Place-card puzzles add to Thanksgiving fun
November 24, 2019
Place cards are an indispensable addition to a Thanksgiving meal. They’re a little like croutons on a favorite soup, because they add style and pizzazz.
Kids & Family
Kids & Family
Five tips to help keep kids healthy during cold and flu season
November 24, 2019
It’s here again — that time of year when everyone seems to unwittingly pass colds and other illnesses around. As every parent knows, kids can bring germs home from school and share them with the entire family, spreading illness at warp speed.
Top tips to transition back to work after baby
November 24, 2019
Many new parents spend hours preparing for the arrival of a new baby — reading books, seeking professional advice and consulting friends and family.
Slow-cooker granola is a game-changer
November 17, 2019
We’re a granola-eating family. When the tall jar in our pantry reads almost empty, it’s time to stir up and bake a new batch. It’s never a chore, because the fresh homemade taste of heart-healthy oats with nuts and dried fruit always satisfies.
Michele makes… easy Thanksgiving side dishes
November 17, 2019
Thanksgiving dinner shouldn’t require long hours of slaving in the kitchen. I make easy side dishes that can be made ahead and reheated, or cooked in a slow cooker.
Make a draftbuster to keep out the chill
November 10, 2019
It’s a new puppy! It’s a soft toy! It’s a draftbuster! Yes indeed, it’s all three, and the adorable soft puppy will love to come into your home to keep some of winter’s chilly drafts from breezing through doorway cracks and windows.
Saving furry friends with flare, creativity
November 3, 2019
With approximately 6.5 million pets entering animal shelters nationwide each year, volunteers at rescues across the country are constantly searching for homes. The sheer volume of pets, especially after recent
Pumpkin bread that is easy for kids, moist, full of autumn spices
October 27, 2019
For years, it was an October tradition in our neighborhood to drop in at my friend’s preholiday arts and crafts sale. Opening the heavy front door of her turn-of-the-century home, we were drawn in from the outdoor chill by the aroma of warm, freshly baked pumpkin bread served on trays in the dining room.
The role of free play in early education
October 27, 2019
Glance at a typical family schedule and you would no doubt see that afternoons are jam-packed and many children — even the youngest among them — have full itineraries of structured after-school activities.
’Imagination center’ is a place to create
October 20, 2019
It’s fall, and winter is on the way — a time to sort, toss and save. Collecting and squirreling away supplies for artful indoor and outdoor fun with your kids in the months ahead can be a creative activity in itself.
A creative twist on Halloween carvings
October 20, 2019
When it comes to Halloween, carving the same pumpkin designs each year can become routine. This year, save a pumpkin and carve your spooky masterpiece into a watermelon instead.
Tips for trick-or-treating from the experts
October 13, 2019
It’s almost time for children everywhere to set off, donned in their Halloween best, ringing doorbells and demanding treats. Though no one seems to know where the phrase came from,
Make Baked Apple Rings and Applesauce
October 6, 2019
Baked apple rings are a tasty and nutritious snack you can make in your own kitchen on a chilly fall day. We use zesty apples that friends share with us from their backyard trees, or we buy them at farmer’s markets and apple orchards.
Halloween costumes that should be popular this year
October 6, 2019
Halloween is a chance to celebrate whimsy and fantasy and have fun. Halloween is not complete without dressing up in costumes and taking on an alternate persona.
Reduce the risk for sports eye injuries
October 6, 2019
Encouraging children to play sports can be good for their minds and bodies. However, players risk injury anytime they engage in sports play, and the eyes are among athletes’ most vulnerable body parts.
Caring for our caregivers
September 29, 2019
Whether taking care of a parent, spouse, child, friend or neighbor, being a caregiver can take a toll. Carletta Cole knows this from experience as she took on the role
Donna’s Day: Make Colorful Crayon Leaf Rubbings
September 29, 2019
You can celebrate the season and create new traditions right at your closest park or in your neighborhood, too. If the fall air beckons your family to get outside for a bike ride or a weekend walk, go for it. Observe the changing images around you, including the colorful leaves drifting and swirling in the breeze.
Five de-stressing tips for busy moms
September 29, 2019
Moms have to-do lists that are never done. From getting the kids to school, prepping family meals and everything in between, it’s a 24/7 job and can be hard to find a moment to stop and take a breath of fresh air.
Adulting: Financial tips for Gen Z
September 22, 2019
As more states nationwide adopt laws requiring high schools to offer personal finance classes, a new survey suggests that Generation Z, often the generation born 1996-2010, is on board with the trend.
The safest place for kids in the car
September 22, 2019
Riding in a vehicle can be an exciting prospect for children. Such rides provide a chance to see the world outside of the house, and the speed with which scenery is flying by can be exhilarating for young minds.