Winter’s stillness is a counterpoint to the hustle and bustle of the rest of the year and gives us a chance to slow down. The chilly season offers us a great opportunity to press “pause” and enjoy some electronic free…
Read MoreCategory: Parenting
Parenting tips for caretakers in Des Moines.
Tips for Keeping the Kids (& Everyone Else in the Family) Happy this Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a wonderful, warm family holiday, but it can be trying for kids, and especially taxing for kids (and adults) with sensory challenges. Your child might have a meltdown right when you’re carving the turkey. Your pie might burn,…
Read MoreHost a Kids Birthday Party That Gives Back
No doubt that a birthday party with friends and family is a fun way to celebrate, but you know what’s an even better time? Throwing a party that helps others, too! We’re not suggesting a ban on all birthday gifts! But…
Read MoreWhere To Get Tested For COVID-19 in the Des Moines Area
Like, but not the same as last year, families sending their kids off to school for the 2020-21 academic year can expect some changes to what they might expect from the typical school year. Unlike last year, schools are not…
Read MoreHelping Your Child Overcome Back to School Jitters
The first day of school is just around the corner! I think almost everyone has experienced back to school jitters at one point or another. Which helps us relate and empathize as parents, when our kids become nervous about going…
Read MoreYou’re Invited to Attend the First dsm Lifting The Veil Event of 2021 – Moms on the Edge!
Through six events dsm’s “Lifting The Veil” will be exploring how the lives and mental health of Iowa families have been indelibly changed by the pandemic. This year’s series will focus on parents, children and families, and also shine a…
Read More11 Community Service Projects Perfect for Des Moines Kids
Observed each year on the third Monday in January as “a day on, not a day off,” MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their…
Read MoreSupporting Your Child’s Mental Health This Winter During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Winter darkness and colder weather can cause your child’s mood and health habits to take a dive. Throw in quarantines, unpredictable school schedules, and a general disruption of everyday life caused by a pandemic, it all can lead to increased depression…
Read MoreHow to Support Our Kids During Virtual Learning
By Natalie Maughan Hasn’t 2020 been fun?? I say that with a dollop of sarcasm when I consider how different my life is now to what I would normally be doing had the pandemic never happened. Right now, all six…
Read MoreHoliday 2020: How to Safely Celebrate the Holidays During a Pandemic
Should we host or attend our usual holiday get together this year? That is the pressing question for a lot of us during this COVID edition of the 2020 holiday season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are advising…
Read MoreFall- Themed Toddler Activities
By Natalie Maughan Although the calendar says it’s fall it has felt more like winter so far this season. Fall is one of my favorites so I love to pack in as many fall activities with my family as we…
Read MoreSocially Distanced Fun Alternatives to Trick or Treating
With the impact of COVID on all our lives, many parents may be planning to skip traditional trick-or-treating this year. And, even if we weren’t in the middle of a pandemic there are many reasons not to take your kids…
Read MoreResources to Help You Discuss Racism & Racial Injustice with Des Moines Kids
Due to the deaths of George Floyd (and far too many other black Americans) and the resulting #BlackLivesMatter protests, we’ve been talking a lot about how to discuss racism and racial injustice with our (white) kids. Not only do our…
Read MoreActivities to Keep the Kids Busy at Home During the Coronavirus School Break
My family is supposed to be on our way to a warm tropical getaway and taking a break this week. But, like many of you, our plans have changed quickly over the last few days. Now that school has been…
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