A Parent's One Simple Rule

August 17, 2009

Call it a mantra, a creed, house rules. Call it whatever you wish, just call it -- say it often and out loud. We're thinking of your parenting Ultimate Bottom Line. The one thing that gives you instant perspective, the one great simplifier, the one thing that matters and lets everything else slip immediately away. Of course, there could be two

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Finding Inspiration in the Craft Drawer

August 18, 2009

Faced with a rainy afternoon or a stretch of weekend unfilled by any planned activities, we often feel compelled to dash out to the store to pick up yet another craft kit or coloring book to amuse and occupy the little ones. But the truth is, with just a tiny bit of thought, it’s wholly possible to devise lots of fresh and easy artistic

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Brush Up on the Basics: Simple Toys for Open-Ended Play

August 19, 2009

As parents of preschoolers, we have amazing creative forces on our hands. These kids make music, draw and paint, build towers and castles, invent stories and act them out, all in a day's work. Their inspirations come a mile a minute, and all they really need from us are the right materials. That is to say: toys that inspire, but don't constrain.

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Finding Your Rhythm: Some Savvy Tips for Organizing Your Day

August 20, 2009

Sometimes it feels like we live on treadmills, running from one appointment to the next, multi-tasking all day long.  We barely have time to sit down for a nutritious breakfast, much less plan what the family will have for dinner.  It can be overwhelming for parents.  And, it can exact a heavy toll on families. In fact, study after study has

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The Simple Life: After-School Activities Kept Simple

August 21, 2009

Ballet. Reading enrichment. Soccer. Gymnastics. Hockey. Baseball. Book clubs for kids. Music lessons. Art class. Special interest groups. The list of extracurricular school activities and after-school activities for kids is seemingly endless. In a world that seems so competitive, and a culture that encourages parents endlessly to enrich their

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