Turning reading into a family adventure
As the kids get older, begin asking them their opinions about the stories they are reading. Have them predict what will happen next and what they believe motivated the author to write the story.
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Enjoying screenless entertainment
Start developing your low-tech entertainment options by preparing a wide variety of busy bags for various occasions.
Read ArticleFalling back with less stress
How to ensure an easy adjustment when daylight saving time ends
Read ArticleCreating lasting Valentine’s Day memories
Many are the possible activities for a date night with your child, but simply spending time together is most important.
Read ArticleFinding joy in eating well together
Let kids see the value in food and, as a family, enjoy having mealtime together occasionally as you seek to make positive diet choices.
Read ArticlePlaying to learn
Play is critical to a child’s development across all areas, including their communication, language, movement and motor skills.
Read ArticleEnjoying screenless entertainment
Waiting in public with the kids can be quite stressful. After all, they might start fighting under the table before the food comes at a...
Read ArticleFinding joy and love in a simple shoebox
It’s time to pack gifts for Operation Christmas Child
Read ArticleBreast Cancer Awareness
With so many women facing breast cancer, understanding your risk is key
Read ArticleWhen Mom Takes Time for Herself
Sometimes, taking a break with the girlfriends is the best way to care for yourself.
Read ArticleStaying calm and present while parenting
Being a parent comes with various stresses that so often consume our thoughts.
Read ArticleChoosing the best care for mother and baby
Finding the right doctor is essential to having a positive birthing experience.
Read ArticleFinding a rhythm with summer sleep
Even with all the changes to the schedule, making sure kids get enough rest during the summer months is essential to their health.
Read ArticleKeeping active and healthy all summer long
Summer camps are about to begin, and they provide a great opportunity to teach kids healthy habits and provide physical, social, emotional and even spiritual benefits that can last a lifetime.
Read ArticleBeating the winter blues
How do you maintain your sanity and keep the kids from bouncing off the walls when you are all stuck indoors?
Read ArticleFinding the fun and games in thankfulness
Reflecting on your blessings can provide entertainment for the whole family
Read ArticleFalling back with less stress
The thought of getting an extra hour of sleep when daylight saving time ends on Nov. 1 sounds amazing, but perhaps you have found reality looks a little different.
Read ArticleMaking the nighttime monsters go away
Many children experience being afraid of the dark, a fear officially known as nyctophobia. It can make bedtime difficult and evenings in the winter challenging, but there are some practical ways for kids to move past that fear…
Read ArticleCelebrating mom in her own style
This Mother’s Day, take time to appreciate what she enjoys.
Read ArticleBuilding stronger families and stronger bonds
Five keys to improving your relationships with the ones you love most
Read ArticleFinding independence through letting go
Relinquishing parental control helps children find their own place in the world
Read ArticleSay Goodbye to Dawdling
Learn the life skill to maintain their focus and productivity is quite a task.
Read ArticleCreative ways to express a thankful heart
Teach kids to celebrate blessings in unique and meaningful ways.
Read ArticleMaking a lasting memory
Five methods to help your kids retain what they are learning “Oh, I forgot.”How many times have we all heard that from our kids when...
Read ArticleFinding the team that fits
From recreational to competitive play, choosing the right youth sports team requires consideration.
Read Article11 ways to celebrate mom in style
Show your love with simple and meaningful gifts this Mother’s Day.
Read ArticleRaising conservation-minded kids
Earth Day is this month and serves as a great reminder to be good stewards of the environment and teach this as a value to our kids.
Read ArticlePreparing to master kindergarten
Of all the many skills kids need in school, the most important ones can be hard to pick out.
Read ArticleFinding open hearts and homes
Many children in our community are still waiting to find their forever family-and many more simply need a family who will care for them during a brief season of their life.
Read ArticleFinding hope and love in a shoebox
If you ask Overland Park mom Jelyn Franzon about her all-time favorite present, she will tell you about a simple shoebox she received when she was young. It was filled just with notebooks, stickers, soap and a toothbrush, but its impact sti…
Read ArticleHeading to big kid school
What can you really do to make the school transition easier for your family?
Read ArticleSavoring the simplicity of summer
The long, warm days of summer are here, and they bring with them an almost unlimited potential for childhood fun. With the kids home, some of the greatest classic summer activities often begin in your own yard and don’t cost much money.
Read ArticleParenting with fewer interruptions
How to have an adult conversation while the kids are around.
Read ArticleBeating the winter blues
When it’s nice outside and the kids start getting a little rambunctious, the easy solution is to send them outside to run and play. Yet on very cold or snowy days, finding ways for them to exert energy and arrange entertainment can be a cha…
Read ArticleGiving gifts worth remembering
When the toys and clutter begin piling up in your home and you want to give your children something more meaningful for Christmas, consider these ideas…
Read ArticleFinding a forever family
Pregnant women are constantly asked what they are going to name their child, but it’s totally different when a pregnant woman asks a couple she has just met for the first time what they are going to name the child she is carrying.
Read ArticlePracticing fire safety with the family
October is a good time to review fire safety basics, because Fire Prevention Week is this month.
Read ArticleParenting without overdoing it
How do parents effectively teach children the life skills and independence they need to thrive? What exactly is overparenting?
Read ArticleShopping for shoeboxes
Operation Christmas Child, a project of nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse, provides shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for children around the world. National collection week is always the week before Thanksgiving, Nov….
Read ArticleWhen paperwork is like a pregnancy
The adoption process is a journey, but the reward is great.
Read ArticleBuilding strong, resilient kids
Processing rejection and building resilience are experiences children need when they are young in order to become strong adults in a difficult world.
Read ArticleSimple but terrific birthday parties
How to celebrate your child in a meaningful and low-stress manner
Read ArticleMore organization, less stress
More than half of Americans dread spring cleaning more than taxes, according to a recent study by SpareFoot.com. Getting organized might be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be that bad.
Read ArticleSupporting early births
Six years ago when Katie Gonzalez’s son, Matthew, was born at 24 weeks gestation and weighed only 1 pound, 5 ounces, he was the smallest baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. He stayed there for …
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