Activities
Summer Gardening: Cement Planter DIY
Looking to bring more of that blooming outdoors inside? Or, need some more beautiful outdoor planters? Learn how to make these cool cement planters with just a hint of color!
Crafts
Make Your Own Light-Up Fairy Jars for Kids
Capture “fairies” or fireflies forever in this light-up mason jar. We show you how you and the kids can make your own from scratch.
Food & Home
Beating the Summer Slide One Bowl at a Time
Tackling the summer slide doesn’t have to be a big deal. Kid(s) can practice a new vocabulary word with their breakfast. We show you how to make it fun.
Crafts
End-of-School-Year “Exit Interview” Printable
Help kids journal their school memories from the past year with this free “exit interview.” They’ll enjoy looking back on the good times for years to come.
Big Kid
Kid Going to Sleepaway Camp? Here’s What They’ll Need
Is your child headed to sleepaway camp? Don’t panic. We talked to seasoned parents about what you really need to pack and what you don’t.
Activities
DIY Olympics & Team USA Swim Caps
Excited about the Summer Olympics? We are too! Show your solidarity with Team USA and the other Olympians with your own Olympics-inspired swim cap. Easy peasy to make.
Parenting
Sometimes It’s Okay To Be Off Your Parenting Game
Parenting is a 24/7 job and you can’t always be expected to bring your A game. Sometimes we relax on the job and that is more than okay.
Activities
Minecraft Popsicles!
Have a Minecraft fan at home? Follow our directions to make your own Minecraft popsicles. A great summertime food craft.
Education
Summer Homework: Get Your Kids to do it and Stop the Summer Slide
Summer work is a great way to keep kids from forgetting all the stuff they learned during the school year. Some advice to stop the “Summer slide.”
Big Kid
The Lost Summer? Maybe The Best Summer
While my time of “active parenting” with my kids is drawing to a close, I finally figured out how to make sure the tail end of their childhoods isn’t lost.
Resources
Muscular Dystrophy Association Summer Camp and How to Live Unlimited
The kids are kept super busy at the MDA camps, many getting to do things they never thought they could do. And they’re not embarrassed if they don’t do it well, either, because it’s all in the trying, not in the results.
Activities
My Kids are in Camp and I Refuse To Feel Guilty About It
The idea of a lazy, 1970’s inspired summer sounds fun but the reality is – I need to keep my kids busy at summer camp so I can get my work done and keep my sanity.
Postpartum
Summertime Sanity
A teacher is at home full-time this summer with a toddler and an infant, and each morning dreads the super long intensive daylight parenting hours ahead of her. Is there more to this than just the new summer schedule? Amalah thinks maybe.
Big Kid
The Summer of Friendship Withdrawal
In our high tech world, kids can FaceTime, text message, and constantly feel connected to their friends. But things get lonely when a best friend is tech free for the summer.
Crafts
Pretend “Bugs in a Jar” Craft
Pretend Bugs-in-a-Jar are great party favors for Bug-themed party or as a summer craft to keep little hands busy.
Toddler
Savoring the Simple Summer Moments
A great summer doesn’t have to mean big or epic summer road or beach trips . Sometimes, you can find its essence in small and unexpected places.
Big Kid
How to Determine if a Pool is Right for Your Family
The decision to own a pool is not one to be taken lightly, so I have a few simple questions to help you figure out if it’s right for your family.
Travel
Universal Orlando: 25 Things You Must Do & See With Your Kids
Spend more time yelling, “Whee!” and less time planning your day with our handy dandy list of Universal Orlando must-dos and secret tips.
Big Kid
My Kid is Ready for Sleepaway Camp. But I’m Not.
The idea of sleep away camp can become a very thorny issue in a marriage when one parent loves the idea and one definitely does not.
Crafts
Super Simple DIY Reading Tent
This reading tent is a super simple sewing project with the end result a lovely indoor or outdoor quiet reading space for kids’ required homework reading.