The Simplest Predictor of a Successful Camping Trip Is Right in Your Backyard
If you want to see if your crew is ready for real camping, backyard camping is the only way to go. The benefits of a low-stakes test run are plentiful.
My Love of the Great Outdoors Ends With Overnight Camping
We set up a tent, roast marshmallows and hot dogs, and then, when it starts to get late, I take our youngest and drive home.
Living by the Rules of My Son's Playground Game
I play with Ryan while I still sort of can. No doctor can predict the progression of my disease. But the rules of his game have become something I live by.
The Little Trips That Make the Big Impressions
Vacation is one of the few places you come back richer than when you left. And one doesn’t need to spend a ton of money in order to make extraordinary memories.
The Truly Accommodating Splash Park Every Special Needs Parent Should Know About
Morgan's Island Water Park is the place where kids with special needs aren't just included; they are ushered in with open arms and free admission.
All the Reasons to Take Your Family to Santa Fe (and Return Without the Kids for Romance)
We tried to cram in a family vacation and a romantic getaway over one long weekend in Santa Fe. It didn't go totally as planned.
3 Beloved Children’s Songs That Are Actually Quite Disturbing
You know them. You love them. But have you ever really paid close attention to the words in those classic children’s songs you sing to your little ones?
Five Perfect After-Dark Games for Warm Summer Nights
This summer consider letting the kids stay up late and make memories that will last a lifetime by playing some of these perfect after-dark games.
She's going to be who she's going to be. Forcing her to choose between this culture and that, between my interests and her own, is a certain path to failure.
Drop Everything and Build a Nature Playground. It’s Easier Than You Think.
Without the context provided by their previous toys, instead armed with natural supplies, their options now are as endless as their imaginations.
How to Help Your Kid Deal With Conflict on the Playground
Kids need tools to help them resolve the issues they are having. You can send your child to school every day with this toolkit of strategies to help.
10 Rad Music Festivals That Are More Kid-Friendly Than You Think
There’s no reason to write music festivals off as something of your past. Book a jam-filled weekend with kids in tow at one of these US extravaganzas.
Reclaiming the Lost Birthdays of My Daughter
My daughter was nine years old when my husband and I adopted her. We had a lot of birthdays to make up for.
8 Simple Rules for Play-Dating
There are a few guidelines that make the whole process of play-dates more enjoyable for everyone.
25 Ways to Rock Summer Without Camps and a Big Budget
Having fun this summer doesn't have to involve camp or a financial loan.
The Secret to Coaching Little Kids
Because the one thing they'll remember is if they had fun.
4 Keys to a Successful Fishing Expedition With Kids
A family fishing trip can be a fantastic way to cultivate a passion for outdoor adventure in the lives of our children.
Enhance Your Outdoor Adventures With These Cool Apps
Screentime and outdoor time doesn't have to be an either/or situation. These free, smart apps are the field guides of this generation.
5 Great Table-Top Games to Play With Your Kids
If the world was about to be impacted by an asteroid the size of Manhattan and the only way to divert it was to play a game of Monopoly with five eight-year-olds, I’d have to seriously consider let...
May the Fourth Be with You: 7 Ways to Celebrate Star Wars Day
If you share a love for Yoda, or have ever taken a Buzzfeed quiz on whether you’d join the dark side, it’s time to join “forces” on May fourth.
The Toy Gun Debate Can Be Incredibly Confusing For Parents of Boys
If boys biologically have an attraction to aggressive play, should we still just sit back and let them have a field day with toy guns?
Your Kid's Lunch and Recess Schedule Matters More Than You Think
The timing and length of your children’s lunch and recess during school can affect their food and exercise habits, according to a new study.
Roughhousing With Your Kids May be Just the Sort of Play They Need
I was surprised when I ran across research that touts all of these other benefits of “roughhousing” outside of the pure joy factor.
5 Tips to Make Family Movie Night a Success
What’s a sure-fire way to stay involved with your kids' media picks and create an opportunity to discuss them? Host a family movie night!