Scarves, balls and sprinklers – exercising is fun! By Maura Rhodes 1. Chiffon scarves They’re great for visual tracking, throwing, and catching (use with adult supervision).   2. Hula hoop Not just for shimmying; your kid can jump in and out of it, or roll it around.   3. Jump rope Besides the obvious, use it… Read more

As the cold temperatures set in for much of the country, the soccer fields and the baseball diamonds are abandoned until spring. And for the kids that play, it means no after-school rush to get to practice or early weekend mornings to get to a game. But that doesn’t mean that kids shouldn’t stay active… Read more

Time Magazine for Kids By TFK Kid Reporter Storm Bookhard The MoMath museum puts a fun spin on learning about math   COURTESY DORINDA ANGELUCCI TFK Kid Reporter Storm Bookhard gets a firsthand look at the new MoMath museum in New York City. A door handle shaped like the symbol Pi opens a new world… Read more

The Huffington Post By: Sheila Quirke This week, my son turned 4. This made him immeasurably happy, despite the touch of angst about his impending age change. The night before his birthday, he could not fall asleep. Initially, I thought that was about excitement over gifts, gifts, gifts! Cause, you know, it had been a… Read more

Healthy self-esteem is like a child’s armor against the challenges of the world. Kids who know their strengths and weaknesses and feel good about themselves seem to have an easier time handling conflicts and resisting negative pressures. They tend to smile more readily and enjoy life. These kids are realistic and generally optimistic. In contrast,… Read more

  The New York Times Motherlode-Adventures in Parenting By KJ DELL’ANTONIA   For many of us, it’s the most indoorsy time of the year. It’s cold, blustery and wet in much of the United States (we are ignoring my friend in the South, who posted to her Facebook page this morning complaining about the mosquitoes impeding… Read more

  Source: Children’s Aid Society   Does your family spend too much time watching TV and not enough time taking walks? Does your family have a history of diabetes or heart disease? A recent report from the Surgeon General states that between 15 and 25 percent of school children in the United States is overweight, placing them… Read more

Parents Magazine by Kristen Kemp I know a 3-year-old boy who won’t eat pasta of any kind, not even mac and cheese. I know another 2-year-old girl who will hardly eat anything else. Getting kids to eat healthy, varied and normal food can be like trying to tie your shoe with your teeth. It’s completely impossible–and totally gross. I’ll… Read more