When the weather turns frosty there is nothing more cozy than reading winter poems. Perhaps poetry tea time is a tradition in your house, or maybe you just want to try something new. Put on a pot of hot chocolate, break out the cookies and read these snowy winter poems, perfect for sharing with children....
Winter Poems for Kids and a Calming Afternoon
How to Play Garbage Card Game
Don't you just love it when games have bizarre names? First we shared the Drop Dead dice game, then it was Pig dice, and now it's time to introduce you to Garbage, an easy card game for kids and families! Garbage, despite its name, is a game you'll want to play again and again. It...
Game of the Month: Cobra Paw
Looking to add something new to your game collection but want something off the beaten path? Try Cobra Paw, a tile snatching game! A tile snatching game, you say? What in the world is that? Think of it as a merging of Qwirkle, Dominoes, and Slapjack. Sounds crazy, right? UPDATE: Cobra Paw has been discontinued,...
What to Do With Paper Snowflakes
I have a small problem. It happens every year. I start to make paper snowflakes. And I can't stop! I have piles of paper snowflakes. It's like a paper snow storm in here. It's a little crazy. Sort of like me. What do I do with this paper blizzard? I need a plan of action....
LEGO Menorah: Have a Creative and Flameless Hanukkah
The other night my youngest son was saying how he was afraid of the fire used to light menorahs. He wanted to be involved in the lighting of the candles, but was too trepidatious. We needed something flameless. Introducing the make your own LEGO® menorah! I have seen toddler and preschool menorahs in which the...
Best Non-Board Board Games for Kids and Families
It's not always easy finding a board game the whole family will enjoy. And some people groan at the idea of a board game in which players simply move their pawns around a maze towards an elusive goal. If this is you, what you need is a "non-boring, non-board board game"! We own all of...
Happy Faces Sandwich Coloring Page
What's the easiest meal to whip up for the kids? Why a sandwich, of course! Whether your child loves a classic PB&J, a gourmet brie and pear, or a hearty turkey and cheese, this sandwich coloring page is sure to keep them busy while you act out your daily role as short order cook for...
Read Aloud Books for Families to Give (and Get) as Gifts
There is nothing better to give your family than the gift of time together. And the best way (IMHO) to spend that time is to gather together for a family reading session. Sure, it's not always easy to find just the right read aloud book that everyone will love. But that's why you've come to...
Cute Christmas Coloring Pages
With Christmas on the horizon, it's time to start getting in the mood. Kids will love these exclusive Christmas coloring pages from children's book author and illustrator, Melanie Hope Greenberg. But these aren't your ordinary festive holiday coloring pages! No, no, no! Almost all of these free, printable illustrations also double as activities or crafts....
Sweet and Spicy: Making Pomanders with Kids
Nothing makes a home feel cozier at Christmas time then the scents of citrus and spices wafting through the air! And it just so happens that orange and clove pomanders is the perfect easy winter holiday craft to make with your kids. What better way to celebrate than a sweet and spicy activity with the...
If You Like Judy Blume, You'll Love These Books
Fans of Judy Blume rejoice! After you've finished the entire oeuvre of Blume's works, it is possible to find more books like Judy Blume that that you will love and adore. Judy Blume was and is a groundbreaking author. She was one of the first authors to write books for preteens and teens that addressed...
Make Your Own Brain Teaser Advent Calendar
The run-up to Christmas is exciting, isn't it? So much anticipation in the air and a jolly good advent calendar can add to the atmosphere. Sure, you could pick up the traditional chocolate calendar but why not try something new? Something that gives the brain a little boost in the morning? Something like.... a brain...
Gift Books for Babies
What is a good book to give a new baby? For starters, the book has to be one that won't be duplicated in other gifts at a baby shower. That eliminates a lot of popular titles like Goodnight Moon and Dear Zoo. Those are excellent books, but let someone else buy them. Instead pick a...
Best Single Player Logic Games for Kids
There is no greater gift you can give parents than a single player logic game for their kids. I'm serious. Single player logic games do the following: Convinced, yet? I thought so. We happen to have a rather larger than average collection of solitary logic games for kids for precisely the reasons I outlined above....
Kolowis Awithlaknannai: Fighting Serpents Game
Kolowis Awithlaknannai, also known as "Fighting Serpents," is a traditional abstract strategy game from the Zuni people. The Zunis are Native American Pueblo people from the region presently occupied by New Mexico. The game board consists of pairs of triangles. Traditionally, Kolowis Awithlaknannai is played on a board of 30 pairs of triangles, with 23...
Best Chapter Book Box Sets (Ages 6-9)
What are some good chapter book series to give as gifts to 6-9 year olds? I'm glad you asked! A great early chapter book will have kids entranced until the final page, eager to get to the next installment in the series. Perhaps there will be a few, or many, laughs, maybe even a couple...
Books for 2-Year-Olds That Are New-to-You
If you are reading this list of books for 2-year-olds you are either A) tired of reading the same few books over and over and desperately seeking something new; or B) want to give a new book to your favorite 2-year-old but need to find a book they don't already have! You've come to the...
Best Games for Kids Ages 10-15
You can't play Candyland forever. Thank goodness. Our family plays a lot of games. A lot. In order to curate this collection of the best kids for ages 10-15, I've taken note of the way different types of games strike their fancy as they get older. This in-between age of not-quite-a-teen to not-quite-an-adult has them...
Go Boom, A Family "Trick-Taking" Card Game
Sometimes you look at your game closet and you want to play something new! But you don't want to a) spend more money or b) take time to learn a set of complicated instructions. If you already have a standard deck of cards (and I know you do), the choice is clear: Go Boom. We...
Children's Books that Address Loneliness
We all feel lonely from time to time, but sometimes children can feel overwhelmed by loneliness and isolation. Grown-ups can help children develop emotional intelligence by sharing tales of others experiencing similar emotions. These children's books that address loneliness are positive stories that show actions that lonely individuals and others take in order to foster...
Picture Books to Help Children Understand Death
Death is one of the hardest things to talk about with children. The topic brings up so many unanswerable questions and parents can sometimes be at a loss as to how to thoughtfully engage in a discussion about death and grief with their children. Even if children haven't encountered the death of a loved one,...
Thanksgiving Poems for Kids to Memorize and Share
Here's something you might not have thought you'd be putting on your gratitude list this year. POETRY. But you know what? Celebrating Thanksgiving with a special poem or two will make your holiday a unique event. And if you start early, there is plenty of time for your children to memorize a classic, modern or...
Game of the Month: Marshmallow Test
Are you familiar with the famous "Marshmallow Test?" The one that is supposed to measure how well kids can draw upon their willpower in order to delay gratification? Well, Gamewright has come up with a new trick-taking card game inspired by Walter Mischel's famous (or infamous) Stanford social-science research project. NOTE: Marshmallow Text has been...
Adorable Printable Birthday Card Coloring Pages
Happy Coloring Page Birthday to Melanie and Me! 🎉🎈 That's right. For eight fun years Melanie Hope Greenberg has been creating exclusive coloring pages for What Do We Do All Day? Where does the time go? And all that jazz, ha ha. Somehow, Melanie keeps coming up with unique coloring pages to share with you....
Best Fantasy and Sci-Fi Graphic Novels for Kids
Kids love graphic novels. And why not? They are engaging, visually appealing and incredibly imaginative. To feed your reader's imagination, we've created a list of the best fantasy graphic novels to sweep your readers away into another world. Note: this list contains affiliate links that may earn commission. On this list you'll find a fantastical...
Connect Online with These Remote Read Aloud Books
This book list was originally curated in 2020 when our school children were engaged in remote learning. However, it is still relevant today for family members who want to connect but are separated for any reason such as illness, military service or living apart over long distances. Last week I had a follower ask me...
Scary & Sweet Halloween Poems for Kids
Quick! What's the first thing that comes to mind when someone say, "Happy Halloween!" Poetry, right? No? Okay, so perhaps Halloween poems aren't at the top of your list of holiday must-dos, but by the time you finish reading this, your children will be donning their costumes in order to recite a poem before trick-or-treating!...
Game of the Month: Azul
Azul may be the most gorgeous game we've ever featured as a game of the month! Azul, made by Plan B Games, is a tile placement game in which players race to earn points by completing horizontal and vertical lines of tiles on their "wall." The stunningly colorful game design was inspired by azulejos, a...
Best Chapter Books in Translation
As noted on my list of picture books in translation, reading books from other countries exposes children to a wide range of literary styles. It is also fair to say that non-American children's literature has a certain je ne sais quoi that enchants and delights. In addition, the books on this list make enormously gratifying...
Family Games that Get Kids Moving and Thinking
Board and card games at the table are fun, but kids need to MOVE! It's important to find games for kids and families that include physical movement. It's no secret that many kids benefit from moving their bodies while learning. What's more, activities that combine gross and fine motor skills enhance the benefits of both,...
Fantasy Books for Kids Ages 8-13
Fantasy books transport readers to new worlds, allow them to dream the impossible and spark their imaginations. Is it any wonder that kids love reading fantasy novels? What I've done with this list is curate a collection of over 40 middle grade fantasy books that includes a huge range of styles. This list has everything...
Teach Kids to Share with the Sharing Ball
How do you teach kids to share? That's the eternal parenting question. There is a lot of standard "teaching kids how to share" advice out there. I usually goes like this: Praise good sharing behavior. Play turn-taking games Create rewards for sharing But, teaching kids how to share is not really as easy as reading...
Favorite Children's Picture Books in Translation
We love reading children's books in translation! Picture books translated from other languages tend to have a different "flavor" than American picture books. Once you start reading them you may notice that topics may be more sophisticated and philosophical, that the humor is wry and quirky, the narration less earnest. (These are obviously generalizations.) I...
Talk Like a Pirate Day Coloring Page
Avast, ye! It's time for a pirate coloring page! Just in time for Talk Like a Pirate Day! Celebrate talking like a pirate with these cute (yes, pirates can be cute, who knew?) pirate mice on the high seas from children's book illustrator and author Melanie Hope Greenberg. Talk Like a Pirate Day occurs every...
Kids Books about Voting and Elections
Democracy is only as strong as its citizens. Teach your children about the importance of fair and free elections with these children's books about voting and elections. These books will share with your kids the crucial role ordinary people play in a society when they exercise their civic responsibility and participate in elections. This book...
How to Teach Kids to Stop Slamming the Door - the Easy Way!
If your kids are anything like mine, they slam doors just a little too often. No, they are not teens expressing their displeasure at the rules. They are young kids just going about their life, entering and exiting rooms like normal people. I've noticed that slamming the door seems to be a way of life....
Game of the Month: Abandon All Artichokes
Ready for a heartless card game? You may be thinking, "What? Of course not!" But you are. You are totally ready. Because the game is Abandon All Artichokes! Abandon All Artichokes is a "deck-wrecking" game from Gamewright. It's like no other game we've ever played and we can't get enough of it. Note: we purchased...
Warm and Cozy Picture Books that Offer Comfort
When you read a book to a child you are creating life long memories. You can choose picture books that teach concepts like math, that share the joy of nonsense language, or books that start conversations about hard topics. And then there are the times you want just the right book to offer comfort to...
Island Life Coloring Page
What's the easiest way to transport yourself to an island with lush greenery, blue waves and a warm breeze? With our newest coloring page, of course! This month's coloring page from Melanie Hope Greenberg is straight from the pages of her picture book Aunt Lilly's Laundromat. The charming Aunt Lilly owns a Brooklyn laundromat where...
9 Creative (and Easy) Autumn Activities for Kids
It is Autumn! The very best season of the year. Time to do some fun autumn activities with the kids! Collect some leaves, crunch a few apples and make art in the process. The best part? All of these fall activity ideas are super-easy (this is me we are talking about!) so you don't have...
