Are you and yours going stir-crazy yet from too many snow days or not enough sunlight? Wish you had some new ideas for getting through the rest of winter with your preschooler? Originally published Feb. 9, 2015; last updated January 2026. I know your pain all too well. Here’s a list I brainstormed last winter […]
Top Ten Things to Do with a Preschooler in the Dead of Winter Read More »
Why Custom Blinds for Windows? So you’ve finally scraped together the money for those replacement windows your house has been begging you for. Congratulations! – I bet your energy bills are already thanking you. But now you’ve got bare windows, and you’re missing your privacy. Which means it’s time to get some new window treatments
How To Choose Window Treatments for Home Read More »
Positive Parenting Principles for Stuck-At-Home Life: What the heck is positive parenting? And how can positive parenting principles make life cooped up at home easier? As parents, it can be hard to focus on praising our kids’ positive actions, rather than correcting undesirable behaviors. It’s easier to tell kids what they should NOT do, what
Positive Parenting Crash Course (The Stuck-At-Home Edition) Read More »
In my last post, I wrote about the importance of imaginative play for helping children develop problem-solving skills, creativity, and the ability to collaborate with others. Likewise, when kids learn coding, they gain so many more valuable skills than you might think. Should kids learn coding? Absolutely! Coding for kids is a basic skill that
Fun and Easy Ways for Kids to Learn Coding Read More »
Encouraging Creativity Through Imaginative Play: It can be tempting for people to think that either you’re born creative, or you’re not. But that’s far from the truth. In fact, there is a lot that parents, teachers, and other caregivers can do that encourages creativity in their young charges. And one of the greatest tools grownups can use
Imaginative and Creative: How Kids’ Pretend Play Encourages Creativity Read More »
How to Prepare for a Major Home Renovation: Thinking about a home renovation project can be both exciting and overwhelming. There are so many details to coordinate (hopefully you’ve hired a contractor to take care of most of them for you!), and so many moving pieces to keep track of when planning a home remodel. Or sometimes,
Planning a Home Remodel? Read This First: Read More »
While I grew up with only one living grandparent, who was always quite elderly and frail; the other three had all passed before I was born. Today, my children are blessed to have three doting grandparents in their lives. But just during their lifetimes, they’ve watched their grandparents battle cancer, heart conditions requiring surgery, joint
How To Discuss Grandparents’ Aging With Your Kids Read More »
Best Online Tools for Saving Money and Finding Deals: In today’s economy, saving money isn’t just smart – it’s essential. Whether you’re shopping for groceries, textbooks, gas, or even cosmetics, there are countless online money-saving tools and discount shopping websites designed to help you compare prices, find deals, and keep more cash in your wallet.
Best Discount Shopping App? Try These: Read More »
Should I Hire a Tutor For My Child? Stress is a normal and important part of the learning process. A certain amount of stress over schoolwork can actually be good for students, as it can push them to test their limits, take risks, and reach for their potential. But if your child is struggling in
Does My Child Need a Tutor? Read More »
Are you or your spouse big DIYers? Or are you the first one to call a pro when something goes wrong? Sometimes trying to DIY basic home repairs is a good idea, because you can save yourself a ton of money and hassle. But in many cases, unless someone in your house IS a plumber,
DIY or Call a Plumber? Here’s How To Decide Read More »
Why Iceland is the Perfect Family Vacation Spot: Picking a destination for a family vacation can be challenging. Popular destinations like Paris, London, New York City, Hawaii, or Cancun are not only super-expensive, but can also book out super-far in advance. That’s why it’s worth considering travel destinations that might be a little more off the
Visiting Iceland As A Family Read More »
Bedrooms are the most used rooms in your home, and they can be used for all sorts of things. Sleeping isn’t the only thing you or anyone in your family does in there. If we only slept in our bedrooms, they would probably stay fairly tidy. But the reality is that bedrooms can quickly turn
Ten Bedroom Organization Hacks for the Whole Family Read More »
When I think of holidays with my family growing up, I remember all of us together. In fact, many of my memories of my family growing up involve lots of “together” time, even though my dad worked ridiculously long hours during my earliest years. When I compare that to my own family nowadays, it sometimes
Straightforward Ways To Bring Your Family Closer Together Read More »
Traveling with littles is equal parts magic and logistics. Portugal makes the magic part easier: short distances, kind people, parks and squares everywhere, and food that kids actually eat. The logistics side needs a plan that respects naps, cobblestones, and the sudden snack emergencies that are always a part of life with kids. If you
Portugal with Kids Made Easy: Travel Hacks that Work Read More »
For those of us who live in places where school takes an extended break over the summer, attending summer camp is a rite of passage for many kids. For working-parent households, day camp and overnight camp provide a crucial part of their family’s summer childcare plans. Summer camp offers kids the chance to stretch their
Day Camp vs. Overnight Camp: Which is Best for Your Child? Read More »
Have you traveled with your kids much yet? If not, what’s holding you back? Especially when the economy is rocky, finances are a top hurdle for families who want to travel together. I’ve written elsewhere on specific ways to save money traveling with every age from infants to teens, but this post is going to
How to Travel on a Budget (With Family!) Read More »
With so much in flux in the economy these days, I know lots of families who are finding themselves suddenly on a different career track or life path than they had expected. Which means a lot of them are looking at packing up and relocating, often to a new state. Besides all the hassle of
Family Services Available for Families Moving to Alabama Read More »
Perfect Jobs for Parents With Some Spare Time So you’re a busy full-time parent, but you want to help grow the “income” side of your family budget. Or your youngest has just entered kindergarten. Or your pre-parenthood job is no longer viable, and you’re on the hunt for a new career. Whatever the reason, you’re
The BEST Side Hustles for Parents (That Actually Make Money!) Read More »
Family Camping Essentials to Make Family Camping More Comfortable: Now that summer’s in full swing, have you been camping yet? Or are you still gearing up for your first family outdoor adventure? My hubby and I used to go camping several times each summer, until the girls entered our lives. While he wasn’t game for
100 Genius Hacks to Make Family Tent Camping Easier Read More »
Seasonal Splendor: Best Cruise Destinations for Families During School Breaks When school lets out, families finally get a shot at real adventure together—no homework, just ocean breezes and new places. For families cruising from US ports during school breaks, top picks include the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, and even the Mediterranean. The Caribbean’s tough to beat
Best Family Cruise Destinations When School’s Out Read More »
