It can be difficult to keep toddlers entertained for any period of time. The SheKnows parenting blog put together a list of eight activities to keep your toddler engaged and creative without the use of any screens. Have your kids get crafty by painting with cotton balls, making thread pasta beads, and sculpting with cloud dough. Read the full article

Playing games with your toddler is a lot of fun and it can also teach them new skills. Help your child learn matching skills with this easy-to-create DIY matching game. Trace a variety of household items on a sheet of craft paper and then place the items in a container. Have your child match the items to their shape on

A new study from the University of York shows that the way mothers communicate with their babies has a major impact on their child’s social skills later in life. This communication skill is known as “mind-mindfulness” and involves acknowledging a child’s feelings in a given situation. Mother and baby pairings were studied at 10, 12, 16, and 20 months and

Everyone knows about pregnancy hormones, but not everyone realizes when they say something that offends a pregnant woman. Some of these are invasions of personal space: “Can I touch your belly?” and “Do you plan to breastfeed?” and some are just flat out insulting: “You sure were hungry.” As difficult as it may be, try to respond cordially. If someone

We often teach children that sharing is extremely important and scold them for not handing over their toys when asked. What exactly are we teaching them with this lesson? Do we want them to think it’s acceptable to demand something when someone else is using it or let someone else walk all over them if they have a coveted object?

How many people do you want in the room while you’re giving birth? In the 1960s, women typically had one person other than a midwife present and the number has been rising steadily ever since. Channel Mum in the UK shows that the current average is eight people. Younger women in the spectator birth generation also have shown to be

Have you always known what you wanted to name your baby, or did it come to you on your way to the delivery room? Some people choose boy and girl names and wait to find out the gender while others wait until they know the gender. What factors did you consider when deciding on a baby name? Did you use

Does your child have strong opinions about food or is he or she just hesitant to try new things? Expand the food repertoire by making taste testing into a game. A recent post on Rookie Moms has several great examples for creating a test for your kids. Make sure they have something to vote with so you can keep track

It seems as though people start offering parenting advice as soon as they hear you’re pregnant. Sometimes the advice is great and works out well, but other times, it doesn’t agree with what you’ve heard from doctors or other sources, according to a recent study published in Parenting. How do you decide what advice to take? A recent post on

Mrs. Oatmeal from HelloBee has a number of 2nd birthday parties coming up, including her own little one, so she has put together a list of eight things that 2 year olds love for gift ideas. It’s time to engage the creative side with blocks, coloring books, painting with water, and stickers. They can also get interactive with a play