Board games are a fun family activity. But how do you get your preschooler interested in playing games that involve moving pieces around a board, taking turns, and playing with more than one competitor? Here, Circle of Moms members suggest introductory board games to keep your preschooler engaged and entertained. From childhood classics to games based on familiar preschool songs and books, these 11 games will show your young child how fun playing indoors can be.
Scarlett Gurr is hardly old enough to get a driver's license, but nevertheless, the 7-year-old drives a mini Ferrari. In fact, "she has an entire garage filled with her own fancy cars and is the youngest member of the British Women Racing Drivers Club," the Huffington Post reports.
Scarlett's vast car collection is one of the perks of being parented by the owner of a car tuning and restoration company in London. Her dad Stuart has been building replicas of real cars for Scarlett and her 3-year-old sister, Maddie, for several years, and dreams of participating in the Little Big Mans race in France next year.
Stuart and Scarlett's favorite car is a red Ferarri, which took more than 600 hours to build and cost around $3,025. Fortunately, Stuart doesn't have to worry too much about Scarlett hurting herself or wrecking his investment — he admits that the vehicles she "drives" are "more show than go."
When it comes to creating a versatile, affordable storage space in kids' nurseries or bedrooms, Ikea's Expedit shelving system is the best solution on the market for many parents. Ranging from $40-200 per shelving unit, the line also comes with a wide array of inserts, drawers, and even desks and work stations to customize it for your space.
Here, check out seven stylish ways that we've seen the Expedit utilized in real rooms!
A Utah mom gave her daughter a taste of her own medicine, forcing her to wear unflattering thrift shop clothes as a punishment for bullying another student about her appearance, the Huffington Post reports.
According to Salt Lake City's KSTU, the 10-year-old girl named Kaylee had been teasing another fourth grader about the way she dressed so much that the other girl no longer wanted to attend school. When questioned about the bullying, Kaylee showed little remorse. So, mom Ally decided to show Kaylee how it feels to be teased about her clothes.
"If she chooses to be a bully after this, then at some point in her life, she's going to be on the other side and she'll know what it really feels like," Ally said.
What do you think? Is making your teen wear ugly clothes a good way to stop her from bullying someone else about their appearance?
When my second son was 4 he developed an amazing trait . . . the ability to lie. It was absolute talent. Most of the time I couldn't tell if he was telling me the truth or telling me a lie.
One occasion that stands out was when he had a small toy from a kid's meal. It wasn't a big deal, but for three hours I drilled him on where he got it and he repeatedly told me that he had found it at the playground. We went to bed that night, me exhausted, and I told my husband, "I just don't get it. I really thought he was telling me a lie." I cried because I felt I had persecuted my child.
We let it go and two days later, I learned the truth. My son had told me a lie. He had taken the toy from a little boy in our apartment complex. I was angry. I took action.
Whether you're bringing home baby to a house in the suburbs or a studio apartment, chances are, there's a time you've wished for just a little more square footage than what you currently have. We're here to tell you that it's not about the space itself, rather how you use it. Some of the most beautifully designed nurseries we've seen are those that take advantage of every square foot — and do so in style.
At what age does it become inappropriate to shower or bathe with your child? Two, five, seven . . . never?
While many parents say showering with their young child, even of the opposite gender, is perfectly fine up to a certain point in time, there's little consensus on when exactly that moment is. But here are the four common reasons parents give for stopping and their thoughts on how to recognize when that moment arrives.
Memorial Day weekend is almost here, kicking off the Summer and a time to celebrate our servicemen and women. Make your day off from the daily grind special by getting crafty with your kids and creating something patriotic to display in your home. From seriously simple activities to projects that are perfect for older tots, this roundup of red, white, and blue crafts is perfect for showing your love of the great USA.
Wondering how to keep your kids entertained all Summer? Stave off Summer boredom with these 10 fun and affordable activities recommended by Circle of Moms members.
1. Library Programs
Local library Summer programs are recommended by numerous Circle of Moms members. As Rebecca S. advises: "Libraries are always having free events with story times, magic shows, etc." And Evelyne R. shares: "I also love to take my children to the library, most of them have a Summer reading program that offers prizes for books read. My children love this and it is free."
2. Free Bowling
Free bowling for the kiddies all Summer long? Sign us up! Thanks to Kids Bowl Free, children can register for two free games of bowling every day this Summer at participating bowling centers in the US and Canada.
3. Gardening
Gardening is a great Summer activity for children of all ages. "The garden is full of hidden surprises" for preschoolers, says Jeanette B., as they can be entertained by "just looking under rocks (and) feeling the textures of different materials, such as grass, leaves, flowers, stones, [and] fir cones." For older children, Alissa V. recommends encouraging older children to independently make or redesign a small flower bed. No backyard? See if community gardens accept children as volunteers (try the ACGA locator tool). And don't forget a field trip to the local farmers market for inspiration.
4. State Parks
To engage curious kids, says Laurie W., "the best activities involve the outdoors — lakes, ponds, streams, conservation areas and trails — to explore rocks, bugs, birds, and plants." And as Chaya S. suggests, Summer is a great time to explore state parks in your area; many have kid-friendly guided nature walks and science centers.
Elementary school educators spend a lot of time teaching children to love and accept all kinds of people. But a recent study suggests that children have "already absorbed an upsetting message: that fat is a negative indicator of a person's character, and that overweight people are undesirable as friends and as people" at an earlier age, The Atlantic reports.
In a study conducted by the University of Leeds, researchers found that kids' prejudice against fat people starts as early as preschool. Approximately 300 schoolchildren ranging from 4 to 6 years old were read a story about two friends who get stuck in a tree. In one version, both children are normal-sized. But in another version, one child is presented as overweight or disabled. When asked what they thought about the characters, the children overwhelmingly decided that the fat kid was less likely to win a race, do well in school, be happy with the way he looks, or get invited to parties, according to the report. Additionally, the children rated the overweight or disabled child more likely to be naughty and have fewer friends.
The "rejection" of the fat character was consistent when the story was portrayed with both male and female characters, the researchers said, indicating that "children pick up on societal cues as to what is socially acceptable and what is not" at a much earlier age than initially assumed.
