February is Black History Month. If you’re looking for ways this month (and always) to celebrate Black History and have age appropriate discussions about race and racism, you’ll want to bookmark our latest interview with our psychology contributor, Reon Baird-Feldman, PhD. Below, find her smart ideas on how to use this month to get those conversations started, from her perspective not only as a psychologist but as a Black mom of two (her daughters are pictured in their Black History Month shirts!).

Valentine’s Day is almost here and I have the perfect read alouds focusing on love, kindness, and friendship that are packed with kid appeal! From an endearing robot searching for the meaning of love to a little girl determined to create a valentine for her entire town to a variety of tales celebrating sweet embraces, the following stories are guaranteed to give readers all the feels and stir up that excitement for Valentine’s Day. 

Spending part of summer living independently from Mom and Dad is one of those amazing experiences that will stay with your child forever. Use our Camp & Program Guide to learn about some of the top sleepaway camp options throughout the United States as well as teen tours, educational programs and even community service opportunities. All of them will help your child gain valuable confidence, compile priceless memories and build lifelong friendships. We also have some great tips from the American Camp Association explaining 10 Things to Consider when Choosing a Summer Camp. Plus, don’t forget to order your customized labels for clothing (and everything else) to help make the summer experience easier (for both mom and kids!). Use code LOCALMOMS for 15% off your order at Mabel’s Labels!

2021 Holiday Gift Guide So many online places to shop these days, but we wanted to share some of our favorite LOCAL holiday shopping ideas! Jump to a section:For Kids We all know we can get anything on Amazon, but let's support our local businesses this year and grab...

This year, I’m helping to bring the magic of Christmas to your home with a pre-planned list of Elf on the Shelf ideas! You’ll spend under 5 minutes each evening setting up a daily surprise that will help create the best memories for your kids while keeping you sane at the same time. I’ve even taken into consideration weekends vs. weekdays and “Elf Fatigue” – this means you’ll find the easier ideas scheduled for weekdays and toward the end of the season (I’m usually over the excitement by then and you probably are too, so I’ve got you covered).

With the holidays coming up, that means more crafts, artwork, gifts….and clutter. In order to start 2022 as organized as possible, we’re taking some time over the next few weeks to organize play spaces in our homes. Whether you have babies, toddlers, or older kids, having some strategies in place can keep your home tidier, and help kids play more independently and stay engaged longer. Here are five smart tips to try:

Recently, we shared all about our favorite new kids’ fashion find, Rockets of Awesome. It is a mom-founded brand of adorable clothes that can be bought online and through their time-saving subscription model. We’re still stocking up on festive holiday looks and classic pieces from their Winter collection for kids, and were thrilled when we heard they were launching a Mini collection for babies! While we love shopping for our littlest littles, they seem to grow out of their clothes so quickly, and the subscription model is a perfect tool for keeping ahead of those size changes. We chatted with founder and mom Rachel Blumenthal about this super cute new collection:

Recently, we shared the story of our favorite organic mattress brand, My Green Mattress, including an interview with cofounder Tim Masters. We just love how Tim and his wife Cindy launched the brand to help their young daughter (and other kids like her) who are suffering from allergies and eczema. So we were thrilled to hear that My Green Mattress is doing a *huge* Black Friday sale and offering special savings to followers of The Local Moms Network! See the exclusive offer below—and read on for four additional things to know about My Green Mattress, including the latest on their quality certified organic materials, their no-risk try-it-out policy and more about their family-owned brand.

“The genesis of trimino came from observing our kids and what they consumed when playing football, hockey, and lacrosse. They were consuming large quantities of sugary drinks that made very little positive contribution to their nutritional health. The ‘ah ha’ moment came with the question, ‘Why not replace the empty calories from sugar with something healthy?’ Protein was our answer,” explains Bob. We spoke to this founder and dad of four, about launching trimino, why it’s a game-changer for youth sports (pun intended!) and what’s next for the brand.

Aromatherapy has been used since humans discovered that plants have healing properties. Essential oils are the ones that give plants their characteristic smell, and the oil extracts can be up to 100 times more potent than the plant itself, increasing both therapeutic benefit and risk of adverse effects.

Under normal circumstances, parents have a lot to think about when it comes to selecting an early childhood education provider for their family. This year, parents are also looking at additional COVID-19 safety concerns as they choose the right environment for their child. Working parents need to return to their regular schedules and selecting a safe and reliable childcare provider is an important step in that process. What do parents need to keep in mind as they consider their options? What safety protocols should early childhood education providers have in place?