We’ve all experienced our fair share of Easter egg hunts over the years, and after some time the same old celebrations can feel stale. As the kids get older, you probably want to liven up your celebrations to keep them relevant to your family and guests. Or if you don’t have kids, you hope to…
Children with special needs like autism or ADHD need outdoor time as much as any other child. But their individual challenges often necessitate some changes to your typical backyard. These ideas can help you create a fun and safe outdoor environment for your child, while accounting for their unique needs. Build a fence. For many…
Mothers Day is rapidly approaching, and it’s time to plan your brunch and other activities. With the weather so warm and pleasant lately, why not spend the day outdoors? Kids can always benefit from less screen time and more nature time, and there’s plenty to keep them busy in the yard or elsewhere outside. Check…
If you’re like a lot of us, you’re embarking on another semester of distance learning. School-from-home is a bit different from homeschooling because public and private school students need to be “plugged in” for a significant portion of the day. It’s no wonder some of you are looking for solutions to keep your children engaged…
We all grieve in our own ways, but many of us find that creating something beautiful during a time of grief can be soothing. Since a tree will provide beauty and a soothing presence for many years to come, some people find memorial trees to be the perfect way to remember a lost loved one….
More and more families are joining the homeschooling movement, and many of them report learning the same lesson early in their adventure: You don’t need to mimic “school” in order to learn! In fact, many families find that avoiding a classroom approach, and learning in a more natural setting, is beneficial to their children. By…
Common in many other countries, multigenerational living is just starting to catch on in the United States. Due to the cost of real estate, student loan debt, and considerations such as nursing care for the elderly, we see more and more parents moving in with their children, adult children returning home after college, and so…
If you recall the Hundred Acre Wood, from the nostalgic Winnie the Pooh series of books and movies, you might remember fantasizing that such a place could exist in the world. As it turns out, the fictional Hundred Acre Wood was inspired by a real place! Even better, you can actually make a pilgrimage to…
Like any parent, you want to give your child the best. With doctors and child development experts sounding the alarm on kids getting too much screen time, along with too little exercise, building an outdoor play space could be the perfect solution. The right play structure should provide exercise and an outlet for sensory experiences,…
Now that the weather is cooling off, spring and your favorite flowers might seem a long way off. However, the lushest and beautiful spring gardens are actually planned in the fall. Setting out spring bulbs for next year’s blooms might be the perfect family project, as it teaches kids about plant growth cycles. As a…
Last week, we gave our readers some advice on setting up safe play spaces in the backyard, but some of you are reaching the other end of the swing set days. Your kids have outgrown the equipment, and the swing set is just sitting there collecting dust and pollen. Now that it’s time to remove…
If you visit a home improvement or gardening supply store, you can always find a variety of lovely planters for your garden. But sometimes “found objects” add the most unique and interesting touch to a landscaping project. These can be objects that you already have lying around your tool shed, or things that you pick…
Most parents want to provide a safe, fun outdoor space for their children to play. We’re all aware of the benefits of fresh air, sunshine, and exercise! And yet, growing interest in design and aesthetics makes many of us feel wary about installing the typical trampoline set-up. Luckily, a growing trend allows parents to install…
As much as you “baby” your landscaping, your highest priority will always be the safety of your children or grandchildren. That’s why you want to be certain the landscaping around your backyard swing set provides a safe place for the kids to play. Since the main danger of swing sets lies in falls from the…