Family Life

13 of the Best Family Movies to Watch for Black History Month

When I was growing up, there were very few people on the big screen who looked like me – not that I necessarily noticed; but looking back, I can ascertain that it was a reality. I’m grateful that times have changed, and my daughters get to enjoy interesting movies with all sorts of remarkable characters including some who share their same ethnic background. I thought it would be meaningful to make an acknowledgement post during Black History Month, and, although the month is celebrated in various ways by different people, let’s have fun with it and discuss some good movies starring black actors! Here are 13 of our faves that you can (probably) watch with your entire family:

Editor's Picks - Family-Friendly Movies - Old & New!

There aren't a whole lot of things better than snuggling up on the couch with the kids for a movie day or night! When you've resolved to stay in for the day, head to RedBox, or pull up Netflix / Disney Plus / Amazon Prime on TV, or set-up a movie exchange with your friends and play some of our favorite family-friendly movies - old and new!

Family-Friendly Website Picks

child using computer
The web is teeming with information for kids – good and bad! We’ve put together some of our favorite kid-friendly, fun, educational and just because websites for toddlers to tweens for you and your kids to enjoy this summer!

Network Websites - PBSKids, Nick Jr., Sesame Street and Universal Kids are just a few! All the networks your kids love have great websites with videos and games featuring their favorite characters.

Starfall.com - This free, learn-to-read site is arranged in four different main sections to play, based on where your child is on the journey from reading readiness to independent reader. Fun animations, interactive stories, and catchy tunes.

Smithsonian Education Students - Smithsonian Education Students is a treasure trove of resources for kids and a place for them to explore and learn about many topics such as art, history, science, and cultures.

Brain Pop Jr. – Brain Pop Jr. (and Brain Pop for older kids) creates animated, educational movies and curricular content that engages students, supports educators, and bolsters achievement.

Switch Zoo - Switch Zoo started as a fun little game where you can make crazy animals by combining different body parts. Now, the website features additional animal games, music created from animal voices, a reference section about all the animals in Switch Zoo, lesson plans, and poetry, stories and artwork created by students and other visitors.

Fisher Price - Online learning activities and games, coloring pages, crafts, and more for your infant, toddler, or preschooler.

Pixie Hollow - Fairy-loving kids will find virtual-community features, two chat options, and a magical fairyland of games, videos, and activities.

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That - An award-winning website designed to spark a love of learning and an interest in science and math in preschoolers

Sports Illustrated Kids - SIKIDS.COM is the online counterpart to Sports Illustrated For Kids magazine. The site changes from day to day, and even from minute to minute, where they provide a fun, safe environment for kids, filled with some of the best news, games, and interactive features on the internet.

LEGO Duplo - Safe, full-screen games where your preschooler can play and learn with virtual LEGOs.

FunBrain – Edcuational games, online books, and comics, for ages preschool to 8 years old.

KidRex.org – A safe, kid-friendly search engine that emphasizes kid-related webpages from across the entire web and are powered by Google Custom Search™ and use Google SafeSearch™ technology.

National Geographic Kids - National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers to explore the world! The website features different people, animals, and places with facts, games, activities, and related links.

KoookaBoooka – KoookaBoooka is a blog-style website of funny stories, funny pictures, and humor for kids to enjoy.

10 Toys and Manipulatives for BORED Kids

Kids are bored and doing nothing? Have these toys and activities on hand to perk things up!

Rainbow Loom - Rainbow Loom® is a kit for making super fun rubber band links, recommended for 8 yrs to adult, but younger kids will enjoy it too with a little help from an adult.

Washable Sidewalk Chalk - Sometimes getting kids outside is simple. Crayola's Washable Sidewalk Chalk will inspire hours of driveway doodling. Each stick is squared off so that it will not roll away into the street when placed down. Should you prefer not to wait for the rain to clear your children's chalk masterpiece, this chalk will wash away easily with the spray of a hose.

Tuptoel Electronic Target Shooting Game – A hit with parents and children alike, this toy gun set comes with two quality toy guns, electronic shooting targets, and digital screen scoring.

Dress-Up Costumes – Boys and girls of every age love to dress up and pretend they are a princess, superhero or police officer. Have a drawer stuffed old jewelry, hats, etc. or purchase they ready-made sets for easy access!

Sand and Water Table – This is a great idea for helping pass the time on a hot summer day! Choose from sand, water or both for all-around imaginative play. Combine the water tower and mountain cover to create a waterfall.

Jumbo Cardboard Blocks – Kids will spend hours building, destroying and building with these large, cardboard blocks. Make mazes for your pet hamster, race tracks for your cars or houses for Barbie – the ideas are endless!

Finger Paints – Stop by the craft store and load up on finger paints, finger paint paper, textured rollers and sponge stamps and then open the door and let the kids create in the yard!

Play Doh – Play Doh comes in every color and texture imaginable these days and there’s no end to what kids can make! Spice it up a bit and get them an ice cream or tool workshop and watch them go!

Kinetic Sand – Kinetic Sand, sometimes referred to by the trademark Moon Sand™, is a revolutionary material that feels just like sand and molds to any shape you can imagine. Squish it! Shape it! Mold it! Kinetic sand never dries out and can be used again and again.

Jump Rope – There are tons of things to do when you have a jump rope on hand if you’re going solo or with a group. Grab an 8-foot jump rope, a couple of friends and the “Anna Banana Jump Rope Rhymes” book and have a ball!

7 Ways to Enjoy Life's Everyday Moments

Are you finding it difficult to carve out quality time with family? Even during the pandemic - when life has forced so many of our lives to a significant slowdown - it still hasn't been easy for some of us parents to dedicate ourselves to family time activities. Maybe we're too bogged down with work, homeschooling, or household responsibilities; or maybe the current (and crazy) events in our word are taking up too much emotional space for us to focus on anything else.

Taking the time to experience bonding activities with your family and loved ones can result in fond memories and a deeper sense of security for all involved. Here are 7 easy ways to make this happen:

1- Build Strong Bonds

Life gets busy, and in the shuffle it’s easy to overlook the importance of quality time with your friends, family, and significant others. Commit to regularly (and safely) spending one-on-one time with each loved one as a special treat you can all cherish. Even if it’s just snuggling and watching a favorite show together, crafting, or doing an activity you both enjoy, try making an effort to slow down and strengthen your bonds.

Want to raise kids who are compassionate? Be sure you're doing this essential thing!

Do you think you're on the right track for raising kids who are kindhearted and compassionate, and then they say or do something so inexcusably mean or inconsiderate, and it makes you wonder, "Where the heck am I going wrong?"

There’s a saying that goes, “Preach the gospel. If necessary, use words.” Along these same lines, I’d like to say “Show your children how to be compassionate towards others. If necessary, use words.” This basically means that while verbal guidance might be necessary at times, we should primarily show / teach with our actions, because these actions are what will most influence others – especially our own kids. It's true, and I have the letter that proves it!

The other day, I ran across a stack of 7 folded notes written to/from my 15-year-old and 6-year-old daughters. Because I’m a nosy mom (I bet you are too!), I took a seat and read through them all, and it appears as though the first note that initiated the back & forth exchange was from the teenager. It was an apology to her baby sister, telling her she was sorry that she was too busy with schoolwork the previous day and couldn’t play with her. The note went on to ask “If you have a chance, we should have a meeting at 2pm today. If you think this is a good idea, please meet me in the kitchen at promptly 2:00.”

You’ve been Boo’ed and Elf’ed! Here’s something new: Get Ball Dropped!

When the clock strikes midnight on December 31, this crazy year will finally be over!

You’re probably familiar with the idea of “boo’ing” your friends and neighbors during the Halloween season and “elf’ing” them during the Christmas season. It’s a simple game where you anonymously drop off a fun-filled basket of treats for them to enjoy with the hope that they’ll pay it forward and “boo” or “elf” someone else.

Let’s compare lists. Here are my New Year’s Resolutions! What are yours?

I LOVE making New Year’s Resolutions! Don’t you?

Don’t give me the bogus-ness about not making resolutions because they’re sure to fail, because the truth is it’s very possible to succeed with New Year’s Resolutions if you make SMART goals and then be willing to put in the work. But I admit – I rarely achieve the level of success with my resolutions as I’d like, but I still look forward to opening my brand new calendar and imagining the possibilities that lie ahead for the New Year. And if I get only halfway to a goal – or even a fourth of the way there, that’s better than nothing, right?

Experts say your goals need to be SMART (more on that here) and that you shouldn’t make too many goals. That seems like sound advice, but I can’t resist having a resolutions list long enough to reach from here all the way to Downtown Houston, because I just like believing that each new year will be THE year to tackle all my projects and get my life in order! Wishful thinking, but why not?

12 Easy Ideas for at-home memories with your child

Folks, it's true! A day home doing something with your child that she enjoys can be just as memorable and special to them as a day out spending tons of money. Kitchen projects are our favorites, and my daughter always talks about the time spent cooking, even after the meal is long gone.

Keep reading for some super simple activity ideas your little one might enjoy doing at home with you today:

Win "Mom of the Year" with these gifts for your teen!

Are you shopping for a teenager for Christmas this year? Groan. I know the feeling. Most teenagers are difficult to shop for. I mean, how are you supposed to know what they want when most times THEY don't even know? Unless they have some specific interests, choosing gifts are sometimes a shot in the dark. But... it really is possible to find gifts they will love. Here are some really great options that most older kiddos - and even some adults - will enjoy: [We may get commission for purchases made through links below.]

Your child will love these Thanksgiving lapbooks!

School's out! So what can you do with your child during the Thanksgiving break? We're so glad you asked! In addition to baking zucchini bread, watching TV, reading, and playing around the house, your child is sure to enjoy a lapbook activity about Thanksgiving!

Lapbooking is a cute, creative, hands-on way for your child to learn about a specific topic in a fun way. The best thing about lapbooking is that it's so simple! You'll use a file folder or a school folder and some tape and/or glue. From there you'll find a lapbook that's suitable for your child (there are hundreds available online - some are free, some require a small cost), print the interactive templates, and help your child assemble the lapbook. Lapbooking involves cutting, folding, coloring, gluing, and other fine motor activities that are great for your child' development!