In 2016, Night Buddies Author Sands Hetherington wrote an article about traveling with his son for the Good Man Project. As we celebrate the official start of summer, this might inspire you to take a road trip with kids! Excerpt: I don’t know if this is the best piece of parenting advice out there, but […]
Summer’s nearly here, which means it’s time to play in the dirt! Gardening is an excellent activity that can add fun and structure to summer. Gardening offers the opportunity to research, plan, take outings to garden centers and community gardens, plant and care for plants, and learn about nature. In addition, daily gardening chores can […]
It’s Mother’s Day which means that many moms will be receiving handmade gifts from their littles. We’ve scoured Pinterest, Etsy, and mommy bloggers for creative ways to display, wear, and enjoy these creations. Display it! You can create a gallery wall of children’s art with simple frames or picture rails. Hang pictures with Command Strips […]
Many of John and Crosley’s favorite readers are fifth graders. When this school year comes to a close in a few short weeks, they will be saying goodbye to elementary school. This is an exciting transition; emotions may run from happy to nervous to happy again and even a little sad. To help your student […]
Perhaps you’ve heard the lore about how the Night Buddies’ adventures started as bedtime stories made up by Sands Hetherington and his John. Five years ago, we investigated what it takes to become a master at crafting nighttime tales. So grab a pillow and blanket and settle in as we review that conversation with Sands. […]
It’s that time of year when people who pay no attention to college basketball suddenly can’t get enough. Productivity and focus decrease as people watch college men and women shoot half-court shots and buzzer-beaters during the NCAA basketball tournaments. If you can’t look away from the action, include your middle-grade kids in the fun. The […]
Who doesn’t love a good holiday? It’s fun to look forward to special days and to plan special celebrations. But don’t limit yourself to the BIG holidays; pick some unusual, lesser-known holidays and observances and incorporate them into your 2023 plans. HolidaysandObservances.com offers hundreds of suggestions, but we’ve listed a few of our favorites for […]
Advent calendars are more popular than ever! You can find calendars that count the days to Christmas with socks, chocolates, pet treats, and Lego figures. But you can start one of the best advent countdown traditions at home with a story advent calendar. First, decide how many days you want to count down to Christmas. […]
Have you ever been without internet and needed a way to entertain the kids for a few minutes? Google Chrome’s No-Internet Dino Game to the rescue. The 16-bit game only appears when you’re not connected to the internet. If you try to find a website through the Chrome browser when you’re disconnected, a jumping T-Rex […]
Simple morning and nighttime routines can reduce stress for everyone and help your pre-teen feel more confident and secure. Routines don’t have to be rigid to be effective. Talk with your middle-graders about what tasks must be accomplished every morning and evening, and brainstorm how they want to organize and achieve those. For example, you […]
August means back to school, and the start of a new academic year means changes for the whole family. So we’ve read several expert posts and condensed the best of the best advice into five back-to-school prep tips. Don’t wait for the first bell to start your school-year schedule. First, ease the family back into a […]
Make reading a destination in your home by creating a space designed just for enjoying books. Make it warm, creative, and screen-free. Here’s a list of things to consider when creating your reading nook: Location. Your reading nook doesn’t have to be large. It can be a corner, some unused space under a stairway, a […]