There's no need to spend a fortune on toys for your kids. We've rounded up great recommendations from moms on the low-cost toys their children return to again and again. Happy shopping!
Does bad weather have your kids singing the cabin fever blues? Here are dozens of great ways to keep them entertained indoors. Our not-to-miss favorite? #46: Frozen toys.
Do you ever wonder why, despite the fact that you've told your child the house rules, he still isn’t cooperating? Kids need the rules broken down into age appropriate steps so that there are no questions. Here are some examples that will help you do this
Picking the right school for your child can be a complex decision, even at the preschool level. Here, moms offer three tips to help you know whether a play-based preschool is the most compatible with your approach to parenting,
Do a preschooler's drawings really reveal what's going on in her head, or is it just meaningless scribbling? How much should you worry when your child draws something odd or inappropriate? Here, perspective from both moms and a clinical psychologist.
Does your child fall asleep in her own bed only to snuggle into yours at 2 a.m.? Get a renowned pediatrician's ideas for solving this problem, and see how small changes in the decor of your child's room can make a big difference in how everyone sleeps.
Perfect for water games, messy projects, and sports, a local park or your own backyard are ideal settings for kids' summer birthday parties. There's no worry about how you'll fit all those kids in your home, and clean-up is much easier!
Eating is always more fun for kids when they can get their hands into the act. Here we've rounded up forty finger food ideas that will motivate your kids to dig in!
Waldorf schools “strive to transform education into an art that educates the whole child — the heart, hands and the head.” Here's how to decide whether a Waldorf preschool is right for you and your child.
You don't have to worry about all the time your kids spend on the iPad, iPhone, Nook, or Android phone as long as the apps they choose are learning focused.
When it came to potty training, my daughter staunchly resisted. This year I started wondering if there would still be problems when she started Kindergarten. But near the age of 5, she suddenly started to care. Was it something a friend said at preschool?
Shoshanna's son doesn't pay attention at soccer. Tiffany L.'s son only "listens when he wants to." These Circle of Moms members say they're frustrated. Do other preschoolers habitually ignore their parents and teachers? And is it normal?
The smarter we become about skin cancer and sun damage, the more we want to protect our kids from a young age. UVA… UVB… SPF… OMG! Here are answers to common questions about choosing the best sunscreen for your preschooler.
The scariest thing in the world is seeing your child bolt from your side and run straight into traffic. Here are two smart ways to teach little ones how to be safe and responsible pedestrians — without constantly holding their hands.
Is getting your preschooler dressed like going into battle? Here are some great ideas for sorting, re-arranging, and filling in the gaps in a little one's wardrobe, all with an eye towards making getting dressed easier and more fun for both of you.
It's never fun to discipline your kids. But when you parent up (and do it skillfully) kids really do learn the lessons you try so hard to teach them. Here's how I found out.
Should you send your child to a Montessori preschool? Here are five factors to consider when deciding whether a Montessori preschool is the best choice for your child.
From the silly and sweet to the simply strange, our kids' drawings are priceless. Here, our members share some of their favorite kid creations: the art projects they just can't bring themselves to throw away — and why.
Ah, the trials and tribulations of getting our kids out the door looking like they didn't just wake up and roll out of bed! Here, moms share hair care products and techniques that prevent the tangles from happening in the first place.
Shopping for a soon-to-be three-year-old? Check out these ten creative and affordable gift ideas that moms vouch for — from art easels to tech toys, there's something here to wow every child.
Rituals and routines provide preschoolers with predictability and security, so what happens when your child has to face a new sleep schedule, school, or sibling? These five tips from Circle of Moms members will help you both make smooth transitions.
Why do we teach our children that they have to share, and likewise, that other kids have to give them a turn? Here's why it does a child a great disservice to teach him that he can have something that someone else has, simply because he wants it
Invaluable learning device... or electronic babysitter? Over-priced toy... or necessity for every kid? If you're not sure whether to introduce your child to the world of games and apps available on tablet computers and smart phones, read on.
Do you have a little one starting Pre-K or Kindergarten in just a few months? These 6 apps, which teach colors in fun and creative ways, will give your child a head start on learning colors!
Growing up in the rural South in the 1970s. I played with guns. I loved machine guns, water guns, little toy pistols. But now that I'm a mom, I've decided not to let my preschool-aged son play with toy guns. Here's how I got there.
Preschool is often where your child makes first friends, and these attachments can be very intense. So how do you handle your child's sadness when newfound friends move, transfer schools or change classrooms? Here, 5 tips from moms who've been through it.
Even if you don't smoke, your child will eventually notice someone else smoking and ask you about it. Here are three ways moms can protect little ones from cigarettes, whether it's a stranger or a family member who is puffing away in their midst.
Spring break with my two sassy boys was getting the best of me...until we spent an entire day stuck inside together. Here's how that long day taught us *all* to be on our best behavior.
Is it OK to leave your preschooler in a car unattended? While you might think the answer should be a resounding, “no,” many Circle of Moms members, myself included, feel the answer is not so cut and dry.
When you're parenting a preschooler, there are definitely days that feel like they will never end. To help you get through them, here's a short list of truly wonderful and memorable moments that our moms cherish from this special time.
Top 25 Funny Mom Susan McLean (of Divine Secrets of a Domestic Diva) is set to host our first ever Circle of Moms Live Chat on Tuesday, April 17 @ Noon PST.
April is Fun Month on Circle of Moms! To celebrate, we're partnering with our friends at Lazoo to give away an iPad 3 pre-loaded with a cool new educational kids drawing app, Squiggles!
Preschoolers are the masters of meltdowns. If you're dealing with a flood of emotions or excessive crying from your child, here are some recommendations from other moms on how to understand and help.
Many Circle of Moms members are worried that weight issues that emerge when their kids are very young will plague them for the rest of their lives. But should you be concerned? And if so, what should you do?
It’s painful to see kids hurting your child at any stage, but during the preschool years especially, it can leave you at a loss. To help, here are four tips from Circle of Moms members for coping with exclusionary and hurtful behavior in preschool.
Kids just don’t have the patience to linger while shopping. If they're not having fun, they let you and the whole store know it. Here's how to deal with onlookers who judge — and a plan for getting your kids to behave when you're out doing errands
You might know your 4-year-old's reading and math skill level, but social and emotional readiness for kindergarten is hard to predict. Is it a good idea to start your child early? Here are four key questions to ask as you make that decision.
What is considered normal speech for 3-5 year olds? If your preschooler has trouble communicating, you want to do everything you can to get them on track. Here are five signs to watch for.
Would you use vinegar or Tabasco sauce to keep your child's thumb-sucking habit from causing dental or social problems? Some Circle of Moms members do. But taste aversion isn't the only tactic to try.
Parent-teacher conferences are designed to help you keep a pulse on your preschooler’s progress. But at those first few meetings, a mom can feel as nervous as a child on his first day of school. Here's advice on moms and teachers on how to prep.
Do you let your preschooler have play dates with a child who is poorly-behaved? And what if you don’t like the mom? Here, Circle of Moms members share strategies for managing a preschooler's budding social life — and your own.
Kids are innately creative, and giving them opportunities to expand their imagination is crucial to their development. Here are some innovative craft ideas you can do at home, all with easy clean-up!
There's no shortage of new kid-friendly movies releases every year, especially engaging animated films. But many older films are worth watching with your kids as well. Here are some fantastic "oldies" that are perfect for a family movie night.
Kids scream, yell, and hit because they have feelings they can't name and don't yet understand. Here are three tips from moms on getting them to use their words instead.
This time of year, playgroups and preschools are a giant sea of runny noses. Here are some mom-recommended remedies, both natural and over-the-counter, that help kids feel better, fast.
As tiresome as tattling can be, establishing an anti-tattling rule isn’t always the way to go. After all, it's good that your child knows right from wrong! Here are some tips for making sure the tales your child is telling are ones that need to be told.
