to impress my friends at our annual Halloween party. And when I'm charged …
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…
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…
This summer my family hit a new milestone on our bikes: my youngest learned to ride without training wheels, and my oldest is now big enough to be trusted to ride his bike a couple blocks to his friend's house on his own. (Although I sti…
If your family is divided by the word nerds who love Scrabble and the strategists who love Monopoly, then we've found the family tabletop game for you. It's called Word Domination , it's on Kickstarter now, and it's already winning gamin…
There have been a lot of hard things in the news this year, and I think we can all agree we need a little more happy in our lives. So when a friend told me that her kids found $5 and a note to buy some candy "on us" tucked into her movie…
Our neighbors have a trampoline in their backyard, and I'm pretty sure it's been there for the last 30 years. It has no net. No cover for the springs. It's kind of a parent's worst nightmare, but the kids beg to get on it every day. And …
With the kids out of school and the days so much longer, I've been trying to make summer extra fun for them, which means extending bedtimes way past their normal time and heading out for nighttime adventures. Seriously, there are so many…
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…
Since I've had kids, the 4th of July has become one of my favorite holidays. I like to keep it really simple with 4th of July crafts, lots of great summer food and treats to eat , maybe letting the kids run around while the grownups hang…
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…
If your little camper is heading off to sleepaway camp this summer, possibly for the first time (sniff), you'll likely receive from the camp a long list of all the essentials to pack -- extra socks, bug repellent, water bottles, headlamp…
For many of us, summer means heading off to our go-to camp where our kids spend their days playing outdoors, going on nature hikes, swimming in ponds, and singing goofy camp songs with all their friends. But if your kids would prefer a l…