Can playing music to your baby or young child make her smarter? That was the claim of the much-hyped “Mozart Effect” several years ago, but the truth isn’t exactly black and white. Certainly, music is a great complement for stimulating babies’ brains and teaching toddlers vocabulary, but the jury’s out…
The number of recalls issued by toy manufacturers is staggering. Today there seems to be little attention and thought in the design of children’s toys, other than to make them as cheaply as possible. The design level is certainly lacking the element of making safety first. It is apparent the…
No matter how your household is run or who is working outside the home, dividing up the chores can be a way to make the running of the home fair and balanced. Today’s families are made up of unique situations. In some homes, both parents work and in other homes,…
Will he or won’t he? That is the question. February 2 marks Groundhog Day. Should Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow, we can expect another six weeks of winter. Provided he doesn’t see his shadow, pack up those jackets and prepare to welcome the warm weather of spring. Although it’s not…
If you’re ready to do some spring cleaning or just tired of a potential avalanche every time you open the hall closet, it may be time to consider a yard sale. You don’t need to invest a huge amount of time and effort, just a few hours for the actual…
If your extended family is strewn from coast to coast – or even in different countries — then it might be hard to keep them in the loop about what’s going on in you and your kids’ lives. We all get busy and lose touch with family members once in…
Taking the kids along on a shopping trip can be a treat or a hassle, depending on how you handle things. With a good plan in mind and the right supplies you can turn a dreaded chore into a fun and potentially educational experience. Pre-Planning Your Shopping Trip Before you…
“Mommy, Mommy, I want to have a play date with Jessica today,” your daughter says in a whiny voice while pulling at your brand-new, expensive shirt. “Today is not a good day; Mommy has to go to the doctor,” you say. Your daughter drops to the ground, screaming and yelling…
It’s crunch time. Not at work-work, though. At mom-work. It’s the countdown to my daughter’s school musical. And in school theater world, that’s what we call a crazy busy week. So … as I sit here at the school late in the evening waiting for rehearsal to end … after…
Going away with kids isn’t a vacation; it’s a trip. Okay, so maybe that’s a little extreme. But any parent will cop to the fact that taking kids to a destination usually requires more work than play. More often than not, there’s little time for rest and relaxation. When was…