Halloween is the perfect excuse to step into the pages of a favorite book! The good news? Some of the most memorable book-character costumes start with clothes you already have in your closet. Add a few creative accessories, a little imagination, and you’re ready for Halloween. If you love the nighttime adventures of John and […]
If you know Crosley, the red crocodile from Night Buddies Adventures, you probably know he has very specific ideas about good food. Crosley loves pineapple cheesecake, and he is especially fond of Crusted Crème Fro-Madges, which are yummy frozen yogurt treats made with cream cheese. (Apparently, regular frozen yogurt isn’t adventurous enough for a red […]
Somewhere around nine o’clock, you are going to regret this. The tent will be crooked. Someone will need to come inside to use the bathroom twice. A kid who has been begging for this all week will announce that the ground is too hard, the bugs are too loud, and can they please just sleep […]
There is a window, somewhere between the end of car seat requirements and the beginning of teenage indifference, where traveling with your kid is genuinely great. Not just manageable. Not just fine. Actually great. If you have a child between eight and twelve right now, you are in that window. Middle graders are old enough […]
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 […]
Snow days feel magical until about 10:17 a.m., when someone announces there is absolutely nothing to do, and the vibe shifts fast. If you’re staring down a day of snow or dangerously cold temperatures, here are a few ideas that work especially well for middle-grade kids. They burn energy, spark curiosity, and don’t require a […]
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. […]
Labor Day may mark the end of summer, but it doesn’t mean the fun is over. Between now and Halloween, there are plenty of offbeat holidays that bring a little extra joy, silliness, and creativity to the season. From cheese pizza to reptiles (yes, reptiles), these “mini-holidays” are perfect excuses to shake up your family’s […]
School’s out. The sun’s blazing. The snacks are disappearing faster than you can buy them. Welcome to summer. If you’re a parent, you already know that while your kids are celebrating the freedom, you’re juggling a dozen questions: How do I keep them busy without blowing the budget? How do I sneak in a little […]
School’s out, the days are long, and eventually the novelty wears off. If you’ve heard “I’m bored” more times than you can count, it might be time for a new kind of adventure—one powered by imagination, not screens. Here are seven fun, screen-free ways to help your kids turn an ordinary summer day into something […]