While traditional play dates where kids come over to play for a few hours and then go home will forever be a mainstay, sometimes jazzing them up with a theme adds some pizazz and breaks the ordinary routine. Whether you’re having your playgroup over to celebrate a holiday or you are just getting a group of kids together to play, having a theme can turn an ordinary play date into a special event.  Check out these 28 blogs to find theme ideas that are be entertaining for all kids.

Holidays

If it’s your turn to host a play date and a holiday is just around the corner, creating a theme around the holiday is the perfect way to spice up an otherwise normal date with friends. You can incorporate simple craft ideas, festive foods and fun games to celebrate the holiday during your play date. In these seven blog entries you will find play date ideas for a bunch of different holidays.

• Independence Day Play Date
• Simple 4^th of July Play Date
• Pumpkin Themed Play Date and a Blog Hop
• Host a Pretzel Play Date: 10 Ideas for Speaking to Children’s Hearts During Lent
• The Perfect Holiday Play Date
• Spooktacular Play Date Craft & Game
• Ideas for a Successful Valentine’s Day Play Date

Boys

If your house is going to be full of little boys, theming the play date with dinosaurs or super heroes can catapult the play date to epic proportions. Take your sons favorite hobbies and use them as inspiration for a day spent with his friends. In these seven blog posts you will find play dates featuring everything from super heroes to Legos to dinosaurs.

• A Fishing Playdate Party
• Game On! An Epic Sports Themed Playdate with Special Appearance from Iron Man
• Dinosaur Themed Play Date
• Boys’ Play Dates
• Throw a Super Hero Play Date Party
• Black Light Play Date Party
• Lego Themed Play Date [Kids Themes]

Girls

If you’re hosting a play date for a group of girls that love to play dress up or bake cupcakes, these themes might be just what you’re looking for.  A bonus to throwing a baking-themed play date? You have built in treats ready to be gobbled up as soon as they come out of the oven! Take a look at the theme ideas and see which one sounds good to your kids.   

• Cookie Making Play Date
• Cupcake Wars {Camping Theme} Play Date
• Grocery Store Birthday Party of Play Date
• Ocean Themed Play Date
• Lemonade Stand Play Date
• Tea Party Ideas: My Girl’s First Play Date
• Spring Break with the Kiddlets—Dress Up Play Date

Boy/Girl Playdates

Often, playgroups will have both boys and girls, so why not have a theme that caters to them both? Consider throwing a dance party, a pizza party or a snowman themed play date.  Many of these play date ideas use items that you already have around the house, so you won’t have to spend a fortune setting everything up.  Get more details about play date ideas on these seven blog articles.

• Pirate Playdate Sets Sail
• Play Dates {Pool Noodles}
• How to Throw an Epic Just Dance Disney Party Play Date
• Cami’s Watermelon Summer Play Date
• How to… Throw a Great Pizza Party Play Date!
• Olympic Play Date
• I Snowman Themed Play Date

At some point in your life as a parent, you will be besieged by bargaining, pleading and begging for the addition of a family pet. While your first reaction may be to change the subject or issue a flat-out denial, the truth is that caring for a pet can be a rich and rewarding experience for your children. They’ll learn compassion and responsibility, as well as the rewarding feeling of caring for another living being. That being said, not all pets are ideal for families with young children. These ten animals, however, tend to be a great fit with young families.

• Fish – Unless you opt for a massive saltwater tank filled with exotic specimens, fish can be an ideal first pet for youngsters. They require daily maintenance that will keep kids interested, but not so much care that little ones become overwhelmed. They’re also virtually guaranteed not to scratch or bite.
• Guinea Pigs – There’s a reason why these furry friends find their way into so many schools as elementary school class pets; they’re great with kids and fun to interact with. Keep in mind, though, that you don’t want to place an exercise wheel in their cages like those commonly found in hamster cages, as running on them can cause leg and joint damage in these unique critters.
• Rats – Throw away your preconceptions about rats long enough to truly research them, and you may be surprised to find that they’re one of the pets best suited to life with a young family. Sociable and gentle, rats are relatively easy to care for and don’t mind being handled.
• Small Dogs – While many parents think that larger breeds like Labradors and Golden Retrievers are the best bet for households with kids, their size alone can be intimidating to small children. Instead, consider a smaller breed with enough energy to play for hours that’s not so big that kids are frightened.
• Ants – The battle to keep them out of your kitchen seems overwhelming, so at first blush, the last thing you’d want to add to your family is a box full of ants. They’re actually fascinating creatures to watch, very inexpensive to keep and only likely to escape if kids deliberately let them out of their habitat.
• Sea Monkeys – Few pets offer kids the opportunity to watch something come to life, but the brine shrimp commonly referred to as sea monkeys do just that. Like ant farms, their habitats are inexpensive to maintain and provide kids with hours of observational fun without requiring extensive upkeep.
• Birds – As long as they’re chosen for temperament rather than showy color, certain types of bird make great pets for kids. Their cheery chirping brings a smile to little faces, but their cages do require adult assistance for cleaning and maintenance.
• Gerbils – While gerbils require less maintenance than cats or dogs, they do need lots of attention and affection to thrive. They’re very unlikely to hurt kids, but little hands can cause the gerbil injury if they get too rough. Be sure to have a long talk about gentleness with your little ones before introducing a gerbil to the family, then enjoy the fun!
• Hamsters – Similar to gerbils in some ways, hamsters are another fun and cuddly member of the rodent family that make great pets for kids. It’s not a great idea to keep the cage in kids’ bedrooms, however, as these naturally nocturnal critters can make just enough noise to disrupt kids’ sleep if they’re in the same room at night.
• Leopard Geckos – There’s something about reptiles that appeals to kids, but not all are safe for kids. Iguanas, for instance, have razor sharp teeth that they won’t hesitate to plunge into an offending hand if they feel the urge. They also can carry salmonella. Leopard geckos, however, do tolerate handling and will only reach about eight inches in length, making them more manageable for families with kids.

Before you commit to bringing a pet into your home, it’s important that you ensure that you’re well-versed in the care the animal will require and aware of the fact that pet ownership is a commitment that should be taken very seriously. In addition to flooding the market with adult animals that aren’t likely to find homes, changing your mind after lengthy ownership can be hurtful to kids that have grown attached to their animal friends.

From doing puzzles to singing songs, there are plenty of fun ways you can help your kids learn and memorize all of the state capitals. When you help your kids learn the state capitals while they are young, recalling them for school purposes later will be second nature. Check out these 18 blog posts that are full of creative ways to help kids learn the capital of each state.

Toys

Many of the toys that pertain to the states and their capitals are map and puzzle related, but there are card games and flash cards that can be fun for kids too.  Whether you use a map the size of an 8×10 picture frame or a foam one that is as big as a throw rug, kids will enjoy themselves while simultaneously learning the capitals.  These six blog entries will give you some ideas for toys that will teach him about states and capitals.

• Teaching Kids the States and Capitals Kids can learn the states, their capitals and their location while playing with a map puzzle.
• The Scrambled States of America Game—Deluxe Edition Kids Product Review Learn all about this game from people who have played it.
• Educational Toys for Students Younger students can play with this giant foam map without fear of messing it up.
• Trend—States & Capitals These flash cards work in any setting, so throw them in your purse and work on capitals while you are waiting for something or are traveling in the car.
• Learning and Educational Toys Brightly colored toys help keep kids’ attention focused, and kids as young as three can use these toys to learn about geography.
• The Scrambled States of America  Learn how this game is played and why it’s so fun for the kids.

Apps

Phones and tablets have become more like personal computers, and there truly is an app for just about everything. This includes apps that help kids learn their state capitals. The following six blog posts explore several different apps you can use to help your kids remember their capitals.

• 7 Essential Apps for Grade School Students Stack the States is an animated app that will make the kids laugh while they learn.
• Top iPad Apps to Teach Kids US Geography Nifty Fifty and 50 States with Flat Stanley are two of the apps described in this article.
• Apps That May be Worth Your Children’s Time Stack the Countries and Stack the States are discussed on this blog entry.
• The U.S. States and Capitals App [Know Your Geography] iPhone This game, while less animated than some of the others, gives you plenty of facts about each state.
• 22 History and Geography iPad Apps for Kids Learn the States is just one of several geography apps that are explained on this list.
• 7 Best iPhone, iPod Touch Apps for Students Stack the States is explained on this blog post.

Mnemonic Devices

Associating one thing with another is a common memorization tactic more often known as a mnemonic device. To employ this learning tactic with your kids, take a look at these six blog articles, which feature various mnemonic devices that help with state capital memorization.    

• Mnemonic Devices This blogger gives a few clever examples of mnemonic devices for states and their capitals to help you get started.
• The Best Song Ever About State Capitals (Watch) Check out this video; it’s not only funny, but it just may help your kids remember the capitals.
• The Little Man in the Map Read this review of the book that helps kids learn the location of states and other valuable information.
• ‘Mnemonic’ for Midwest States and Capitals This list of mnemonic devices for the capitals of the Midwest states will help your child get a jump start on memorizing capitals.
• Memorization Watch the Animaniacs video or use one of the other techniques listed on this blog post to remember different state capitals.
• Use Images to Memorize State Capitals According to this blogger, the brain can remember images more easily than words, so the idea is to create images that remind you of the capitals.

When the time arrives for your family to set out to conquer the great beyond on your first camping trip, you’ll want to ensure you’re properly prepared. Camping is a fun vacation for everyone, but it’s not the same as staying in a luxury hotel by any stretch of the imagination. You have to cook, clean and entertain yourself, and in this case, the kids, too. Follow the advice of these 30 blogs to make sure your first family camping trip is one to remember.

Choosing a Camping Trip

When most people think of camping, they imagine tents, the wilderness, bears and adventures all around. While some or all of those things are what you might see on your camping trip, they aren’t the be-all and end-all of camping life. Camping out has come a long way since the days of sleeping under the stars. For your first trip, you can jump straight into the full wilderness experience, but you may want to consider a more luxurious set-up. These five blogs will give you an idea of the different trends in camping, so you can choose a site that suits your family best.

• 12 Camping Trends
• The Best Campgrounds in North America
• “What Is Day-To-Day Life On The Road Really Like?”
• Spring 2013 Camping Club News
• How to Pick the Best Campsite

Camping Gear Tips

No matter where you choose for your first camping trip, you are going to need to bring the appropriate gear with you. Less is best, in the sense that you won’t want to be hauling huge amounts of gear around with you everywhere that you go. With that said, having the right gear with you is also essential to a great camping trip. Here are five blogs with tips on the kind of gear that will make life so much easier on your first family camping trip.

• Tips to Waterproof Camping Gear
• How to Choose: Sleeping Equipment for Camping
• Camping Gear & Equipment Tips
• What Kind of Outdoor Lights Work Best When Camping?
• 10 things you can’t live without while camping

Wilderness Survival

Whether you are hiking, climbing or swimming in rivers and lakes, you absolutely must learn some essential wilderness survival skills. Although camping is an enriching experience, there are plenty of dangers that you may encounter. You won’t regret being prepared, should you get into trouble during your camping trip. In these five blogs you will find a number of tools to help improve your wilderness survival skills, as well as hints and tips on how to stay safe and what to do in an emergency.

• 10 Items to Have for Wilderness Survival
• Climate Change Increases Lightning Threat to Hikers
• Six Hiking and Backpacking Tips
• Scary tales and survival guides – our top ten camping and outdoors apps
• Basic rules if you are lost and alone in the wilderness

Campsite Cooking and Food Tips

Being able to prepare and cook food in the wilderness is a skill in itself, and one that’s not all that closely related to cooking in a well-stocked kitchen. It is not something you can pick up on the fly, so take the time now to gain the skills you will need. There are some great tools and gear that will help you along, but for the rest you’re going to have to go at it alone. To help you get a head start, these five blogs have expert advice on preparing and cooking food on a camping trip.

• Camping recipe: Muffin Tin Eggs
• Ice cream?
• How to Make Easy Camping Meals
• Quick and Easy Ways to Cook While Camping
• HealthIER Camping Food: 7 Tips for Taking Real Food With You

Free Activities for Kids

Remember, you’re going to need to keep the kids entertained on your camping trip, too. There won’t be a TV, gaming console or any of the other modern conveniences that they are used to. Finding free and easy activities, however, will keep them busy. These five blogs contain some great ideas for activities in the great outdoors.

• 5 Free Activities For Kids At The Campsite
• 10 Night Games to play while camping
• 40+ Tips for Road Trips with Toddlers/Pre-schoolers
• Family Camping- Camping Kids Love Bedtime
• Camping Activity Ideas

Environmental Awareness and Hygiene

It is very important, while camping, to make sure you leave the site as you found it and don’t upset the natural ecosystem. For this reason, you should always keep environmental awareness and hygiene in mind. Work in synchronization with nature by following the advice in these five excellent blogs.

• Bugging Out to the Boonies? Ten Ways to Keep Your Camp Clean
• How to Keep Clean when Camping!
• Campsite Clean-Up 101
• How to help keep Clean up Though Camping
• Camping With Dogs: What to Know Before You Go

Spending long days outdoors during hot summer months is par for the course for kids on summer vacation. Young children, however, don’t adjust as well as adults do to terribly hot temperatures. Their body surface is greater in comparison to adults and they sweat less, which makes it harder to get rid of body heat and can lead to dehydration. Keeping kids hydrated while they’re active and outdoors is a priority. Check out these tips for stopping dehydration before it starts.

What to Eat

Kids should start out the day eating yogurt and drinking milk because these items contain higher levels of fluids and are loaded with calcium and vitamin D.  Fruits, sugar-free popsicles and watery vegetables are great options for healthy snacks the kids can grab throughout the day.  If you cut up the fruit and vegetables and keep them in plastic bags or resealable bowls, the kids can help themselves when they need a snack instead of bugging you all the time.  For more ideas on what your kids should eat to stay hydrated, check out these seven blog entries.

• 5 Tips for Keeping Your Kids Hydrated in Summer Weather Have the kids eat plenty of fruit, which is both a nutritious snack and will also hydrate them.
• Hydration—Children and the Elderly You might want to reduce the amount of protein that your kids consume during hot summer days because it takes more water for your body to metabolize it.
• Happy to be Hydrated Serve your kids watery fruits and veggies when they need an afternoon snack, like watermelon and cucumbers.
• 10 Ways to Keep Your Child Hydrated in the Summer Keep fruit on hand, that way your kids can snack on something that will help hydrate them at the same time.
• How to Keep Your Kids and Yourself Hydrated this Hot Season Have your kids start their day with yogurt and let them drink smoothies as a snack.
• Summer Sun: 5 Tips for Preparing Your Kids for Outdoor Activities Encourage your kids to eat healthy snacks throughout the day, especially fruit.
• 6 Cool Kid Snacks for the Hot Summer Serve your kids cucumber sandwiches and salads sprinkled with chopped fruit.

What to Drink

Water is hands down the best thing that kids and adults should drink.  However, sometimes it’s hard to get kids to drink plain water.  If that happens, then you can try dressing up the water by adding sliced fruit to it to change the flavor.  Sports drinks are not necessary for most kids unless they are involved in high intensity athletics.  For more ways to get your kids to drink healthy liquids this summer, take a look at these seven blog articles.

• Hydration: Notes from a Sweaty Kid You can make your own sports drink using things you may already have around the house.
• Keeping Cool: Good Hydration Habits for Kids Make sure that your child takes regular water breaks, even if he doesn’t think he’s thirsty.
• Keeping Kids Hydrated Watch this short video from a healthcare professional regarding what you should give kids to drink in the summer.
• 5 Keys to Keeping Your Kids Healthy and Hydrated this Summer Make sure that your kids drink plenty of water so that they stay healthy and hydrated.
• Keeping Kids Hydrated this Summer—6 Quick and Easy Tips Bring reusable water bottles with you whenever you go out.
• Beat the Heat: 7 Delicious Ways to Keep Kids Hydrated this Summer Have a water drinking contest between you and your kids to get them inspired to drink more water.
• Get Your Drink On: Tips for Staying Hydrated this Summer Flavor up some water to get your kids to drink more by using flavor packets that are sweetened naturally.

What to Do

In these seven blog posts you’ll find tips and tricks to keep the kids hydrated during the hot summer months. Two good tips to implement are taking a break in the shade every hour and carrying a water bottle with you everywhere you go.  Take a look at these blogs and have a safe summer.

• How to Prevent Dehydration in Kids During the Summer Months Encourage the kids to play or at least rest in the shade as often as possible.
• Keep Kids Hydrated in Newberg The recommendation in this blog post is to have the kids take it easy during athletic practices for the first few times once the temperatures start rising so that their bodies can acclimate.
• Ways to Beat the Heat and Stay Healthy and Hydrated Keep moving during the summer, but don’t forget to do some indoor activities also.
• Tips for Keeping Your Children (and Yourself) Well-Hydrated this Summer Make your own sport drink and eat frequent watery fruits as snacks.
• Keep Your Kid Athlete Nourished and Hydrated—Before, During and After Sports Follow this guideline as to when and how much you should be giving your child to eat and drink before a sporting event.
• 7 Ways to Keep Kids Hydrated this Summer Stay out of the sun when it’s at its highest point in the day.
• Tips for Keeping Kids Hydrated in the Heat  Let the kids pick out their own nifty water bottle to encourage them to keep it with them all summer long.

After the long and probably arduous search for the perfect nanny, you’ve finally made a decision, extended an offer and worked out a written agreement to govern the professional relationship. When all the paperwork is finished, the real work begins. The adjustment period can be a rocky time for everyone involved, especially if your children have never been under the care of a nanny or were particularly attached to their last caregiver. Even for seasoned veteran nannies, coming into a new household for the first time can be a bit of a daunting experience. In order to facilitate the building of a long and productive working relationship with your nanny, it’s important that you make her feel as welcome as possible.

Make Cards and Banners

Sit down with your kids to make and decorate a big welcome card addressed to your new nanny, or create a banner to greet her when she arrives for the first day of work. Encourage your kids to let their imaginations run wild! It doesn’t matter what he draws on the card or if his printing is legible on the banner. What matters is that he was actively involved in making his new nanny feel wanted and welcome.

Introduce Her to the Kids Before the Introduction

In the days leading up to your new nanny’s first day on the job, look for ways to work her impending arrival into conversations with your kids. Rather than sitting them down for a staged and scripted monologue, try peppering everyday conversations with her name to pique kids’ interest. When she arrives, kids will be so curious that they’re eager to greet her, and far too engaged to feel resentful or scared.

Be Present

While the reason why parents hire a nanny in the first place is to ultimately facilitate an arrangement in which they can get things done without kids in tow, you should plan to be around the house and available to your nanny as much as possible in the first few days of her employment to help smooth the transitional period.

Let Your Kids Be the Guide

When your child is given the responsibility of showing his new nanny where the spoons are and introducing her to his special teddy bear, it gives him a sense of ownership and control over the situation. Help him own the transition by making him a vital part of it. Encourage him to give Nanny a tour of the house, and charging him with being her “helper” until she learns where to find everything. Not only will your child be more welcoming as a result of his new responsibility, but your nanny will also feel more at ease when she’s gained the trust of her charge.

Stock the Kitchen With a Few Treats

It’s not uncommon for nannies to feel a bit uncomfortable when it comes to food in your kitchen, especially if she’s previously worked for families that had strict rules about what and when she was allowed to eat. If you want to make your nanny feel welcome in your kitchen and at ease when it comes to eating during the day, grab a few special treats and put them in the pantry or fridge with her name on them. Let her know that she’s welcome to anything in the kitchen, but that these special treats are tokens of your excitement and appreciation.

Introduce Her to Close Family and Friends

When your new nanny gets to meet your family members and close friends, she’ll be able to put faces with names that she hears regularly and will know that you value her place in your life. It also makes it easier for her to call upon these people in the event of an emergency if they’re the listed contacts. After all, it’s never easy to cold-call a stranger. Doing so when things are already frantic can be even worse! Let her get to know the people that she’ll be dealing with on a regular basis so that she feels like a welcome addition to your family, not a service provider to be hidden away from everyone else in your life.

Make Special Arrangements for Live-In Nannies

While the practice of living in isn’t as popular as it was in years past, there are still plenty of families and nannies that have just such an arrangement. If your new nanny will be living in, it’s even more important to make sure that she feels welcome in your home. After all, it’s her new home as well. Make a special effort to include a few personal touches in her private quarters, give her plenty of privacy and room to breathe as she gets used to life with a new employer in a new home.

When this time comes around each year, homeowners across the country take the opportunity to make a big push towards organization and cleanliness. One of the best ways to get rid of all that clutter after the big cleaning is to host a garage sale,  which is why spring is the best time of the year for avid bargain hunters, too. If you’re looking for the bargain of a lifetime or that rare find, take some hints and tips from these thirty garage sale experts.

Finding Yard Sales

Before you start aimlessly driving around your neighborhood, hoping to stumble upon garage sales, save yourself some time by devising a strategy. To find the best garage sales, you need to think like someone who is hosting a garage sale. Some hosts will use traditional and online advertising, whereas others will rely on word of mouth and lawn signs. These five blogs will give you a personal tour of the garage sale world, with hints and tips on how to begin your bargain hunting adventure.

• 8 Steps to Becoming a Garage Sale Queen
• This Weekend, Embrace Your B-Side
• The Garage Sale Rainout
• How to Find Garage Sales Happening Near You
• How I Yard Sale + Link Party

Clothing and Toy Sales

Clothing and toys are perhaps the easiest items to find in garage sales. In the world of garage sales, though, quantity does not necessarily guarantee quality. Whether you are buying for yourself or looking for gifts for family or friends, you don’t want to make a hasty purchase that you’ll regret later. Take the time to check clothing and toys for damage. If the damage is slight, don’t rule out buying the item, you can use it as a bargaining tool. There are plenty more tips on buying clothes and toys, along with basic yard sale etiquette and survival tips, in these five blogs.

• Seattle Urban Girls Garage Sale!
• What to Sell on Wednesdays
• How to Shop at Garage Sales: A Guide to Garage Sale Shopping
• Garage Sale Taboos
• Gold prices fall, but there’s Gold in your garage: Garage Sale Style

Furniture, Tools and Household

Garage sales are a great way to get the furniture, tools and household items that you need at bargain-basement prices. Some garage sale hosts will even provide delivery for larger items, which means you don’t have to miss out on an amazing deal. Always check furniture items for damage, as you don’t want to end up with something that’s going to fall apart before you even get it home. Follow the advice of these five bloggers to devise the best strategy for furniture shopping at garage sales.

• House Crashing: Inspired & Inexpensive
• Ikea Meets Yardsale Minimalist
• Using Items from a Yardsale
• Yard Sale Queen: Furniture
• The Knives Come Out & Cabinet of Curiosities

Odds and Ends

Buying odds and ends at retail prices is usually expensive. There are so many of life’s little accessories to fill a home with that by the time you’re done shopping, you might need to take out a second mortgage. Instead, have a rustle around in the boxes you see at garage sales!You may be surprised at you can find if you dig deep enough. For all the best bargain buys, take your cues from these five frugal shoppers.

• Shop Second-Hand Stores and Garage Sales Like a Pro
• Our Adventures With Ducks
• Best Sale Ever
• A Little Tiny Junk Fix
• The Weekend in Junk

Vintage and Antique Sales

If you have a specific item or antique in mind, you may find what you’re looking for at a nearby garage sale. Vinyl records and quirky, old fashioned furniture can make for good investments, so make sure you do your homework before setting out. Although these kinds of items are rare, some garage-sale hosts actually specialize in finding them and selling them on to you at a fair price. Pick up some tips on how to find valuable vintage and antique bargains, by reading these five blogs.

• Nobody Puts VRS in a Corner: Art & Soul
• From The Heart
• I’m Having a Sale
• Texas Antiques Week
• Yard Sale Discoveries

Flea Market Bargains

Garage-sale is a very loose term. In order to optimize the potential for attracting buyers, many sellers take their wares to local flea markets. These markets can be treasure troves of retail goodness, brimming with bargains just waiting for you to come along. Some flea markets even host special events specifically set up to mimic traditional garage sales. These five bloggers have all the inside information on finding the best flea markets, garage sales and bargains.

• Archive Home
• A Day in the Life
• Cool Junk Dudes
• Week Four: Mostly Two by Two
•  FleaQuest is on the hunt! CONTEST ALERT!

There comes a time in every child’s life when she decries the need for a babysitter or nanny, asserting that she’s more than capable of looking after herself for a few hours. When your child’s need to assert her independence rears its head, it can be difficult to determine whether or not she’s truly ready for such a big responsibility. Before giving your kid the okay to hold down the fort without adult supervision, there are some things you’ll need to consider.

When Local and State Laws Forbid the Arrangement

The age at which a child can legally be left home alone varies from state to state, so it’s important that you make sure that you’re well-informed regarding the restrictions in your area. The laws may also differ depending on the number of children that will be left alone, as an older child may not legally be allowed to look after her younger siblings until she reaches a specified, state-mandated age. Be sure that you thoroughly research the laws in your area so that you don’t unwittingly break any of them. In the event of an emergency, you could even find yourself facing charges if your child is staying home alone before she’s legally considered old enough to do so.

When “Alone” Doesn’t Really Mean “Alone”

There’s spending time at home alone, and then there’s spending time at home with other children and no adult supervision. Even if your child has legally reached an acceptable age in your state, you’ll need to make sure that she understands and is mature enough to be trusted with rules about having guests. When a group of kids gather and there’s no adult to look after them, things can very quickly spiral out of control. If you even slightly suspect that your child will be inviting friends or neighborhood playmates over while you’re out, she may still be too young and immature to be trusted.

When She Can’t Feed Herself Safely

The last thing you want is for an adventurous child to become a peckish one while you’re out of your home. Even if she knows that she’s supposed to stick to using the microwave and sink, a youngster that’s eager to prove her mettle while exploring new things may very well attempt to cook a large meal on the stove, which could easily end in disaster. Kids that have no idea how to safely use a stove probably shouldn’t be left alone at all, but especially not those that might be tempted to give it a whirl while no one is there to monitor the situation.

When You Can’t Be Easily Reached

No matter how old your child is, you’ll want to think twice before leaving her alone if you’re not going to be easily reachable by phone or text message. Even small situations can feel like major emergencies to a child, so be sure that you’re always available to take her calls or that she knows to call a trusted adult who’s on standby to help her.

When She’s Never Been Alone Before

It’s best to begin acclimating your child to the idea of staying home alone in small doses by allowing her to ease herself into the situation. Start with a short trip to the grocery store, then increase the amount of time she’s left to her own devices gradually. While kids will all mature at their own pace, it’s not typically a wise idea to leave kids under the age of ten alone for more than an hour or two in most cases.

When it’s Dark or Late at Night

Allowing your child to stay home by herself for an hour or two between her return from school and your arrival from work may be an ideal arrangement for everyone involved. That same two hour span that works out fine in the afternoon may be terrifying to a child at night, though. Until your child is well accustomed to looking after herself and shows no signs of anxiety about being left alone, it’s just not a good idea to let her stay home alone at night. Even if she does feel comfortable with the arrangement, it’s best to wait until she’s a teenager to consider late-night alone time.

When You Don’t Feel Comfortable With It

No one knows your child as well as you do, and no one else can determine when she’s old enough to stay home alone as well as you can. It’s natural to feel a bittersweet tug of sadness at the idea of your child growing up or to be a bit nervous the first time she spends an hour or two at home alone, but it’s not wise to leave her alone if you’re not absolutely convinced it’s a good idea. Follow your instincts and the knowledge you have of your child to ensure that she’s emotionally and physically ready to take care of herself for a while in your absence.

Breakfast, or the act of breaking your fast, is one of the most important things you can do for your body.  You have been sleeping for 7 to 9 hours and your body has digested the food that you ate the day before, so when you wake up in the morning your body is looking for more food to digest.  If you eat something sweet like a donut for breakfast, your body will experience a sugar rush and then a couple hours later a sugar crash.  Sugary breakfasts will not fill you up or satisfy you throughout the morning. When possible, you should try choosing healthier options for your breakfast, as found in these 30 blog entries.  Whether you are coming back from a run, rushing out the door to work or trying to feed the kids, it’s possible to eat in a healthy way.  On the weekend, when you have more time, you can try other healthy, more time consuming breakfast recipes. And for those that prefer to eat a vegetarian or vegan diet, there are some breakfast ideas for you too!

Post Workout

It’s not always easy to come up with healthy, filling breakfast ideas for after your morning workout.  You are most likely hungry after your workout, but you don’t want to undo the good that you have just done for your body by eating something unhealthy.  These six blog articles will explain what you should eat to help your body repair itself after an intense workout.  It is also important to eat foods that will stick with you until lunchtime so that you are not tempted to binge on unhealthy vending machine foods during the day.

• Optimum Post Workout Breakfast
• The Perfect Post Workout Breakfast
• My Favorite Post Workout Breakfast
• Morning Pre-Workout Snacks and Post Workout Breakfasts—What Should You Be Eating?
• Health & Fitness: Post-Workout Breakfast
• Post Workout Breakfast

In a Flash

During the week, you may not have a lot of time to make yourself a healthy breakfast, but on busy days it’s more important than ever to eat right.  These six bloggers have come up with breakfast ideas that can be made ahead of time and grabbed on your way out the door.  Other ideas for a quick breakfast can be found here as well.  Take a look and see if you can find one to try tomorrow.

• Fast, Fit and Fabulous Breakfast Ideas
• 5 Healthful, Light, Quick & Yummy Breakfasts
• Ideas for Quick Breakfasts on the Go
• Transform Your Leftovers! 5 Quick Breakfast Makeovers
• 10 Ideas for a Quick & Healthy Breakfast
• Quick and Healthy Teacher-Friendly Breakfasts

For the Kids

Some kids just aren’t into eating breakfast first thing in the morning, but parents know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day for them.  The brain has to have food in order to work to its full capability, and you’re body needs fuel to keep you energized throughout the day.  Here are six ideas for healthy breakfast options that your kids might enjoy.

• Quick, Kid-Friendly Breakfasts
• One-Eyed Jack
• Nutella Breakfast Pizzas—Kid-Friendly Recipe
• A Kid-Friendly Yogurt Parfait
• Cereal?  Again? 5 Kid-Friendly Breakfasts that Take Less Than 5 Minutes
• [Watch] Kid Approved Breakfast Recipes

Weekend Wonders

You probably have more time to spend making breakfast on the weekend, and the kids might even be able to help you. These six blog posts will give you some fun ideas for breakfast, like breakfast cupcakes and baked eggs.  You might even want to combine a few of these ideas for a Sunday brunch.

• My Weekend Breakfast was a Hit with Eggland’s Best Eggs
• Breakfast: Waking Up to Healthy Food
• Make this Weekend: Breakfast Cupcakes
• 6 Simple, and Unexpectedly Healthy, Breakfast Recipes for Weekend Mornings
• Weekend Breakfast
• The Ultimate Power Breakfast

Vegan Selections

Dairy, eggs and meat are staples of the typical breakfast, but if you are following a vegan lifestyle then you don’t eat any of those things.  What can you eat for breakfast as a vegan?  There are some substitutions for non-vegan foods: you can drink soy milk, use an egg substitute and try tofu sausage to create the same types of recipes for more traditional fare. However, in these six blog entries you can find new and different ways to shake up breakfast time.

• Familiar Vegetarian and Vegan Breakfasts
• My Top 5 Healthy Vegan Breakfasts
• Quick and Easy Vegan Breakfast Ideas
• Vegan Breakfasts: Fruity Quinoa Porridge
• Vegan Breakfast Tacos
• Eat with the Seasons: Vegan Breakfast Burritos with Spinach

Ah, summertime is just around the corner. Soon school will be out, kids will be sleeping in and before you know it parents will be hearing, “I’m bored!” If you have a nanny, you have a built in solution to the summertime blues. Here are just a few ways a nanny can create an awesome summer experience for your kids.

Plan a summer camp experience. Your kids don’t have to officially enroll in summer camp to get that great camp experience. Your nanny can plan a camp experience for them. She can replicate the activities that a typical camp would do or use her imagination to create her own format. What would camp be without friends? Your nanny can gather up classmates and friends to get involved so your child can enjoy his favorite activities and friends at the same time.

Just relax. Remember when summer meant doing a whole lot of nothing? Many parents want their children to experience that type of summer. Your nanny can “plan” days that have no real plan or schedule. Your child can decide if he’d like to spend the day at the pool or playing in the back yard with his neighborhood friends. Or he might decide that he wants to head to the zoo for the morning and then to his favorite playground for the afternoon. The fun thing is that he can decide to have a full day filled with lots of activities and adventures or a day filled with nothing at all.

Focus on what the kids love. Does your child adore arts and crafts? Then your nanny can plan lots of creative activities. Your child can tackle those big art projects that he normally doesn’t have the time for or he can learn a new skill and use the summer to practice and improve. Does your child love bugs? Your nanny can plan a series of fun activities focused on bugs, bugs, bugs. Your child can spend the day exploring the local science museum and learn all about the different types of bugs. They can take hikes through different areas that are home to different bug species. Your nanny can help your child create his own backyard bug collection. Unlike a camp counselor, who has to plan activities that appeal to the masses, your nanny can plan activities that have special appeal to your child. This can allow him to dive into his interests in ways he doesn’t have time for during the school year.

Discover the sibling connection. During the school year, siblings don’t often have the chance to spend any real time playing together. Because they’re different ages, they’re usually involved in different activities and have different sets of friends. Often, the only time they’re together is in the car on the way to or from some activity and at meal time. During the summer, however, your kids have the chance to spend some real time together. This seemingly small thing can have a huge impact on their lifelong relationship. Your nanny can find things all kids will enjoy and make sure there’s lots of free time at home so the kids can discover fun things on their own.

Enjoy the great outdoors. Summer is the perfect time to spend the days outside. Your nanny and kids can explore local lakes, spend the day splashing at the pool or pack up and take a road trip to the shore. It’s also a great time to try out new bike trails, have a neighborhood game of baseball or kick ball, learn how to play a new sport or get better at one your child already enjoys. Summer outdoor fun doesn’t have to mean structured activities. Your nanny can climb trees, build a fort or go on a scavenger hunt with your child. Staying active is something many kids struggle with these days. Using the summer to start new habits is a smart way to help your child stay healthy throughout the year.

Mix it up. Your child can enjoy the best of all the ideas. You can enroll her in her favorite camp for a couple of weeks. She can take a sports sampler class at the local community center. Your nanny can pack the swim bag and head to the pool for some fun with her friends. They can visit the local museums, zoos, historical sites and anywhere else that interests them. When you have a nanny, you can work with her to design a summer that fits your child’s personality, interests and needs perfectly.