Kids say — and do — the darndest things, and if their parents are lucky, they have a smartphone or video camera at the ready to capture them for posterity. Sharing an especially funny video on YouTube with friends and family can result in an instantaneous 15 minutes of fame, so share with caution. Here, some of the best kid-centric viral videos that have had us laughing out loud, forwarding to friends, and sharing on Facebook!
Springtime brings new beginnings, baby animals, budding flowers, and fabulous weather, so it's no surprise moms say their favorite family activities for Spring are all outdoors. From getting dirty in the mud to planting a garden and feeding ducklings, here are 20 ways to enjoy the season to the fullest with your kids.
St. Patrick's Day isn't just for the Irish. Much like Thanksgiving, it's a day for families to count their blessings, share a delicious meal, and enjoy some family fun — with the added entertainment of lucky green shamrocks and tricky leprechauns! From leprechaun traps to a sensory bath time activity, here are 11 ways families worldwide make St. Patrick's Day special. Click through for inspiration!
When all goes according to plan, traveling with kids can be as thrilling an experience for parents as it is for the tots who are exploring new territory for the first time. But when you're surprised with an unexpected flight delay or lengthy layover, skipped naps, fast-food snacks, and general crankiness can send your plans (and moods) into a tailspin.
While we can't control air traffic control, we can provide a bit of guidance when it comes to the most desirable destinations to fly in and out of. Here, six of the country's best airports for families on the fly!
Here's a post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we bring you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post about television and kids.
We've all heard the warnings about TV time for kids: Introduced too early it can have a negative impact on your children's development, allowed too often and their behavior, attention spans and even waistlines may suffer.
Related: Why Can't I Fire My Inner Supermom?
A new study, however, takes a different approach to the hot topic of kids and television.
"We often focus on how much kids watch and don't focus enough on what they watch," says Dr. Dimitri Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children's Research Institute and the study's author. "While too many children watch too much TV, this study shows that content is as important as quantity."
Dr. Christakis' team studied 565 families with children between the ages of 3 and 5 years old. Half of these families received a "media diet intervention," receiving advice on how to substitute violent programs like Power Rangers for "prosocial and educational" ones such as Dora the Explorer, Imagination Movers, and Sesame Street. The other half, those in the control group, didn't receive this guidance.
(Confession: My gut reaction to this premise was, 'Why is a 3-year-old watching anything but prosocial and educational shows?' Then I guiltily remembered how my own standards have slipped since having my second child. At 2 years old, she already knows the theme song to her older sister's favorite show, Spongebob Squarepants. If you've ever seen Spongebob, 'educational' probably isn't the first word that pops to mind.)
The families who took part in this study remained in regular contact with the researchers for a year after the media intervention diet was introduced and "the children in the intervention group demonstrated significantly less aggression and more prosocial behavior compared to the control group, and the effect lasted throughout the 12 months."
"It's not just about turning off the television. It's about changing the channel," concludes Dr. Christakis. He urges all parents to stage a similar media diet intervention by keeping a diary to track what kids are viewing, choosing less violent programming and watching alongside their children so that they're aware of show content.
I usually brace myself for bad news when I read studies on TV time, but this one actually helps ease my guilty conscience. Like most kids, mine watch their fair share of TV. While I'm not always militant about cutting their screen time, I do try to keep a close eye on what they're watching, making sure it's not scary or violent or — particularly for my 6-year-old, who's starting to show some interest in Hannah Montana and the like — just too mature. And every time my girls tackle a problem with an Imagination Movers-inspired "idea emergency" fix, I like to tell myself that TV may not be all bad.
Do you see anything positive about your kids' favorite TV shows?
More great reads from BabyCenter:
Kim Kardashian Braves a Pregnant Bikini Photo Shoot
Would You Leave Your Child Home Alone?
10 Secrets to Raising Awesome Kids
A Love-Hate Relationship With Pregnancy
Is This What We Want Motherhood to Look Like?
Whether or not you let your toddler watch movies is a momentous decision. Once you do, there's no turning back. So, it's up to you to choose flicks that your kids love — and that you can live with. Important things to consider include the type (cartoon, live-action, scary, funny), length, and content themes. Here are seven pre-screened movies for toddlers that get the seal of approval from moms.
1. Monsters, Inc.
Monsters, Inc. is a top choice among Circle of Moms members across multiple community conversations. It's the story of a group of monsters who generate electricity for their city by scaring children. What's interesting is that even the youngest viewers who might not want to be scared are able, according to a member named Meagan, to differentiate imagination from reality. While this might be categorized as a scary film, it's certainly not in the "horror" category, and it has enough humor to offset the fear factor.
Ever wonder why your child is so engrossed in that app? To help parents get in on the action, I've put together a list of five great learning apps for kids, plus fun activities for the whole family that go along with each. Jump in!
I'm always looking for ways to tell my kids I love them. I'm conscious that they hear a lot of "No," "Stop," and "Don't," so I like to take the opportunity to let them know just how lovely they are and why.
One way I've found is by making a paper fortune teller with love notes for each of my children, which I leave on the table waiting for them at breakfast in the morning.
Do you remember making origami paper fortune tellers as a kid? I remember making them but couldn't remember how so I looked it up online. They're super easy. Click here to watch a video guide to creating them.
Materials Needed
Instructions
I used patterned paper and cut out letters spelling "love" for the top section. For the inside, I made a love heart, a kiss, a hug, and a question mark.
Instead of a fortune, I wrote a reason why I love them, such as, "I love that you love to run so much" or "I love how your face lights up when you smile."
I put those notes on heart shapes cut out of colored paper and stick them on the paper fortune tellers. The kids will love this as a game, and they'll definitely love hearing good things about themselves!
For more crafty ideas, visit Daisy's Party Ideas
Image Source: Courtesy of Niamh Farnon
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.
Looking for fun family activities to do when it's snowing? From painting snow to building forts, we've rounded up 11 kid-friendly activities your little ones will love!
This Valentine's Day, treat loved ones to the thoughtful, delicious gift of an edible valentine! From easy, chocolate-dipped pretzels and heart-shaped cheddar crackers to pretty French macarons, we've found 24 amazing valentines your sweethearts will love.
