The best parenting advice I ever received came from a mom whose son went to toddler music class with mine. She had tried to replace the drumstick he was gnawing...
I learned to solve my own problems by attending the School of Hard Knocks. At least that’s what my mom called it. Growing up, I heard, “You’ve got to figure...
This 6-Year-Old Will Show You How to Make Stop Motion Videos
Imaginary play is awesome. And stop-motion animation can take this kind of world-building activity to the next level. How do I know? Our six-year-old son, Arias Freund, has become a...
My Kids Unlocked the Magic of LEGOs by Ditching the Instruction Manual
When I was pregnant with our first daughter, my husband rubbed my belly and whispered, “I can’t wait for the time of playing with LEGOs with you.” While my children’s...
How Lawnmower Parenting and Takis Killed My Daughter’s Friendship
Like many moms these days, I could probably be a lot less involved in my kids’ friendships. Have you heard of lawnmower parenting (aka snowplow parenting)? They’re like helicopter parents,...
The Surprising Educational Benefits of Dungeons and Dragons
In Texas, a group of kids who scored significantly higher than the rest of their district peers on a statewide test had magical powers to thank. These kids spent their...
250+ Fun Activities For Kids To Do Instead of Homework
I'm an elementary school teacher in Southern California. For 25 years, I have to admit that I was staunchly pro-homework, until one day I had a revelation. Here's why I...
Daycare’s Helmet Rule Takes Playground Safety to a Whole New Level
If you could go back 50 years, you'd see almost no kids wearing helmets as they zoomed around on bikes. So who knows if, 50 years from now, bareheaded kids...
Why A No Rules Recess Might Be Just What Your School Needs
A New Zealand school made headlines a few years back when it introduced a No Rules Recess policy. They did away with all the don'ts at recess (except for the...
