You’ve got the Christmas tree decorated, a fire crackling, a hot mug of cocoa with marshmallows. Is there anything that could make this scene more perfect? A Christmas audiobook, of course! Snuggling up with a good holiday read aloud book is one of my favorite ways to spend time with my kids during the festive…
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Best Gifts for Preschoolers to Boost Their Brains! (Ages 3-5)
Need some ideas for good gifts for preschoolers? You probably want to avoid toys that will get discarded or broken within a few days. Perhaps you also want to avoid flashing lights and annoying sounds. The best toys for 3-5 year olds are ones that will open up the floodgates of their imagination and boost…
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Conversation-Starting Read Aloud Books for 9 Year Olds
So your 9 year olds are now reading longer middle grade novels on their own and that must mean you don’t need to read aloud to your 9 year old anymore, right? WRONG. Nine year olds still crave special read aloud time with their parents and other treasured adults. The great news is that as…
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Game of the Month: Dragonwood
Our latest game of the month, Dragonwood from Gamewright, is a winning selection for kids who love fantasy and myth! Dragonwood has been a favorite in our house since we got it as a gift last holiday season. Dragons, goblins, unicorns, elves and gooey globs all feature in this fun game which dares players to…
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Halloween Thaumatropes: Spooky Science + Art Project
This month’s coloring page is so much fun! Your kids can make their own Halloween thaumatropes. My kids and I have made thaumatropes from scratch to learn about the science of “persistence of vision” and now we have a cool spooky holiday version to share with you! Use this free printable Halloween thaumatrope template and…
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14 Castle Books for Kids: Picture, Middle Grade and Nonfiction
Is there anything more enticing than hanging out in a castle? I think not, and I bet your kids daydream about castles, too! Inspire their creative daydreams about magical adventures with these castle books for kids! This curated book list contains children’s picture books, middle grade books and a selection of informative nonfiction castle books…
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11 Fun & Unique Advent Calendars for Kids
The countdown to Christmas is a special time for kids and families. Our family has made DIY advent calendars which encourage sibling kindness and reading advent poetry, but we also love more traditional choices. Incorporating an unique advent calendar for kids into your Christmas routine–with a little surprise for each day of Decemeber–makes the holiday…
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50 Upper Middle Grade Books for ages 11-15
Are you looking for great upper middle grade books for your 11-15 year olds? Having a hard time? Kids ages 11-15 are at that in-between age. While 11 year olds may still be content with most middle grade, and some 15 year olds are happy to read YA books, a strong collection of quality upper…
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STEM Projects Teens Will Love
As a mom of a 14 year old, I know that teens are hard to buy gifts for, and even harder to surprise! What if you could find a great gift for teens that also wowed them every time they opened it? Sure, your teens might think all they want is a gift of cash…
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Children’s Books that Celebrate Adoption
You don’t have to be part of an adoptive family to enjoy these children’s books that celebrate adoption. This list of picture books about adoption don’t just illustrate how much love goes into the process of adopting a child, but also address the complex and intense emotions surrounding the day a family welcomes a new…
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