An emergency fund is essential. If you lose your job—a dilemma that too many people have had to face recently—or run into dire straits from another direction, you’ll need some money to tide you over until you get reorganized. Some people need to have an emergency fund to tap into because of the unsteady income provided by their jobs. If you’re in a business where you earn a lot of money sometimes and very little or no money at other times, you might need emergency money to use during the lean periods....

To help expand your child’s vocabulary, try some of these tips. Converse Regularly You are your child’s best and first teacher. Help them increase the number of words in their vocabulary by simply talking to them. Research from Stanford University psychologists shows that talking more to your toddler helps them learn to process language more quickly, which accelerates vocabulary growth. Point out new things, define words if you think they don’t understand what you are saying—just talk to your child about everything and anything....

Now that viewing has moved away from the traditional cable setup, there are also plenty of new titles coming to streaming services in addition to cable channels. Fall TV is no longer reserved for cable—everyone shows up now. Though it can be tempting to let children stare at their screens constantly to keep them busy, it is important to limit screen time. Using screens—whether it’s a computer, phone, tablet, or TV—too long each day can lead to sleep problems, mood swings, and even weight gain....

Directions Antique or thrift stores are a great place to look for old hats. Straw sun hats also work well. Begin creating an interesting hat by covering the brim with fabric remnants and attaching them with glue. Next, attach the flowers, bows, and feathers. Wrap the ribbon and lace around the center and tie a bow in the back. Add more bits and pieces to the hat until the desired effect is achieved....

There are nearly as many kinds of apartments as there are people to fill them. With all those options and more to choose from, how do you find an apartment that … Is enjoyable and comfortable? Is affordable? Is in a safe area? Is convenient to work, shopping, and your friends? Apartment hunting can be confusing, but if you get organized and follow some basic rules, you’ll do just fine....

The Fatty Fish Seafood lovers, rejoice! Epidemiological studies have shown a lower rate of cancer in people who eat a lot of fish. The best advice is to have a few servings of tuna, sardines, bluefish, striped bass, herring, trout, and wild salmon—the fish dishes with a rich concentration of omega-3 fats. In fact, eat them at least three times each week (even more if you can). Just make sure to avoid fish that are too high in mercury, such as swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, and shark....

Effort: Quick and easy – no sewing required Materials: Black spray paint Fire hat Yellow raincoat and pants Electrical tape Black boots Spray bottle Red spray paint Small flashlight Black face makeup Toy vacuum hose (optional) Instructions: If the fire hat isn’t already black, spray it black and let it dry. Wrap tape around the sleeves and pant legs of the rain gear two times, about 2-1/2 inches wide. Paint the spray bottle red to use as a fire extinguisher....

Construction paper Scissors Pen, crayon, or marker Small box, pot, or other container Directions

1 hour Materials LeavesWax paperAn ironTowel Directions Extensions Add small torn pieces of colored gift or tissue paper. Frame and give as colorful gifts. Add a squirt of cologne or other scent before fusing and talk about the smell. Sprinkle with glitter before heating.

Ways to Build Fine Motor Skills You can invest in toys that use fine motor skills while your child is playing. For example, lacing cards, Legos, pegboards, Magnetix, and erector sets all require good fine motor control. Here are some more fun activities to try at home to build up that motor control. Hide and Seek Hide small objects like coins or beads inside a lump of Silly Putty, modeling clay or homemade play clay....

Once your kids are equipped, try these pedometer projects together. They’ll appeal to that inner competitor—or data geek—in all of you to encourage more daily activity, whether together or separately. 1. Set a Daily Step Goal We’ve all heard that adults should try for 10,000 steps a day. Did you know that for kids, a better goal is 12,000 steps (or about 5 miles)? Move those little feet! Otherwise, she may get frustrated and want to give up too quickly....

Disposable diapers can cost parents a lot. Fortunately, there are many places to turn to for free diapers (or discounts) to help offset this expense. Additionally, when you sign up as a member on a diaper company’s website, they’ll often send you free diapers or coupons for purchasing a pack for less. Signing up usually entails agreeing to receive promotional materials or emails and registering with your baby’s birthday and/or due date....

“If I hadn’t gone to all of my Shakespeare lectures – even though some of them were a bit dull – I would have never known that the prof was obsessed with us quoting the texts in our term papers.” – Recent Grad, Wesleyan University You’re here to learn something. And while you’ll learn a tremendous amount from just being on your own and interacting with all sorts of interesting people, you also want to get as much as you can out of your classes....

20 minutes Materials 2 cups salt1 cup water1 cup of cornstarchContainer with lid or sealable plastic bag Directions Extensions Add food coloring to the mixture.Use while warm or heat the Goop gently in the microwave.Add cooking extract or a squirt of cologne to the Goop.Go outdoors and feel the Goop in a plastic tub with your bare feet.

Unfortunately, many New Year’s resolutions are abandoned before the month of January is over. That’s usually because the initial groundwork of establishing support and accountability hasn’t been put in place. Here’s how you can set age-appropriate resolutions as a family for a healthier and happier year ahead. Resolution Ideas for Preschoolers Kids from the ages of 3 to 5 might have trouble sticking to long-term goals. However, thinking about a few small goals to work on each day is a good strategy for this age group....

Give your back a break. If you have a young child at home, now is a good time to get some use out of the stroller and let her practice walking more often. Put your groceries in several lightweight bags. Ask someone else to carry heavy suitcases or packages. Your back muscles will be strained even more in the pregnancy later on; try to ease their burden now.

Answer any questions your child has as honestly as possible – and then wait. Keep an open line of communication for new thoughts, questions and worries. Make a “Big Brother” or “Big Sister” book together. Create “before the new baby” and “after the new baby” section, with photos and drawings of your child and important relatives and friends. Make sure to include her doing things that mean a lot to her....

Go outside with your child and talk together about the space around us. Distinguish between high space up in the sky, low space (down on the ground), and medium space (in the middle). What living things move in these spaces? Ask your child how she would move in a high space (like a bird), in low space (crawling like a bug or snake), and middle space (animals with four legs)....