Connecting Central Iowa Families
10 Things To Do in Des Moines For Dads’ Night Out Guys night out?!? Why not, right? A night away from the wife and kids, whom you cherish every moment with I know ;), but always good to recharge the …
Friday Funday at the Des Moines Playhouse Did you know that once a month the Des Moines Playhouse (831 42nd Street) offers an interactive theater for children ages 4-6 called, “Friday Funday”? The production is great for preschools, child care …
24 Days of Elf Hacks Remember when the countdown to Christmas meant a black sharpie and a large wall calendar (likely from the local savings bank)? Or, the 24-hour marathons of “The Christmas Story” airing every day leading up to …
Holiday Gift Guide For Kids Happy holidays. I realize shopping for everyone on your list can be a little stressful and overwhelming. So I wanted to make things a little easier for you this holiday season. I have put together …
Places to Play for Children with Special Health Care Needs in Des Moines Are you having a hard time finding the right place to play with your child who has special health care needs? Whether you’re a parent, family member, …
Learning to Find a Technology Balance I love being a stay at home mom, and having the opportunity to get out and about with my daughter, but sometimes I struggle to be “in the moment.” I have a constant battle …
Tips for Talking: The Birds + The Bees Cue that awkward moment when people learn I am a sex ed teacher. Yup, there it is. Crickets. And, raised eyebrows, and half grins. I get it. I mean, I totally get …
Story Time Any Time: How to Read Stories All Day Reading books at bedtime is great, but there are many ways to engage your child with stories throughout the day. Story time can happen at any time! Try these tips …
Volunteering This Holiday Season at Hawthorn Hill The Christmas holiday is quickly approaching (only 57 sleeps to be exact!) and like most parents, we are already beginning to feel the hustle & bustle of the season weighing heavily on our …
Note: This blog post may contain some Amazon Affiliate Links. STEAM-y Projects for Chilly Days Is winter putting a chill on your usual outdoor fun? Take advantage of the cold season to explore the natural world, experiment, and get creative. …
How to Support Parents of Children with Autism and the Importance of It When a child places on the autism spectrum, there are certain adjustments that need to be made to help them thrive. These changes often start within the …
Read Aloud Joy with 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Did you know that the developing brain triples in growth in the first year alone, and is almost fully formed by age five? Or that a big predictor of student success is …
Two Tips for Taming Tantrums Mornings are hard in my house. Even when I am up early, fully caffeinated and ready to go there is a rush to getting out the door that makes my heart race and temper flare. …
Little Learners: Invest in a great start with STEM programs Our littles today are tomorrow’s inventors and problem solvers. So how can we, as parents, help our young explorers get off to a great start? It starts with our own …
Plan Ahead: Make An Emergency Plan We are lucky we live in Des Moines. We are free from hurricanes and wildfires however we do experience our share of natural disasters. Knowing this, we all need to be prepared. Des Moines …
Taking Care of Yourself: Advocate For Your Own Health The experience of giving birth is something that a mother will never forget. However, a woman’s body is never the same after having a child. With my first pregnancy, I started …
50 Things To Do in Iowa This Winter After our first cold weekend of the season, it got me looking ahead to winter in Iowa. There’s no denying that most Iowa winters are spent indoors (which is why we look …
Haunted Houses in Des Moines 2018 It is the season for haunted houses! Where will you get scared the most in Des Moines? Allen of Des Moines Haunted Houses know where to go and he has provided a great list …
7 Easy Fall Kids Crafts Fall brings a lot of things – falling leaves, Halloween, and crafts! There are plenty of crafts you can do with your kids as autumn presses on. Here are 7 of the easiest options that …
Adjusting Halloween Costumes to Iowa Winter Weather Halloween in Iowa is often cold, and sometimes even snowy, but that doesn’t have to limit our dress-up fun! As a former California girl now raising kids in Iowa, I’ve thought a bit …