5 encouraging phrases that will make kids smile
Everyone needs a little encouragement, and kids are especially needy for positive words in the first weeks of the school year. Early wake-up times, confining schedules and packed days wear out parents, yes, but kids, too. You don’t need [...]
Why I don’t give my kids 100 percent
Being a mom requires a lot. By the end of the day, I feel like I’ve been tugged on, sucked from and sneezed on so many times that I just want to scream “give me some space!” Sometimes I do.
The days of working on something without [...]
10 tips for talking to grieving kids
Death is a tricky topic of discussion among adults, but talking to grieving kids about the death of a loved one can be downright intimidating. But experts say the difficulty of the conversation doesn’t make it any less important.
One in 20 [...]
10 ways to support a family with a sick kid in the hospital
When a friend or family member has a sick kid or teen in the hospital you know you want to help but aren’t sure exactly what to do. Try one of these 10 ideas for supporting families with a child in the hospital:
1. Give kid-friendly games.
If [...]
8 apps that will help you break your cell phone addiction
If you check your smartphone in the bathroom, at the gym, at the playground with your kids, before you go to bed at night — and a hundred other times in between — it may be time for a digital detox. And ironically, there’s an app [...]
6 ways parents can improve their listening skills
If you feel like your kids hardly listen to a word you say, take heart. Children and teens ignoring their parents is a universal problem as old as parenting itself. But before you put all the blame on your offspring, consider whether your listening [...]
10 life skills you should be teaching your teens (but probably aren’t)
Eventually your teens will be full-fledged adults. Yes, they grow up fast. Make sure they know how-to adult by teaching them these 10 simple but crucial life skills:
1. How to unclog a toilet.
You only need to get stuck with a clogged toilet [...]
7 kid-friendly clutter busters
Kids and stuff go together like peanut butter and jelly. They stick together, and it can be a challenge for parents to keep things tidy with little clutter magnets in the home.
Don’t work harder to fight the piles of kid paraphernalia; [...]
8 New Year’s resolutions to make as a family
Parents may have a secret weapon when it comes to making and keeping New Year’s resolutions: their kids. After all, most children exhibit near-perfect recall when it works in their favor (“On Monday when we were driving in the car [...]
5 classic pairings of holiday films and food
Looking for a fun family activity on a cold winter’s night? How about dinner and movie, holiday-style? If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the week before Christmas, may we suggest the following five food and film pairings?
The [...]
10 activities to add to your Christmas break bucket list
Summer isn’t the only season worthy of a bucket list. Winter deserves a wish-list of its own (and not just the one penned for Old St. Nick). Consider adding these 10 activities to your Christmas break bucket list:
1. Build a snowman.
If [...]
5 ways to make the North Pole Express the ride of your life
Mark Nelson, executive director of the Heber Valley Railroad, likes to joke that his favorite part of the North Pole Express is “when it’s over.” The themed holiday train ride is a massive, complicated — and quite impressive — undertaking [...]
59 of the best toys of all time
What do a ball, stick and cardboard box have in common? They are just three of the toys that are members of the National Toy Hall of Fame. This award is given by The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. It features 59 (and [...]
5 outrageous things moms aren’t supposed to do
Spend a little too much time on social media, and you’ll realize that Mom Shaming is both real and sad. Here are just a few of the ridiculous things moms have been getting in trouble for doing lately:
1. Brexting
Yes, this really is a thing, [...]
15 toys and books that will help your kids keep quiet
There are plenty of scenarios when you need to keep your kids quiet but their hands busy so they don’t fight, complain or fall asleep in the car right before you get home. Keeping a quiet bag stocked and ready for car rides, waiting rooms [...]
10 critical safety tips for Halloween night
Here’s a holiday fact that’s really scary: Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year, according to the Washington, D.C.-based organization Safe Kids Worldwide.
To [...]
6 ways to help kids develop a musical ear
It’s time to face the music: exposure to classical music is good for kids and teens.
Numerous studies show a correlation between music education and brain development; math and spatial reasoning; reading and verbal skills; academic achievement; [...]
10 family-friendly Halloween happenings in Utah County
Looking for a Halloween event that won’t scare the screams out of your little monsters? There are plenty of G-rated venues in Utah County. Here are just a few of the places where you can have a happy — and not so scary — Halloween:
1. [...]
8 solutions for the bedtime battle
Last week I staged a bedtime intervention with my kids. I was feeling frazzled and frustrated that what I pictured as a warm and fuzzy farewell to the day was in fact an hours-long power struggle. In desperation I did what any self-respecting [...]
10 traditions to help children love general conference
The semiannual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the perfect time for faith, family — and food. Here are 10 traditions to help children and youth stay engaged as they hear talks from church leadership.
1. [...]
