Play/Fitness

By Carrie Lauth

C’mon, admit it. You sometimes use the television set as a cheap babysitter. That’s ok…we ALL do it sometimes! Ah, but it’s a double-edged sword, because kids who watch a lot of TV have trouble keeping themselves entertained, which in the long run makes your job harder! (more…)

By Sheila Anderson

Often the fondest childhood memories stem from family traditions that were lovingly repeated throughout the years. Family traditions have family at the center of a celebration spending time together and creating lasting memories. (more…)

By Gina Ritter

Recently we posted two pieces on appropriate television for your kids. They were well received. But Carrie Lauth pointed out there is more to life than even the best television programs. There’s no doubt that generally the television is on throughout the day out of habit. It practically has it’s own gravitational pull built right in. Children of all ages, and their adults, absent-mindedly turn on the television and either prop themselves up in front of it or walk away and let it go on in the background. (more…)

By Heleigh Bostwick

If you’re like most busy parents, you’ve probably used the television set as a babysitter—or a sanity-saver–and wondered whether your children were spending too many hours in front of the television set. You’re not alone. Children in the Unites States watch an average of four hours of television a day according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)–and that doesn’t include video games or DVDs. (more…)

By Sara Noel

Winter is upon us. The kids get cabin fever quickly when their outside free time is limited. You’re looking for some fun things to do before you all start climbing the walls. You don’t need a wallet full of cash to enjoy the cold, snowy days. There are all kinds of frugal ways to enjoy the winter season together both indoors and outdoors. Here are a few frugal boredom busters to have as your 911 “plan” for the winter blahs. (more…)

By Lindsay Small

How you view “bath time” is up to you. Many parents choose to treat it as a chore and dread the evenings - as do their children. In many homes, bath time is about as boring as brushing teeth. You, however, can choose to turn bath time into something special, which both you and your child will look forward to every day. (more…)

By Lisa Poisso

If you haven’t caught on to the trick of getting kids into the kitchen to build their interest in what lands on their plates, Salad People And More Real Recipes from Mollie Katzen will get your preschoolers cooking in short order. My five-year-old daughter seized this bright pink book out of my hands and spent the rest of the afternoon poring over the possibilities. And get this: it’s all healthy, good-for-you food! (more…)