To minimize screen time—and the bickering over whose turn it is with a device—get back to basics on a long car trip with old-school family activities. These wholesome pastimes don’t just fill the space until you reach grandma’s house or the Grand Canyon. They also build camaraderie, create happy family memories, and (in some cases) foster brain development and skills mastery. Here are 20 activities large families can try for good, clean fun in the car....

It’s also a nice tradition to watch the same holiday favorites every season, because they’ll start to become part of your kids’ core memories. For years to come, these movies will always mean it’s that special time of year, and they will evoke memories of love and togetherness. If you’re in need of some movies to watch as a family this holiday season, look no further. Ahead, check out a list of some festive classics for all ages....

We can easily say that 2020 has been a year to remember for more reasons than we’d like to admit. But for people of color, it’s been an ongoing struggle to combat racism and racial stereotyping. Now more than ever, it’s important to make sure we supply our children with literature, whether fiction or nonfiction, that helps them understand and become more compassionate to diversity and combating racism. More: How To Raise A Tolerant, Prejudice-Free Kid To help you navigate through such a difficult topic, we’ve put together a list of 25 children’s books to teach kids about race and racism....

Whether it’s genetic traits or physical traits like hairline, eye color, hair color, or a specific personality trait, parents are always looking for what traits their baby boy or baby girl has that resemble their own. We’re going to take a look at eight traits babies inherit from their father, so dad can proudly say his kiddo is just like him! More: 4 Traits Babies Inherit From Their Mother...

There’s nothing like a great holiday film to kick off your holiday season. Whether you’re longing for old favorites or want to see what’s new, there’s something for everyone. So grab some cocoa and let’s go! Find your favorite Christmas movies on streaming, on TV, or available to rent! New Family Christmas Movies to Stream New Christmas movies come out every year and soon watching them together becomes a new holiday tradition for the whole family....

Behavior disorders, on the other hand, are more than just occasional temper tantrums or defiant behavior. A child with a diagnosable behavior disorder experiences behavior problems that are severe enough to interfere with school performance or relationships with friends and family. Behavior disorders can worsen over time without treatment, so it’s important to get a child evaluated by a qualified mental health professional if you suspect a behavior disorder....

1. Make Your Yard an Oasis or Campground Whether you have a small patch or a huge field, take advantage of your backyard or any outdoor space you own by having an at home camp out! One of the fun things about being away on vacation is sleeping in a different environment so why not create that at home? Pitch a tent, have a fire pit, toast marshmallows and tell funny or scary stories!...

That’s huge. The recommendations are so important for families looking to protect their little one as best they can, but it also changes things a little. Does this mean the age of parents lovingly planning the perfect nursery for their baby is over? How in the world do you share a room with a baby for an entire year? Is all your private time gone as a parent? Can you really make room-sharing work for you?...

You’re No Longer Drinking You’re out with your friends and you haven’t really told anyone yet. But it comes time to order dinner and you’re usually ordering wine. Now, all eyes are on you as you say you’d like sparkling water. The questions about your lack of alcoholic intake start. What do you say? Your first line of defense should probably be based on the truth – you’re giving it up for health reasons....

Sweets For Your Sweeties Photo Source: Kimberly Vardeman Nothing says Valentine’s Day like chocolate covered strawberries, but did you know that it’s really easy to dress your strawberries up in fancy tuxedoes? Simply dip the front of your strawberry in melted vanilla chips to form a V-shape and coat the sides and back of the strawberry in melted milk chocolate to form the jacket. Then dip a toothpick into melted chocolate to create buttons on the white shirt front and a bow-tie shape....

COVID-19 vaccines are now approved for use in children older than 6 months of age. See your child’s pediatrician to schedule their COVID-19 vaccine appointment, and make sure your child has all the immunizations they need, including the seasonal flu vaccine. Everyone in your family should get it by the end of October. Then it’s only a matter of time until the rest of the family is sick as well....

Note on the research: the vast majority (if not all) of studies on couples and infertility stress have been done with heterosexual married men and women. More studies are needed, especially ones that include a variety of relationship styles. Until then, we can use what we learn from marriage research, and at least partially apply those results to other kinds of romantic partnerships. Sexual Stress When Trying to Conceive Your sex life may be the very first victim of trying to conceive stress....

Micromanaging Everything for Your Kids Are you keeping your child close, a little too close? Ruling over every single aspect of their life isn’t good for them or you either. Shielding Your Child From Failure No one wants to fail. We sometimes question ourselves because our desire to be perfect leads us to think we’re failing as parents. That fear of failure means we sometimes go out of our way to make sure our children don’t fail either....

Level: Moderately easy Time involved: One to two hours Materials: Transfer or carbon paper Scissors Heart-shaped slate (This can be found in craft stores in the slate section.) Masking tape Copy paper or tracing paper Pen Pink, red, brown, black, and white craft paints Paintbrushes Foam plate Clear acrylic finish spray

Kids with hearing loss often experience emotional struggles.A new study emphasizes the need for mental health screenings in order to take steps necessary for treatment.Hearing is often prioritized over mental health because it’s the impairment that is apparent to others. A study from the University of Miami notes depression and anxiety are often overlooked symptoms that kids with hearing loss experience. Published in Otology & Neurotology, the study asserts that mental health screenings are needed for youth with hearing loss....

While that may seem like a simple way to look at the demands of parenting, when you look at parenting more objectively, you usually do find that each age does have its own challenges. Many of these difficult times revolve around transitions, such as when your baby weans from the breast, moves from a crib to a bed, gives up his naps, and starts kindergarten, etc. Naps The transition of moving from two naps to one and then finally giving up a nap altogether can be very difficult....

Of the things you talk about as a new parent, diapers are a big one—up there with how well the baby is sleeping and eating. Are they making their daily wet diaper count? Are they producing several outfit-ruining blowouts every day or not pooping enough? And who will change that dreaded blowout diaper? Are those red marks just irritation or a full-blown diaper rash? Before my daughter was born in October 2019, I never thought this would be the subject of at least 50 percent of my conversations with my husband, but here we are....

There is mixed evidence regarding race and bullying, with results largely dependent upon the location and sample size of those studied. Nonetheless, experts say Black children are still bullied in large numbers, and in multiple instances, more than white children. “Overall, Black children appear to have increased rates of bullying and peer victimization," explains Katherine Williams, PhD, child and adolescent psychologist at Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego and clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego....

For decades, it was assumed that it’s mainly boys who have autism.But lately, more and more studies are showing larger numbers of girls are being diagnosed as autistic as well. Many believe this is not due to the rates of autism itself increasing, but the fact that we finally have more information on how to recognize symptoms of autism in girls and the way that autistic traits in girls are different from boys....