STEM = science, technology, engineering, and math. Since starting this blog almost 9 years ago, there has been an influx of toys and products are designed to foster curiosity and get our kids interested in these subjects from a very young age and honestly, it’s never too early to start exposing our kids to STEM…
holidays
2016 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Teens (ages 13+)
If you don’t know what to get your teen besides a gift card, think. Think HARD. What are they always talking about? What are their friends talking about? What are the things they are never without? Chances are there’s something far more creative than a gift card you can think to get them that will…
2016 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Tweens (ages 8-12)
Not quite kids but not exactly teenagers yet, tweens often feel stuck between cute and grown up but the truth is that they possess growing self-confidence, independence, and academic skills. They flip flop between wanting to be seen as kids but also wanting to be viewed as grown up and crave some autonomy to explore…
2016 Gift Guide: Early Elementary Ages (ages 5-8 or grades K-2)
As a former first grade teacher, my students spanned a wide spectrum of knowledge so I know that kids this age are the same way. Kindergarten through second graders are experience huge growth in their social, emotional, gross motor, and academic skills. Gifts that allow them to have fun while practicing what they know are always…
2016 Gift Guide: Gifts for Toddlers & Preschoolers (18 months- age 5)
Oh how I miss this age! I never thought I wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps as a teacher until I spent so much time with these age groups. There was always something magical about toddlers and preschoolers. Maybe you don’t feel the same way as a parent in the thick of tantrums, potty…
Why There’s No Replacement for Calling Your Mother on Mother’s Day Even in the Digital Age
This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Mother’s Day the movie. There is no doubt that today’s landscape of technology has changed parenting and the relationships with those we love, especially our moms. The days of “call your mother” have been replaced by the ability to text, Facetime, Skype, Facebook Message, or even…
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: 13 Items to Set Their Heart Aflutter
True story: Once I dated a guy for two years who told me that his inability to find me a Valentine’s Day gift was the reason he was breaking up with me. Ouch. Lesson: Don’t be that guy. Or girl. With Valentine’s Day just a week away, gifts for your beloved don’t have to be…
How to Ring in the New Year Without Lying to Your Kids #StreamTeam
How does your family say goodbye to one year and welcome in the next? Chances are it depends on how old your kids are. With two tweens, there’s a stronger likelihood that they’ll be wide awake to ring in the New Year when the clock strikes twelve but in their younger years, both kids fell fast…
GIVEAWAY: National Geographic Kids or Little Kids Magazine Subscription
A long time favorite and featured in previous gift guides, National Geographic magazines for kids make a wonderful holiday gift. Educational, affordable, and a gift that kids truly enjoy when they arrive in the mailbox each year, National Geographic Kids Magazine and National Geographic Little Kids Magazine ($15 for a year)provide learning through engaging age appropriate…
GIVEAWAY: Tile 4 Pack
Although mentioned in my Gift Guide for Dads, Tile is for everyone and once you get your first set, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. These square Bluetooth trackers can be attached to just about anything to ensure that when you lose your stuff, you get it back. Install the app, stick or…
