There have been a lot of hard things in the news this year, and I think we can all agree we need a little more happy in our lives. So when a friend told me that her kids found $5 and a note to buy some candy "on us" tucked into her movie…
I'm like a lot of parents, in that I know my kids should be wearing sun protection for their eyes, but I'm not inclined to drop a lot on kids' sunglasses. Then I started thinking, if I'm spending $15–20 on safe kids' sunscreen that gives…
Update: Most of these Olympic crafts work just perfectly for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Yes, the one in 2021. I have to admit, it's been a little difficult to get as excited about the summer Olympics as usual with all the trouble su…
Our neighbors have a trampoline in their backyard, and I'm pretty sure it's been there for the last 30 years. It has no net. No cover for the springs. It's kind of a parent's worst nightmare, but the kids beg to get on it every day. And …
With the Summer Games set to begin on August 5, we are getting ourselves ready to do some Olympic-sized television viewing as we cheer on the amazing athletes from around the world. So if you're celebrating what is sure to be a spectacul…
The coolest thing you'll encounter in the water this summer may be my daughter, who has transformed herself from a normal 13-year-old into a full-fledged mermaid. And, whoa, if you have a child who would love to swim like one of these cr…
The idea of combining education and conservation with a family vacation is super appealing to parents, which is why ecotourism is such a fascinating concept for me -- and maybe for you. If you're not familiar with ecotourism, it's aimed …
If you're feeling a bit #clambitious about that bucket of shells you and your kids collected on your beach vacation, we've got good news for you. Here, we've rounded up some of our favorite seashell art projects for those summer finds, g…
It's no mystery that crafts for kids are great for when they're feeling a little listless (or demanding to go to the pool yet again ). But tons of prep work and shopping for supplies (Dremel tool. Um, no)? Not really worth the hour or tw…
With the kids out of school and the days so much longer, I've been trying to make summer extra fun for them, which means extending bedtimes way past their normal time and heading out for nighttime adventures. Seriously, there are so many…
During the summer I usually let my kids stay up late, but we ditch the screens and play board games together instead. So, each year I keep my eye on the Spiel des Jahres award-winning board games to find the best new board games that are…
My idea of a perfect day? Relaxing at the beach with a fun read while the kids play in the waves and never argue. Not even once. Okay, maybe that's not so realistic, but what might make me almost as happy is a beach towel that sand won't…
It's probably one of my kids' least favorite things to talk about these days: Summer reading. Which is odd, because they really do love to read. They just don't like someone else telling them what they have to read -- and when to read it…
The adult coloring trend is here to stay, and rightfully so, considering it can help you focus and give you some much-needed relaxation. And best of all, no special skills required , just some cool coloring material and art supplies, lik…
As a child, I long believed that dreamcatchers capture your nightmares in their web to keep sleep sweet and worry-free. As an adult, they still have a nostalgic pull on me. Plus, they're really gorgeous. I recently found some truly fanta…
You cannot even believe how much time I spent last summer tracking down the best beach umbrella. I finally went with my parents' strongly recommended pick, which was a surprise one to me. (And you have no idea how strongly recommended it…
Now that we're deep in the heart of summer, I find my kids like cooling down in the afternoons with some crafting time, and free printable coloring pages for kids often do the trick. Whether you're passing time, celebrating a summer birt…
Happy 4th of July everyone! Oh America, you look pretty great for 240. Here's our advice for making the most out of the holiday: (Top image: popsicle stick American Flag craft via A Pumpkin and a Princess) 1. Be safe out there. 2. Fire u…
My kids love to read. But they also love to go to the movies. Luckily, that makes our summer reading easy this year, since I'm going to encourage them to pick up some of the great children's books that are being adapted into movies this …
Since I've had kids, the 4th of July has become one of my favorite holidays. I like to keep it really simple with 4th of July crafts, lots of great summer food and treats to eat , maybe letting the kids run around while the grownups hang…
With four outdoor-loving kids and lots of pool and beach time on our calendar this summer, you can bet I am always stocking up on sunscreen. I'm pretty careful about when and how I slather it on, too, which is why I was surprised to see …
We all know that theme parks, playgrounds, and big outdoor events can be pretty overwhelming places to bring younger children, especially if you have several to keep track of. And big distractions like fireworks, cotton candy, and costum…
Even though I've got a couple of avid readers in my house, I'm always looking for ways to continue to encourage them to pick up a book. Thankfully, there are no shortage of summer reading challenges that offer kids a little incentive for…
Over the years, we've featured loads of great craft kits for kids that flex our children's creative muscles as they try their hand at making cool new works of art. But I've never seen anything quite like the brand new craft kits for kids…