Have kids, will travel. Just like backpacks, kids can be transported from one place to another. (Although chances are, unlike your kids, your backpack doesn’t whine, “I’m bored!” or “I’m hungry!”) Family vacations can be more than just lounging on the beach, roasting marshmallows at a cabin near the lake, and visiting out-of-town relatives (not that there is anything wrong with that!) There are so many ways to make your annual family gathering educational and, of course, fun.

It’s the time of year when many working parents are turning to babysitters and nannies to help them with childcare. It’s not easy to entrust your children to someone else’s care no matter how old they are. We’ve gathered the interview questions that every parent should ask a babysitter before hiring them to make the process easier for you.

Editor’s Note: We know raising kids can be hard. That’s why we’re dedicated to making your life easier with the latest and greatest parenting advice and products. We wanted to let you know that if you chose to purchase one of the items featured in this post, we may receive a small commission for it.

Presidents’ Day is a day off from school, but do your kids know what this holiday is about? Reading a few books to your children is a fun and easy way to teach them a little bit about Presidents’ Day.

L.O.L. Surprise! Big Surprise

Poetry for Homeschoolers

Isabel Shaw

Getting to go outside and play in the snow is one of the most loved winter activities. Kids, adults, and toddlers love having the chance to ride down a hill on a fun sled. If you’re looking for something fun to do with the family this winter, why not pull out a sled and hit the slopes? Once your kids feel the cold wind on their face as they soar over fields of snow, they’ll want to do this every weekend!

When you're looking for school lunch ideas, it's easy to throw a handful of cheap, pre-packed lunchbox fillers into your shopping cart and call it a week. But what are those shortcuts really costing? Besides the empty calories, sodium, and sugar, there's the guilt you feel sending your child off to school with something you'd never cook or eat at home. For example, did you know Lunchables have between a quarter and a third of the daily recommended sodium for an adult?

Much of the world has been thrown into lockdowns, told to shelter in place, and instructed to practice social distancing. Even though all of this is out of our control and was totally unpredicted, this is still a disappointing time for a child with a birthday. Of course parties can always be postponed or rescheduled, but if your little one’s birthday falls during this time it is still important to acknowledge and celebrate it.

When you live in a small space, finding sufficient storage is always a challenge. Whether it’s a small house or an apartment, sometimes we have to get creative with how we utilize the storage space available to us. 

More: How to Create a Learning Space for your Child

How Do I Explain War to My Kids?

The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has dominated the news streams and social media with images of violence and outrage.

If you’re looking for a part-time, “side-hustle” gig to keep you busy now that the kids are older (and bring some extra revenue into the home), this comprehensive list will kickstart your part-time career mojo!

More: Challenges and Opportunities for the Self-Employed

Have an old phone you’d like to give to your child?  Whether it's the phone you just upgraded from or an older one sitting around the house, your child would likely love to use it. 

Perhaps your phone was used on a previous carrier.  Many mobile carriers now offer Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD, for their customers.

More: Not Ready to Give Your Kid a Smartphone? Try a Flip Phone Instead

For some, Valentine’s Day has no meaning and is simply a holiday invented by the card companies. For others, it’s an opportunity for romance and candy and cards. Regardless of how you choose to view the holiday related to your adult relationships, Valentine’s Day can actually be a wonderful opportunity to teach our kids about love.

Love is a complicated subject, and depending on the ages of our children, there is much to teach and discuss. If you’re looking for ways to embrace Valentine’s Day as a teachable moment, here are some ideas for how you can do it:

Traveling with kids on a long car trip — we've all been there. Before you've even crossed town lines the, "Are we there yet?" starts getting asked or, "How long until we get there?"

via GIPHY

More: What to Keep in Your Car for Max Efficiency This School Year

Searching for educational programs for your kids to watch during COVID-19 school closures? With so many options available on various streaming services, it can be overwhelming to do the research, even if you have extra time on your hands. Luckily, we’ve done the work for you and broken things up by category and age group. As always, make the determination that’s right for your home and your child. Happy streaming!

Most parents probably spend a few moments fantasizing about a kids-free vacation every week. It may happen when your child is popping out of bed after you’ve already said goodnight five times or when you’re facing mounds of child-sized laundry or when you’re telling your kids to stop arguing with each other for the tenth time that day. Those moments of fantasy are as much a part of parenthood as dirty diapers and boxed mac and cheese. 

Editor’s Note: We know raising kids can be hard. That’s why we’re dedicated to making your life easier with the latest and greatest parenting advice and products. We wanted to let you know that if you chose to purchase one of the items featured in this post, we may receive a small commission for it.

The Passover Seder is a meal and a service all in one. Everyone has a Haggadah and follows along with the leader, reading responsively and taking turns telling the story of the exodus of the Jews from slavery in the land of Egypt.

Editor’s Note: This post is sponsored.

Fall is a magical time of the year! The trees change and glow with bright, fiery colors, there are trips to pumpkin patches and apple picking farms, and a crisp, cool air descends upon us, reminding us of fuzzy socks and warm apple cider.

While the summer can be fun and a highly anticipated season, it can also create a new level of stress for working parents as they try to figure out how to balance setting up child care, creating a summer schedule, and making sure there are plenty of opportunities for fun. Making summer memories can be some of the most special times of childhood, but leaving the summer plan completely up to chance is not actually stress-free for parents or for children.

A 2018 study revealed that moms want summer to end after just 13 days. When you are a parent of not one, not two, but SIX little girls including the only all-female quintuplets in the United States, it’s important to have a serious action plan and significant resources to keep the peace all summer while ensuring you don’t lose momentum from the previous school year.

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