Pull up your favorite blog or look through your feed and there’s a good chance you’ll come across a story about the role of gender-neutrality in parenting. That’s because there’s a growing movement to raise children without societal restrictions imposed by gender labels. Gender-neutral parenting covers a broad spectrum. On one end, there are parents who don’t reveal the sex of their child to anyone but close friends and family....

Directions For this activity, children represent the sun, moon, and planets, and imagine they are in space above and around the Earth. Using balls or balloons of different sizes or their arms in round shapes, they move around each other turning and spinning. This activity is an opportunity to learn about rotation and revolution and the names of familiar planets. Children can also imagine they are satellites, spaceships, flying saucers, and astronauts....

“Children at all ages have needs, and I feel that mental and social needs could be more pronounced with high school students and especially as a result of the pandemic,” notes Angela Pointer, who works in talent acquisition and is mom to 16-year-old Caleb. While there are no concrete details on the number of parents making work and career changes to be home with their high schoolers, research shows that over 90% of parents say having more flexibility at work would make them better parents....

10 minutes Materials StringScissorsBalloons Directions Extensions Put a balloon behind your back and try to pop it against the wall.Use a thumbtack to pop balloons, counting to 3 before popping so you are both ready.Take turns calling out a color and popping just balloons of that color.

Take a Coffee (or Tea) Break via GIPHY Throughout each day, make sure to take a break to give yourself time to relax, contemplate, and let go of all the stresses of the day. Whether you’re a coffee or a tea drinker, it’s important to find even a few minutes to sit in a quiet space to have a breather, especially if you spend most of your day chasing little ones....

“When you first notice them, it’s a very visible sign that your body is changing in major ways and won’t ever really be the same. That can be kind of alarming,” Austrew states. She worried about how the marks would look after she gave birth, and says she fell into the trap of thinking she needed to make them disappear. Time has tempered her feelings, and she now has a different outlook on her stretch marks....

Most adults have healthy immune systems that protect them from getting sick from contaminated food. Young children are more vulnerable to food-borne bacteria, because of their immature immune systems. There are some simple steps to keep your food safe in summer. The most important safety measure is washing your hands with hot, soapy water before handling food and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or handling pets. If you’re eating away from home, use disposable wipes or antibacterial gels and dry your hands with paper towels....

Even though studies show that 80 percent of parents feel responsible for their kids’ sexual education, few actually sit down and talk about it. One study reveals that 19 percent of kids get information about sex from their parents, while 81 percent are educated by their friends! With stats like these, it’s no wonder that teens suffer from so many misconceptions about sex. Why do we parents fail to talk about the birds and the bees?...

When my children were in their early elementary school years, they persuaded my wife and me that it was important that they stay up an hour past their bedtime to watch a Jacques Cousteau special on TV. My nine-year-old daughter stood beside her seven-year-old brother as she argued that her class was studying sea creatures and this program would help her with her schoolwork. She also pointed out that her brother would soon be studying this topic and that he would benefit greatly from it as well....

It’s OK if your child expresses their negative feelings. In fact, it can be good to express them in order to deal with them. Anger is a natural emotional response as is feeling hurt when someone has done something unkind to us or when something bad has happened to us. Crying over a hurt or even saying, “I hate them” is not by itself wrong. However, it’s hard to see our child feeling sad, angry, and distressed, especially when they seem to have a hard time moving past it....

When pregnant with their twins in 2015, they headed to a big box store, as most new parents do. “We just didn’t find a brand we felt connected to,” says MacGregor. “We felt overwhelmed by trying to pick the ‘right’ gear. And we left that first big box store fighting because we didn’t know what to do.” They knew there had to be a better way, and the two were determined to find a brand that spoke directly to what they wanted: confidence in first-time parenting, and a better overall experience with the baby gear process....

Safety Tips from the Professionals Dr. Bill Van Tassel, Manager, Driver Training Operation at AAA, shares these teen driving tips for snowstorms: Reduce your speed. Tires have less traction on snow, so the only way to regain the same safety margin is to reduce your speed. Driving 1 mph too slow is no big deal; driving 1 mph too fast can be deadly. Be very smooth with your steering and pedal inputs....

There are many GPS trackers out there with a variety of designs, including watches, phones, and small plastic tags you can drop inside a backpack or attach to a shoelace. Depending on your stance on technology for kids, you will want to consider the age-appropriateness of the device, how long the battery lasts, whether it’s simple enough for your child to use, and the monthly cost. “A simple tracker is better than a phone because it’s easy to carry and can be stored more conveniently,” cybersecurity specialist Naj Ahmed, tells Verywell Family....

Make sure to choose one that is at the appropriate academic level for your child. Most workbooks have grade-level recommendations to use as a guide, but you can also check reviews, speak with your child’s teacher, and level up or down based on your child’s academic needs. We carefully reviewed any age or grade recommendations, material, value, and engagement when reviewing products. Here are the best educational workbooks for kids that make learning fun and build skills....

“Dinosaurs and dinosaur toys are the gateways to science for so many children,” Ashley Hall, outreach program manager at the Museum of the Rockies, tells Verywell Family. However, not all dinosaur toys are created equal, so when you’re on the hunt for something for your child, it’s important to pay close attention to the type of toy, the materials it’s made from, and whether or not it’s age-appropriate. To help you with your search, we’ve researched some of the best dinosaur toys on the market, considering a variety of age levels, types of play, and durability....

From trendy items that they are hoping for to practical products that they will actually use, there is something for everyone. We carefully considered toy safety, age recommendations, design, ease of use and cleaning, and value when reviewing products. Here are the best stocking stuffers for kids of all ages. Price at time of publication: $11 Price at time of publication: $14 Price at time of publication: $18 Price at time of publication: $10 Price at time of publication: $30 Price at time of publication: $10 Price at time of publication: $6 Price at time of publication: $10 Price at time of publication: $13 Price at time of publication: $8 Price at time of publication: $25 Price at time of publication: $13 Price at time of publication: $38 Price at time of publication: $30 Price at time of publication: $10 Price at time of publication: $15 Price at time of publication: $6 Price at time of publication: $40 Price at time of publication: $7 Price at time of publication: $12 Price at time of publication: $50 Price at time of publication: $10 Price at time of publication: $30 Price at time of publication: $9 Price at time of publication: $23...

You’ll want to make sure the toy you choose is safe, durable, easy to clean, and age-appropriate. It also helps to look for toys with different colors, textures, and sounds to engage all of their senses. Any toy you choose should be challenging enough for your toddler to learn something new without leaving them frustrated and wanting to give up. We researched popular options from trusted brands with these helpful features in mind....

“Audiobooks introduce pre-readers to storytelling and help develop a lifelong love for reading,” says Mary Pope Osborne, New York Times bestselling author of the “Magic Tree House” series. “Audiobooks provide an easily accessible way to introduce children to the myriad benefits of storytelling. Through storytelling, kids learn to express their curiosity, emotions, and imagination which are essential building blocks to lifelong learning,” she says. Audiobooks are also an affordable way to keep your child engaged in the car, at home, or before bedtime....

Sleeping bags come with a variety of extra features that will help keep your child comfortable like hoods, fleece-lining, pockets, anti-snag zippers, and more. Once you’ve nailed the size and features down, don’t be afraid to pick a sleeping bag that’s personalized to your child’s taste. Other great features to look out for are their temperature range, durability, and ease of cleaning. We researched popular options from trusted brands with these features in mind....