To preserve everyone's sanity during the rest of winter, especially on unexpected snow days, we've compiled a list of our favorite indoor activities to keep those idle hands occupied. These four ideas will inspire you and your kids to get playful and creative so that those long winter days are full of fun! 1. Orchestrate a paint chip hunt This is the perfect game for younger kids who are just learning their colors.

We’ve all heard it — kids crave routine. But sometimes it’s just so hard to be consistent, because life happens. Work goes late, the water heater breaks, the car gets a flat tire, or a million other things happen that can make a parent ready for their kids’ bedtime like nothing else. I have four kids, ages 16, 11, 2, and 1.

The winter brings the inevitable annual fight we dread: getting our sick little ones to take their antibiotics. But instead of bribery (admit it, you've tried that) or an exhausting battle, pharmacist Joelle Smithmier Dew, a mom, has a brilliant solution that will only cost you the price of a bottle of coffee creamer. "Word to the wise!" she wrote on her Facebook page.

As a general rule, toddlers aren’t necessarily the best at regulating their own emotions. But we can help them develop habits that will help them be their happiest toddler selves. Here are some of the habits of happy toddlers. 1. They have the chance to express their feelings Don’t be afraid to let your toddler freely express their opinions — tears and all.

At a time when our attention is pulled toward political and social issues, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a great time to ask ourselves what the Civil Rights leader called one of life's most persistent and nagging questions: What are you doing for others? Here are just some ideas for how to honor Dr. King: 1. Dig Deeper Into MLK's History Too many of us only know Dr. King for his "I Have a Dream Speech" and not enough about the changes he saw as necessary to realize that dream.

Sponsored by Amazon Original Movie “Troop Zero,” now on Prime Video While the weather outside might be a little too frosty for play time, that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with the kids when it comes to indoor fun. Here are three ideas that will get the kids moving, light up their imaginations, and encourage some serious family time at home. 1. Get crafty With a few household items, kids can create their own indoor butterfly garden.

It starts as an innocuous tickle in the back of the throat, but before long, there's throat strain, unearthly hacking, and then the sweat. No, we aren't talking about demon possession — we're talking about a cough. A terrible, awful, no-good cough. And when it comes down to it, there are few things more annoying and uncomfortable than that. The occasional cough is totally normal, but a persistent cough can indicate medical problems. Specifically, there are two types of coughs to be aware of.

I know what you’re thinking — it’s just wrong. You’re probably already judging me and are glad I don’t like playdates, because you wouldn’t want to hang out with me anyway. Or perhaps you're disappointed, because you were hoping to be my friend. Either way, let me explain myself. Playdates suck because they are so incredibly awkward. They just are. Granted, I’m an introverted woman who has started more friendships online than in person.

It’s rough to start dating again after a divorce. You’ve been off the market for so long, you don’t even know what’s out there anymore. I mean, what’s even left on the shelves these days? Are there any good ones left, or have they all coupled off already? Like my mom says, it only takes one, but dang if you don’t have to do some fishing to find the one.

Ah, tantrums. Almost every child has them and every parent dreads them. One minute, you're going about your day, shopping for groceries or getting your kid ready for bed, and the next thing you know, your toddler is screaming and crying, and making a fuss over something. So how’s a stressed-out mama to deal? 1. Stay calm This is easier said than done, obviously, but it might be the most important thing you can do for yourself and your child.