• Last updated 1/25/13 by Melanie Mayo

Looking for a fun way to introduce science and nutrition concepts to your kids?   In her new book, Candy Experiments, author Loralee Leavitt shares dozens of brand-new experiments that use candy to teach about these topics. The following excerpt from Candy Experiments contains fun and easy ways that you and your children can test food for sugar, hydrogenated palm kernel oil and artificial dyes!   About the Book:   Make giant gummi worms, turn M&Ms into dazzling comets, grow candy crystals and turn cotton candy into slime! You'll find all these... 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 12/20/12 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 11/21/12 by Cynthia Mosher

  In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the residents of New York need our help more than ever.  Mothering has partnered with City Harvest to provide our members with information on how they can help during this time.   Now serving New York City for 30 years, City Harvest is the world's first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding the city's hungry men, women, and children. This year,City Harvest will collect 42 million pounds of excess food from all segments of the food industry, including restaurants, grocers, corporate cafeterias, manufacturers, and farms.... read more

• Last updated 11/13/12 by Melanie Mayo

    Bath time is fun time in our house, but my 6 year old keeps telling me how all of her friends use strawberry smelling soap, and won't stop asking me for some.  Of course the first thing that I think of is all of the toxic ingredients in those yummy smelling soaps, and how I'm certainly not going to use them to get her clean.  Sorry Quinn!     So instead, while she was at school her brother and I decided to make her a special bath time surprise!  Oh-so-pretty smelling Lavender Soap Balls!  It turned out to be a super fun project for Ethan and I, and Quinn... 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 10/18/12 by emilyfrischmann

By Susan Reynolds Ballinger Web Exclusive I love to round the corner of the street that curves down the hill toward our house and see the day's new sky painting on my backyard clothesline. The clothes appear to be a line of fluid dancers, shouting out a rainbow of color. Sheets are my favorite medium in the palette basket. As I pull the fabric taunt and clip on the clothespin, the breeze blows the vast piece of cotton into an undulating wave of white. I glimpse bits of sky above sage-covered hills through the waves of fabric. Slap, flap, whoosh...: the billowing... read more

• Last updated 10/19/12 by Melanie Mayo

On Sept 29th hundreds of museums across the US will provide free admission as part of Smithsonian magazine’s Museum Day Live! event. Only two members per household can gain free admission during the event, and must present a special ticket to do so, but it is a good chance to reduce the costs of visiting a local museum you have been wanting to bring the family to.   In the spirit of Smithsonian Museums, who offer free admission everyday, Museum Day Live! is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the... read more

• Last updated 8/22/12 by Laura Grace Weldon

  Betcha this will turn into the theme song playing in your head. Kristin Andreassen, you’re singing what we’re thinking, “Crayola doesn’t make a color to draw my love.” About Laura Grace WeldonLaura Grace Weldon is a writer, editor, conflict resolution educator, and marginally useful farm wench. She is the author of Free Range Learning: How Homeschooling Changes Everything. She lives with her family on Bit of Earth Farm. Check out life on the farm at http://bitofearthfarm.wordpress.com/ and keep up with Laura's relentless optimism at... read more

• Last updated 11/5/12 by Cynthia Mosher

Are you a mom blogger? Do you have a passion for a topic and want to share it? The All Things Mothering blog is looking to take on more weekly bloggers who want to write about their passions and help parents find the information they need. We are particularly interested in topics related to natural family living and are open to new and unique suggestions that will be a good fit for our readers. Blogging positions are unpaid but you will receive unparalleled exposure in our large community. Below is a list of the topics we are most interested in.... read more