I’ll never forget the day my newly minted middle schooler announced she and a friend hatched a plan during lunch in the school cafeteria to travel the world together. “When we’re in college, we’re going meet and travel together,” Emily confidently told me as she rattled off a list of countries that were on their…
7 Tips for Getting Kids Play Outside in the Winter
This past weekend a steady snowfall over a 27-hour period brought 12+ inches of snow to the Washington, D.C. area. The novelty of snow provides incentive for our kids to get outside and play, but there are plenty of gray days where below freezing temperatures make us want to stay inside. It’s always fun to…
11 Things to Know Before Going to Monster Jam
I admit to not knowing much about Monster Jam® when I first attended my first Monster sporting event years before kids but since have visited the Monster Jam garage, sat in El Toro Loco (getting into a Monster Jam truck is NOT as easy as climbing up a ladder and opening a door!), and know a…
3 Ways to Ensure Mid-Year School Success for All Ages
The start of a new year for many kids means coming back from winter break and being confronted with the end of the second quarter. Rather than starting the new year with a fresh clean slate, your child is being hit with homework assignments, project deadlines, and end of the quarter quizzes and tests. With…
DC Readers: Win 2 Tickets to School of Rock at The National Theatre
Would you be mad if your child’s substitute teacher transformed history class into rehearsals for a rock band, replacing books with amps and putting musical instruments in student’s hands instead of pencils? As a parent and former teacher, I loved taking my guitar loving 12 year old to see School of Rock on Broadway earlier…
Dear Future Coders: 4 Pieces of Advice for Tween & Teen Technologists
Thank you to Capital One for sponsoring this post As a former classroom teacher, I can distinguish between social chatter and productive chatter. Social chatter was typical in my first-grade classroom as kids were transitioning between parts of the day or weren’t engaged in classroom tasks and had the power to create a ripple effect of off-task…
2018 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Frequent Fliers
I love to travel whether for work or as a family. The many frequent flier miles and stamps in my passport have made me extremely knowledgeable about the best gear for streamlining travel and minimizing space in my carry-on bag. I’ve whittled down my must-haves to a short list to make packing and unpacking quick and…
Dear Parents of Future Technologists: Advice from a Mom of a STEM-Loving Daughter
Thank you to Capital One for sponsoring this post An image has the power to propel us back in time and unleash an array of emotions when it pops up during the most unexpected moments. Earlier this week I was scrolling through photos and came across the image of my daughter sitting in a metal…
Samsung SmartThings WiFi: A Must-Have for Connectivity & Smart Homes
If you have an entire collection of smart home gadgets that work independently of each other or have been looking for a single product that can provide whole home WiFi, home automation, and the ability to pause the internet in one easy kit, Samsung SmartThings WiFi adds smartness and connectivity through a single hub. SmartThings…
7 Must-Have Gifts for Nintendo Switch Superfans
This post is sponsored by Kids, parents, and families love the Nintendo Switch because this versatile gaming system has a wealth of family friendly games and the system can be used at home or on the go. It features the ability to dock it and play through your TV or take the handheld system on…
