Blog Archives - Page 19 of 25

December 10, 2018 by Makenna Sievertson

Make reading your kid’s favorite pastime with these NAPPA winners!

Sesame Street: Another Monster at the End of This Book: An Interactive Adventure

Who can resist a Sesame Street book, especially one that’s interactive! In this adorable story, Grover tries everything to keep Elmo from turning another page and reaching the monster at the end of the book. With lift-the-flaps, sliders, and pop-up elements that kids will delight in, Another Monster at the End of this Book is sure to be your family’s new story time favorite. $14.99, ages: 3 – 5

Happy Papas – Picture Book

Happy Papas is a beautiful read-aloud that celebrates the wonder of fatherhood, exploring how both animal and human fathers shelter, nurture, and interact with their little ones over the course of a day. From ocean to sky and savanna to jungle, Happy Papas speaks to the universal joys of fatherly love. $14.95, ages: 2 – 4

Growing Friendships: A Kids’ Guide to Making and Keeping Friends

Growing Friendships is a funny and practical book that helps children build the friendships they crave. It’s filled with cartoons showing common friendship challenges and research-based solutions, plus silly cat and dog characters who make goofy suggestions such as: “He should sniff their butts!”

$15.99, ages: 6 – 12

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Time Warp

If your kids love trivia, they will enjoy Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Time Warp. It’s unlike any other trivia book for kids. The book is packed with comparisons across time that will amaze and delight ages 7 and up. Filled with fun and colorful illustrations, the all new, all true facts include things like “Beijing, China had existed for 300 years by the time Ancient Rome was founded; ” The Stegosaurus and the T. rex never coexisted. They were separated by about 85 million years;” and “Pocahontas was born in 1596, one year before Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was published.” $16.99, ages: 7+

Photo Puzzlemania! (Highlights Photo Puzzlemania Activity Books)

Photo Puzzlemania is hours of challenging fun for the whole family! This innovative book is created by the puzzling experts at Highlights. Every puzzle is designed from intricate, full-color photographs. Kids will love searching photos to find the hidden objects in these unique photo Hidden Pictures puzzles. Other favorite Highlights puzzle types, like Double Checks, matching, and mazes take on a whole new life when they’re created from photographic images. $12.99, ages: 6+

Unusual Animals A-Z

Unusual Animals A-Z is quirky, imaginative, educational and just plain fun. Whether it’s Andre the aardvark or Zena the zorilla, each of these twenty-six unusual animals is introduced to the reader with a colorful watercolor painting and a factual characteristic. While Bernie the bearded dragon likes to bask in the sun, Morris the manatee uses his small front flippers and massive body to surf through the waves. Each animal has the same lettered name and when the reader reaches the end, he has twenty-six chances to come up with one of his own. $15.95, ages: 3 – 7

Reindeer In Here

Make a new Christmas friend this holiday season with Reindeer In Here. This cute furry friend comes with a story book to encourage children to celebrate their unique selves. As kids take their reindeer friend on daily adventures, encourage them to appreciate the different characteristics around them and appreciate the incredible diversity of our world. As your child’s bond with Reindeer grows throughout December, your child will learn how a “misfit” North Pole reindeer came up with the genius idea to come to their house to discover what makes each child different. $29.99, for the entire family

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Wacky 123!

Your kids will have fun practicing their counting with these silly and strange animals from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Wacky 123! Features numbers 1 through 12 in kid-friendly scenes and colorful and engaging illustrations by Ripley’s cartoonists.
Written at an age-appropriate level with high-frequency words. $6.99, ages: 0 – 5

Lobsters Are Red! But Sometimes They’re Not!

Your kids will enjoy learning their colors with this fun book from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Lobsters Are Red, But Sometimes They’re Not! teaches colors with easy-to-understand, real-life examples and dynamic and engaging illustrations by Ripley’s cartoonists. Written at an age-appropriate level with repeating lines that immediately lets kids feel that they know the story. A fun way to learn colors. $6.99, ages: 0 – 5

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! ODDphabet

Learn the alphabet with this crazy A to Z animal bunch from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!. ODDphabet is filled with whimsical creatures and fun rhymes perfect for young readers. Engaging illustrations by Ripley’s cartoonists. Here’s a fun sample: “W is for weasel, Who was on the ground, He hopped on a woodpecker, Now he flies around!” $6.99, ages: 0 – 5

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! It’s a Circle: But Not Just a Circle!

It’s a Circle: But Not Just a Circle! brings shapes alive for young readers. From Ripley’s Believe It or Not! this colorful board book teaches kids about circles, squares, triangles and other shapes with easy-to-understand and real-life examples. Engaging illustrations by Ripley’s cartoonist. $6.99, ages: 0 – 5

Ripley’s Fun Facts & Silly Stories: PLAY IT LOUD!

From Ripley’s Believe It or Not! comes all-new stories, facts, and feats just right for ages 7 to 10. Fun Facts & Silly Stories PLAY IT LOUD! is filled with word games, photo puzzles, trivia and much more. Stunning photos and colorful pages will keep kids engaged for hours. $16.95, ages: 7 – 10

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! A Century of Strange!

Did you know you could get a spaghetti donut in Brooklyn, New York? This and hundreds of other fun and strange facts fill the colorful pages of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! A Century of Strange! This new edition of the bestselling series features over 1,200 amazing stories from around the world. Compelling photos, including exclusive images not found anywhere else. Perfect for curious kids and their parents! $28.95, ages: 10+

Our American Presidents – Their Lives and Legacies

Our American Presidents: Their Lives and Legacies gives readers a concise look into all 44 Presidents of the United States. The book is easy to read and includes a listing of cabinet members from each presidency. Kids and parents will enjoy learning little known facts, the truth about many “presidential myths” and getting a glimpse into the presidents’ personal lives. $29.95, for the entire family and students!

For more great books, click HERE!

December 10, 2018 by Page Street Publishing

Partner Content: From our Friends at Page Street Publishing

Gift Ideas for the Kid Scientist on Your List

If you have a kid on your nice list who loves to build and create, we have the perfect gifts!

Genius LEGO Inventions

Use science and engineering to transform your bin of LEGO® bricks into amazing, movable toys, machines and gadgets. Bestselling author Sarah Dees is back with an all-new collection of projects featuring ingenious designs and simple scientific principles that real engineers use every day. Make yourself a robot pal whose legs move as he rolls along, or a drummer who really plays the drums. Build a wind-up car complete with a flywheel that’ll send your minifigures zooming. Or challenge your friends to a game of pinball on a LEGO® pinball machine you built from scratch. Each project is cooler than the next! For more info, click HERE!

101 Kids Activities That Are the Ooey, Gooey-est Ever!

Let your creativity and your imagination soar with these colorful, crazy-fun recipes for slime, dough, clay, foam, mud and more. From the bestselling authors of 101 Kids Activities, 101 Coolest Simple Science Experiments and Adorkable Bubble Bath Crafts, this book is full of exciting and fantastical recipes that include tips on the science behind the goo, so you can learn too! Create amazing concoctions like Fake Snow, Color-Changing Slime and Glow-in-the-Dark Dough. With 101 super cool activities (that are also super easy to clean up), you can try them all! For more information, click HERE!

Fun with LEGO Inventions

Ooey Gooey Fun

December 5, 2018 by Makenna Sievertson

As winter break approaches, lights begin to line houses, and parents start searching for any excuse to get out of the office; it’s starting to feel like that extra special merry time of year. From desert destinations to colder communities, we are your one stop shop for holiday travel inspiration. These family-friendly towns will make you feel right at home, or give you the ultimate city slicker experience you’ve been searching for. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, New Years or anything else in between, these magical holiday destinations are sure to reignite the spirit of family this winter.

Photo credit: Brian Adams

North Pole, Alaska

If your kids say they’re too old to believe in Santa Claus, a visit to North Pole is in order. There’s nothing like reliving your childhood and tapping back into your imagination at this year-round holiday extravaganza. Only a 15 minute drive out of Fairbanks, North Pole comes alive with the spirit of family every winter season. Ice sculptors from around the world travel to participate in the annual Christmas in Ice Contest. The Winter Festival is a kid favorite with breathtaking fireworks, a candle-lighting celebration and the crowning of the King and Queen of North Pole. Stop by the North Pole Post Office to see elves hard at work responding to the annual 400,000 letters addressed to Santa. Take some time out of the chilly Alaska winter wilderness at some of the world-renowned restaurants in town, some of which have been featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”. Whatever you decide to do in North Pole, don’t forget to keep your eyes to the sky for the Aurora Borealis Northern Lights!

Photo credit: Kauai Festival of Lights

Kauai, Hawaii

For an escape from the cold and snow, say aloha to Kauai this holiday season. This Hawaiian island is an outdoor enthusiasts dream with nine distinct wilderness preserves, and even though the weather may not match the season, there are plenty of winter adventures in store. Surf with Santa at the 22nd annual Kauai Festival of Lights, a free family photo op that teaches you about the culture of the island and the true meaning of togetherness. Dance away Thanksgiving dinner at the Christmas Luau at Kamokila Village, taste the diverse flavors of the islands at Friday Art Night or unwind with a live ukulele performance by the ocean. For an explosive end to the year, go to the famous Poipu Beach Park for a free family-friendly movie followed by the annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks Celebration. If this sounds like your kind of holiday getaway, make sure to book early! December is one of the busiest times on the island. Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!

Photo credit: Scott Chernis Photography

San Francisco, California

Experience the uniquely Northern Californian charm of San Francisco during the winter. This bustling metropolis is jam packed with kid-friendly things to visit, eat and do. Stop by Fisherman’s Wharf for fresh seafood, decadent chocolate and the magical tree-lighting ceremony. If you love a good show, plan a concert trip to the San Francisco Symphony to hear award-winning artists showcasing holiday favorites. Try not to overload on sugar at the towering gingerbread houses decked out with lights, ornaments and tasty treats on Nob Hill. Snow may be scarce in the California climate, but you can still ice skate! The Embarcadero Center hosts an annual carnival where you can skate and slide to your heart’s content. Walk through the famous Haight and Ashbury neighborhood and see if you can spot psychedelic Santa, a local favorite. If it’s not too chilly, trek across the Golden Gate Bridge for a once in a lifetime view of the bay. Don’t forget a pair of good walking shoes.

Photo credit: FTP Edelman, Wyoming Office of Tourism

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Have an extra special holiday season at Jackson Ho-ho-hole in Wyoming. This tiny town is one of the best vacation destinations, and their seemingly endless winter activities explain why. Snuggled in the Grand Teton National Park, you and your family can get up close and personal with wildlife at the National Elk Refuge while enjoying a horse-drawn sleigh ride. Ski the slopes with Santa and his reindeer on Christmas in Jackson Town Square, practice your best belly laugh with a musical dinner theatre show at the Jackson Play House and warm up by the fire with free hot cocoa. Start your new year off with a bang with Jackson’s mountain torchlight parade, a special Glow Worm parade for kids and an awe-inspiring fireworks display to wrap up the festivities. With plenty of special discounts going on, you’re sure to find something to brag about when you get home.

Photo credit: Danita Delimont

Taos, New Mexico

For a December desert destination, plan a visit to Taos, New Mexico. The town celebrates Yuletide in Taos from Thanksgiving to New Years, giving you plenty of time to take advantage of these unique celebrations. Take a walking tour of the candle-lit farolitos (small paper lanterns) amongst the falling snow, a tried and true New Mexican tradition. Visit the annual Yuletide Arts and Crafts fair or twirl the night away at the Twirl Aglow Party, a kid and family favorite. Purchase your own handmade art at the TaosFolk famous pop-up store, witness the 31st annual tree lighting in the town plaza and listen to local stories under the stars at the Lighting of Ledoux. For all you animal lovers out there, say hello to Santa Paws, a Christmas benefit featuring the Stray Hearts Animal Shelter. With Native American and Latino influences, holidays in New Mexico are a uniquely cultural experience that we encourage you to try at least once – and Taos is definitely the place to be.

Photo credit: courtesy of Explore Charleston, ExploreCharleston.com

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston redefines the true taste of southern charm, and the winter season is no exception. Trek through three miles of over 2 million shimmering lights at James Island County Park’s Holiday Festival of Lights. This tradition brings local landmarks to life and is open every evening, rain or shine, through January 1st, 2019. Explore the Winter Wonderland, roast marshmallows, ride the carousel or go on a train ride through the park. Laugh the stress of the season away with the Charleston Christmas Special, sample delicacies at Wine Under the Oaks, or step back in time with the Family Yuletide in the Stable Yards. For more interactive fun, be a part of your own dinner show with We Three Thieves, where audience members take on characters at a fancy dinner party. For the perfect family-friendly way to bring in the new year, attend the Happy New Year, Charleston in Marion Square. The Holy City sure knows how to celebrate the holy holidays.

Photo credit: washington.org

Washington, D.C.

You may already know better than to discuss politics at Thanksgiving dinner, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit our nation’s capital this holiday season. Washington D.C. in December is truly magical, as there are a multitude of celebratory light displays across the city. Cross visiting the National Christmas Tree off your bucket list, and see if you can count all 56 handmade ornaments representing the US states and territories. Visit in time for the lighting of the National Menorah on December 2nd, and indulge on some free latkes and hot donuts. Reconnect with your wild side at the Smithsonian ZooLights. For adults, mark your calendars for BrewLights, an immersive craft brew featured experience. You’d be a grinch if you missed Georgetown GLOW, a breathtaking light-art exhibition in D.C.’s most historic neighborhood. The Downtown Holiday Market is worth multiple trips, as you just have to try all the food, drinks, and desserts the vendors offer. D.C. is always teeming with people, but you could be teeming with holiday spirit.

Photo credit: Julienne Schaer

New York, New York

No one celebrates the holidays like New York, New York. Instead of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV this year, plan a trip with you and your little ones to get all of what this city has to offer. Light the world’s largest Hanukkah Menorahs to kick off the Jewish Festival of Lights at the Plaza Hotel. Stop by the Rockefeller Center for the famous Christmas Tree lighting or skate away the day at The Rink at Rockefeller. Embrace the diversity of the city with the Brooklyn Nutcracker, a dance genre bonanza that adds a twist to the classic tale. NYC is full of the world’s best and brightest, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. Bring in 2019 with family and fun at the Times Square Ball Drop, but don’t forget to bundle up for the bitter cold. For a fantastical fireworks display, line up along Prospect Park’s West Drive for the best view of the Grand Army Plaza Fireworks Display.

December 5, 2018 by Elena Epstein

This holiday season, give the gift of unlimited outdoor fun with these NAPPA Award winners!

Garden View Cottage

Your kids will love stepping inside this charming Garden View Cottage for hours of imaginative play. Adorable and well-constructed design, rich detailing and an open air style for a full view of playtime happenings. Four corner seats open up the interior space, inviting friends to join in the culinary fun. A play kitchen with pretend oven, stove, and molded-in shelves as well as an outdoor chimney with pretend pizza oven offers more cooking fun. Two window sills offer a place to serve up culinary creations or use the molded-in track to ride around their favorite mini vehicles.$299.99, ages 1 1/2+

RazorX Cruiser Electric Skateboard

The RazorX Cruiser is a skateboard with an electrifying kick, putting the control of the 125-watt, rear-wheel-drive motor in the palm of your hand and under your feet. Get the fun rolling with the variable-speed control on this versatile cruiser, then lean into the lithium-ion-powered, carve-and-turn skate action at speeds up to 10 mph (16 km/h). $179.99, ages 9+

Nighthawk

Master the thrill of the ride with the 12 Volt Nighthawk Ride-On from Rollplay. Reaching forward speeds of up to 6 miles per hour, this innovative ride-on is sure to be a hit with little thrill-seekers. Accelerator and brake pedals allow the rider to control the speed of the Nighthawk with ease. Kids will love learning how to maneuver around obstacles with the unique steering technique — lean left and right to do quick turns. $149.99, ages 6+

Razor Power A2 Electric Scooter

Packed with innovation from its lithium-ion battery and push-button throttle control to its kick-to-start in-hub electric motor, the Power A2 is ushering in a new age of performance in an ultra-modern, compact and easily foldable update of the classic A scooter. Light-weight and streamlined, the Power A2 packs a powered punch with bold style and a rattle-free ride at speeds up to 10 mph (16 km/h) and 40 minutes of continuous use. $199.99, ages 8+

December 5, 2018 by Elena Epstein

Looking for something different and unique for the holidays. We have some some great ideas.

OttLite Wellness Series Glow Lamp

The OttLite Wellness Series Glow Lamp is designed with eye health in mind. Part of OttLite Technologies, Inc.’s healthy lighting options, the sleek lamp is designed to mimic natural daylight and reduce eye fatigue. The touch button offers three levels of light from soft to medium to bright. A good option for a homework nook or home office. $89.99, ages: Tween & Teens; Parents

Fun N’ Fly Foldable Travel Tray

For your next family trip, check out the Fun N’ Fly Foldable Travel Tray — a comfortable, portable and machine washable kids play space for wherever your air travels take you. The tray is great for drawing, building, playing and snacking. Comes with mesh pockets for crayons, pens, puzzles, craft supplies and small toys. It is designed to fit most standard airline tray tables, assembles in just seconds and comes with its own bag. $35.99, ages: 3+

Norton Core

Norton Core – Home Office with Gold Router

The Norton Core is a security focused WiFi router that also looks stylish in your home. The device not only protects your home network from malware, viruses, hackers, and cybercriminals, but also includes both network- and device-level (smartphones and tablets) Smart Parental Controls. These features allow parents to control what kids see and do across all their connected devices. The App is easy to use and can control your whole network. Parents can: Set age appropriate content filters, block unwanted websites, manage screen time with daily limits, pause the Internet – for an individual device or the entire household. $149.00m ages: parents with children under 15.

December 2, 2018 by Elena Epstein

Bundle, our Baby & New Mom Gift Guide is here!

November 27, 2018 by

Pigs, rabbits, and rockets – oh my! Check out these hands-on games and activities that are fun for the whole family. Plus a stylish way to store it all!

mimish Pouf with Storage

Functional and stylish, the mimish Pouf with Storage serves as both seating and storage — great for the family room, game room or reading nook. The upper cushion connects to an open storage compartment by a durable zipper. Sit on the storage pouf while your belongings are inside, or detach the stand-alone cushion and use the storage space while seated. The Cotton Storage Pouf can adapt to any room, whether it be the nursery, dorm, apartment, playroom or living room. Customize your storage pouf by mixing and matching the top and bottom pieces. Perfect for storing hard and soft items, such as bedding, dolls, books, clothes, legos, tech and more. $69, for all ages

Rabbit Pirates

Rabbit Pirates are in search of buried treasure. Help them shoot for the loot in this simple card game that suits all ages, from kids, teens, college students, parents and grandparents. If you have ever played the card game of war, Rabbit Pirates will be your new family game night favorite. The object of the game is to play high valued cards to win bronze, silver and gold treasure tokens.

Mighty Pig Tug

Mighty Pig Tug is the wild game of pig tug-of-war. Each player must build the best three-pig team, but watch out, pigs can be quickly pulled into the mud. It’s a simple strategy card game that is teacher-created and builds logic skills. Mighty Pig Tug accommodates up to 6 players and is a great option for family game night.

Jungle Runners

Jungle Runners, is a fun family board game, where players have a team of animals that they have to navigate through the jungle themed board of obstacles and challenges to finish the journey. Jungle Runners begins on a sports day in the jungle. Players each have a team of animals that they need to navigate through the jungle. The first team to get all of their animals to the finish line wins.

Trink-A-Links Pets

Trink-A-Links are an adorable arts and crafts for kids with a passion for on-trend accessories. Hand-paint the dog, cat and bunny pieces, then choose how you’ll pair them up. Create a purrfect necklace that’s kitten from head-to-toe or design crazy critter pairings like a ring that’s half bunny and half bark. Encourages creativity, self-expression, imagination and fine motor skills.

Rocket Lander

Rocket Lander is a dice component game with an out of this world, explosive theme. Rocket Lander challenges players to strategically plot a graph on a 3 dimensional axis. The game topic travels through space and around the globe as players escort their ships, search and overtake opponents, and defend a home turf. Of course, the best strategy and a dash of luck help to decide who can land their ship efficiently.

November 27, 2018 by Makenna Sievertson

Make shopping for your favorite new mom and bundle of joy a breeze with our new NAPPA Award-winning products.

Grow with Me Floor Seat

The Grow with Me Floor Seat offers a contoured floor seat allowing your little one sit up on their own and to grow with them as they develop. Made of soft, yet durable expanded foam the baby floor seat is comfortable, easy to clean and designed for durability and safety. Holding up to 50 pounds, the floor seat is ideal for 4-12-month-old babies who are able to hold their head up. $39.99, ages: 4-12-months

Little Book of You

The Little Book of You offers a wonderful way to create whimsical and one-of-a kind illustrated baby books. Each book can be easily personalized to create a special keepsake. Tell your children’s unique birth story through fun and special facts about their birthday, the year they were born and about the wonderful people who couldn’t wait for their arrival. Tailored to each family, these books are timeless mementos that kids will love reading as they grow up. $49.95, ages: birth+

Organic Pajamas by Zutano

Your kids will love getting cozy with these new 100% organic cotton PJs from Zutano. Super soft and stretchy — making them a great choice for bedtime. Durable with a comfortable waistband. The wrists and ankles have a nice elastic cuff that keeps the pajamas from riding up, but don’t leave tight marks. Comes in a variety of adorable designs. Available in infant sizes through size 7. $32-38, ages: Infant sizes through size 7.

Happy Papas – Picture Book

November 26, 2018 by Makenna Sievertson

With the days getting shorter and nights getting colder, we think it’s about time for a winter getaway. From California to Vermont, from beginner bunny trails to adrenaline-junkie black diamond rides, these ski-resorts have it all. Not only are the amenities worth bundling up for, their kid-friendly activities make them the perfect family-friendly holiday destination.

Photo credit: Vail Resorts

Heavenly Mountain Resort, California

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Overlooking the cool blue waters of Lake Tahoe, it’s no wonder they named this resort Heavenly. With over 34 miles of trails to ski in both Nevada and California, a kid-friendly zip line and ropes course, Heavenly is more like an outdoor adventure park than a ski resort. Did we mention they have a mountain coaster too? They offer ski and snowboard lessons for all levels of experience, child development teams and even a nursery and day care if your little ones are tuckered out after a day on the slopes. With several properties and types of rooms to choose from, you’re sure to find a match made in heaven.

Photo credit: Abby Hein and Vail Resorts

Park City Mountain Resort, Utah

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Park City is a family-friendly fantasy with their new $50 million investment project debuting this year. Teach your kids in comfort at High Meadow Park, or enjoy a meal on the ridgeline at Cloud Dine with this sustainability-committed resort. Park City offers childcare, youth ski programs and sleigh rides through the town center for a truly immersive kid-friendly winter wonderland. For a parent’s night out, Utah boasts a vibrant nightlife with several bars, restaurants and wine tastings a short walk from the mountain. Pulled a muscle on the slopes? Stop by the RockResorts Spa for a hot stone massage. Park City is only a 30-minute drive from Salt Lake City, so strap on your snow boots and get skiing.

Bridger Bowl, Montana

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Bridger Bowl is perfect for an adventure on a budget. With ski passes $63 a day for adults and $25 for kids 7-12 years old, there’s no excuse for missing out on a snow day. Bridger Bowl is home to over 2,000 acres of skiable terrain, 75 trails and comfortable lodging with low rates even during the busiest seasons. They also offer youth ski and snowboard programs, guided ridge terrain tours and a playcare nap room at the ski lodge. Plan your trip for December or January for plenty of local, fun family-friendly events. No need to worry about long lines at Bridger Bowl, just take a moment to enjoy all of what nature has to offer.

Photo credit: Abby Hein and Vail Resorts

Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado

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It wouldn’t be a ski list without Colorado, and Beaver Creek is a real winter gem. Explore 1,800 acres of terrain with three base camps at the only mountain in the US to regularly host the Men’s Alpine Ski World Cup. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, stop by for the daily Cookie Time ritual or one of their four award-winning restaurants on the mountain. Warm up next to the campfire, rest your feet on the heated sidewalks and see a show at the Vilar Performing Arts Center – all with a view of the breathtaking Rocky Mountains. Beaver Creek also offers childcare services, but you may be able to buy some patience at the famous Candy Cabin.

Photo credit: Snowshoe Mountain Resort

Snowshoe Mountain Resort, West Virginia

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Leave no trail unexplored at the Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia. With winter storms from the East and North dumping snow in this little town, you’re sure to get the powder you’re after. Teach your kids at the Ski and Ride School, get your snow legs on trails designed for all abilities or hit the 6-story Tubing Hill for a family-friendly adrenaline rush. When it’s time to hang up the skis, take a sleigh ride through the mountains or stop by the bouncy house/climbing wall/movie room for a cost effective break from the cold. With 11,000 acres to roam in the Appalachian Mountain Range, your family can get the perfect Christmas-card worthy photo in this vast national forest.

Photo credit: Rob Bossi / Okemo Mountain Resort

Okemo Mountain Resort, Vermont

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Get ready for an activity-packed weekend at the Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont. This location redefines family-friendly with their popular Kids Night, an indoor pool and their year-round Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster. Enjoy a bike trip through the snowy Jackson Gore, take a ride in the Snowtubing Park or watch your kids explore in their very own snowmobile tour. With plenty of events planned through the winter season, you’ll never run out of things to do. For an extra-spectacular Holiday getaway, plan for the end of December to meet Santa and see a torchlight parade and firework show on the slopes.

November 26, 2018 by Makenna Sievertson

We were lucky enough to speak with Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a child psychologist and author of several books. Her most recent work, “Growing Friendships: A Kids’ Guide to Making and Keeping Friends”, is a refreshingly humorous look into the complicated realm of children’s friendships.

What inspired you to write “Growing Friendships”?

I am a clinical psychologist and mom of four. Both personally and professionally, children’s friendships are deeply important. Just about every child will struggle socially at some point, and it’s important to understand this is part of growing up. I wanted to help parents and children navigate these obstacles in a light, funny and informative way.

What are some of the common obstacles kids face when developing friendships?

We need to be able to flexibly adjust our behavior to the social situation. There are five fundamental skills outlined in the book; reaching out to make friends, stepping back to keep friends, blending in to join friends, speaking up to share with friends, and letting go to accept friends. It’s important for parents to know that friendship problems are very common. It’s important as parents to navigate, not dismiss their friendship struggles. If you want your child to be more engaged and less likely to be bullied, help them make friends. It’s often good to help kids have multiple groups of friends, as when you have difficulties with one you can find comfort in the other. Also, given the number of friendship breakups, if your child has other friends as well it makes it easier to weather those. Encourage them to have a bus stop friend, a math friend, and a soccer friend. All of these friendships have value and greatly enrich their lives.

What can parents do if their child is having trouble making friends?

Offer empathy; as support and acceptance at home is very important. Give them a little extra loving and see if you can figure out exactly what happened. If your child comes home and said another child kicked his chair, it might take some questioning to figure out he also asked her to move out of his way ten times. It helps get a sense of what’s going on, especially if it’s a repeated pattern. From short-lived toddler friendships to the more intimate relationships of teens, it’s about teaching them perspective. Play The Maybe Game, and try thinking of possible explanations for other kids’ behavior other than they were just trying to be mean. By helping children get a glimpse of reasoning, we can do a lot about helping kids problem solve.

How do parents know when kids are testing out their newfound social skills or just being mean and taking part in bullying?

Bullying is a deliberate act of meanness directed towards a targeted child, and there is usually a power difference meaner, older, stronger, tougher, or more popular. I do think there is an important distinction between bullying and ordinary meanness, and true bullying usually requires adult intervention. This doesn’t mean you need to overreact to ordinary bumps in the road. Our first instinct is to leap into solve it for our kids, but friendship struggles are something that helps children become stronger. We don’t become masters of social situations at 9-years-old, its a lifelong learning process.

If a child is being bullied, how do parent’s approach the issue? Do they call the other parent or talk to the teacher?

It’s usually not a good idea to call the other parent, everyone is going to feel fiercely protective of their own child. The best course of action is to talk to the teacher, and find out what they see. Having a teacher keep a closer eye on the problems can usually settle it down. No child ever deserves to be bullied, and we want to address the behavior directly. We also want to find ways on a practical level that will keep the child from being targeted. Stay around their friends at recess or stand close to a teacher. They can also loudly point out ‘that was a mean thing to say’, which will direct the attention off of them and onto the child responsible for the bullying.

How can parents open up the conversation to empathy and communication when teaching their children about relationships?

I think we can do it all the time. We can do it whether we’re talking about our own experiences, or we can do it in the context of movies, books, TV shows. In Growing Friendships, we wanted to have a light hand here, which is why we deliberately made it funny. The best way to use this book is to read it with your child. Ask questions like: Do you know anyone like that? What would you do in this situation? How would you react to someone being mean? Connect with your child, and bring the information home. The number one response I get to this book is ‘I wish I had this when I was a kid’. It’s important to recognize these skills apply to adults too, as our social skills are ever growing.

What is the best piece of friendship advice you ever received?

“Kindness is the key to friendship.” There this magnet myth surrounding friendship, that children need to be able to draw friends to them. The difficulty is nobody wants to be the steel. Those aren’t friends, those are fans. My family moved across the country and overseas when I was growing up, so I learned to make friends across new schools and new cultures. I think I learned to focus outward, and if the other person feels good in your company, that’s the most important thing.