There are many ways we can teach our children about our tiny blue planet and the vastness that surrounds it. Below are five activities that will help you explore space with your little one.

Here are a few fun ways to explore the beauty and wonder of autumn nature with your preschoolers.

More and more research is emerging on the link between happiness and creativity.

I’ve roamed the Internet and gathered 12 fun and engaging summer science activities to zap boredom and awe your children!

One important benefit of pretend play is the exercising of imagination which enhances cognitive flexibility and creativity. The ability to use imagination is what drives art and innovation.

Goodness knows you don’t need another thing to add to your plate, but being intentional about spending quality time with your kids individually will really pay off.

Sensory play has lots of great benefits for kids, but sometimes we don’t have the time or energy to clean up the big messes sensory play can make. I’ve rounded up 25 sensory activities that make little to no mess for you and your kids. Have fun!

Messy play is great for children’s development. It allows them to explore their senses, be creative, work on fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and so much more! Messy play can also calm anxiety. It can also help children regulate their emotions and express their feelings. Activities such as building with blocks or logs, creating sculptures, and engineering structures help kids build problem-solving skills and teaches cooperation. Creative play increases confidence and can help encourage independent play as well.

What do we hope for out of our education system? An education should make our children smarter, more confident, creative, and happy. It should enhance cognitive abilities and develop a well-rounded human being. So, why are so many school districts across the country scaling back or cutting out completely the one subject proven to do all those things?

I have very few ornaments on my Christmas tree that came from a store. Most of them were made by my kids, and while my tree may not be displayed on the front of a magazine for its beauty, it’s filled with special memories that I will always cherish.

I feel like we skipped autumn completely in my neck of the woods. Last week it was 84 degrees, today it’s 44 and we are expecting snow flurries in a few days. All too soon, the white stuff will cover our lawns. There’s nothing quite so satisfying to a child’s heart as waking up to see the snow flying and hearing that school has been canceled! However, kids do get restless after a few hours of boredom so here are 50 fun ideas to keep them entertained.

These backyard games are great for birthday parties, sleepovers, get-togethers, or just plain ole family fun! I’ve pulled together ten simple yet super fun games to make your house the best place to hang on the block!

My two sons have always preferred the theater to the ballfield. They aspire to careers in acting, filmmaking, and directing, and while I will admit that not being into sports has, at times, caused them to be left out among their peers, I see the many benefits of theatre bearing fruit in their lives.

I asked my children to rattle off to me their happiest memories. Among their answers were family trips to amusement parks and attractions, lying under the stars and watching for meteors, outdoor movies, swimming at a waterpark, and seeing the ocean for the first time. They didn’t mention one single toy, which is exactly what I was hoping for as I was wanting to prove the point to my 8 year old son that it is experiences, not things, that bring us the most joy.

Many families are fortunate to be able to take their children to Disney every year or spend a week building sand castles by the sea, but there are also many families for whom such extravagant vacations are out of reach. When I was a kid, we never took a family vacation. My parents simply couldn’t afford it, yet my summers were my happiest times because I was free to play.

Summer is nearly here, and so it’s time to start thinking about summer reading for your kids. If you have a child who loved the Harry Potter series or likes fantasy reads, here are some great book series to consider.

It seems that sitting down together for a little parent/child craft time has more benefits than we realized. Sure, the kids love it and keeps them happily occupied, but did you know that it encourages key visual-processing skills, improves fine motor skills, and even improves their executive function (which helps with focus and memory).

It is spring at last! Whether you’re looking to banish spring break boredom or just searching for fun evening and weekend family activities, this bucket list is sure to give ideas and inspiration!

Going green may seem like a big undertaking, but each of us can make small steps toward living greener, and those small steps will add up to make a big difference for our planet. Taking care of our earth is a family affair, and as with everything else, our children are watching our example.

This month, we are recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. What a wonderful time to teach children about diversity, unity, equality, and peace! To celebrate this leader of the Civil Rights Movement, here are 20 crafts, activities, and books for your child or class.

The temperatures are dropping but your child’s energy level sure isn’t! That might mean your kids are bouncing off the walls and you need to reign in the chaos. When it’s too cold to play outside, try these indoor activities.