• Last updated 12/20/12 by Melanie Mayo

  We recently asked the members of the Mothering Community to tell us about their favorite family Christmas movies and received some great responses! Here is a list of our top ten faves from that discussion.    Head over to the original thread to see all of the recommendations and to share your own must watch Christmas list!        A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) Starring Ann Altieri and Chris Doran   "I haven't watched A Charlie Brown Christmas in a long time. I should, because... read more

• Last updated 12/4/12 by Melanie Mayo

by Loralee Leavitt and Elaine Bassett   Candy is a traditional part of Halloween. But since it contains so much sugar, corn syrup, and artificial dye, many parents don’t want their children gorging on Halloween loot. Whether you’re planning a Halloween party, or using up candy after Halloween, these activities will help your children enjoy their Halloween candy without eating it.   Halloween Potions   Halloween’s a perfect time for potions, and kids love to mix and stir. Let them stir their Halloween candies into mad scientist potions. Set out spoons or... read more

• Last updated 3/27/13 by Melanie Mayo

Looking for some fun ways to green your Easter this year? Check out these simple ideas that the whole family is sure to love.      Natural Easter Egg Dye Did you know that you can avoid unnatural food coloring and make your eggs beautiful by using natural ingredients? Find out how with this helpful how-to. Also check out this fun video for more tips!       Up-cycled Easter Baskets Looking for a fun family project for Easter? What could be more fun, and special, than homemade Easter baskets? Lynn Colwell from Celebrate... read more

• Last updated 10/23/12 by Melanie Mayo

Candy Experiments by Loralee Leavitt   I loved candy when I was a kid, but when I became a mother, I worried about my kids eating too much of the stuff. Still, I’ve never banned it from our home. Now, when my children come home on Halloween night, examine their candy, and go to bed without asking to eat a single piece, it’s not because I’ve forbidden it. It’s because they have better ideas about what ?to do with it. It began with a simple question three years ago, when I was overwhelmed by our collection of Halloween candy. An afternoon with too-generous... read more

• Last updated 10/30/12 by Melanie Mayo

Have a happy Halloween with some naturally minded inspiration.    Creative Candy Crafts Looking for something to do with all of that unwanted Halloween candy? Check out these crafts and activities!   Halloween Costume Contest Enter to win some awesome books by sharing your Halloween pics in the Mothering community.    Healthier Halloween Looking for some tasty treats to replace candy this Halloween? Here are some simple alternatives.   Jack-O-Lantern Cookies Have some sweet and spooky fun with these wholesome Jack-O'-Lantern... read more

• Last updated 2/5/13 by Laura Grace Weldon

  By Laura Grace Weldon             I’m not talking about a new device or game, I’m talking puzzles.    Yes, really.   During the winter months my grandparents kept a puzzle going on a table near their front window. It had hundreds of tiny pieces, far too many for a small child’s ability, but I noticed the quiet pull it exerted on people. My older sister would wander past and pause to tease one into place. My father would linger a few minutes in peaceful reverie with his father-in-law as he worked on it. My mother and her mother would sit... read more

• Last updated 1/14/13 by Melanie Mayo

Spending quality time as a family doesn't have to cost a lot. Here are some great suggestions from Mothering community members for frugal family fun.     Activities at Home   Have a Tea Party: This simple activity is super frugal and can prove to be hours of fun for kids of many ages. All you need is some tea or other favorite drink, a snack, some fun dress up clothes and an imagination. See more thoughts for making your tea party a hit in this post.    Create a Water Table: Use an old bin or bucket and let the kids melt ice, add food coloring, float... read more

• Last updated 12/19/12 by Melanie Mayo

  Discover More: Dolls | Arts & Crafts | Blocks & Puzzles | Books & Games | Imaginative Play | Teethers & Rattles | Vehicles & Rollers | For Older Kids | 20 Toys Under $20 | Top 20 Favorites           Kiwi Crates   Why We Love It:  Every month someone else thinks up a couple of fun and educational crafts, packages everything my child needs to create them and sends it all straight to my door. These crates are perfect for busy parents and since a great deal of thought was put into the chosen activities the kids will adore them! Made in the USA. Read... read more

• Last updated 12/20/12 by Melanie Mayo

  Trying to think of a last minute stocking stuffers for the kids?   Here are 100 great suggestions from the Mothering community to help you complete your holiday shopping!   We've chosen suggestions that are mostly inexpensive and can be purchased locally or ordered as a subscription without having to plan ahead.    For more ideas check out all of the great threads in the community!     Crayons and Markers Paints and Brushes Construction Paper Yarn Knitting Needles or Crochet Hooks Sewing Needles Fabric... read more

• Last updated 12/6/12 by Melanie Mayo

By Beth Berry     I wrote this piece two years ago during our first Christmas out of the country. This year - our third holiday season in Mexico - I am more convicted than ever that simplicity and togetherness are what it’s all about, and that the joy we long for is actually more confused than complemented by the notion of merry making as kind-hearted consuming. Deviating from family traditions is not always easy. Never mind factors such as religious preference or family values, even questioning grandma's dessert line-up of pumpkin pie, fruit cake and... read more