Grandparents Day began with the idea of honoring the elderly and championing the cause of the lonely in nursing and retirement homes. Marian McQuade, a housewife from West Virginia, brainstormed the idea, which was later to become a nationally recognized holiday, thanks to Jimmy Carter in 1978. Now the holiday…
Most moms notice that their kids enjoy repetition. From watching the same video over and over to requesting a favorite book every night at bedtime, children crave the security and reassurance that a consistent routine provides. One way to enhance this sense of comfort derived from repetition is to create…
When it comes to physical activity, every little bit counts! LET’S GET MOVING month is designed to get you and your child to become more physically active. Children are less physically fit than they were a generation ago. In fact, inactive children, when compared to active children, weigh more and…
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…
Remember the days when there was no TV? Well plenty of us don’t. Today television is the norm for all families and it’s really cut into ‘family time’ in a big way. Talk is to a minimum as everyone stares at the screen. Set up a few rules and regulations…
More and more children under the age of six are now in school. The sweeping social, economic, and technological changes of the last decade have made school an increasingly important part of our children’s lives at ever-younger ages. We no longer see early childhood schools as the luxury our parents…
Halloween may be a holiday for children, but for parents, trick-or-treat time can be a little troublesome. Nearly 40 years ago when I was younger, I remember some of my parent’s concerns like razor blades in apples or treats from Ex lax made to look like chocolate candy, and avoiding…
We live in an incredibly exciting world. “Old” technologies, such as radio and television, and “new” technologies, like the Internet, cellular phones and video games, are combining to bring a new level of information and entertainment into homes. However, there is a downside to all of our technological advances which…
Parents today want toys that are both fun and educational for their children. Toy manufacturers want toys that are big hits with both kids and parents. Enter in the Toy Awards. There are several awards given each year for Best of Breed toys, but they all judge toys on different…
So, a friend and her husband are expecting a new baby. You’re overjoyed for them, but you have no idea what kind of gift to buy. You know they’ll need some basic baby gear, but you don’t want to arrive bearing the same-old baby gifts you’ve seen at other showers…