Board games are a fun family activity. But how do you get your preschooler interested in playing games that involve moving pieces around a board, taking turns, and playing with more than one competitor? Here, Circle of Moms members suggest introductory board games to keep your preschooler engaged and entertained. From childhood classics to games based on familiar preschool songs and books, these 10 games will show your young child how fun playing indoors can be.
Need some quality family time? Unless you have a house of game-night fanatics, try making a homemade toy with your child. From colorful playtime dough to musical instruments and bouncy balls, these 10 fun toy ideas are easy to make with your kids, plus they can provide hours of entertainment. Click through to find your kid's next favorite toy!
Of course you want to bond with your new baby and stimulate her rapidly developing brain, but how do you play with someone who can't talk yet, or even sit up? Reading stories and singing lullabies are classics for a reason, but after a few months, moms can get a bit bored — I know I did. Even the baby seemed bored.
The solution? I got creative, finding new ways to connect with and amuse my little one that were also fun for me. If you'd seen me in action, you might have thought I was nuts, but trust me, the baby loved every minute!
Keep reading for five fun ways to shake up the routine and keep baby entertained.
What's the best way to get kids ready for a long car ride?
The upcoming Memorial Day holiday means many families will be traveling, and the preferred method of transportation seems to be by car. According to a AAA survey, 90 percent of travelers over the 2012-2013 year-end holiday traveled by car. That's 84.4 million people — and 26.7 percent of the total US population!
Not surprisingly, many Circle of Moms members are seeking advice on keeping kids happily occupied while buckled up. If you're headed on a long car trip soon, keep reading for six road-trip tips from well-traveled Circle of Moms members.
Graduation time is almost here — are you ready for your child's party? If you're stuck or could use some easy party-planning tips, we've got you covered. Moms are sharing five tips for a successful graduation party, from saving time by using paper plates to an idea for an easy but memorable decoration. Click through for their great ideas and add your own in the comments section!
It's time to accept the cold, hard truth.
I'm not a crafty mom. I'll never be a crafty mom.
One of my goals for 2013 was to actually try some of my pins on Pinterest. I love looking through what other people have pinned, I love seeing good ideas, and I love pinning things of my own. However, I'm not great when it comes to following through and actually putting some of these great ideas into practice.
Therefore, I gave myself a goal. One pin per week.
At first, I was flying. I found several recipes that were hits with my family, from the 10-month-old to the picky 2-and-a-half-year-old to the 30-something husband. I tried a couple of cleaning tips (apparently blue Dawn plus warm vinegar is the cleaning elixir!). I wasn't just meeting my challenge — I was exceeding my challenge.
Then I realized that I had two boards I was great about adding pins to, but those boards remained untried: "Crafts I Can Handle" and "Crafts For the Kids." Hmm . . .
If Pinterest, Facebook, and many, many blogs written by moms are any indication, doing amazing crafts both with and for your kids is the new benchmark. Why spend your money on a bin from the store when you can cover an old diaper box? Why put hair bows in a drawer when you can work together and create a gorgeous hanger? A good mom is a crafty mom. She creates amazing products and engages her children in a wonderful way. They aren't just crafting — they are making wholesome, quality memories.
My toddler is part of an art playgroup. One of my friends has really embraced her inner preschool teacher/wholesome-crafty-mom persona. She gathers a group of 2-year-olds together, and every week we do something different. We paint with pine branches, we experiment with homemade puffy paint, we stamp with muffin tins, and we marble paint with shaving cream. The kids adore it.
I can do that . . . right?
One of the things I realized about myself last year was that stepping out of my comfort zone brings me unexpected joy and pride. Crafts are definitely out of my comfort zone, so it was time to try.
It's hard enough to make dinner for your family, but if the kids won't eat it, what do you do? Get them involved, of course! From spaghetti-and-meatball bird's nests to Sneaky Snake sandwiches, these are some easy, fun family dinners to make together.
It's important for you, your partner, and your children to each have your own friends, but building friendships as a family is also beneficial.
"Being friends with other families honestly is the easiest group to be with," says Circle of Moms member Maria P., noting that there's never awkwardness about bringing kids along. These kinds of family friendships are what moms like Stephanie M. long to create. "I'm looking for friends where our spouses and kids can all hang out together," she shares.
So how do you go about building and cultivating friendships with other families you can relate to? To help, here are six ideas from Circle of Moms members for connecting with other families.
What's the craziest thing you've ever gotten for Mother's Day? From a shiny new rock collection to a caged bird that brings happiness, moms share the funniest — yet sweetest — gifts they've ever gotten from their kids. Click through to read some amazing Mother's Day stories that will leave you rethinking what a great gift is really like.
Looking for a new way to soothe your child when she's tired, cranky, or hyper? Here, moms share nine of their favorite albums for getting their overly tired kids to sleep — or simply into a calmer and happier mood! With the taste of tunes ranging from Israel Kamakawiwo'ole to Bob Marley, you're sure to find a good fit for your family here.
