Stories

It can really be hard for parents to develop these character traits and attitudes in their teens. But I believe that by starting early and being consistent, teens can become much more self-assertive and less uncertain and unhappy.   One of the most important ways that parents can teach their kids to be self-assertive is […]

here Jessie Funk is bursting with talent; not only can she sing, dance, and do Disney character impressions that’ll knock your socks off, but she’s also a gifted motivational speaker. Jessie has been teaching and mentoring students for over a decade. She loves to speak at middle school and high school assemblies, leadership conferences and

I’m one of those people who takes pleasure in flipping through cookbooks—as long as I have something to munch on simultaneously, of course. Even as a kid I enjoyed them, my all-time favorite being Wookiee Cookies: A Star Wars Cookbook. Talk about creative! From “Dark Side Salsa” to “Hoth Chocolate”, this book covers all the

With Christmas getting closer by the second, many households have already put up their Christmas trees. It’s the ornaments that adorn the bare leaves, however, that make for the coziest winter atmosphere. Here you’ll find a list of creative ornament ideas that can both save you money and make your tree stand out. Hedgehogs With

From trick-or-treating to costume parties to visiting haunted house attractions, Halloween is a holiday for both the young and the young at heart. Other than perhaps Christmas, there is no holiday that children love more. Without boring or scaring them to death, here is a list of not-so-spooky books that you can read to your

The desire to write has been part of me for as long as I can remember. While still a child, I wrote songs—only in my head of course— I had no clue how to annotate them. Over the years, I have written pieces in a number of genres. Sometimes, the connections that occur with my

(This craft is an excerpt from The Ultimate Guide to Being a Superhero: A Kid’s Manual for Saving the World, Looking Good in Spandex, and Getting Home in Time for Dinner) Supplies: Large t-shirt (used or pre-washed) Scissors Heat transfer vinyl, in 1-3 colors (some retailers even carry metallic-looking vinyl) Mission: 1. Turn the t-shirt

Joyful Family Life, run by Nicci Bontrager, has a unique perspective when it comes to family life blogging. With her Master’s degree in Psychology, Nicci helps families learn about marriage enhancement, emotional well-being, and parenting. As a practicing counselor and mother of three she understands exactly why families are so important.  “We learn so much from

Painting can be a great activity for kids, especially if they are artistically inclined. The usual brush and paper free-style can get old. If you are trying to add some creativity to this activity there are a few things you can do. Let your kids use their imagination, but help them discover new tools and