Seasonal Bucket Lists: Get Organized for Family Fun!

If your family is anything like mine, time really started flying around the time your oldest started school — and hasn’t stopped since. We’re busier than ever with baseball practice and school plays, black belts and piano lessons, but we still want to spend out weekends having fun adventures together.

Now that we’re all so busy, the only way we’re going to make sure that we take those bike rides or squeeze in that apple picking is to schedule it.

Before you scoff that there’s no fun to be had in color-coded lists, let me tell you: Spontaneity is overrated. People who get things done — even the fun things! — have a plan.

The Seasonal Family Fun Bucket List

Once my kids got big enough to have a say in our family adventures, we started having a little household meeting at the beginning of each season to make a wish list of all the things we wanted to do together before the season ended.

4 Meaningful Gifts to Give on Grandparents Day

The bond between a grandparent and their grandchild is the stuff of legend ... and a few Hallmark movies. But did you know that it can also promote greater emotional health? It's true — and there's scientific research to support that. In fact, studies have shown that close ties with a grandparent can also reduce depression and encourages pro-social behavior for grandchildren — a benefit that lasts into adulthood.

But grandparents enjoy plenty of benefits, too. They are less likely to be depressed when they have close relationships with their grandchildren. Serving as a caregiver for grandchildren can also help keep grandparents mentally sharp and stave off cognitive decline.

This October 4 is National Grandparents Day, and it's the perfect opportunity to let grandma and grandpa know just how much they're valued. With that in mind, we've put together a list of thoughtful gifts for grandparents that can help reinforce that important connection.

3 Parenting Hacks to Cut Homework Time in Half

You’ve finally gotten in the door after shuttling the kids around all afternoon, and you’re ready to sit for a spell before dinner.

But before you can really unwind, your little one reaches out with a math question. It’s time for the battle of the homework wars.

Whether you’re a “tiger mom” pushing your kids to excel, an anti-testing advocate or just another Common Core critic trying to re-learn math, homework can be hard on everyone — just ask your kids.

To make the whole thing less painful, kick things into high gear. Use these three tips to streamline homework sessions so you and your kids can get back to doing something a little more fun.

Destination: Homework Station

A little bit of organization can go a long way, so take the time to set up a homework center with everything your kids might possibly need to get their work done in one place.

8 Fun Activities to Try With Your Loved Ones During Lockdown

If you’re like most people, social distancing is keeping you from seeing family and friends right now. And that can be hard! After all, humans are social creatures, and this much alone time is pretty unnatural. In fact, studies suggest that prolonged isolation is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes each day.

Fortunately, the internet has made it possible for us to keep in touch through social media, teleconferencing apps, and more. Best of all, you can do much more than just chat with these tools. With a little creativity, a virtual party might be almost as fun as the real thing. 

Try these ideas to stay connected and have some fun while you keep a safe, healthy distance. 

1. Facebook Live Concerts and Read-Alouds

If Facebook is your social media platform of choice, you’ve certainly noticed when friends "go live" by recording a video of themselves in real time.

Budgeting With Kids: Money Lessons for Every Age

First, the bad news: American schools aren’t teaching kids about money. Only 12 percent of teachers have any form of financial education in their curriculum, and that sad fact has led to the United States placing fourteenth in the world when it comes to financial literacy.

That’s not very impressive for one of the richest nations on earth.

The good news? You, as a parent, are actually in the best position to teach your child about budgeting. You get to start early, and you have the ability to give them an allowance so they can get great practice with money before it really counts.

If the idea of teaching your kids to budget is overwhelming, relax. The trick is to make your lessons hands-on and age-appropriate. Here’s how to get started teaching the most important money lessons so you can raise a child who knows how to manage money like a boss by the time they turn 18.