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.

Learning the alphabet is one of those basic skills that children often learn by rote as they sing the classic Alphabet Song that ends with "Now I know my ABC's."  But knowing how to sing the letters does not mean they really do know their ABC's.

To watch the segment, click here.

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.

It's hard to say just why pigs are such favorites in children's books. Who can forget The Three Little Pigs or Wilbur, the 'terrific' pig of Charlotte's Web or the very feisty Olivia? Here's a look at some of the new piggy tales for this season.

Of course you can buy ready made dough for your kids, but here's a recipe that makes it really easy to do at home.  Think of this activity as Science 101: kids will love getting their hands in the mix and making something they can then enjoy playing with once the mixture is complete! Talk about how the dry flour and salt change as you add water and oil. Store the dough in plastic wrap to keep it pliable when not in use.

It's easy to make: mix together 1 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of salt, a few drops of vegetable oil and enough water to form a ball. Food coloring or a splash of bright tempera paint can be added.

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?