Faced with a rainy day or a day off from school...and you start hearing the refrain..."We're bored!!"  No worries--we have some great ideas for entertaining the troops. Here are some of our favorites.

Whether you have a crawling baby or a video game addicted tween, it's important to carve out space where you get to play together!  As silly as it sounds, with everyone's busy schedules play time often gets taken off the "to do" list.   While we spend so much time making sure that everyone is doing all their "work"...the time we spend laughing with our kids  is just as important.

Looking for ideas for outdoor fun? Whether you are the "it" house in your neighborhood or if you're planning a family get together, we have some great games and equipment that can bring everyone together.

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You can also read her daily blog about the good, bad and ugly in toyland.

Have a question about what's age appropriate? Join the discussion! Click here to view her blog.

The beginning of the school year can be exciting for kids - new school supplies, seeing their friends..but it's also about the work.  Research shows that kids often slide backwards during the summer months.  The good news is that during the first few weeks of school, you're kids are also reviewing.  Since most of us are not trained educators, it's hard to know how to help without trying to step into that teacher role - that inevitably ends in tears. Here are some suggested games and activities that are fun to play - and at the same time reinforce academic skills. Read more.

"Can I have a few friends sleep over?"

The first time you hear this, you pause...thinking how grown up your child has become that they want a sleepover party. It's a huge milestone. (In the interest of full disclosure, I never made it through the night. My neighborhood best friend and I would have big plans and I would evitably end up going home before the evening was over.)  

Once you say yes...the reality of having lots of kids for an entire night sets in!  The best way to make the night pleasant for everyone is to have a game plan.  Some activity that will engage the gang for a good part of the evening. The key is to pick something that the majority of kids will enjoy.  Letting your child be the guide is the best bet here--"that's too babyish" is the kiss of death in these situations.

Read more to see our MUST HAVE GAME PLAN for a Fun sleepover. 

A new school year has begun...and once the excitement over new school supplies and seeing their friends has faded...you may find that your child is a little rusty with math facts and reading skills.  Research show that kids can backslide several months during the summer.  So what's a parent to do?