There is a moment, right before the first big firework goes off, when an entire crowd goes quiet and tips their heads back at the same time. Kids and adults, all of them, staring up at the dark and waiting for something to happen. Then it does, and everybody makes the same sound. For something […]
While May is filled with end-of-school activities, June is basically a month-long exhale. School winds down, schedules loosen up, and suddenly, there is actual time to do things just because they sound fun. Lucky for you, June comes loaded with unofficial holidays that are exactly that kind of fun. Here are the ones worth putting […]
There comes a point in every middle grader’s life when the egg hunt stops being exciting and starts being something they participate in for the benefit of the adults watching. You can see it happen in real time. They find an egg, drop it into their basket, and look up with an expression that says, […]
March has a reputation for being unpredictable; cold one day, almost spring the next. But one thing it definitely has going for it? A great lineup of unofficial holidays. Some of them are silly. Some are surprisingly fun. And a few of them are the kind your kid will actually want to put on the […]
February brings Valentine’s Day, but for middle graders, the holiday can feel a little confusing. It’s not quite about romance yet, but it’s also not just about candy hearts and classroom parties anymore. So what is it about? At its best, February is a good reminder to show the people in our lives that we […]
The holidays are here, and we hope this season brings a little rest, fun, and time together. To help keep kids entertained over the break, we’ve created a NB Holiday Activity Book you can download below. It’s full of fun activities to keep your child busy during this festive season. We’ll be back in the […]
We’re back for another season, digging into the history behind some of our most beloved holiday stories. If you missed parts one and two from last year, be sure to check them out! This week, we’re exploring two familiar holiday tales with origins that might surprise your kids. Both come from very different places in […]
As we head into Thanksgiving week, we hope your home gets a few quiet moments tucked between the cooking, travel, and family chaos. If you need something to keep your middle-grade readers busy (or just want a little Night Buddies fun), we put together a Thanksgiving Activity Book you can download and print. Inside, you’ll […]
If you have a kid who tears through books, you already know the holiday scramble. You want to give them something they’ll actually use, but another stack of books doesn’t always land. Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that make reading easier, cozier, or more fun. They support the habit without adding pressure. Here […]
As the year winds down and the holidays start to take shape, families naturally slip into familiar rhythms. There are school breaks on the horizon, cooler evenings, and a general sense of gathering in. It’s a good moment to look at the traditions—small, everyday ones and the bigger, once-a-year ones—that help kids feel grounded. For […]
The holidays sparkle with excitement in the world of Night Buddies; cozy stories, twinkling lights, and the thrill of wish lists and surprises! For middle-grade readers, it’s a time of big imagination and even bigger anticipation. But the holiday season isn’t just about getting—it’s about growing. Helping kids make thoughtful, purposeful choices about what they […]
Halloween is one of those rare nights when imagination rules the neighborhood. Costumes come alive, flashlights flicker down sidewalks, and laughter echoes from block to block. For parents of middle graders, though, this magical night can come with a mix of excitement and nerves. Kids want independence, but we still want to keep them safe. […]