Big Kids

Summer in Arizona. Also known as the “Desperation Months” when we parents attempt to keep our kids busy so that we can maintain at least an ounce of our sanity. Often, this means our kids are trying out new...

When I was little, I lived in Washington, D.C.. I don't know what the motivation was for my Dad on the weekends. He could have simply wanted to be outside in the fresh air.  Somehow, we often found ourselves...

I can't tell you how much pressure I feel to get my child into some sort of sport, activity, preschool or whatever. My four year old is social beyond anyone else in the family, full of life, and very...

As I wrote about on a previous post, the state of AZ has a new booster car seat law that happened to affect my {now} 7-year-old daughter. That left me with the task of finding a new booster for...

I once heard a wise teacher say in passing that parents often have ridiculous expectations on their children. He said he sees them yelling at their kids TO SHARE.  But they have never taken the time to teach them...

We all want to raise children who grow into adults that are compassionate and understand the needs of others. For years, I have wanted to expose the kids to the reality that is found in food banks, orphanages and homeless shelters. But, let's...

If I had a nickel for every time I pulled a hamstring chasing after my 18-month-old through the bras at Victoria’s Secret (he’s clearly a boob man) while my 5-year-old threw a fit because I wouldn’t buy her a...

It's inevitable.  We're an hour outside the city headed for a great family vacation and the light bulb in my brain dings big and bright.  I turn to my husband and exclaim, "I know what we forgot!!".  Most of...

One of my struggles as a parent is keeping the kids safe while they are online. I truly believe granting them access to the internet, texting and games is a necessary part of them growing up. The older they...

  We are excited to introduce you all to Jodi Kaye.... Jodi, from The Rites of Passage, has been a Registered Nurse for almost 20 years! Motherhood and her career have led to a love and appreciation for teaching, parenting, and...

My kids will argue about anything. I am sure those of you with multiple kids that are about the same age can relate. They will argue about which movie they want to watch and who gets to get out...

Hi there! As we get settled into the start of a new school year, our kiddos meet new classmates and find new friends. Let’s be honest here, some kids we would love for our children to play with. Others,...

Our family moved to Phoenix from southeast Minnesota 1 year ago, making THIS our first full AZ summer -- and all I can say is Holy Moley. This desert dwelling thing is no joke! If you find yourself in Phoenix sweating summer...

If I were the sign-carrying, protesting type, I would totally protest summer. I'd stand sit in my lawn chair under an umbrella out on Scottsdale Road with a long sign that read, "Shame on you summer!" I would hang outside the library...

Are you struggling to come up with a unique party theme for your daughter’s 13th birthday? We’ve got you covered with some excellent ideas that will definitely excite your soon-to-be teenager. And these five party themes won’t break the...

Kid in the Corner is a local non-profit dedicated to "helping each Kid in the Corner feel connected to and supported by the community." I heard Kid in the Corner founder, Francine Sumner, speak a few years back and...

Ever wonder what your child's teacher REALLY thinks about you? If you're like me, you strive to create a healthy partnership with your child's teacher. And I've found, it really is a dance.  As parents, it takes understanding our steps...

Do you have a child who could use a little extra help in math? As a parent of 3 children, I have found that each of my kids has a very different learning style. One of my kids has...

While we don’t yet know what the long-term consequences will be for our tweens and teens who lived through Covid-19 during some of the most formative years of their lives, we do know that the experience was super challenging...

I had a rough transition into motherhood.  Actually, I had a really rough transition into motherhood.  You see, my first born is allergic to milk and I was determined to breastfeed.  But I didn't know she was allergic to...

We’ve all done it. In the course of running late, and gathering up kids, their stuff, and our keys, we’ve driven off and 10 minutes later have realized we’ve left our phone at home. The sinking feeling can quickly...

Our contributor, Kari, shares with us How to Prepare for Parent-Teacher Conferences. With 7 years of classroom teaching experience and more than 20 years of community leadership and volunteerism, these tips are sure to help you have a successful...

As the third child and second girl in a family of four children, I was well accustomed to second-hand clothing. I never minded (or knew) the difference between a hand-me-down outfit and a brand new, off-the-rack ensemble. (Well, at...

Arizona Language Preparatory is Arizona’s only tri-lingual full immersion school. Arizona Language Preparatory is FREE public charter school with grades k-6th. The goal is for their students to become fluent in three languages simultaneously. These langues include English, Mandarin, and...

I am not sure if any part of culture impacts my little girls like Valentine's Day.  Well, all that Valentine's Day represents--from film to TV to songs and cupid. It romanticizes love into solely an emotional (and usually shallow)...

Editor's Note: Happy Thursday! All week long we're talking about screens - from TV shows to tablets for kids and grownups of all ages. Love 'em or hate 'em, screens and screen time are a hot topic in parenting...

Praise action over natural gifts to optimize performance!  By all means, continue to compliment your child’s talents and intellect to help them form a strong foundation, but in addition, over-emphasize praise of their efforts and actions. They’ll be far...

Looking for a fun way for the kids to spend an afternoon? iPic Scottsdale is offering Minecraft on the big screen! The new session starts October 19th and lasts for four weeks. iPic Scottsdale (located at Scottsdale Quarter) is hosting...

All three of my children have birthdays in January. So I feel like a little bit of a birthday party expert this time of year. Then the rest of the year, I breathe a big sigh of relief that...

The end of the school year is right around the corner (small tear rolls down my cheek), and it is about time that I start planning for my children’s teacher gifts. These are my suggestions for great teacher gifts,...