Parents - November 2021 by Lawrence Ambrocio

T RY O N A N E W T R A D I T I O N T H I S T H A N KS G I V I N G

AT WH

I T TA K E S

S C R E E N -T I M E U P G R A D E ! T H E 2 4 B E S T LE A R N I N G A P P S

EGG -AND - CHEESE B R E A K FA S T S F O R E V E RYO N E

R AI S E PEO PL E B O OKS

TH AT S PA R K CARING and G I V I N G

of our 2021 cover contest

T H E B A R R Ó N FA M I LY Luke and Holly, with sons Holden, Reid, and Conley, tell their story on page 144.

NOVEMBER 2021 PARENTS.COM

They look ferocious, but inside they’re just chicken raised with no antibiotics ever.

Meaningful Meals Want to raise kind kids? Gather around the dinner table! Studies show that regular shared meals deliver numerous benefits, including higher grades, sharper communication skills, and stronger self-esteem. It also presents an opportunity for parents to model positive behavior and encourage kids to be better humans. Here’s how to make the most of your mealtime. Tyson® Fun Nuggets Reframe table talk. Instead of

included at the table by serving crowd

asking “How was your day?” try

pleasing choices like Tyson® Chicken

open-ended questions to prevent

Nuggets. From Air Fried to Fun Shapes,

one-word responses and encourage

there’s a variety for everyone.

empathy. For example, consider asking: “What's the most interesting

Lend a helping hand. Affirm that

thing you learned in school today?”

everyone should play a part in making

or “Did you get the chance to help

dinner happen. Rotate tasks such as

anyone today? How?”

meal prep, setting the table, clearing the dishes, etc. Even toddlers can do

Make it a family affair. Brainstorm

something simple, like fold napkins.

future activities you can do together,

Show kids that helping matters and

such as family vacations or volunteer

encourage them to do so in all

opportunities. Make everyone feel

aspects of life!

KINDNESS COUNTS Tyson® Brand is proud to sponsor Parents’ Search for America’s Kindest Families. Meet the winners in the YOU section of this issue!

tyson.com.

Wildlife Loop — Custer State park

You can plan a vacation. You can map a road trip. You can book rooms, download menus, and scheme every stop down to the second. But you can’t imagine the look on your child’s face when they spot that ﬁrst buffalo. That’s the beauty of South Dakota — even the expected is a pleasant surprise. Go great places to ﬁnd out for yourself.

When you’re ready to travel, visit TravelSouthDakota.com

R AI S I N G T H E F UTU R E

CONTENTS

NOVEMBER .

136

KIDS

15 / Screen-Time Wins The best apps for kids of the year! You can feel good about these 24 downloads. 20 / Does Your Child Have a Hidden Sleep Problem? Breathing issues may be affecting their rest. 26 / Health News Inspire kid kindness, and make handwashing fun. 28 / Secretly Simple Sweets Ask the fam to help make three-ingredient mousse. 36 / Revisiting the Safety Limits Learn when your kid will (finally) age out of some key childproofing rules.

42 / The Power of Kindness Real-word advice for teaching kids how to be champions for good 43 / What Truly Matters to You Our annual Parents Values Study reveals millennial mom-and-dad priorities.

151

46 / Classroom Kindness Teachers share stories of compassionate students. 48 / #BeNice Helping kids learn to do right in a digital world 52 / Find Your Signature Do-Good Move Zeroing in on a go-to way for your family to give 54 / Build a Kindness Library Seventy children’s books that are big on humanity

161 / Morning Glory Mexican-inspired breakfast casseroles to enjoy post-turkey 166 / Pick Colors Like a Pro Design experts share the secret to choosing paints for any family space.

I N E V E RY I S S U E 6 Editor’s Note 9 Playbook 62 Animal House! 180 Giggles

170 / The New All-Inclusives Find the kid-friendly vacation resort that vibes with your crew.

A G E S + S TA G E S

YO U

131 / Self-Care for Real Life We asked, you told us: how mamas spend “me time”

173 / Pregnancy Take care of stretch marks. 173 / 0–12 Months Handle diaper rash.

136 / Big Mom on Campus Busy parents who finally got their degree

174 / 1–2 Years Plan low-pressure playdates.

144 / Meet the Kindest Families in America Announcing our contest finalists—and the winner!

174 / 3–4 Years Get them into board games.

LIFE

151 / A Feast With an Extra Side of Gratitude New recipes, crafts, and Thanksgiving essentials

176 / 5–6 Years Have them practice speaking up. 176 / 7–9 Years Deal with fashion disagreements. 178 / 10–12 Years Let tweens have “alone time.” (It’s good for them.)

On the Cover Holly and Luke Barrón with their sons Reid, 7 years, Holden, 4 years, and Conley, 1 year. Photograph by Melanie Acevedo. Wardrobe styling by Shelley Young. Grooming by Brett Jackson. Child wrangling by Patricia Sener. On Holly: Sweater, Whistles. Pants, Weekend Max Mara. Sneakers, Greats. On Luke: Shirt and pants, Banana Republic. Jacket and socks, Alex Mill. Boots, Padmore & Barnes. On Reid: Sweatshirt and pants, Uniqlo. Socks, J.Crew. Shoes, Zara. On Holden: Shirt, Zara. Sweater, J.Crew. Pants, H&M. Shoes, Converse. On Conley: Jumpsuit and sneakers, Zara. Socks, H&M.

PA R E N T S

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2021

WHAT IS YOUR FAMILY’S FAVORITE WAY TO GIVE BACK?

JULIA EDELSTEIN Editor-in-Chief Executive Creative Director AGNETHE GLATVED Executive Editor MIRANDA VAN GELDER Managing Editor PATRICK MOFFITT Deputy Editor DIANE DEBROVNER

“I grow and chop my hair for wigs given to cancer patients or people with permanent hair loss. I like Locks of Love and Hair We Share.” locksoflove.org; hairweshare.org

Food and Lifestyle Director YOLANDA WIKIEL Beauty Director KATE SANDOVAL BOX Senior Editor, Features KATIE ARNOLD-RATLIFF Senior Editor, Books and Travel KAREN CICERO Entertainment Editor JESSICA HARTSHOR N Staff Health Editor EMILY ELVERU Staff Beauty Editor SHANNON M. BAUER Assistant Lifestyle Editor CASSIE HURWITZ Editorial Assistant REBECCA RAKOWITZ ART & PRODUCTION

“This year we’ll donate to World Central Kitchen. Chef José Andrés’s organization goes directly where there is immediate need.” wck.org

Art Director EMILY FURLANI Associate Art Director JAMIE LEE Senior Designer MARIA FERNANDEZ-DAVILA Production Director VINCENT M. SPINA PHOTO Photo Director MARY CLARE CAHILL Photo Editor JOANNA MUENZ Photo Coordinator MAGGIE BLATTEL Associate Photo Editor ERIKA THOMPSON RESEARCH & COPY

“We give to United War Veterans Council. My daughter puts toys in a pile and says, ‘These are for the little kids who don’t have anything to play with.’ ” uwvc.org

Research Director BARBARA BRANDON-CROFT Copy Chief JEAN RODIE Copy Editor SHELLEY WOLSON Test Kitchen Project Manager LINDA BREWER, R.D.N. Deputy Managing Editor TARA LUSTBERG Executive Operations Coordinator, Office of Editor-in-Chief ADRIENNE FARR Contributing Editors DAPHNE de MARNEFFE, Ph.D., CATHERINE HONG, JOY HOWARD, TAMEKIA REECE, ERIN ZAMMETT RUDDY, VIRGINIA SOLE-SMITH D I G I TA L

Digital Content Director JULIA DENNISON Deputy Editor MELISSA BYKOFSKY Executive Editor, Black Parenting KELLY GLASS Features Editor ANNA HALKIDIS SEO Editor NICOLE HARRIS Visual Editor JILLIAN SELLERS Associate Producer FRANCESCA SPATOLA ADVISORY B OARD PEDIATRICS Ari Brown, M.D., Antwon Chavis, M.D., David L. Hill, M.D., Yvonne Maldonado, M.D., Terri McFadden, M.D., Kimberly Montez, M.D., M.P.H., Natalie D. Muth, M.D., M.P.H., R.D.N., Cara Natterson, M.D., Irwin Redlener, M.D., Michael Rich, M.D., M.P.H., Darshak Sanghavi, M.D., Jennifer Shu, M.D. NUTRITION Jill Castle, R.D.N., Maya Feller, R.D., Sally Kuzemchak, R.D., Dalina Soto, R.D. MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIOR Lisa Damour, Ph.D., Wayne Fleisig, Ph.D., Becky Kennedy, Ph.D., Eileen Kennedy-Moore, Ph.D., Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D., Laura S. Olivos, Psy.D., Silvia Pereira-Smith, M.D., Adiaha Spinks-Franklin, M.D., Timothy L. Verduin, Ph.D. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Aaron Bernstein, M.D., M.P.H., Philip Landrigan, M.D. DENTISTRY Lezli Levene Harvell, D.M.D., Maria Velasco, D.M.D.

“We assemble ‘blessing bags’ with shelf-stable food, toothpaste, and socks to keep in the car for when we see someone in need.”

WOMEN’S HEALTH Tamika Auguste, M.D., Yamel Belen, R.N., C.L.C., Marjorie Greenfield, M.D., Marta Perez, M.D., Laura Riley, M.D., Alexandra Sacks, M.D. EDUCATION AND LITERACY Patricia Edwards, Ph.D., Jennifer Serravallo, Colby Sharp ALLERGY Michael Pistiner, M.D., Hemant Sharma, M.D. EMERGENCY MEDICINE AND SAFETY Khama Ennis, M.D., M.P.H., Mark Anthony Griffiths, M.D., Wendy L. Hunter, M.D. SLEEP Maida Chen, M.D., Jodi Mindell, Ph.D., Judith Owens, M.D. DERMATOLOGY Anna Bruckner, M.D., Jody Alpert Levine, M.D., Kim Nichols, M.D. SOCIAL JUSTICE Traci Baxley, Ed.D., Nayeli Y. Chavez-Dueñas, Ph.D., Ibram X. Kendi, Ph.D., Julie Lythcott-Haims

MARK JOSEPHSON Senior Vice President, Group Publisher Sales Manager, Meredith Parents Network DONNA LINDSKOG

ADVERTISING SALE S West Coast Director JULIE BANFIELD Advertising Sales Staff ALYSSA CRAMER COHEN, CATHERINE DAUN, ANNE GILHOOL, MOLLY THOMPSON, MARIA TOCCO TORRES, NADINE WAXENBERG Assistant BRITTON FORKER Business Development Manager BREANA TOLLA National Travel Manager KATY HILDMAN Senior Research Manager ALISON JAYE

“Promoting self-confidence in young girls, the Hance Family Foundation’s Self-Esteem Rising program is our choice.” hancefamily foundation.org

MARKETING Group Marketing Director KRISTEN STUCCHIO-SUAREZ Senior Marketing Manager JUDY SCHIFFMAN Marketing Manager MARNIE DOWLER Marketing Coordinator DIANA ZULUAGA Group Creative Director JEANETTE CHOW Art Director TRACY D’AGOSTINO A D M I N I S T R AT I O N Executive Business Director JANICE CROAT Business Manager MEGAN WOOD Advertising Business Manager BOB PARLAPIANO Consumer Marketing Manager RACHEL BLACK Production Director MELANIE STOLTENBERG Production Manager COURTNEY PETERSON Director of Quality JOSEPH KOHLER Quality Analyst BEN ANDERSON Prepress Desktop Specialist GREG FAIRHOLM

“The Hear the Cheers Program helps kids who are deaf with hearing technology and support services.” chicagohearing society.org

MEREDITH NATIONAL MEDIA GROUP President CATHERINE LEVENE President, Meredith Magazines DOUG OLSON President, Consumer Products TOM WITSCHI President, Meredith Digital ALYSIA BORSA EVP, Strategic and Business Development DAPHNE KWON Executive Vice Presidents Chief Revenue Officer MICHAEL BROWNSTEIN Digital Sales MARLA NEWMAN Finance MICHAEL RIGGS Marketing and Integrated Communications NANCY WEBER Senior Vice Presidents Consumer Marketing STEVE CROWE Consumer Revenue ANDY WILSON Corporate Sales BRIAN KIGHTLINGER Foundry 360 MATT PETERSEN Product and Technology JUSTIN LAW Research Solutions BRITTA CLEVELAND Strategic Planning AMY THIND Strategic Sourcing, Newsstand, Production CHUCK HOWELL Vice Presidents Brand Licensing TOYE CODY, SONDRA NEWKIRK Business Planning and Analysis ROB SILVERSTONE Finance CHRIS SUSIL Strategic Development KELSEY ANDERSEN Strategic Partnerships ALICIA CERVINI

Vice President, Group Editorial Director LIZ VACCARIELLO Chief Digital Content Officer AMANDA DAMERON Director, Editorial Operations and Finance ALEXANDRA BREZ

“We give to a local children’s theater program called Rehearsal for Life. Community theater does so much with so little, so donations go a long way there.” rehearsal forlife.org

“In lieu of favors at family events like baby showers, we make contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.” stjude.org

MEREDITH CORPORATION Chairman and Chief Executive Officer TOM HARTY Chief Financial Officer JASON FRIEROTT Chief Development Officer JOHN ZIESER President, Meredith Local Media Group PATRICK McCREERY Senior Vice President, Human Resources DINA NATHANSON Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Officer ERICA JENSEN Vice Chairman MELL MEREDITH FRAZIER

© Copyright Meredith Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Parents is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation, registered at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Executive, editorial, and advertising offices: 225 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10281. Email: writeus@parents.com. Submission of your material constitutes permission for Meredith Corporation to allow its use in any media. Subscribers please note: Our subscribers list is occasionally made available to carefully selected firms whose products may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive info from these companies by mail or by phone, please let us know. Send your request and your mailing label to Parents Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508. Subscription help: Visit us at parents.com/myaccount, email pmmcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com, or call 800-727-3682. For syndication or international licensing requests or reprint and reuse permission, email syndication@meredith.com. Printed in the U.S.A.

SAFE & GENTLE FOR EVERYDAY STUFFY NOSES

DRUG FREE SAFE FOR AGES 1+

EDITOR’S NOTE

The Kind Acts That Keep Us Going M Y LI S T I S L O N G :

Take Care (Yes, You)

narrow down the finalists; many stories moved us to tears. The ultimate winners, Holly and Luke Barrón, of Oklahoma, and their sons Reid, Holden, and Conley (page 144), stood out for their commitment to volunteering, fund-raising, and simply being there for others—all while living with the grief of losing their eldest son, Keaton, who started the kindness club they now lead. Their prize: this cover, $10,000 from Parents, and a food donation worth $15,000 from our presenting sponsor, Tyson, to Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, a local charity of the Barróns’ choosing. I hope their story inspires you not only to spread generosity in your own neighborhood and beyond but a lso to accept help anytime you need it. Parenting well—and raising the next generation to be kind—is

possible only with support. Soon we’ll be kicking off our search for the next winning family, so I’m asking you to be on the lookout for unsung heroes—including you and yours. Maybe in 2022, your family will be on the cover of Parents, keeping the chain of inspiration going.

“You can’t pour from an empty cup.” It’s a saying that comes up a lot at Parents, and it’s the reason that in a magazine about raising kids, there’s an entire section called “You,” focused on the well-being of adults. This month I’m particularly excited about “Self-Care for Real Life,” kicking off the section on page 131, which includes more than 45 ideas, all sourced from real moms. A few months ago, I was lucky enough to have one of the experiences the article identifies as worth it: a weekend away with friends. For the first time ever (!), I left my kids with their dad for two nights and reunited with two of my best girlfriends. At The Lodge at Woodloch, a serene resort in Pennsylvania, we got in touch with our chakras (I think?), stretched our sore backs, talked late into the night, and slept soundly. The trip was so restorative, I came home able to parent with more intention and calm. This issue of Parents is all about being kind, and sustaining yourself is a great way to start.

Inside Our Cover Shoot It was an honor and a joy to meet Holly, Luke, and their kids at our cover shoot. For a peek behind the scenes (and to see video from the day we surprised them with their win), hover your phone’s camera over the smart code or follow us on Instagram @parents.

We’re here to help. Email JuliaE@parents.com to tell me about the topics you’d like to see in future issues of Parents.

PA R E N T S

6 NOVEMBER

2021

TOP: ZOE ADLERSBERG. WARDROBE STYLING BY CONNIE BERG. MAKEUP COURTESY OF MAKE UP FOR EVER. BOTTOM RIGHT: COURTESY OF JULIA EDELSTEIN.

moms who waited with my 4-year-old when his babysitter was late for school pickup. Volunteer soccer coaches who taught my older son to score a goal (and brought back his smile after the hardest winter in memory). A class parent who answered my many texts without once showing annoyance. The friend who dropped off craft supplies when my family came down with COVID-19. My sister, who supervised remote kindergarten when I couldn’t take one minute more. Fellow staffers at Parents and physicians at my husband’s hospital who have picked up balls we’ve had to drop from time to time at work. These are just a few of the busy moms and dads who have helped my family reach this point in the pandemic without falling apart. As a parent, it’s easy to feel as if you’re carrying the full weight of your children’s wellbeing. But this Thanksgiving, I encourage you to remember the times you were overloaded and people quietly showed up to ease the burden. You may feel overwhelmed—this time with gratitude. And I hope your faith will be restored that whatever comes next, you’ll get through it, because helpers are all around. Consider this month’s cover, which features the winners of our inaugural search for America’s Kindest Families. More than 500 readers nominated incredibly caring parents and kids in their communities. It wasn’t easy for our judging panel to

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Downward Dino Spark the kids’ imaginations—and get them roaring, yes, with laughter—with Dinovember, an Internet-famous trend that surfaces this time each year. The idea is simple: Surprise your pre-paleontologists with playful setups around the house using

photograph by K AT E M AT H I S

dinosaur toys all month long. Perhaps T. rexes and triceratops herd around the breakfast cereal bowl, or you position some zen-o-saurs on mini yoga mats (just pieces of colored paper). “It made us laugh in the middle of a difficult time, and our kids loved

the sheer absurdity,” explain Refe and Susan Tuma, the couple who dreamed up the playful prank. (Check out their new book, What the Dinosaurs Did the Night Before Christmas, for more reptilian geniusness.) Hey, you’ve found where the wild things are.

PA R E N T S

Your kids will be completely rapt (as in raptor) with this Jurassic Park in miniature.

9 NOVEMBER

2021

P L AY B O O K

APPROVED

2021

THE SHORT LIST What’s new, novel, and nice to know in November

E N G AG E

The black-and-white patterns on the back of Maisel phone cases were designed with the help of a pediatrician and a neuroscientist. Newborns love high-contrast images, which stimulate their brain and improve attention span. Pop a case onto your iPhone to finally snag your infant’s gaze for a pic. (A portion of proceeds goes to School on Wheels, a nonprofit for kids experiencing homelessness.) $30; hellomaisel.com

/ ASK A GRANDMA /

One nana’s take, no wrong answers “If you have to make a decision, always go with the grandparent who will leave you the most money. Just kidding! Rotating between grandparents each year, especially if they live far away, like my own grandson does, makes a lot of sense. But if you’re lucky enough to live near one another, why not combine everyone and have one big party? If everybody brings a dish, you might not have to do any cooking, which is the greatest gift of all, if you ask me!”

REST

You want to play with your kid, but you also really want to lie down. We get it! So does Michelle Woo, whose new book, Horizontal Parenting, offers games and activities for truly pulling that off. Try “Will It Roll?” in which you prop yourself up on pillows as your kid tests various objects to see how well they tumble down your back. In “Couch Potato,” you pretend the TV remote has the magic power to direct your kids to act out programs like a wildlife documentary or The Great British Baking Show. (Or just press pause!) $15; chroniclebooks.com; available October 12

S AVO R

For those who have been missing out on the joy of chocolate and hazelnut together, let us introduce you to Torani’s new Puremade Chocolate Hazelnut Sauce. Thanks to a process that removes the natural nut allergen, the topping is safe for those with nut allergies to drizzle over ice cream, berries, cake, coffee, you name it. $6 for 16.5 oz.; torani.com

GIVE

Let your kid buy their friends’ birthday gifts with the newly launched Camp Present Shop. You preapprove a spending limit, then have them scroll through loads of options (including classics like LEGO and L.O.L. Surprise!). They’ll finish off the gift with a custom-designed card before it’s sent. Fun for them—and one less thing on your to-do list. Ages 3+, gifts starting at $30, including card and gift wrapping; camp.com/present-shop

—Annie Korzen, an actress and a grandmother of one @akorzen —Caylin Harris

/ R E L ATA B L E /

Sometimes I think it would be easier to just pour the maple syrup directly on the table and let the kids dip their pancakes in it. @RodLacroix

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2021

“ASK A GRANDMA”: COURTESY OF THE SUBJECT. “THE SHORT LIST”: COURTESY OF THE BRANDS.

“How can I split time fairly with both sets of grandparents over the holidays?”

TA K E 5

A QUICK HIIT-ING EXERCISE If working out tends to fall to the bottom of your priorities, try incorporating this five-minute high-intensity interval training drill from Jessica Schatz, a Los Angeles–based yoga and Pilates instructor known as The Core Expert. 1

T E AC H YO U R C H I L D T O . . .

I NTRO D U C E TH E M S E LF AGE: 3+

Many kids are shy when it comes to saying hello to someone they don’t know, but you can make them more comfortable by practicing at home.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: KATIV/GETTY; PEOPLEIMAGES/GETTY; GREG DUPREE.

Try a few “dress rehearsals.” Role-play various greetings by showing your kid how to make eye contact with you and then asking them to give you a clear intro, such as, “Hello, my name is ...” No need to instruct them how to shake hands—a wave or a smile is a great post-pandemic substitute. —Jennifer L. Scott, author of Connoisseur Kids: Etiquette, Manners, and Living Well for Parents and Their Little Ones

Get goofy. Line up stuffed animals or toys and practice introducing yourselves to them while playing. “Can you say, ‘Hi, I’m Lily!’ in a silly voice? Can you do it like SpongeBob or Peppa Pig?” The more fun you can make it, the more at ease your kid will be when it comes to real life. —Ann Joseph-Douglas, director of education at Children’s Theatre Company, in Minneapolis

Add a tiny step to classic games. Repeating people’s names can help your kid remember them. Before starting a match of “Rock, paper, scissors,” or any game, have your kid use your name to ask you to join in. (“Ashley, would you like to play?” “Yes, Gabriel, count me in!”) Urge your child to try this when they’re at school, too, to keep track of new friends. —Kaylie Scott, a duallanguage immersion teacher in Alpharetta, Georgia

Set an alarm on your phone as a reminder. (Start with just one mini workout a day, with a goal of ratcheting up to three to five times daily.) 2

When the alarm goes off, google an upbeat five-minutelong song, and run through the following sequence: • 20 jumping jacks (for a low-impact alternative, try high knee marches) • 20 push-ups (on your knees or your toes, or against a wall) • 20 squats • Plank hold (on your hands or forearms) until you feel tired 3

Repeat this sequence two more times.

/ G R E E N YO U R R O U T I N E /

LOW-WASTE THANKSGIVING It’s all too easy to go overboard with the turkey and all the fixin’s. Instead of pawning leftovers off on your family members or tossing the last of the brussels sprouts in the trash, calculate the just-right quantity of food you’ll actually need with the NRDC’s Guest-imator. The digital tool takes into consideration your number of guests, each one’s appetite level, and the amount of leftovers you really want. savethefood.com

P L AY B O O K

/ HIGHS AND LOWS /

Vanessa Lachey The television star recently relocated to Oahu to play the first female lead of an NCIS franchise, NCIS: Hawai‘i. The fam came along: husband Nick, of the band 98 Degrees, plus their kids, Camden, 9, Brooklyn, 6, and Phoenix, 4. Her next move: sharing personal recipes and rituals in Life From Scratch: Family Traditions That Start With You, out November 30. their room for bedtime snuggles.

Recent parenting miss Realizing school in Hawaii starts a month sooner than we’re used to. Summer was cut short. Best trait my kids got from me Laughing out loud uncontrollably. Unfortunate trait my kids got from me Also laughing out loud uncontrollably. Meal I make that my family loves Tacos with homemade guacamole. Taco Tuesday dinner was the first meal we shared as a family of five! It kick-started our Cinco de Mayo tradition, and it’s something that has become special for our family. Meal I made that my family rejected The kids won’t eat my homemade lasagna, but Nick will eat it all. Best go-to snack for kids Anything that’s dry and easy to clean up if spilled. Snack they’re still not allowed to have No liquid snacks on the go, other than water. Food hack that changes mealtime I like to surprise the kids by sneaking treats into their lunches. One of my favorite things to do is carve fun shapes into their food. The red wax around Babybel cheese is a

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12 NOVEMBER

2021

“I’ve picked up so many tricks and tips for making all the holidays more stress-free,” Lachey says.

perfect canvas for a surprise heart. If you use the tip of a sharp knife, you can draw shapes on a banana peel that will turn brown so the kids can see them at lunchtime. Or I cut their sandwiches or a few strawberries into heart shapes. Food hack I would not repeat Trying to “hide” something by blending it into a smoothie. Kids know. Best part of Thanksgiving Everything! It’s one of our favorite holidays: food, family, football, and fun. And it’s casual. Not fancy and no gifts. Most stressful part of Thanksgiving The turkey! I’ve messed it up many times. Now we cook two turkeys. I roast one in the oven and Nick deep-fries a smaller one. That gives me a safety net if one of them doesn’t turn out well. Best time of day Bedtime snuggles. Worst time of day Getting them to go to

Activity I love to do with my kids Getting them involved in the kitchen with simple but helpful tasks like pouring, rinsing, and stirring. One of our favorite traditions is a Christmas-morning casserole that’s come to symbolize family time spent together in the kitchen and at the table eating and laughing. It’s an easy and delicious recipe that everyone can help with. Activity I hate to do with my kids The trampoline, ha ha! The moms out there get it. Glorious thing about having three kids There’s always something happening! We are always learning, exploring, snuggling, laughing, crying, talking, reading, playing, drawing, building, growing. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Hardest thing about having three kids There’s often one left out of a lot of things, but I see it as a learning opportunity for us as a family and individually. Sometimes you have to be self-sufficient and entertain yourself. At least I have this down I know I love my kids unconditionally and will always be there for them. I am still figuring this out How to show my kids that I love them equally as well as unconditionally. I think it comes with time. I know my kids know this. But I still question if they really know.

LACHEY: MICHAEL KOVAC/GETTY. BOOK: COURTESY OF THE PUBLISHER.

Recent parenting win The kids being up for moving to Hawaii and starting at a new school.

KIDS.

H E L P T H E M T H R I V E I N E V E R Y WA Y

BEST APPS FOR KIDS 2021

Screen-Time Wins Devices don’t have to be a drain on their brain. We chose 24 apps that kept kid testers entertained and (shh!) learning. by K A R E N C I C E R O, R E B E C C A R A KO W I T Z , and J E N N A W I R T H

photograph by TIM MARSELLA

WITH APPS FOR SCIENCE, READING, E XPLORING, AND MORE, THERE’S A WORTHY P I C K F O R E V E RY K I D .

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K I D S ÑTe c h

Will They Work on My Device? Unless noted otherwise, you can download all featured apps from the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon.

STEAM LEARNING BEST FOR CODING

ScratchJr

GEOGR A PH Y A ND N ATUR E BEST MARINE LIFE

BEST ANIMAL LEARNING

MarcoPolo Ocean

Peekaboo Barn

Kid testers took a deep dive into this colorfully animated app that offers fun building activities plus free play. While making their own submarine and noodling with habitat puzzles, they picked up cool facts about life underwater, such as that an octopus’s arm can stretch double its length. As one parent of a tester happily warned, “Be ready for a slew of ‘Mom, did you know ___?’ ” Ages 3 to 7, free

Tiny testers loved pressing on the barn doors to reveal a new animal and the sounds that it makes. Cool feature: You (or the grandparents) can record your voice saying the animal names for your kid to hear. Ages 1 to 3, $2, not available from Google Play

Stack the States A fun way to learn state capitals, flags, and trivia, this app gives kids multiple-choice questions. Each correct answer earns a player a googly-eyed state, and then comes testers’ favorite part: piling up the states like Jenga pieces. “It teaches kids as much about the states as a regular geography class would cover,” said a parent of one tester. Ages 8 to 12, $3

BEST ENGINEERING

Play and Learn Engineering Kids love designing roller coasters and building robots; you’ll love the STEM concepts like gravity and momentum they learn along the way. Plus, parents of testers say this app from PBS Kids was a hit among siblings of different ages and even passed the “Will this keep my kid occupied in a restaurant?” test. Ages 3 to 5, free

B E S T N AT U R E

Seek by iNaturalist When you’re walking through the park and your child asks, “What’s that?” take a snap on this app and it’ll give you the answer (plus extra details to impress). One tester used it to ID gulls at the beach and liked that the app saved her nature shots into her own picture gallery. There’s also the option to do badgeearning nature challenges as a family. Ages 4+, free, not available from Amazon

BEST MUSIC

Mazaam – the Musical Genius With 15 games spread across five animal-themed “worlds” and more than 140 musical works, this app helps future Beethovens learn about pitch, tempo, and harmony. In the “World of Eagles,” children feed hungry birds while listening to classical music and identifying string and wind instruments. One parent said the app was “both challenging and interesting.” Ages 4 to 6, free to try, $9 for full version, not available from Amazon

BEST WORLD GEOGRAPHY

B E S T M AT H

Barefoot World Atlas

Kahoot! DragonBox Numbers

A magical 3-D globe entices kids to explore countries, landmarks, and historical facts through engaging games and quizzes. One 9-year-old told us the interactive app is a “super-cool and fun” way to learn about geography and word culture. Can’t decide where to travel? Kids can shake their device, and the app will take them to a “surprise” destination. Ages 4+, $5, available only from the App Store

Instead of memorizing math facts, kids develop “number sense” with fun, monster-like characters called Nooms. For instance, they can slice the Noom that represents the number 8 in half to create a pair of 4s. Or Nooms can swallow each other to get bigger. Kid testers played intuitively. Ages 4 to 8, $5/month for Kahoot!+ Family subscription or $8 for one-time purchase

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TOP LEFT: AMY POSTLE. APPS: COURTESY OF THE BRANDS.

BEST U.S. GEOGR APHY

Kids can program and code their own interactive stories and games with this app that the MIT Media Lab helped develop. “It’s a good example of learning a skill in a fun way without realizing it,” said the parent of a 5-year-old tester. Ages 5 to 7, free, tablets only

GENERAL LEARNING

Khan Academy Kids Five whimsical characters guide children through a huge catalog of interactive books, engaging lessons across subjects, yoga videos, nature articles, and more. With content that now extends to second grade, this app helps children build both classroom and social skills. One parent of a tester said her daughter couldn’t get enough of the coloring pages. Ages 2 to 8, free

BYJU’S Learning App featuring Disney This app puts beloved Disney and Pixar characters like Ariel, Belle, and Woody into the role of teachers. But instead of presenting lessons, the characters take kids on fact-packed adventures. “As a teacher myself, I think this app does an excellent job of helping kids with math and reading concepts,” said one mom who tried the app with her

READING AND WRITING

kids, ages 6 and 8. “My daughter didn’t even realize the hidden lesson because she felt she was watching a video.” A parent zone and progress-report feature help you monitor their learning. Ages 3 to 8, $10/month, free 14-day trial, not available on Amazon

Hopster As children navigate the app’s tropical island setting, they’ll find new and familiar cartoons, books, songs, and games to explore. One mom of a tester loved that after her child had watched a couple of videos, the TV-with-a-twist app prompted her to try a different song or game, encouraging something that was more active. Ages 1 to 4, $8/month after a seven-day free trial

Hopster uses an idyllic island as a backdrop to teach phonics and math.

BEST FOR PENMANSHIP

Writing Wizard Sound effects, stickers, and rainbow designs turn this app into a cool environment for kids to trace capital and lowercase letters. “The animation kept my 4-year-old daughter’s attention,” said the parent of one tester. Ages 3 to 7, free to try, $5 for full access B EST FOR E- BOOKS

Epic – Kids’ Books & Reading This home library of 40,000plus books, videos, and audiobooks (categorized by reading level and interest) isn’t just for bookworms. One parent of a YouTube-obsessed tester was blown away by how user-friendly and motivating this app was: “My son has had it for less than 24 hours and has read almost six books already. Winner, winner!” Ages 2 to 12, $10/month, not available on Amazon B E S T F O R C R E AT I V E W R I T I N G

Write About This Hundreds of writing prompts—some in text format, some photographs—inspired our testers to start writing and telling stories about vacations, family, pizza, and more. Sibs or friends can even work on a piece together. The app also allows kids to start with their own picture or idea. Ages 7+, $4, iPad only BEST FOR PHONICS

TABLET: PETER ARDITO. APPS: COURTESY OF THE BRANDS.

Teach Your Monster to Read Cute and colorful monsters introduce kids to sounds and then short words. Parents liked that the app reviews what a child has already learned and builds on it in each session. “My kids are actually learning to read while enjoying the gamey features,” said a mom of two testers. Ages 4+, $5, computer version is free BEST FOR READING ALOUD

Read Along by Google

How We Picked the Winners For this second annual list, we developed criteria with the help of teachers and screen-time experts. To be considered, apps needed to be ad-free and to have clear learning goals and no in-app purchase offers for power-ups or characters. Each app was then tested and reviewed by kids ages 2 to 12 (and their parents) to confirm the apps were both educational and engaging.

Using Google’s speechrecognition technology, the app can tell how well kids are reading aloud from a library of 500-plus stories. A reading pal underlines any word that has been skipped and stars those spoken correctly. It can help boost kids’ confidence in reading out loud to their class. Ages 5+, free, exclusive to Google Play

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PUZZLES BEST CODING PUZZLES

Thinkrolls Play & Code Your child won’t realize they are basically in physics class as they help their character move through puzzles and mazes. In “basic,” “easy,” and “hard” modes, players learn about gravity, elasticity, spatial reasoning, and more. They can even use their newfound precoding skills to create puzzles of their own. “I loved that this app was fun, and that it also stretched my daughter to think critically and problem-solve,” said one parent of a tester. Ages 3+, $7/month or $47/year after a weeklong free trial, available only from the App Store BEST LOGIC PUZZLES

Winky Think Logic Puzzles

BEST CROSSWORD PUZZLES

Montessori Crosswords Starting with three-letter words, kids advance through four levels, eventually completing multi-word crosswords in thousands of different combinations. One parent of a 6-year-old tester said this app was much easier than having her son sit at the table and sound out and write words. “He’s the type who doesn’t love reading and writing and really needs some sort of incentive—apparently a cute animation is enough —and this seems to be doing the trick.” Ages 3 to 7, $3, called Montessori Words & Phonics on Google Play and Amazon BEST SHAPE PUZZLES

Busy Shapes With shape changing and color mixing, this app encourages your kid to think outside the box in order to successfully drag figures into the proper holes. Even though the levels get progressively more challenging, one mom of a tester was happy to see that her 5-year-old was “persistent in figuring out the next level rather than getting frustrated.” Ages 18 months to 4 years, $3, available only from the App Store

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SOCIAL SKILLS B E S T S O C I A L- E M O T I O N A L LE A R N I N G

Daniel Tiger’s Grr-ific Feelings Who better to teach your child about feelings than the friendly, familiar face from the make-believe neighborhood? Through games that prompt laughter and deep breathing—as well as a photo booth to capture various moods—this app helps kids identify and manage different emotions. Ages 2 to 5, $3, available only on tablets BEST VIDEOS

BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week This collection of three-tofive-minute animated videos has grown to include topics like gratitude, conflict resolution, and mindfulness, in addition to all the great shorts on the arts, math, and history. In the video on

empathy, characters explain how children can identify their own and other people’s emotions. They then explore how to be compassionate when a friend isn’t feeling their best. The videos come with “easy” and “hard” quizzes for an added learning boost. Ages 6 to 8, free movie of the week, $6/month for full access B E S T S O C I A L- E M O T I O N A L G A M E S

PBS Kids Games Your child can discover new ideas and worlds alongside their fave characters from Wild Kratts, Super Why!, and Odd Squad. Games are added weekly, and the learning goals extend to social skills such as kindness and mindfulness and life skills like healthy habits and daily routines. “My son would have fun with this app even without the characters,” said the parent of a tester. Ages 2 to 8, free TOP RIGHT: TIM MARSELLA. APPS: COURTESY OF THE BRANDS.

From simple matching to complex games, this app offers 180 obstacles, mazes, and multi-touch experiences. “My daughter loves the ‘aha’ moments of figuring out each level,” said one parent of a tester who’s been motivated to advance through the harder levels. Ages 6+, $3, available only from the App Store

And then... they gave them raisins!

Nothing’s scarier than a house without

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D O E S YOU R C HILD HAVE A HID D E N S LE E P PRO B LE M? If your kid still wakes up in the middle of the night or is irritable during the day, they may have an underlying breathing issue. Treatment can help them get the rest they need. by K AT H E R I N E R E Y N O L D S L E W I S / photographs by S A S H A G U L I S H

VA N E S S A LU T Z ,

of Henderson, Nevada, grew concerned when her then 18-monthold son, Teddy, developed nasal congestion, severe nosebleeds, and dark circles under his eyes. The family tried solution after solution for years, including prescription allergy treatments, high-end air filters, and nasal rinses, but nothing helped. “Teddy came across as an angry and depressed individual, which is pretty sad considering he was 4,” recalls Lutz. “He would say things like, ‘I hate school. I don’t want to go to school.’ ” Finally, a doctor connected Teddy’s daytime symptoms with his frequent snoring and nighttime mouth breathing. They’re signs of an under-the-radar

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sleep disorder associated with problems including depression, ADHD, obesity, and poor grades. Sleep-disordered breathing, as health professionals call it, is often the result of underlying mouth, jaw, and throat problems created by a narrow airway. The condition is more common than parents might suspect. About half of all kids experience at least some symptoms, which typically appear between ages 4 and 8. And while some children may be going undiagnosed, the disorder is gaining attention from doctors, speech pathologists, and dentists, who are zeroing in on strategies to manage or even prevent the problem.

Signs of Trouble Research shows that half of all parents think a child’s snoring is harmless, even a tip-off that they’re sleeping soundly. But it’s actually a red flag, says Parents advisor Judith Owens, M.D., director of sleep medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. “The louder the snoring is, the more concerned we are,” she says. “If your child snores three times a week, even without any other symptoms, they need an evaluation.” Snoring is a signal of a breathing problem that can stem from multiple causes: the length of a child’s jaw and width of their palate; the shape of the skull; or congestion in the nose and

Half of all kids have some symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing.

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Proof that kids may try to sleep in the most awkward positions

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upper airway, which is commonly due to oversize tonsils and adenoids. Often, kids experience a combination of factors. At night, when kids lie down and their throat muscles relax, the airway narrows. Of particular concern are gasping, snorting, and choking noises, or working hard to breathe, says Stephen Sheldon, D.O., director of the sleep medicine center at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. These are signs of sleep apnea, when breathing is repeatedly blocked or partially blocked for a split second and then starts again. When Teddy was 4 years old, a test confirmed he had sleep apnea. He had his tonsils and adenoids removed to create more space in the airway. (That’s the main reason kids get their tonsils out these days. Imagine trying to drink a thick milkshake—it’s much easier to draw the liquid through a

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wider straw.) Shortly after surgery, his sleep, mood, and behavior turned around. “You could see things clicking for him,” Lutz recalls. “His love of art grew, he fidgeted less, and he had more energy for activities.” Unfortunately, his adenoids and tonsils regrew and he had to undergo another surgery. He now uses a CPAP machine to help manage his sleep apnea. Nolan Knepper, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, also had his tonsils and adenoids removed when he was 4 to create more space in his narrow airway. But his severe, year-round allergies and asthma have still been hard to manage. Now 11, he struggles with sleep and is irritable in the morning and wired in the afternoon. “It’s like waking the dead to get him up, but by the afternoon, his energy is on overdrive and sometimes he’s bouncing off the walls,” says Nolan’s mom, Ciara.

Dr. Owens points out that hyperactivity is another common sign of poor sleep in children, noting that up to 60 percent of kids with ADHD have trouble getting a good night’s rest. Still, many parents are surprised by the connection. Says Dr. Owens, “Hyperactivity, large tonsils, allergies, asthma, and being overweight are red flags that a sleep disorder may be affecting a child’s behavior.”

What Healthy Sleep Looks Like Good sleepers keep their lips closed and breathe comfortably through their nose. If a child’s mouth routinely falls open during sleep, it could be a sign that their jaws are misaligned (the upper teeth should fit slightly over the lower teeth). Or it could be a heads-up that your child has chronic nasal congestion. Whatever the cause, the result is the same: Air dries out the throat and can lead to infections and inflammation. Kids also miss out on the benefit of tiny hairs and mucous membranes in the

nose that clean the inhaled air, and body temperature that warms and humidifies the air before it reaches the throat. The air flowing through the nasal sinuses creates nitric oxide, an important gas for brain development. Over time, the nasal airway and jaws shrink, making kids rely more on mouth breathing. However, there are steps that can help keep their jaws in good shape: RETIRE THE BINKY All kids should

forgo the pacifier after infancy, advises Madeleine Goodman, D.M.D., of Harmony Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, in Bethesda, Maryland. “When a child has a foreign object in their mouth for a third to half the time they’re awake, it changes the shape of the jaws.” Sucking can cause kids to overuse cheek muscles; that puts pressure on jaws, narrowing them. To be sure, pacifier use is only one contributing factor, and not all Binky addicts will end up with misaligned jaws. If your toddler or preschooler is still

using a Binky, try to cut back and talk to a pediatric dentist about which brand may best fit the shape of your child’s mouth and cause the least amount of trouble. Orthodontics can often take care of bite problems later, if needed. REDUCE THEIR NIGHTTIME EXPOSURE TO ALLERGENS Wash

sheets at least once a week in water that’s 130°F or higher to kill dust mites—you may want to do so even more often if your child is highly allergic. An air purifier will help remove pollen, dust, and other irritants from the room. GIVE THEIR JAWS A WORKOUT

Serve toddlers solid food, like chicken and crunchy fruits, to strengthen their jaws. Limit food pouches, since they encourage sucking, which doctors say can distort the shape of the jaws.

A Problem Takes Shape For one clue to a possible sleep problem, look at your child’s face. In profile, the

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chin should align with the nose and mouth. Kids with a narrow face, a recessive chin, or crowded, crooked teeth—even baby teeth—are more likely to have a short jaw, a narrow palate, and a small airway. The floor of the nasal airway is also the roof of the mouth, known as the palate. Since they are physically connected, the width of the palate influences the width of the airway. Dr. Owens helps pediatricians identify craniofacial features that predispose children to breathing and sleep problems. Doctors can look for features on a checklist to identify kids at higher risk. “In order to plan appropriate and timely treatment, we need to be intervening much earlier,” Dr. Owens says. “That’s going to require a paradigm shift in the way we screen and identify kids.” Interestingly, one reason this may be an increasing problem is that human skulls have been gradually shrinking. Since the Industrial Revolution, our palates have been narrowing and our jaws shortening, according to anthropological research. Eating softer foods than our ancestors did is one possible culprit. Having smaller jaws leads to crowded teeth, but, more important, it impairs breathing. To help with airway problems that may be associated with crooked teeth and misaligned jaws, Chicago-based pediatric dentist Kevin Boyd, D.D.S., treats children as young as 3 with orthodontic appliances to expand their palate and help their jaws grow forward. “I’ve seen dramatic results in some of my patients who’ve had this treatment, including significant changes in the size of their airways,” Dr. Sheldon says. For Lisa Vraniak, a mom in Barrington, Illinois, bedtime with her 2-year-old daughters, Lucy and Kate, used to be a long ordeal. But when she took Lucy, who has a cleft palate, to an appointment with Dr. Boyd, it turned out that both Lucy and her sister needed palate expanders. Lucy began sleeping calmly, and Kate stopped sleepwalking, talking in her sleep, and waking with the bedclothes in a knot. “They fall asleep easier and don’t wake up in the night anymore,” Vraniak says.

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SYMPTOM CHECKER If you notice any of these issues, discuss them with your child’s pediatrician and ask for a referral to a specialist, whether it’s a sleep expert; an ear, nose, and throat doctor; or a dental professional familiar with the sleepmouth connection. Routine snoring more than three nights a week Chronic mouth breathing Recurring nasal congestion In profile, a chin that doesn’t align with nose and mouth Narrow or long face Flat cheeks Sleeping with head and neck hyperextended Crooked or crowded teeth Trouble falling asleep or frequent waking Daytime sleepiness, attention problems, difficulty concentrating, or hyperactivity Sleepwalking, restlessness, or sweating while sleeping Bedwetting in a school-age child who previously was dry at night Frequent morning headaches Excessive morning thirst

Getting a Diagnosis If you’re concerned about your child’s symptoms, you can start by asking your child’s pediatrician or dentist if they have experience treating sleep-disordered breathing. Kids with a normal-width palate and jaw may have allergies, asthma, enlarged tonsils, or swollen adenoids. Find your way to the right specialist to guide you through treatment options. That could be an allergist, a dentist, an orthodontist, or a sleep specialist, who is a doctor from a number of related fields, such as pulmonology, otolaryngology, or neurology. Kids with nasal congestion may start with a trial of nasal steroid or decongestants, says Carol Rosen, M.D., a pediatric sleep medicine specialist in Cleveland.

If a doctor sees enlarged tonsils or adenoids pressing on your child’s airway and restricting airflow, you may want to consider having them removed. But first, schedule an overnight sleep study to determine whether sleep apnea may be to blame, Dr. Owens advises. A technician will put sensors on your child’s face, nose, chest, and finger to monitor respiratory effort, oxygen level, and breathing. It may sound scary, but child life specialists usually supply distractions to make a kid feel comfortable. Plus, you’ll be able to stay in the room overnight too. The study results can help determine not only if surgery may be needed but also whether the apnea is mild or severe. Children with more severe apnea pose a higher risk of complications and need to be observed overnight after a tonsillectomy. Sometimes sleep problems worsen because kids aren’t putting their tongue in the right place during speech and eating and when at rest. Ideally, the tongue should sit gently against the palate—not on the floor of the mouth, where it may fall back and block the throat during sleep. A speech pathologist or an informed pediatrician can assess this, or you can consult a myofunctional therapist. After getting his tonsils removed, Teddy did exercises to strengthen his tongue and throat muscles and to encourage proper positioning of his tongue. Ultimately, you may need to create a team of health-care professionals who can look at the problem from different angles, until one or a combo of these solutions eliminates snoring and mouth breathing and results in a well-rested child. Dr. Goodman works with pediatric dentists, a myofunctional therapist, and ear, nose, and throat doctors. “I see kids every day who are struggling,” she says. “The earlier you get everything back in balance, the better chance of success you’ll have.”

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How One Kindness Expert Encourages the Trait in Kids

PAG I N G D R . DA D

“thankful trees,” at each Thanksgiving place setting. Before eating, have everyone reflect on what they’re grateful for and write or draw their thoughts on sticky notes, using them to decorate the tree’s branches. Then go around the table and let each person share their favorite. 3

The Compliment Circle During dinner, go around the table and ask everyone to say to a chosen person, “One of the many things I love about you is ... ” Kids learn just as much from hearing wonderful things about

themselves as they do from saying something beautiful about another person. 2

The Thankful Tree Plant seeds of kindness (pun fully intended) with little evergreen plants, or

The Kindness Jar Put out a jar with paper and pens nearby. When a family member “catches a kindness” by spotting someone inside or outside your home being kind (like helping set the table or holding open a door), they can write it down and add it to the jar. Kids can draw a picture or ask for help with writing. When the jar is full, read them together and talk about how they made everyone feel.

Soaps That Make Handwashing Fun If your kids are tired of lathering up, these cool soaps will get them to the sink!

After pumping Color Clean Hand Soap into their palms, washers should make sure to get the colored suds all over their hands. It’ll take the proper 20 seconds to rinse the suds off. Starting at $9.50 for 12 fl. oz.; colorcleansoap.com

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Splatz Naturally Fun Hand Soap by One Fun Co. is exactly what it sounds like: Little ones grab a soap ball and squeeze it until it pops. A portion of sales is donated to a platform supporting kids’ mental health. $15 for 8 fl. oz.; onefun.com

Young artists can draw on their hands with SoaPen Hand Soap Pen for Kids! before scrubbing up. SoaPen donates to partner organizations that support children’s health. $15 for three 1.2-fl.-oz. pens; soapen.com

“How can I get my self-critical child not to be so hard on themself?”

Being self-critical isn’t always a bad thing, but we need to watch for times when it leads to prolonged negative moods and low selfesteem. If your child is prone to thoughts like “I’ll never be able to do multiplication” or “Everyone is better than me at soccer,” try to help them flip the switch. Offer alternative, aspirational phrasing like “I’m not able to multiply big numbers yet” or “I wonder what I can learn from my friends about scoring goals.” Let your child know they are loved not because of what they do but for who they are. Say things like “I’m so proud to have a daughter who is kind to other people,” “It makes me happy to see you enjoy what you’re doing,” and “Watching you practice that difficult skill is so inspiring!” Be careful what you emphasize, though. Praising self-critical kids only when they succeed reinforces that this is the most important goal. Instead, praise them when they show effort on a skill or an activity they aren’t as proficient at. Highlight that they can try their best and make mistakes or need to practice more. Let your child know you are most proud of them when they bounce back from a difficulty or learn from a mistake. Source: Parker Huston, Ph.D., clinical director of On Our Sleeves and a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in Columbus, Ohio.

by R E B E C C A R A KO W I T Z

TOP LEFT: PRISCILLA GRAGG. TOP RIGHT: SABRINA HELAS. SOAPEN: AMANDA GENTILE PHOTOGRAPHY. ALL OTHER SOAPS: COURTESY OF THE BRANDS.

Angela C. Santomero is the creator of Blue’s Clues, the author of Radical Kindness, and one of our America’s Kindest Families Contest judges.

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Secretly Simple Sweets Every single one of these delicious treats are so ridiculously easy to make, a kid could do it—and as a matter of fact, we recommend enlisting yours to give you an assist. recipes by J E S S I E S H E E H A N / photographs by J E N N I F E R C A U S E Y

Jarred ChocolateSpread Brownies Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-in. square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray or softened unsalted butter. Line pan with parchment paper, allowing 4 in. to extend over 2 sides of pan. Whisk 1¼ cups hazelnut-chocolate spread (from a 13-oz. jar) and 2 large eggs in a bowl until smooth. Fold in ½ cup all-purpose flour with a flexible spatula just until flour is incorporated. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake, rotating pan about halfway through bake time, until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few crumbs, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Lift brownies from pan using parchment. Cut into 16 pieces. Store brownies in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

LET K IDS HELP Or let them take the recipe from start to finish by themselves! These brownies are a breeze to make, though a grown-up may want to handle the hot pan.

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28 NOV EMBER

NUTRITION PER SERVING

145 calories; 2g protein; 7g fat (7g sat. fat); 17g carbs; 1g fiber; 12g sugar; 1mg iron; 28mg calcium; 18mg sodium

2021

LET K IDS HELP

One-Bowl Apple Crisp Active Time 25 minutes Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes Makes 8 servings I N G R E DI E N T S For the topping ¾ cup (about 3¼ oz.) all-purpose flour 1 cup packed light-brown sugar ⅛ tsp. kosher salt ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cubed For the apples 2 Tbs. granulated sugar 1 Tbs. all-purpose flour 1 tsp. ground cinnamon ¼ tsp. kosher salt 4 medium (about 7 oz. each) Granny Smith or other tart apples, peeled and cored and cut into ¼-in. slices 1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon) Heavy whipping cream or vanilla ice cream (optional) MAKE IT

1. Prepare the topping: Preheat oven to 375°F. Whisk together flour, brown sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Rub butter into flour mixture, using your fingers, until mixture sticks together when you squeeze it in your hand. Refrigerate topping while preparing apples. 2. Prepare the apples: Whisk together granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt in a 2-qt. baking dish. Add apples; toss with your hands to coat. Sprinkle with lemon juice, and toss a final time. Cover apples with chilled topping, forming small or medium crumbs with your fingers. Gently press topping into apples. 3. Bake, rotating dish from front to back about halfway through bake time, until apples are bubbling and tender when pierced with a sharp knife and topping is lightly browned, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack about 15 minutes before serving. Serve with a drizzle of heavy cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if using. Crisp can be wrapped tightly in aluminum foil and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days. NUTRITION PER SERVING

312 calories; 2g protein; 12g fat (7g sat. fat); 52g carbs; 3g fiber; 39g sugar; 1mg iron; 20mg calcium; 94mg sodium

Little fingers are perfect for rubbing cold butter into flour and sugar, and for forming the topping into little clumps and sprinkling them over the apples.

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Baked Maple-Pecan Donut Holes Active Time 20 minutes Total Time 40 minutes Makes 12 servings I N G R E DI E N T S Nonstick cooking spray or softened unsalted butter 11/2 cups (about 63/8 oz.) all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 cup finely chopped toasted pecans 6 Tbs. vegetable oil 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1 large egg 1/2 cup whole milk 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted 1 cup granulated sugar 1 Tbs. ground cinnamon MAKE IT

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 24-cup mini muffin tin with cooking spray or softened unsalted butter. 2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk in pecans.

LET K IDS HELP Kids can start by mixing the batter. Later, rolling the donut holes in the melted butter and cinnamon sugar will offer them another chance to shine. (FYI, it’s okay if the holes are not perfectly round.)

4. Spoon batter evenly into cups of prepared muffin tin. Bake, rotating tin about halfway through bake time, until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a donut hole comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, 8 to 10 minutes. Let donut holes cool in tin on a wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 5 minutes. 5. Meanwhile, pour butter into a small, shallow bowl, and whisk sugar with cinnamon in another small, shallow bowl. Remove donut holes from tin; dunk each one in melted butter, then roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place on a wire rack until topping is set, about 5 minutes. Serve donuts warm or at room temperature. Donuts are best on the day they’re made but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. NUTRITION PER SERVING

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(2 donut holes): 294 calories; 3g protein; 18g fat (6g sat. fat); 32g carbs; 1g fiber; 19g sugar; 1mg iron; 58mg calcium; 160mg sodium

FOOD STYLING BY TORIE COX. PROP STYLING BY CHRISTINE KEELY.

3. Whisk together oil, brown sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla in a large bowl. Whisk in egg and milk. Gently fold flour mixture into oil mixture with a flexible spatula.

Delicious Chocolatey dipped ﬂakes.

Cocoa coated ﬂakes.

Crunchy real almonds.

K I D SÑD e s s e r t

Three-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Active Time 15 minutes Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes Makes 6 servings I N G R E DI E N T S 1 cup semisweet-chocolate chips (from one 11-oz. pkg.) 2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided Chocolate sprinkles MAKE IT

1. Microwave chocolate chips and 1/2 cup of the heavy whipping cream in a large microwavable bowl on high, stirring at 30second intervals, until chocolate is melted and smooth, 1 to 11/2 minutes. Place bowl in a larger bowl filled with ice, and let stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate mixture cools to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, beat remaining 11/2 cups cream in a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium-high until stiff peaks form. Reserve 1 cup whipped cream in a small bowl; cover and chill. Gently fold half of remaining whipped cream into cooled chocolate mixture until just incorporated. Repeat with second half of remaining whipped cream. 3. Evenly spoon mousse into six ramekins or dessert dishes, and chill until set, about 1 hour. Store mousse tightly wrapped with plastic wrap in refrigerator for up to 3 days. To serve, dollop mousse with reserved 1 cup whipped cream, and top with chocolate sprinkles. NUTRITION PER SERVING

406 calories; 3g protein; 37g fat (23g sat. fat); 20g carbs; 2g fiber; 17g sugar; 1mg iron; 62mg calcium; 25mg sodium

LET K IDS HELP Have them fold the whipped cream into the melted and cooled chocolate —and challenge them to do it as gently as possible.

Pumpkin Poke Cake Active Time 20 minutes Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes Makes 18 servings I N G R E DI E N T S Nonstick cooking spray or softened unsalted butter 1 151/4-oz. pkg. yellow or white cake mix 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, plus more for dusting 1 15-oz. can pumpkin 1 121/4-oz. jar caramel topping 1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk 2 cups heavy whipping cream MAKE IT

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9x13-in. baking pan with cooking spray or softened unsalted butter. 2. Whisk cake mix and cinnamon in a large bowl. Whisk in pumpkin, breaking up any little pockets of dry cake mix, until well blended. Spoon batter into prepared pan, and level with a flexible spatula. Bake, rotating pan from front to back about halfway through bake time, until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few crumbs, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool cake completely on a wire rack, about 1 hour, or place in freezer until cool, about 20 minutes. 3. Poke holes all over surface of cooled cake, using the end of a wooden spoon. (Dip handle in hot water and dry it every few pokes so handle does not stick to cake and tear it.) Set aside 1/4 cup caramel topping. Whisk together sweetened condensed milk and remaining caramel topping in a small bowl. 4. Pour caramel mixture evenly over cake and into holes, spreading mixture with a flexible spatula so entire top of cake is soaked with mixture. 5. Beat heavy cream with a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium-high speed until medium peaks form. Spread over cake with a flexible spatula, and refrigerate until cake is cold and set, about 2 hours. 6. Dust cake with cinnamon. Slice cake, and drizzle with reserved 1/4 cup caramel topping before serving. Cake is best enjoyed within 1 day but can be stored lightly wrapped in plastic wrap in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

LET K IDS HELP It doesn’t get more fun than this: Have kids poke the baked cake with the end of the handle of a wooden spoon.

NUTRITION PER SERVING

365 calories; 4g protein; 17g fat (9g sat. fat); 47g carbs; 1g fiber; 36g sugar; 1mg iron; 123mg calcium; 211mg sodium PA R E N T S

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K I D SÑD e s s e r t

New! Monkey Bread Pull-Apart Kits with

BAKING HACKS THAT’LL SAVE YOU TIME

Here are a few more handy tricks to have up your sleeve.

Servings:

To ease cleanup, poke the legs of the mixer’s beaters through the center of a paper plate before attaching them to the mixer to act as a shield. No more wiping down counters (and walls).

18–26 MIN* *depending on pan size

Prep Instructions YOU WILL NEED: 2 tablespoons melted butter

HEAT oven to 375°F. GREASE pan (pie pan not recommended).

STIR together 2 tablespoons melted butter and sauce in pan.

UNROLL dough. SEPARATE dough pieces along perforated line and place in pan.

STIR dough pieces until coated with butter and sauce.

BAKE as directed in chart or until deep golden brown and center is baked through.

IMMEDIATELY turn upside down onto serving plate. (CAUTION: Pan will be hot). Serve warm.

Extra Jobs for Kids Keep them busy, and throw in a few little techniques to stave off big messes. Prepping the baking dish Let kids spread softened butter—they can hold a chunk in the wrapper or a piece of parchment—or spritz on the cooking spray. Tell them to cover the four corners first, then fill in the five sides to make sure they don’t miss any spots. If they use the spray, direct them to do it in the sink so the floor or the counters don’t get greased up too. Whisking dry ingredients To avoid dusting your counters with a cloud of f lour, be sure kids do the mixing over a baking sheet that you can just rinse off. Cracking eggs The trick to no shells in the batter? Tap the egg on the center of a plate, not the edge of the mixing bowl. This way, the plate can catch the contents. And if a piece of broken shell falls in, you can use another piece of the shell to scoop out the shard, as the broken bit will cling to the larger shell. Adding the wet to the dry It’s a good idea for an adult to premeasure all the ingredients first (or closely supervise your child) and add to bowls so that all kids need to do is dump one into the other. A baking sheet underneath will keep spills contained.

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For less dishwashing, always line pans and cookie sheets with parchment paper so baked goods will release easily and keep pans clean.

To get butter or cream cheese to room temperature quickly, cut it into small pieces and microwave it in ten-second bursts, checking after each interval, until it’s just soft enough.

For room-temperature eggs fast, place them in a small bowl of warm water for five minutes.

To save time when making cookies, opt for bars instead. Rather than scooping out individual spoonfuls, just press the cookie dough into a 9x13-in. pan (lined and prepped, of course), bake, let cool, and slice. MICHAEL PIAZZA.

Bake Time:

Bread Pull-Apart Kits

Find recipe inspiration at pillsbury.com

K I D S Ñ S a fe t y

RULE #1

Revisiting the Safety Limits

When you’ve spent years eyeing the baby monitor, childproofing the house, and following precautions to a T, it can feel as though you’ll never be able to stop hovering. But health experts say there comes a time when you can (carefully) ease up on the rules—as long as you understand them. by I N G E L A R AT L E D G E / photographs by P R I S C I L L A G R A G G

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Cut up grapes and hot dogs. Small, round, or hard foods pose a significant choking risk to small children, which is why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends slicing them up into smaller bites (aim to get them to about the size of the tip of your pinky) until kids are 5. At that point, most can chew foods with more of a grinding motion. When you’re serving an unsliced item to your kid for the first time, explain that you’re giving them a “big kid” food, says Parents advisor Terri McFadden, M.D., professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and co–medical director of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, in Atlanta. This conversation also gives you a chance to share some of the rules that come with this big achievement: Always sit down while eating, avoid distractions, and don’t rush your bites. Be warned, though, that not every 5-year-old may be ready for this all-important step. “Any child who is active and prone to moving, jumping, and talking while eating is not a good candidate for, say, eating whole grapes,” cautions pediatrician Laura Jana, M.D., an AAP spokesperson and author of The Toddler Brain. As for some of the other common foods on the no-fly list? Whole nuts can be served when your child reaches age 4, says Deborah

Usar como se indica. ©JJCI 2021

TESTED BY PEDIATRICIANS DERMATOLOGISTS OPHTHALMOLOGISTS BECAUSE GENTLE IS ALWAYS IN.

SCAN TO SHOP

K I D S Ñ S a fe t y

Gilboa, M.D., a family physician in Pittsburgh. Foods with sticky or chewy textures—like caramels, toffees, or marshmallows—are permissible once your kid is 21/2, or “they get their back teeth,” Dr. Gilboa notes. RULE #2

Put your baby to sleep on their back. Due to the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), babies should be placed on their back at bedtime and naptime for the entirety of their first year. Of course, you’ve probably received a lecture from a well-meaning grandmother type about how that’s not the way she used to do it. But sticking with the plan is worth it: SIDS-related deaths have dropped steadily since the “Safe to Sleep” campaign kicked off in 1994, proving that back sleeping is by far the safest option for infants. At around 4 to 6 months of age, most children will begin to roll over on their own, and that’s no cause for alarm. At that point, “you don’t have to stay up all night checking on them and flipping them back over,” says child-safety expert Debra Holtzman, author of The Safe Baby. But even if your baby is able to sit and roll independently, you should still “always put them to sleep on their back and let them roll over on their own,” explains Brenda Anders Pring, M.D., a member of the Parents AAP Panel and a pediatrician at Atrius Health, in Boston. “My own son would try to flip over in midair as I laid him down because he preferred sleeping on his stomach.” RULE #3

Use only a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste. Ingesting too much fluoride at an early age can cause fluorosis—permanent white spots or streaks on the teeth—and with a large amount, stomach issues like pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, which is why health experts advise keeping a literal cap on its use. But when

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your child cuts their first tooth, it’s safe to introduce fluoride toothpaste, according to the American Dental Association. Just offer it up in sparing amounts: Stick to a light “smear” of toothpaste on your child’s toothbrush, similar in size to a grain of rice, until they reach the age of 3. After that, 3-year-olds can graduate to a pea-size amount, as long as they’ve mastered the habit of spitting (not swallowing) during brushing.

colder months, dress them in no more than one extra layer you yourself would wear, and stick to approved infant sleep clothing, such as a wearable blanket. Be sure to mind the mattress too: Opt for a uniformly firm, flat surface—many models come with a soft and hard side—until your child’s first birthday. “A firm mattress is one that does not indent when a baby is lying on it,” Dr. Jana explains. Once your baby turns 2, though, you’re in the clear to add a small, firm pillow to the mix. RULE #5

RULE #4

Keep pillows, blankets, and other bedding out of the crib. Cozy nursery décor is cute, but it isn’t safe when it comes to an infant’s crib. That’s why the AAP recommends that loose bedding and soft items—including bumpers, blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals—be kept out of the crib until your baby is at least 1 year old. “An infant may not be able to move items away from their face, which could lead to suffocation,” Dr. Jana says. If you’re worried your baby might get chilly without a blanket, especially during the

Place covers on electrical outlets. While this is a wise rule when there are little kids about, it doesn’t have to be one you follow forever. “In general, consider keeping outlets covered until children are 6 or 7,” Dr. Pring says. By that age, kids are less impulsive and can clearly let you know that they understand the danger of sticking anything into the holes. Until then, if your younger child figures out how to wiggle those little plastic safety disks out of the wall, stay the course and keep popping them back in. Better yet: Install the slidingpanel protectors, which are more effective (and attractive) than the traditional plastic inserts. “Be firm, use simple language like ‘danger’ to try to keep your child away, and continue covering up the outlets,” Dr. Pring says. “If that approach still doesn’t work, slide some furniture in front of the problem outlet.” RULE #6

Always engage the child lock on car windows and doors. It’s a good idea to teach your children not to play with window switches and door handles in the vehicle, advises Tammy Franks, senior program manager for mobility safety at the National Safety Council (NSC). Of course, the age at which little ones will grasp the importance of keeping their hands to

themselves varies from kid to kid. So for the time being, you’ll likely need to enable your car’s childproof locks. Once your child is more mature, you can evaluate whether you’re comfortable dispensing with such measures.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THESE RULES

RULE #7

Set choking hazards out of reach. “Toddlers have a tendency to put lots of things in their mouth, and before the age of 3 they haven’t really started to develop executive function skills, which means they don’t have the ability to control their impulses and consider consequences,” Dr. Jana says. “This makes for a potentially dangerous combination and indicates that all small and/or dangerous items, including toys with small parts, coins, marbles, and latex balloons, should be kept away from them.” But if your 3-year-old is no longer putting objects in their mouth, you can gradually begin to give them smaller objects—provided that your kid is still being carefully supervised and the objects are stored up and away from them when playtime is over. Regardless of your kid’s age, continue keeping these items away from them if they still like putting stuff in their mouth, Dr. Gilboa says. RULE #8

Keep hardware-mounted gates at the top (and bottom) of stairs. “Safety gates are designed for children ages 6 to 24 months,” says Colleen Driscoll, executive director of the International Association for Child Safety, so feel free to ditch them once your toddler turns 2. But if you happen to have a particularly tall—or agile—child who is able to scale the gates before that point, it may in fact be safer to take them down: Climbing a safety gate (especially one located at the top of a stairwell) poses a greater injury risk to your child than falling down the stairs. If you have a younger child in the mix who still needs the gate, choose one with vertical slats rather than horizontal ones, and make sure the slats are no more than 23/8 inches apart, Holtzman says. (Even better, choose a gate made

Some safety measures have no expiration date. Here are three to keep in place for the long haul.

Place corner guards on sharp surfaces like tables, hearths, and counters. “Parents remove them when kids are stable walkers and not constantly pulling themselves up on furniture,” child-safety advocate Colleen Driscoll says. “But the risk of injury exists after that point—a young child could still fall and get hurt on a sharp corner or a raised hearth.” 1

Set your water heater to 120°F or below to prevent burns. “This is a worthwhile rule to follow from birth throughout life,” says pediatrician Laura Jana, M.D. “There’s no downside. The time it takes to be burned by water at 140°F is only about six seconds, while it takes several minutes at 120°.” 2

Use furniture anchors. Large, heavy items such as televisions, bookcases, dressers, and major appliances can easily tip over and potentially fall on a young child if they push or climb on them. Secure furniture in place with an anchor kit, which can be found online or at a hardware store.

from fine mesh or plexiglass, she says.) It’s essential to use a hardware-mounted or screw-fit gate at the top and bottom of stairs to ensure they stay put; never put a pressure-fit gate (the kind held in place by springs on either side, which press outward against walls and banisters) at the top of the stairs, as they can come loose if your child pushes on them, causing them (and your child) to fall. Use pressure-fit gates only for separating rooms on the same floor and in hallways. RULE #9

Never leave bathtime unattended. Drowning is one of the leading causes of child mortality, according to the NSC. Babies and young toddlers should not be left solo in the tub for even an instant, since they lack the core stability to stay upright. (Bath seats and similar stabilizers are too prone to tipping to be a reliable substitute for supervision.) After kids reach age 3, the experts’ opinions vary: Some recommend waiting until a child has learned how to swim to leave them solo at bathtime, while others acknowledge that stepping away briefly may be fine once your child is verbally mature enough to maintain constant communication with you. If you’re going to leave your preschooler alone for a moment, have them tell you a story or sing a loud song. “That way, you’ll know they’re doing well and you can get back to them immediately if they suddenly go quiet,” Dr. Gilboa says. But don’t stay away any longer than necessary. For kids who are old enough, switching to showers is another safetyboosting option. “They’re much less risky for drowning, and teaching kids to shower is easier than teaching them how to swim,” Dr. Gilboa says. (Just make sure the water in your tub is draining properly—standing water of any depth is potentially dangerous.) “I began to let my kids bathe alone at around the age of 6, once they could swim independently, but they had been showering alone since around age 4 or 5, when I knew they had the maturity and impulse control to avoid slipping,” Dr. Pring says.

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ESS

2021

Parents’ annual celebration of kindness contains thoughtful advice for raising children who are allies to others and who stand up for what’s right; tips to ensure your child uses tech and social media responsibly and compassionately; a can-do guide to adopting kindness as a family virtue; and a library’s worth of kids’ books that encourage empathy, understanding, and doing good. (Plus, some welcome reminders that the next generation can teach us a lot.) photograph by P R I S C I L L A G R A G G

Psst ... We asked more than a dozen teachers for examples of generous acts they’ve seen kids do. Look for the Classroom Kindness callouts in this section to share in the warm fuzzies.

C L AS S RO O M KI N D N E S S

“A kid was struggling with a math lesson. I was about to step in when a classmate said, ‘You got this.’ ” —Wendy Nauman, third-grade teacher

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C L AS S RO O M KI N D N E S S

“A new kid was very shy, so a student asked if she could help, took his hand, and showed him around the class.” —Hailey Couch, second-grade teacher

C L AS S RO O M KI N D N E S S

“My students rallied around a new girl, creating a schedule to make sure she always had a friend at recess.” —Angela Goodly, fourth-grade teacher

In an excerpt from her new book about raising socially conscious kids, Parents advisor Traci Baxley, Ed.D., a parenting coach and mom of five, offers advice for nurturing a generation that will help change the world. photographs by P R I S C I L L A G R A G G

AFTER SCHOOL

one day, my three youngest kids and I met a few friends at a local park. Nine-year-old Tyler came running over to tell me he’d found a 20-dollar bill. “This is my lucky day!” he screamed. After asking around and

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not finding the owner, he was happy to keep it. We left the park to run a couple of errands, and as we pulled into the shopping plaza’s parking lot, we saw a dad with two children who had a sign that read, “Can you please help us with our rent?”

Tyler asked me if he could give his 20 dollars to the family. I was a bit shocked because he’d been so excited about finding it just an hour before. But as we were leaving the shopping center, I pulled up next to the family. Tyler rolled his car window

down and gave his money to the little boy. When the dad saw how much money Tyler was handing his son, his eyes filled with tears. He lowered his head and said, “Gracias.” I believe that was one of Tyler’s proudest moments. Kindness is compassion in action, and here’s the wonderful thing about it: Each act produces waves that extend beyond our consciousness. Tyler’s kindness likely changed that family’s day in more ways than one. And who knows what kindness it may have sparked in that father or his children? We can’t always know the impact of our acts of kindness, but we must trust that they will create a ripple and let that knowledge be its own reward. For kids, acts of kindness can be as simple as inviting a new classmate to sit at their lunch table or giving a sibling a hug. It may extend to community-based activities, such as volunteering at a food bank, donating clothes or toys to a homeless shelter, or standing up for others and championing causes. More than anything, kindness means paying attention to what someone else might need and then doing something about it. My friend Anna’s stepdaughter is a shining example of this. Along with the typical angst of being a teenager, she was grieving the death of her father, and the entire family was adjusting emotionally and financially. Somehow, despite all this, she found a way to see beyond her own needs. At 16, she had just gotten her first job and was excited about having her own money. The day Anna’s stepdaughter

OPPOSITE: HEART ICON BY JAI FROM THE NOUN PROJECT.

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received her first paycheck, Anna took her to the bank to set up her account and deposit her check. A few days later, Anna received a call from her stepdaughter’s teacher, and she wondered what was wrong. But the teacher said, “I’m calling to tell you that your daughter arrived at P.E. class today with an extra pair of shoes. She had noticed that one of her fellow students didn’t have tennis shoes (or much of anything else), and today she very nonchalantly handed him shoes and five pairs of socks. She made sure the other students didn’t see her, but I saw what she did. I kept her after class, and she told me she had started her first job and couldn’t wait to get her first check so she could give this student some shoes. I thought you should know.” I’ll wait—you can go ahead and get that tissue right now. I will be right here wiping my own eyes. When I asked Anna how that phone call made her feel, she said, “At a time when our family was struggling, my stepdaughter saw a need she felt was greater and filled it. I was so proud of her.” That was ten years ago, and she now works in a hospital setting, continuing to spread love and kindness wherever she sees a need.

Celebrate it at home. In 2014, a Harvard study found that kids were three times more likely to say that their parents would be prouder of them if they got good grades than if they were caring people in their community. When I saw that statistic, I worried

WHAT TRULY MATTERS TO YOU Our second annual Parents Values Study asked questions about every aspect of parent life: your hopes, your challenges, the issues that weigh on your mind, and how this trying time has shifted your priorities.

76% rate themselves as excellent or very good parents.

feel their child’s generation will do a better job of accepting differences than their own generation has.

say the pandemic made them better parents.

49% wish more than anything to see a more peaceful, less violent world for their kids, followed by the hope for greater economic opportunities for their kids (16%) and fewer people living in poverty (9%).

feel their child’s generation will find solutions to serious problems like climate change and racism.

16% 9%

say that becoming a parent has improved their mental health. “I forget all my worries when I see my child smile or play. My child gives me hope and happiness.” —a mom of one, 37

57% say they’d like more flexibility in their hours or ability to work from home.

“I have to be aware of the energy I’m carrying, so I journal more and spend extra time reflecting on my thoughts and emotions. I want to demonstrate to my daughter how to deal with her own mental health.” —a mom of one, 27 “They give me love, care, respect. They make things positive. They inspire me.” —a dad of three, 37

say their relationship with their partner has remained strong throughout the pandemic, and 30% say the pandemic improved it.

S P E C I A LÑK i n d n e s s i n 2 0 2 1

whether I’d successfully communicated my own values to my children, or whether the importance of kindness had gotten lost in all the grades and extracurriculars and homework. More recently, the Parents Values Study first surveyed parents across the country in 2020 and found that kindness was the most important trait they hoped to cultivate in their children. That was encouraging news, but I still wonder how many parents express their belief in a certain set of values but communicate—perhaps inadvertently—an opposing set of values. It seems that our messages of “Get straight A’s” or “Win this race” are often drowning out messages like “Make sure you help someone who needs it” or “Share a smile today.” I invite you to join me in the practice of Social Justice Parenting, which focuses on raising independent, compassionate, and socially conscious children. It is

essentially a lifestyle of kindness. According to studies in neuroscience, children feel happier and more connected when they participate in acts of kindness. My family, for example, has a thing we like to do: We pay the bill for the person behind us in line, say at Starbucks or the grocery store. And wow, do my kids get into it! They get so excited and try to run out of the store before the person behind us knows we did it. It fills their hearts with joy. Kindness fosters a sense of community—and research

shows that this sense of belonging increases levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin that helps reduce depressive symptoms. The effects are contagious too: Simply watching someone else perform a good deed can increase one’s serotonin. Science proves that kindness has a ripple effect! As part of their Jewish faith, my friend Penina and her family take part in mitzvahs—individual acts of kindness—such as building Little Free Pantries in our community. Like most cities in the country, there was an

of parents feel that one of their greatest strengths as a parent is their ability to show their child how loved they are, followed by spending time with them (71%), always being there for them (67%), and encouraging them to be and do their best (64%).

84%

say the pandemic strengthened their relationship with their kids.

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50 %

feel their kids will focus more on being happy in life than their own generation has.

increase in food insecurity in our area during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a program at their synagogue, Penina’s family built their first pantry box for families who were in need. Their inspiration came from the Little Free Libraries where neighbors take and give gently used books. The Little Free Pantry allows community members to place any nonperishable item inside the pantry and for any person who needs support to take what they need. My heart smiles just thinking about the lives that have been touched by this project. My friend Marcy and her kids volunteered to make bookshelves to create a library at a day-care facility that supported homeless families with children. When her youngest daughter had her ninth birthday, Marcy bought her a personalized tool set so she could help build the library. After her daughter opened the gift, she looked at her parents

41%

say their biggest parenting challenge is work-life balance, 42% say they struggle with burnout and exhaustion, and 40% say discipline is their biggest stressor.

told us they’re as close with their partner now as they were before kids.

C L AS S RO O M KI N D N E S S

incredulously and said, “This is the best present I’ve ever received!” And by the way, that kindness-giving, tool-loving little girl is now a senior in college majoring in engineering!

It requires courage. These types of stories touch our hearts because we know that being kind isn’t always the easy choice. Did my son want to keep the 20 dollars he found in the park? Probably! Instead, he chose kindness. Anna’s stepdaughter could have embarrassed her classmate by giving him a pair of shoes, despite her good intentions. Extending kindness to others means you take a risk of rejection or judgment—but we’ve all had moments in our lives when we’ve been glad someone was brave enough to be kind. My coaching client Ellen, a white woman, confided in me that she wanted to welcome her new neighbor into the community. She would see her neighbor checking the mail or getting groceries out of the car, but she couldn’t get herself to make the introduction. Ellen finally admitted that the woman was Black and she was afraid they would have nothing to say to each other, or that the neighbor would think she was being nice only because of racial tensions in the country. I asked her if she would have these same trepidations if the new neighbor were white, and Ellen began to cry. In that moment, she realized that her fear was greater than her kindness. She didn’t want that, and she didn’t want that to be what she was teaching her children.

TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS “Mom, why is that man pushing that grocery cart full of old things down the street? He needs to go home and take a shower. Why is he so dirty?” These unexpected questions from her 5-yearold left my coaching client Shelby frozen. She wasn’t prepared to answer her daughter, and she certainly wasn’t prepared for the stares she got from other customers in the Target parking lot. Embarrassed, she shushed her daughter, grabbed her hand, and quickly got into the car. You may want to protect your children from the realities of poverty because you think it might make them sad to know people are hungry, hurting, and homeless. But talking about homelessness is a good opportunity to demonstrate empathy and recognition of others’ hardships. When your children are young, it’s

A few days later, Ellen saw her neighbor at the mailbox, and she waved and smiled. The neighbor, Donna, walked across the street, introduced herself, and thanked Ellen for saying hello. After chatting for a while, Ellen saw how her courage was a comfort to Donna, who needed to feel welcome in the community. Ellen invited Donna in for coffee, and they have been friends ever since.

Build a habit. With your help and opportunities to practice, your children can develop

important to answer their questions directly, in an age-appropriate way. You might say, “Some people don’t have enough money to pay for a house” or “He doesn’t have anyplace to go to shower or to keep all his things” or “He might seem scary, but he’s trying to take care of himself the best way he can right now.” Never use a homeless person as an “example” of what could happen to kids if they don’t get good grades, go to college, or work hard. Doing so perpetuates misinformation and stereotypes about people living in poverty, and teaches kids that this person is “bad” or deserves their situation. Children often want to know what they can do to help. You might suggest giving the person a water bottle or a granola bar, or donating food, clothing, or toiletries to nonprofits.

the courage to intervene when others need to be lifted up. Learning to be kind is like learning any other skill. My son’s coach tells him to shoot 100 free throws every day. The daily repetition builds that skill, and just like with basketball, kids can build their capacity for care. Some acts may be small but mighty, like sharing the last slice of pumpkin pie the day after Thanksgiving (that’s a very big deal in my household!), holding the door for the next person, or saying thank you and using the cashier’s name at the grocery store. Others can have a wider

“One student was having trouble with a worksheet. Another told him not to give up, and they worked on it together.” —Laurie Salem, first-grade teacher

C L AS S RO O M KI N D N E S S

“When a fourth-grade teacher was diagnosed with cancer, every day her class asked how she was doing.” —Meghan LeFevers, principal

impact, like standing in allyship with Black Lives Matter or with the LGBTQ+ community. Kindness helps you see others in very human ways, and it feeds off itself and knocks down walls. I can’t begin to tell you the number of conversations I’ve had with people just because I smiled at them. Sometimes when I smile and say hi to people on the street, my kids say, “Do you know her?” I almost always say no. And then I get, “Oh my gosh, Mom,” or eye rolls. But you know what they get from me? You guessed it: a smile. Smiling at others is the simplest act of kindness. It costs you nothing, and it benefits everyone.

From the book Social Justice Parenting: How to Raise Compassionate, Anti-Racist, Justice-Minded Kids in an Unjust World, by Dr. Traci Baxley. Copyright © 2021 by Traci Baxley. Reprinted by permission of Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

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A student arrived early one morning when I was teaching sixth grade and saw me, five months pregnant, standing on a desk to hang up their work. He asked if he could help. For the rest of the year, he hung up work for me. He also formed a group of students to help clean the classroom.” —Nicole Evert, kindergarten teacher

“We’d been practicing for a graduation performance for months, which parents would watch on Zoom. When showtime came, two students started to cry. Classmates went to get the ‘calming caddy,’ full of sensory tools, for their friends. One of them held their nervous classmate’s hand during the ceremony.”

As a part of our behavior plan, my students can choose coupons for things like gum, using a teacher’s pen for the day, lunch with a teacher, and so on. One student always chose the lunch with a teacher coupon, for which students get to pick a friend to come along. One day, he selected a student he’d never hung out with before. They chatted and giggled through the whole lunch period. The next time, he picked a different student, one who’d had a rough morning. By the end of the lunch period, he, too, was smiling and giggling. This happened all year. This sweet kiddo always picked a student who was having a difficult day.” —Sasha Moore, kindergarten teacher

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“Once, when we were playing a spelling game, a student listened to the spelling word, quickly calculated which student would be ‘out,’ and then moved. He did this the whole game until it was just the two of them. Then he purposely (and very subtly) misspelled the last word to allow the student with autism to win.” —Silvia Miranda, fourth-grade teacher

2021

“My students love their daily movement breaks, which involve ‘leveling up’ to new activities after ten exercise videos. One day, we were all excited to level up, but one student pointed out that a classmate was out sick. The class voted to wait until they returned. The next time it happened, the class made a video saying, ‘We wouldn’t level up without you!’ ”

The children were playing musical instruments, and one student noticed that a new student had wandered away and was covering his ears. She realized that he did not like loud noises and asked her classmates to play softer. The other students obliged, much to the relief of our new student, who happens to have autism.”

—Josh Penn, third/fourth grade teacher

—Autumn Amyx and Victoria Figueroa, preschool teachers

PRISCILLA GRAGG.

—Meredith Barz, kindergarten teacher

Bona Clean™ means the memories last, not the messes. Bona.com/bonaclean

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First steps. First day of school. First phone? Getting their own cell is fast becoming a new developmental milestone, and it’s happening earlier all the time. Being a kind digital citizen starts now. by J E N N I F E R K I N G L I N D L E Y

A L LI S O N L A N E ’ S

10-yearold daughter pleads for an iPhone on a daily basis. The struggle has left the Stoneham, Massachusetts, mom torn. “We just moved to a new town, and like it or not, this is how kids communicate now. I want her to feel included,”

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she says. But Lane fears what awaits her daughter on the ugly side of the digital world. “My mom friends have told me that kids who feel slighted somehow often block the person.” There is a lot for parents like her to be anxious about,

from the bona fide meanness of cyberbullying (repeated and intentional digital cruelty) to subtle text slights that can tear kids apart, often without parents knowing. We work hard to raise kind children—kids who sit on the buddy bench, make a card for

someone who needs cheering up, set up a charity lemonade stand. What if a smartphone turns them into a different person? Anxious. Sad. Even unkind. (Not to mention zombified.) Being able to communicate instantly and constantly with less adult supervision allows a kid’s still-forming psyche to run wild in a largely unchecked arena. Third- and fourth-graders who have their own phones are significantly more likely to report being cyberbullied, according to research from Bridgewater State University, in Massachusetts. The study shows that the youngest phone owners are more likely to admit to cyberbullying other kids too. Hurt feelings are also common, as Lane heard through the rumor mill. “Kids ages 7 to 10 are still learning the skill of taking other people’s perspective and beginning to understand empathy,” says Ann-Louise Lockhart, Psy.D., founder of A New Day Pediatric Psychology, in San Antonio. “If they send a text and don’t get a quick response, they jump right to ‘My friend must hate me.’ They’re not yet good at considering the possibilities: The friend may have turned their phone off to do homework or eat dinner.” But there are many things you can do to help

prepare your children for the emotional and social challenges that having a phone can bring, even long before you give them the coveted device. “Parents still have a lot of influence over kids at this age, and you can be a digital mentor,” says Devorah Heitner, Ph.D., author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World. That can mean encouraging their natural kindness too. Laura Tierney, founder of The Social Institute, in Durham, North Carolina, often gives presentations in schools to kindergartners on up. “One student coined a term I love: cyber backing—the opposite of cyberbullying,” Tierney says. “It means having each other’s backs online: speaking up for someone, sending a supportive text to a friend.”

When a Phone Is Still a Long Way Off

OPPOSITE: ERIN PATRICE O’BRIEN. THIS PAGE: JAMIE CHUNG/TRUNK ARCHIVE.

Set the bar. Uncomfortable

as it may be to contemplate, your relationship with your phone is sending powerful messages. “Kids complain that their parents have their heads down in their devices. They crave your attention,” Dr. Heitner says. It gives the wrong impression that ignoring people is okay.

Closer to the Handoff Wait until they’re ready.

ICYMI No surprise: Texting, DMing, and doing FaceTime are major ways for even young kids to socialize now. Some notable phone numbers:

31% of parents say their child began interacting with a smartphone before age 2.

20% of all 8-year-olds have a smartphone.

53% of all 11-year-olds have a smartphone.

67% of fifth- and sixthgraders text at least once a week. Sources: Common Sense Education; The Social Institute; Pew Research Center.

convo. Praise their courtesy too: “It was great to include your friend in that online game so he didn’t feel left out.”

Coach them. You can work

on your kids’ digital social skills when their tablets and computers are still in your living room. “Observe how they act in Google Classroom, for instance. Do they email the teacher multiple times if they don’t get an instant response? If so, talk to your child about being patient in waiting for others to reply,” Dr. Heitner suggests. If they wander off during a Zoom with Grandma, explain how to wind down a

Don’t dismiss their digital lives. Your best shot

at establishing yourself as someone your child can always bring digital concerns to is to show enthusiasm for the fun they do have online. This teaches kids you’re not going to overreact if they come to you upset about an online blowup with a friend or an unkind thing they themselves did, Tierney says.

Kelly Mendoza, vice president of education programs at Common Sense Education, says there’s no perfect age to give kids a first phone. Instead, consider whether your child is mature enough to handle this leap: Do they follow your screen-time limits? Do they have good IRL social skills? Do they explode in frustration at their online buddies? Dr. Lockhart says there are sound reasons for parents to hold off as long as possible. “Having a phone can make younger kids fast-forward through the stages of social development. Up until age 11 or 12, the relationships that kids are supposed to value most are the ones they have with their parents. When they get a phone, peers and their status among friends become most important. It creates pressure and exposes them earlier to rejection,” Dr. Lockhart says.

comments might affect the person on the other end. There can be a lack of empathy and compassion. That’s because they are not seeing the other person’s face and watching their reaction.” To protect others’ feelings, Hurley suggests kids type potentially sensitive messages (such as refusing an invitation) into a note app on their phone before sending. “Having them read it out loud can give them a new perspective on how they come across,” she says. Role-play likely scenarios.

Act out these issues together: What would you do if you were in a group text and someone said something mean to another person? What would you do if you were hanging out with a friend and she ignored you in favor of her phone? “Kids are great at coming up with solutions,” Hurley says. That might mean speaking up in the group chat—“Hey, Joey’s cool!”—or suggesting to a friend who’s feeling left out that they go on a bike ride.

Get it in writing. Make

a contract that spells out your expectations. (You can download a sample from The Social Institute’s website.) Besides setting screen-time limits, the contract should cover how values, like respect and kindness, show up online. “Tell them that every time we text or upload a video on YouTube, it is a reflection of our character,” Tierney says. Remind kids there’s a person behind the screen.

“Tweens come to my office in tears over mean-spirited texts and posts,” says Katie Hurley, a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles and the author of No More Mean Girls. “Kids don’t always think about how their

Address the tough stuff.

Sad but true: Kids can be mean, online and off. “Your child will likely experience painful situations such as being excluded from a party,” Dr. Lockhart says. “When this happens, parents tend to go into problem-solving mode or try to cheer them up: ‘That doesn’t sound like fun anyway!’ ” Instead, she suggests helping them process their emotions: “Rejection hurts. Acknowledge what they are experiencing: ‘It sounds like you are bummed about this.’ Then help them sit with that feeling.” You can also toss out mood-boosting ideas, like hanging with a true bestie or taking a social media break.

Making Space for Life’s Good Stuff

RESTORATIVE PERSONAL CARE IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER. PARENTS BEAUTY DIRECTOR KATE SANDOVAL BOX SHARES HOW SHE AND HER FAMILY MAKE TIME FOR THE SWEETEST MOMENTS LIFE HAS TO OFFER, AND HOW IVORY’S SAFE GENTLE PRODUCTS HELP PAVE THE WAY.

FINDING KINDNESS EVERY DAY Life with a four- and six-year-old is busy, “but I’ve been trying to find easy ways to weave kind moments into our schedule,” Sandoval Box says. “Sometimes we pick up litter on our walk to school and talk about helping the planet or drop off socks and body washes to the shelter we pass along the way.” Back at home, the kids are proud to check on and water their plants and feed their pet fish. “They’re little things, but the hope is that they inspire all of us to continue to find bigger ways to be thoughtful, tolerant, and kind.”

She has a simple, purposeful, and minimal one that relies on using gentle products like Ivory. “In the shower, I reach for a nourishing scented body wash. At night, I apply a cleanser, place a warm, wet towel over my face for 10 seconds, and take a deep breath,” she says. “I follow that with a night cream that hydrates, brightens, and plumps all at once.” It’s Ivory’s long-standing belief that the purest products, like its cruelty-free, dermatologist-tested Ivory Gentle Deodorant, made without aluminum, parabens, or phthalates, work best. “As a beauty editor, I know how much vetting and safety testing a brand like Ivory does for each of its products, so using and trusting it is easy,” says Sandoval Box. “Finding products that are healthy for myself and my family is deﬁnitely a priority for me.”

CREATING TIME FOR TRANQUILITY Sandoval Box applies the “put your oxygen mask on ﬁrst” philosophy. “It’s hard to be fully present for your children when you’re not ok yourself,” she explains. Her number-one self-care move: “I never skip my beauty routine,” she says.

VISIT IVORY.COM FOR MORE BETTER-FOR-YOU ESSENTIALS MADE WITH LIFE’S GOOD STUFF. BROUG HT TO YOU BY IVORY

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Are you and your family hands-on volunteer types? Regular sharers of upbeat words and encouragement? This guide can help you figure out your secret sweetness superpower. by H O L LY C A R T E R

Secret Kindness Agents: An Educator’s Guide: How Small Acts of Kindness Really Can Change the World. “It creates a tradition that will yield great memories.” Because the idea is to establish a consistent and collaborative habit, it’s best to start by discussing as a family what kinds of activities you might all be jazzed about. “Think of those things that you will enjoy but that won’t feel good just for the moment,” says Ayo Sanderson Wilson, founder and CEO of Empower the Village, a nonprofit organization focused on restoring “prosperity, peace, and power to the Black community.” Next, make sure that every family member gets involved, even if it’s just making little ones a part of the conversation. “We can tell our kids to do kind acts, but if they don’t see us doing them, they won’t internalize it,” Dr. Pearson says. “Modeling is so important,” she explains. It helps to have a plan and a schedule, whether your act is done every Friday or every month, so it becomes habit. “Committing to this act helps service become a part of what makes you a family,” Dr. Pearson says. And once you figure out your go-to, you can return to it again and again.

IN A PERFECT

world, being kind to others would be automatic, a reflex that kicks in daily and spreads good vibes to all. But given the hustle of real life, kindness efforts sometimes need a little kick in the pants to push them from intention to

intentional. One good way to do that: Create a signature act your entire family can get in on, whether it’s making an amazing banana bread for each new neighbor or regularly sorting baby clothes at a local familyassistance agency. Doing

so helps streamline your service and makes it authentic to you. It’s also a bonding exercise. “Being focused on kindness by practicing it often helps build strong relationships among family,” says Ferial Pearson, Ed.D., author of

Think about your family’s talents and abilities, then figure out how you can use them to do acts of kindness you’re good at and all enjoy. Dr. Pearson’s husband is an introvert who likes driving, she says, so he gives rides to friends and family who need them. (He even provides a bottle of water and has their

PRISCILLA GRAGG.

Do what you love, or what you do best.

favorite music queued up.) One of her sons loves to cook, like she does, and her other child is a fan of giving affirmations. Dr. Pearson also prides herself on being a connector. So as a family, they can cook a meal, add a sweet accompanying note, and shuttle it to its recipient. Or perhaps invite an elderly neighbor who lives alone to join them once a week for supper. If you’re a family of gardeners, leave your produce in a little stand for people in the neighborhood to take. Are you musically inclined? Start a family band, and take it on the road for a concert at a local nursing home. Picking something you all can get excited about will help make the activity become second nature.

Meet the needs around you. It helps, too, to consider what your community truly needs and what you as a family can offer. To wit, the environment is always in need of a little love. Your family can dedicate one Saturday a month to cleaning up a neighborhood park, or take a garbage bag with you on your nightly walk and pick up trash as you go. Alternatively, you can form a mini assembly line and put together care packages to be distributed at local shelters for the unhoused or for victims of domestic violence. And keep in mind that philanthropy doesn’t have to equal charity. “You want to empower people in a way that means the impact lingers once you’re out of the picture,” says Sanderson Wilson. Her organization started a Make Every Friday Black Friday movement to urge locals to routinely support Black-

TAKE THE FIRST STEP Here are a few organizations that can help you get started on your family’s quest to be a force for good. At LasagnaLove.org, you can sign up to make and deliver lasagna for a family in need. The kids can write letters to the elderly (a simple “Hello, hope you’re having a great day!” goes a long way) via ReadyToCare.com. Is sewing your family’s specialty? Through ProjectLinus.org, you can make security blankets for kids in shelters, hospitals, or anywhere a child needs one. The organization offers patterns on the site. With the holidays ahead, try one of the gift-donation initiatives online that give presents to kids in need—ToysForTots.org is one of the most wellknown—or call local stores and ask if they’re running a similar program this year.

owned businesses. Whether you’re picking up takeout from a restaurant, buying a piece of furniture, or grabbing a gift for a birthday party, each week one member of the family can decide which local businesses to support. (EmpowerTheVillage.org features a Village Black Pages full of Black-owned businesses.)

When in doubt, spread joy. Being kind isn’t just about filling an immediate need, like a lack of food or clothing. It’s also about spreading a little happiness. Everyone needs light in their life, no matter their situation. Dr. Pearson has a neighbor with a sign outside that says,

At ChildsPlayCharity.org, you’ll find Amazon wish lists made by kids in children’s hospitals; the gifts they request will help keep their spirits up and fill the long hours alone. Ivory brand’s Act of Kindness initiative (ivory.com/kindness) encourages people to deliver care packages (anything from socks to snacks to bodywash—up to your family) to those in need. You can replicate the idea for a senior center or an assistedliving facility near you. (In celebration of our Kindness Issue, Ivory and Parents are partnering to donate $2,500 worth of Ivory products to Lenox Hill House, which provides services to adults and children in New York City.)

“Do a silly walk from here to there,” to give people a laugh as they pass by. You could buy flowers and hand them out to neighbors or people in the park. If you’re a family of foodies, on a dine-out night, pick another table and pay for their drinks. You can do it anonymously and find satisfaction in their smiles. Here’s a fun one: If your family has a favorite store, buy a gift card, give it to the cashier, and have them use it to check out customers behind you until it runs out. As Sanderson Wilson suggests, you can even have a friendly acts-of-kindness competition with another family. “Imagine your kids bragging about how much community service they did

compared with their neighbor,” she says. “If they’re going to brag about something, let them brag about giving back.”

Easy does it. Kindness doesn’t have to be complicated. If you’re short on time or seeking simplicity, pick a task that doesn’t force you to stray far from your routine. After a snowstorm, shovel a neighbor’s driveway in addition to yours. (Your child can add a cheery snowman.) Try pooling the household’s spare change in a “giving” jar, and when it reaches a certain amount, decide where to donate the funds. If Sunday is lasagna night, make an extra one and take it to a shelter or a family in need. “If I’m going to cook for my family anyway, why not make a little bit extra for someone who needs a meal?” Dr. Pearson says. “It’s not extra time. I am just cooking more.” If you’re a group of extroverts, spend an hour a month visiting a local nursing home or making phone calls to the elderly who live alone. Says Dr. Pearson, “Just slowing down and being present with people in solidarity is a powerful act of kindness.”

C L AS S RO O M KI N D N E S S

“A student always came to school without a snack, and one day I watched their neighbor take out their snack, plus one for the child.” —Heather Aulisio, third-grade teacher

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Reading to your children may be the easiest and most effective way to inspire compassion and empathy for others—and to open their hearts to all variety of causes. Authors, educators, leaders, essential workers, and artists share the beloved titles that have nurtured goodwill in themselves or their kids. Spread the (caring) word. by K A R E N C I C E R O and J E S S I C A H A R T S H O R N / photographs by P E T E R A R D I T O

Widen Their Worldview Help kids acknowledge and appreciate differences. 1 “People, by Peter Spier (ages 3 to 7), is a pictorial celebration of human variety, and my children used to pore over its enormous, complicated illustrations, imagining themselves in different bodies, houses, and countries. Imagining other lives is the first step of empathy.” —Annie Barrows, author of Iggy Is Better Than Ever

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2 “My 5-year-old daughter loves The Proudest Blue, by Ibtihaj Muhammad (ages 4 to 8), a picture book about a girl who’s teased on her first day wearing her hijab, told from the perspective of her adoring younger sister, who is outraged witnessing the teasing. I think my daughter recognizes the unfairness of the Islamophobia, and I can see her empathy flowering.” —Parents advisor Ibram X. Kendi, Ph.D., founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research

3 “A few years ago, a librarian friend recommended Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper (ages

10+). This glimpse into the inner life of a girl with cerebral palsy shatters a wealth of stereotypes about people with special needs. It’s a book I would share with every kid and adult if I could.” —David LaRochelle, author of How to Apologize

4 “Set on an Ojibwa reservation, Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend, by Dawn Quigley (ages 6 to 10), shows us the role of friendship and laughter in enlarging our hearts and worlds.” —Linda Sue Park, author of Prairie Lotus

5 “As a bookstore owner, I’m reading more children’s books

now than I did as a kid. Three Keys, by Kelly Yang (ages 8 to 12), introduced me to a family’s struggles and joys through the eyes of a joyful, resourceful protagonist: Mia Tang, a sixthgrader helping her parents, who are immigrants from China, run a motel in California. More books like this one, please!” —Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series

6 “I read I Am Human, by Susan Verde (ages 4 to 8), with my little ones, and it nearly brings me to tears every time. It’s a simple, impactful book about what makes us human —the good, bad, and ugly. It makes me feel

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—Bekah Martinez, founder of The Good Alma, an eco-conscious clothing brand

7 “As the parent of a disabled kiddo, I was drawn to Just Because, by Rebecca Elliott (ages 3 to 7), to read to my son. My daughter, his sister, was not like other friends’ sisters. Their relationship was different but no less awesome. I think it is a nice reminder that family and play and love can look different but be equally as great.”

over how Asian eyes were usually illustrated as slashes. This beautifully written and illustrated book celebrates eyes like mine along with a heartwarming story of family.” —Lily LaMotte, author of Measuring Up

10 “Is There Really a Human Race?, by Jamie Lee Curtis (ages 4 to 8), captures what children grapple with in today’s society. It expresses the importance of understanding each other.” —Ziggy Marley, musician and author of Little John Crow

—Miguel Cervantes, who plays Alexander Hamilton in the New York City production of Hamilton

8 “The Boy Who Touched the Stars/El niño que alcanzó las estrellas, by José M. Hernández (ages 8 to 11), can help children empathize with the challenges and hopes of a child of migrant farmworkers who dreams of being an astronaut. It will help my toddler feel proud of being the son of an immigrant whose dreams brought her to the U.S.” —Parents advisor Nayeli Y. Chavez-Dueñas, Ph.D., professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

11 “Telling the story of the Civil Rights Movement in a way that can engage young readers, the graphic novel trilogy March, by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin (ages 13+), is powerful. It can help children of privilege and those who may not have experienced many difficulties in life recognize how lucky they are and see things from a different perspective.” —U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, author of Every Day Is a Gift: A Memoir

9 “I wish I’d had Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, by Joanna Ho (ages 4 to 8), when I was a kid, puzzling

12 “A tale of two identical boys born on the same day, The Prince and the Pauper, by Mark Twain (ages 10 to 14), taught me about social inequality, mercy, and empathy.” —Jewell Parker Rhodes, author of Paradise on Fire

14 “Full of hope and humor, As Brave as You, by Jason Reynolds (ages 10+), opened my eyes to the power of empathy in developing love-centered relationships and shaping not only how we view others but how we view the world.” —Nic Stone, author of Fast Pitch

Tap Into Community Show kids why being neighborly matters (and how doing good ultimately brings joy). 15 “A book containing only three distinct words, Hug, by Jez Alborough (ages 2 to 5), manages to convey a world’s worth of feeling when a chimpanzee finds itself alone and a kindly grown-up elephant decides to help. As other animals join the search for Bobo’s mom, we learn that despite our differences, we all want the love and care of family. We learn that when one being helps another get what they need, it makes everyone in the ecosystem feel so much better.” —Parents advisor Julie LythcottHaims, author of How to Raise an Adult

16 “I love the kindness shown in Thank You, Omu!, by Oge Mora (ages 4 to 8). Omu, which means ‘queen’ in Igbo, happily serves her thick red stew to everyone in the community who knocks on her door after smelling its delicious scent. The stew is so popular that Omu gives it all away, saving none for herself. But then her kind, appreciative neighbors return with their own dishes, sweets, and gifts as a way to say ‘Thank you, Omu.’ ”

vital reminder of the difference a compassionate person can make within a community. The book is bighearted, joyous, generous, and completely absurd, like kindness itself.” —Brad Montague, author of The Circles All Around Us

18 “So much has separated us this year—literally and figuratively. Outside, Inside, by LeUyen Pham (ages 4 to 8), reminds us that kindness, generosity, and community never really went anywhere and likely never will. It’s an extraordinary book about an extraordinary time.” —Erin Entrada Kelly, author of Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey

19 “When the world seems a bit harsh, I like to reread Hope Was Here, by Joan Bauer (ages 12+). Hope and her aunt arrive in town a little broken themselves but end up helping to heal a diner full of people using empathy, humor, and lots of great comfort food, which is a very powerful form of kindness. This book deserves its Newbery Honor.” —Sara Pennypacker, author of Pax and Pax, Journey Home

20 “I remember the barrage of questions my children had after we read Each Kindness, by Jacqueline Woodson (ages 5 to 8). The book helps children ponder the ripple effects of being unkind as well as the incredible reach an act of kindness has on everyone we encounter.” —Schele Williams, director of the revival of Disney’s Aida

—Varian Johnson, author of Playing the Cards You’re Dealt

“The book I love most about kindness is Can I Play Too?, by Mo Willems (ages 3 to 5). It teaches kids about accommodations in a way that is nuanced and fun, and it was great at helping my kiddo learn that even though we’re all different, we all belong. Plus, it’s freaking hilarious.” 13

—Justina Ireland, author of Ophie’s Ghosts

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17 “Kindness is beautiful to talk about but not always so easy to put into practice. I love, love, love The Spiffiest Giant in Town, by Julia Donaldson (ages 3 to 7), and the image it gives us of a scruffy giant making life better for everyone in his path. It’s a

21 “My daughters and I love everything about All Are Welcome, by Alexandra Penfold (ages 4 to 8), from the beautiful pictures depicting the kind of world we live in to the lyrical text that makes diversity and inclusion exciting. Also, it rhymes—something that, as far as I’m concerned, is key in a good children’s book.” —W. Kamau Bell, host of CNN’s United Shades of America

22 “The book The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need, by Stan and Jan Berenstain (ages 3 to 7), made my kids think

PROP STYLING BY KRISTINE TREVINO FOR BIG LEO. BOOK COVERS: COURTESY OF THE PUBLISHERS.

compassion for my fellow humans trying to make it through different walks of life.”

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about how being kind and helpful and giving to others can be fun as well as bring them joy and happiness too!” —Veronica Licea, registered nurse in Oakland, California, and Parents Kindness Hall of Fame 2020 honoree

23 “My grandchildren, Jude and Lucy, agree that Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo (ages 9 to 12), is an excellent read. We see a chain reaction of kindness that springs from the smallest actions, as 10-year-old Opal opens herself to the people and animals she meets in her new town. Opal’s journey is a powerful example of how being kind not only makes her more resilient but also brings joy to others around her.” —James R. Downing, M.D., president and CEO of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

24 “It is hard to think of a single significant character in Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott (ages 10+), who does not perform an act of kindness for another. I remember reading to my daughters for the first time the passage where Jo sells her precious hair to raise money for Marmee’s trip to take care of their father. I couldn’t get through it as I was choked up and crying, so moved by her kindness and sacrifice.” — Bob McKinnon, author of Three Little Engines and executive director of the Moving Up Media Lab

25 “Every year, I read A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens (ages 9+). Those three ghosts who visit Scrooge give him (and the reader) a wonderful gift: the ability to see into other lives. Empathy begins with the imagining of other lives. And empathy, when we act on it, becomes transformative kindness. The other great gift of this book is the idea that it is never too late to change.” —Kate DiCamillo, author of Flora & Ulysses

26 “The foundation of kindness is ensuring that everyone is seen, loved, and respected. I appreciate

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that You Hold Me Up, by Monique Gray Smith (ages 3 to 5), shows a loving indigenous family supporting each other.” —Special education teacher Juliana Urtubey, 2021 National Teacher of the Year

27 “The Little House, by Virginia Lee Burton (ages 0 to 3), mesmerized me when I was young. The ending, when someone knows where the house belongs (back in the country), how to get her there, and that she needs a family to live in her again, was an early and unforgotten lesson in kindness.” —Ann M. Martin, author of The Baby-Sitters Club series

valuable, not just to young people but to all!” —Misty Copeland, principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and author of Black Ballerinas

31 “An Emotion of Great Delight, by Tahereh Mafi (ages 13+), is a compelling, poetic book that follows Shadi, a girl whose name means ‘joy’ but who struggles to claim that emotion for herself. The book shows Shadi’s realization that acknowledging and allowing oneself to feel joy is an act of deep self-love and self-kindness—a lesson that I needed as a kid and that I’ve finally learned as an adult.”

Help them develop a kinder and more constructive self-critic.

28 “If there’s any book that serves as a totem for kindness, it has to be Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems, by Eloise Greenfield (ages 4 to 8). To be clear, it isn’t even necessarily about being kind—at least, not explicitly—but instead is a collection of beautiful poems about the joys found in life’s simple moments. And through examining those moments, Greenfield reminds us to be kind to our families and friends, but mostly to be kind to ourselves. This book is a hug.”

BOOK COVERS: COURTESY OF THE PUBLISHERS.

—Jason Reynolds, author of Stuntboy, in the Meantime

29 “Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You, by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor (ages 4 to 8), is a beautiful story about understanding differences and celebrating what makes us unique.” —Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education

30 “With even the simplest of phrases in I Am Enough, by Grace Byers (ages 4 to 8), so much can be learned and taught. The beauty of an open mind and heart is incredibly

—Tess Holliday, model and blogger

35 “In Always Anjali, by Sheetal Sheth (ages 3 to 9), we learn that often the thing that makes us different and feel like an outsider is the same thing that makes us unique and special.” —Aasif Mandvi, star of Evil on Paramount+ and This Way Up on Hulu

32 “I loved reading Corduroy, by Don Freeman (ages 2 to 5), to my daughter. The message of the story is that everyone, missing buttons and all, has inherent value. You don’t need to be perfect to be cherished.”

33 “When I read Sweety, by Andrea Zuill (ages 3 to 7), to my girls, they felt such empathy for this little mushroom-loving, head-gear-adorned mole who didn’t change no matter how different she was from others. Deeply funny and ultimately a love story, Sweety shows us that our uniqueness makes us great.” —Jenna Bush Hager, cohost of Today With Hoda & Jenna and founder of the book club Read With Jenna

34 “My son Bowie has memorized The Weird Mother, by Nicole Sloan (ages 2 to 6), and reads it to me. It shows that

Lay the Foundation Introduce kids to the very basics of kindness.

39 “I read What a Wonderful World, by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss (ages 2 to 6), to my son Crew: ‘I see friends shaking hands, saying, “How do you do?” They’re really saying, “I love you.” ’ A smile, a kind look, or a hug is the beauty right in front of us.” —Joanna Gaines, cohost of Fixer Upper: Welcome Home and cofounder of Magnolia Network

—Sabaa Tahir, author of the An Ember in the Ashes series and the forthcoming novel All My Rage

—Padma Lakshmi, Top Chef host and author of Tomatoes for Neela

Coach Kids to Love Themselves

moms all look different, but the love they have for their little ones is the same. My favorite line in the book is: ‘I don’t always have to be happy or tough. I can just be me, and that is more than enough.’ ”

36 “I love The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be, by Joanna Gaines (ages 4 to 8). It focuses on celebrating differences and the importance of acceptance and empathy.”

40 “My parents read me The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein (ages 4 to 8), which we then bought when we had our first baby. Kindness and thankfulness are the two tools everybody needs to function. They’re ultimately more important than happiness, which is superficial.” —Chip Gaines, cohost of Fixer Upper: Welcome Home and cofounder of Magnolia Network

—TikTok influencer Nabela Noor, author of Beautifully Me

37 “Often we teach kids to be kind to others, which is very important, but it’s also important to be kind to yourself. Sulwe, by Lupita Nyong’o (ages 4 to 8), focuses on knowing that what makes you different from others also makes you beautiful.” —Actor Danielle Brooks, star of the forthcoming Peacemaker series for HBO Max

RAISING THE FUTURE BOOK CLUB

“The kindness that Kabir and Rani in Born Behind Bars, by Padma Venkatraman (ages 10+), show each other creates a bond that is unbreakable. The book reminds me of the power that showing kindness to a stranger can have on developing a friendship.” 38

—Parents advisor Colby Sharp, fifth-grade teacher and cofounder of the Nerdy Book Club Watch @Parents Instagram Live on November 7 at 2 P.M. (ET). Sharp and Venkatraman will discuss the book and take questions.

41 “As an adult, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, by Dr. Seuss (all ages), inspired me to have an open mind about the ups and downs of life and to always be looking to the horizon with excitement and wonder. I read it to my kids all the time, and they have loved memorizing certain lines and offering them as inspiration when things get tough in their lives.” —Blake Mycoskie, founder of Toms shoes

42 “Since being kind really does give us superpowers, Kindness Rules!, by Eunice and Sabrina Moyle (ages 0 to 3), featuring a whimsical elephant wearing a superhero cape, is so fun! Kids can start early with practical lessons in kindness through the colorful characters. At the same time, even as an adult, when I hear the timeless wisdom of minding my ‘magic manners,’ I’m reminded of being the kind of grown-up I want to be too.” —Adrienne Bankert, author of Your Hidden Superpower: The Kindness That Makes You Unbeatable at Work and Connects You With Anyone

S P E C I A LÑK i n d n e s s i n 2 0 2 1

human tragedy of war. Taken from the perspective of a single soldier, deep in a trench of his own digging, he describes his enemy to us in the deceitful and fantastical terms that have been handed down to him. We watch as this soldier slowly comes to terms with the realization that he doesn’t really want to be fighting in the first place, nor does he even understand why he is. This simple book cuts to the heart of humanity, present everywhere, that is more consistently desirable than power and glory anywhere.”

43 “I always say, ‘If you see someone without a smile, give them yours!’ That’s why I love this precious book, Pass It On, by Sophy Henn (ages 3 to 7), selected for my Imagination Library [a book-gifting program], about sharing your kindness, joy, and love with the world.”

—Oliver Jeffers, author of There’s a Ghost in This House

—Singer-songwriter Dolly Parton

44 “In Shubert’s Helpful Day, by Dr. Becky A. Bailey (ages 4 to 8), students, who are insects, discover the kindness and helpfulness that exist in each of us.”

45 “I remember the day my mother brought home Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, by John Steptoe (ages 4 to 8). I was in awe of the gorgeous artwork, but above all things, it was such a wonderful African fairy tale about kindness, compassion, and honesty. I still own my copy and had it signed by his daughter.” —Tiffany D. Jackson, author of Santa in the City

46 “The Sneetches and Other Stories, by Dr. Seuss (ages 5 to 9), makes the point, in a lovely way, that if we started scrambling up our ideas of who is outwardly different or what surface characteristics are desirable, we would quickly lose track of who’s who and just extend the same kindness to all. It makes it clear how silly it ultimately is to judge anyone by their appearance.” —Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay It Forward

47 “I remember sitting on my grandma’s lap as she read The Little Engine That Could, by Watty Piper (ages 0 to 3). ‘I think I can, I think I can ... ’ I can still hear her voice. I was so struck by the perseverance, confidence, kindness, thoughtfulness, and empathy of that little engine!” —Laura Vaccaro Seeger, author of Red and Why?

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Help Kids Be Better Friends Encourage them to take a page from the buddies in these stories.

and world peace—and makes it small and understandable to even the youngest child. Perkins takes something small—the friendship between a lonely girl and her mail carrier—and makes it big. Both are subtle; neither is preachy; both are perfection.” —Kevin Henkes, author of A House

48 “The Mouse Scouts series, by Sarah Dillard (ages 7 to 10), helped my daughter think of others, try to be a better friend, and enjoy reading. The books are modeled after the Girl Scouts, so there are lessons about friendship and volunteering. Because the characters are mice and the stories are fun, my daughter embraced it enthusiastically.” —Grace Lin, author of A Big Mooncake for Little Star

49 and 50 “Two of my favorite books about kindness are Natural History, by M. B. Goffstein (ages 4 to 7), and Home Lovely, by Lynne Rae Perkins (ages 4 to 8). Goffstein takes something large—love

51 “My children loved all the Frog and Toad books, but Frog and Toad All Year, by Arnold Lobel (ages 4 to 8), was our favorite. Lobel perfectly captures the frustrations and joys that come with true friendship. All pals have to work through their differences from time to time, and Frog and Toad have a lot to teach us about patience and empathy.” —Katherine Applegate, author of The One and Only Ivan

52 “I love reading Some Dog!, by Mary Casanova (ages 3 to 6), to my grandchildren. It’s a wonderful tale of two different personalities who are there for each other when they both need it most.” —U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, author of Pinkie Promises

53 “Succinct in art and sparse in words, The Enemy, by Davide Cali and Serge Bloch (ages 4 to 8), is perhaps the most impactful publication in print about the

54 “My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay, by Cari Best (ages 4 to 8), has subtle and meaningful messages about friendship, diversity, and inclusive spaces. Friends work together, with the assistance of caring adults, to help Zulay, a Black girl who is blind, run a race on Field Day. There are times when Zulay needs help, and there are times when she gives help—a reminder that everyone has something to offer.” —Renée Watson, author of Ways to Grow Love

55 “One of my family’s favorite read-alouds is The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo (ages 7 to 10). Edward, a china rabbit, was a gift to Abilene from her grandmother. Abilene loves Edward with all her heart, while he thinks only about himself. This story follows Edward on his journey to discovering how unconditional love is the greatest gift of all.” —Parents advisor Traci Baxley, Ed.D., associate professor at Florida Atlantic University and author of Social Justice Parenting (Read an excerpt from Dr. Baxley’s book on page 42 of this issue.)

GIRL READING: PRISCILLA GRAGG. BOOK COVERS, THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE: COURTESY OF THE PUBLISHERS.

—Tabatha Rosproy, 2020 National Teacher of the Year

Teach Them Understanding Let kids know that respecting people’s feelings is an essential way to show humanity. 56 “I remember what it was like to go to school with different hair and different food for lunch. The first time I read The Day You Begin, by Jacqueline Woodson (ages 5 to 8), to my kids, I choked up knowing that their experiences have already been much more welcoming than mine were.” —Jessica Malaty Rivera, research fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital

57 “The Bible is the ultimate book. I read three verses a night to my daughter. She’ll hopefully learn the right type of kindness from that.”

easily to everyone else. It shows the kindness we’re all capable of and that it can often come from the most unexpected places. It’s one of my 6-year-old son’s and my all-time favorites.” —Zibby Owens, host of the Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books podcast

60 “There are so many books with plucky, confident protagonists. Me and My Fear, by Francesca Sanna (ages 3 to 7), is great for the introverts or those working through feelings of anxiety or fear. As a firstgeneration American who often felt shy, I wish this book, which focuses on a recent immigrant, had been around when I was a child.” —Eva Chen, director of fashion partnerships at Instagram and author of the Juno Valentine series

58 “My wife and I read The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick (ages 9 to 12), to our children when they were growing up. This wonderful book is a lesson in compassion.”

59 “Little Elliot, Big City, by Mike Curato (ages 4 to 8), gives families a way to view the world from a different perspective—of a tiny elephant who struggles to do things that seem to come

The esteemed judges of the America’s Kindest Families Contest (page 144) suggest their faves.

63 “The first time I saw an African American kid in a children’s book, The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats (ages 0 to 5), I was in second grade. Looking back, I realize how important it is to see people who look like you in books, on TV, and in movies.” —Al Roker, cohost, 3rd Hour of Today

—Tennis star Serena Williams

—Former Congressman Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania

PICKS FROM OUR PANELISTS

61 “Every time I read Life Doesn’t Frighten Me, by Maya Angelou (ages 4+), I find so much inspiration. It’s especially great for kids who are struggling with being afraid.” —Todd Parr, author of The Kindness Book

64 “As a child, I loved A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett (ages 8 to 12), for the fantasy of being a princess, but when I read it as an adult, I realized how much it’s about being kind. Whether you’re a princess or not, choose to be kind to those around you. Be confident in who you are, and be kind and respectful no matter what’s going on in your own world. It’s advice that was ingrained in me early on, and I think it’s such a good way to live your life.” —Dylan Dreyer, NBC News meteorologist and cohost, 3rd Hour of Today

The Story of Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf (ages 3 to 5), was a fan favorite. “In a loud world, Ferdinand helps us understand the power of gentleness,” says Glennon Doyle, host of the We Can Do Hard Things podcast. Adds actor Brady Smith, author of Louie and Bear in the Land of Anything Goes, “I love the message that just because someone is doing something, you don’t have to do it too. If you ask me, Ferdinand had it figured out pretty good.” 62

65 “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, by Charlie Mackesy (all ages), is a reminder that the lessons we teach children are just as applicable to adults.”

67 “When I first read It’s Okay to Be Different, by Todd Parr (ages 3 to 6), to my older son, I choked up as I read the line: ‘It’s okay to have big ears.’ In all my years of life with ears that stick out, I had somehow never heard that sentiment. My son has the same ears, but thanks to this book, he is fine with it! Plus, it has taught both my kids that differences are normal, and it’s never okay to tease.” —Julia Edelstein, editor-in-chief, Parents

68 “Empathy is the foundation of kindness. Whenever I read fairy tales to my girls, I ask them questions to push the idea of kindness: ‘Are the stepsisters being kind to Cinderella? How do you think she feels?” —Angela C. Santomero, creator of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

69 “Waiting for the Biblioburro, by Monica Brown (ages 5 to 8), is about a little girl who lives in a farming village. She’s inspired to dream big after a traveling librarian lends her a book and encourages her to write her own tale. Based on a real person, the librarian reminds us of all those teachers who help our children learn despite the odds.” —Grace Bastidas, editor-inchief, Parents Latina

—Actor Kristen Bell

66 “My eldest loved the book Stop Snoring, Bernard!, by Zachariah OHora (ages 4 to 7). Bernard snores so loudly he keeps the other otters awake at naptime, and Grumpy Giles tells Bernard to move his snoring somewhere else. I use it to talk about how you have to be kind to each other. Bernard’s family missed him so much they accepted his flaws.”

70 “The first book that my son, Delano, enjoyed every time I read it, Little Blue Truck, by Alice Schertle (ages 0 to 3), is ultimately a story about the importance of kindness. Hearing and seeing Dad moo, oink, quack, neigh, and beep never got old for him or me.”

—Sheinelle Jones, cohost, 3rd Hour of Today

—Craig Melvin, cohost, 3rd Hour of Today

K I D S Ñ Pe t s

Animal House!

Evan, 8, hugs it out with his cat Cosmo, 1. photograph by P R I S C I L L A G R A G G

I love Cosmo because he’s so sweet and playful. He wants to be around people all the time.

He sleeps on my bed with me. He snores! Then he wakes me up by rubbing his face on my face.

Other cats are scared to go outside, but Cosmo isn’t. He rolls around in the grass while I play soccer.

At Christmas, Cosmo likes getting kitty presents and batting at the ribbons.

Evan’s family adopted Cosmo through Love All Pawz Rescue.

We also have two dogs, four lizards, and another cat. Cosmo is the newest member of the pack! PA R E N T S

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WARDROBE STYLING BY LISA MOIR. GROOMING BY TRICIA TURNER. PROPS AND SET BY ALEXANDRA KASTNER. ON EVAN: TOP, MANUELL & FRANK. PANTS, CREWCUTS. SHOES, ZARA.

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Welcome to the 16th annual Toy Insider holiday gift guide, featuring the best toys, games, and gifts for every kid on your holiday shopping list! Toys provide families with so much happiness all year long, and we’ve hand-picked LOTS of great items that offer fun, are packed with play value, and even help kids build key developmental skills. Co-Publishers Laurie Schacht and Jackie Breyer Our legendary Hot 20 list Co-Editors Ali Mierzejewski and Marissa Silva features the hottest toys of the year that are sure to sell out, so grab them while you can! Plus, we’ve highlighted some of our favorite toys that teach important STEM concepts in our STEM 10 list. And, we know how important it is to stick to a budget, and our 12 Under $20 list of budget-friendly favorites includes some of the hottest toys of the year that offer tons of fun at a great price. At the Toy Insider, we eat, sleep, and breathe toys. We are dedicated to making sure you choose the right toys for your kids and family to bring smiles during a time when we really need some fun in our lives. Be sure to come visit us online at thetoyinsider.com to ﬁnd even more amazing toys, games, and the latest in kids’ entertainment!

ENTER TO WIN A ROOM FULL OF TOYS! FULFILLED BY VTECH & LEAPFROG One lucky winner will win a ROOM FULL of VTech and LeapFrog toys in our annual Toy Insider Holiday Sweepstakes. Three lucky runners-up will also receive great prizes valued at more than $250. Scan the QR code or visit thetoyinsider.com/ti-sweeps-21 to enter to win this epic giveaway, and while you’re there, sign up for our weekly e-newsletter, the Toy Insider Playlist, so you can stay up to date on the latest toy news! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. “Room Full of Toys” Sweepstakes. Sponsored by The Toy Insider LLC, fulﬁlled by VTech Electronics. Enter between 12:01 am (ET) Sept. 22, 2021 and 11:59 pm (ET) Dec. 3, 2021. Visit thetoyinsider.com/ti-sweeps-21, and complete and submit the entry form pursuant to the on-screen instructions. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of the 50 United States, ages 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law. For complete rules go to thetoyinsider.com/ti-sweeps-21

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AGES 0-2

Our Toy Insider panel of experts selected these toys as some of the hottest for the holiday season. Whether they’re based on kids’ favorite characters, selling out in stores, or just a whole lot of fun, these toys will be at the top of many kids’ wish lists. Every kid has different needs and passions, so be sure to consider each age segment and visit our website, thetoyinsider.com, for even more great holiday toys and gifts for kids of all ages.

CHOPPIN’ FUN LEARNING POT, 1+ Kids can prepare pretend meals with snap-apart veggies, a play knife, and a cutting board. The pot includes five interactive recipes, teaches kids numbers and colors, and doubles as storage for all of the pieces. LEAPFROG, leapfrog.com

FISHER-PRICE 4-IN-1 ULTIMATE LEARNING BOT, 6 MOS+ Babies can explore four individual bots — with features including spinning eyes and popping balls — or combine them into one larger interactive bot. The bot features music, lights, and Smart Stages learning technology. MATTEL, mattel.com

FLYBAR BUMPER CAR, 18 MOS+ Toddlers can zip around the house and race, chase, spin, and bump while they steer with the easy-to-use joysticks. The car performs 360-degree turns, includes flashing LED Lights, and reaches a maximum speed of 1 mph. Supports kids up to 66 pounds. FLYBAR, flybar.com

LITTLE TIKES LEARN & PLAY 2-IN-1 ACTIVITY TUNNEL, 1+ Kids can crawl through the fabric tunnel, play peekaboo through the side windows, drop five colorful balls through the two drop towers, and more with this activity center. The play tunnel collapses for easy storage. MGA ENTERTAINMENT, mgae.com

AGES 3-4

BATMAN BAT-TECH TRANSFORMING BATCAVE, 4+ Transform this 30-inch Batman figure into a playset with more than 10 different play areas. The set features interactive sounds activated by the elevator that moves throughout the levels. It’s compatible with 4-inch figures and includes an exclusive Batman figure. SPIN MASTER, spinmaster.com

BLUE’S CLUES & YOU! COOK-ALONG PLAY KITCHEN SET, 3+ Kids can cook up fun with this interactive, role-play kitchen. The kitchen features a recipe notebook, 19 play accessories, and realistic sounds inspired by the Nickelodeon series. JUST PLAY, justplayproducts.com

COCOMELON DELUXE INTERACTIVE JJ DOLL, 3+ JJ, the star of CoComelon, comes dressed in his favorite outfit. Kids can feed him peas and watch him giggle and sing some of his favorite songs, including “Your Name” and “Yes, Yes, Vegetables.” JAZWARES, jazwares.com

DISNEY PRINCESS ULTIMATE CELEBRATION CASTLE, 3+ Standing 4 feet tall with its classic silhouette, this magical dollhouse features three stories, six rooms, 29 accessories, and a light-up window that displays fireworks and plays music. Dolls are sold separately. HASBRO, shop.hasbro.com

GABBY’S PURRFECT DOLLHOUSE, 3+ At more than 2 feet tall and with four floors of play, this playset is just like the one from Gabby’s Dollhouse. Discover fun music and sounds, a dollhouse delivery system, and three accessories. SPIN MASTER, spinmaster.com

RYAN’S WORLD LOST CITY ADVENTURES — MEGA ADVENTURE CHEST, 3+ This chest combines the ultimate unboxing experience with new surprises to turn Ryan’s World fans into junior explorers. Includes Lost City-themed figures, a 6-inch golden figure, micro figures, adventure gear, and more. BONKERS TOYS, bonkerstoys.com

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AGES 5-7

GOT2GLOW FAIRY FINDER, 5+ Kids can find more than 30 unique, virtual fairies in each Got2Glow Fairy Finder. Search around the house, outside, in the dark, or even upside down. Trade fairies with friends, feed them, and more. Collect all three jars to discover more than 100 fairies in all. WOWWEE, wowwee.com

KIDIZOOM PRINTCAM, 4+ Click and print instantly with this kid-friendly camera. Flip up the lens to take selfies, preview images on the 2.4-inch color screen, browse more than 110 templates, and more. Includes parent controls for safe photo fun. VTECH, vtechkids.com

LOL SURPRISE OMG HOUSE OF SURPRISES, 4+ LOL Surprise and OMG fashion dolls both have a new home in this 4-foot, wooden dollhouse. Features 10 rooms, transforming furniture, lights, an elevator, a pool, a garage, and more. Dolls sold separately. MGA ENTERTAINMENT, mgae.com

MAGIC MIXIES MAGIC CAULDRON, 5+ Magic Mixies includes a cauldron, a magic wand, and potion ingredients that kids use in an interactive experience to reveal a surprise magical creature that responds to touch, lights up, and may even grant wishes. MOOSE TOYS, moosetoys.com

POKÉMON TRADING CARD GAME: CELEBRATIONS ELITE TRAINER BOX, 6+ Celebrate Pokémon’s 25th anniversary with this Elite Trainer Box that has everything trainers need to play and collect Pokémon TCG, including 10 Celebrations four-card booster packs and 25 close remakes of iconic Pokémon cards. THE POKÉMON CO. INTERNATIONAL, pokemon.com

POP IT XL, 3+ Three times bigger than the original Pop It, this selfcontained sensory toy has no pieces or parts. Kids can pop the bubbles, then flip it over to pop some more. It’s perfect for relieving stress and anxiety. BUFFALO GAMES, chuckleandroar.com

SQUISHMALLOWS FOOD SQUAD, 0+ The Squishmallows squad expands with a collection of foodie-inspired characters. Choose from food and drinks, including Carmelita the S’more, Bernardo the Burrito, and more in sizes that range from 3.5-24 inches. JAZWARES, jazwares.com

AGES 8+

Don't forget to enter to win our Room Full of Toys giveaway! Enter for your chance to win more than $1,000 worth of toys from VTech and LeapFrog. BEYBLADE BURST SPEEDSTORM MOTOR STRIKE BATTLE SET, 8+ This is the first motorized Beystadium in the Beyblade Burst line. The center of the battle arena features a spinning Motor Vortex designed to redirect the battle and give tops an energy boost. HASBRO, shop.hasbro.com

TAMAGOTCHI PIX, 6+ Thanks to the built-in camera, kids can take pictures with their virtual pet and experience new interactions, including cooking for their pet, having food delivered, and meeting other real-world Tamagotchi friends. BANDAI AMERICA, bandai.com

*The Toy Insider, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com; the Rakuten Marketing program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to walmart.com; and the Target Affiliates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to target.com.

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AKEDO ULTIMATE BATTLE ARENA, 6+ Battle collectible Akedo Ultimate Warrior figures in this arcade-inspired, electronic arena. Includes two exclusive Legendary Warrior figures, two battle controllers, more than 35 sound effects, two interchangeable backdrops, and a punching bag training accessory. MOOSE TOYS, moosetoys.com

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These top toys offer tons of play value without breaking the bank. From fidgets to collectibles, these toys are a fit for any budget.

5 SURPRISE MINI BRANDS SERIES 3, 4+ The third series of 5 Surprise Mini Brands brings 100 new iconic shopping brands to miniature form. Every aspect of brands like Wholly Guacamole, PEZ, and ICEE Cups is replicated perfectly to scale. ZURU, zuru.com

CARE BEARS CUTETITOS, 3+ Kids can unwrap six Care Bearitos (sold separately), each with an adorable look and a wrap featuring the bear’s iconic belly badge. Kids can discover each Care Bearito’s “Care Spot” personality. BASIC FUN!, basicfun.com

CATS VS. PICKLES BEAN-FILLED JUMBOS, 4+ These 8.6-inch, jumbo-sized versions of the popular beanfilled plush based on the viral social media sensation, Cats vs. Pickles, are super-soft and weighted. Available in new designs like Astrocat, Skelecat, and Catalina. CEPIA, catsvpickles.com

COMPOUND KINGS 5 STACK DONUT, 4+ Create custom slime compounds with this five-stack scented slime pack. Includes two colors of slime in different textures, shiny Tinselz, mix-ins, and charms. WECOOL TOYS, wecooltoys.com

CRYSTALINA, 4+ Each of the four characters embodies a crystal element and aura, which passes back and forth between the doll and included amulet in the form of LED light patterns. Kids can also wear the amulet. SKYROCKET TOYS, skyrocketon.com

DIMPL POPS, 3+ Built into the strong, high-quality plastic frame are 18 Dimpl bubbles in two different sizes for kids to push, poke, and pop. Kids will be curiously satisfied by the squishy silicone fun. FAT BRAIN TOYS, fatbraintoys.com

KOOSH MONDO, 3+ The original Koosh ball is back, and big! The tactile, easyto-catch, colorful ball is great for play inside or outside. Available in bright colors, it’s the perfect fidget toy. PLAYMONSTER, playmonster.com

MY SQUISHY LITTLE DUMPLINGS, 5+ Squish and pull these little dumplings that are perfect for active hands. Squeeze their cheeks to pop out their unique personalities, with more than 50 possible reactions. Watch them light up and make sounds. WOWWEE, wowwee.com

NEEDOH, 3+ With more than 56 million views on TikTok, this line includes more than five versions of the super-soft, stretchy fidget toy. Styles include Classic, Super, Teeny, Color Change, and more. SCHYLLING, schylling.com

NICKELODEON CRA-Z-SAND BUCKET, 4+ This moldable compound features the texture and granular pouring action of sand. Kids can stretch, mold, slice, and watch it flow through their hands. CRA-Z-ART, cra-z-art.com

POM POPS, 3+ There are three themes to unbox: Unicorn, Llama, and Mermaid. Each set includes 1,000 pompoms, five themed toy surprises, a DIY keychain and hair accessory, glue, tweezers, an activity booklet, and four cutouts. SUNNY DAYS ENTERTAINMENT, sunnydaysent.com

TREASURE X MONSTER COFFIN, 4+ Each monster comes encased in a coffin and is covered with a stretchy compound. Pour water over the wrap to watch it dissolve and reveal the monster. Collect six styles, each with mix-and-match body parts. MOOSE TOYS, moosetoys.com

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Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts are vital to kids’ learning development. From the basics of coding and robotics to engineering and Earth science, the following STEM toys give kids the tools they need for success in the modern world. ADA TWIST, SCIENTIST ON-THE-GO LAB SET, 3+ Inspired by the book and Netflix series, Ada Twist, Scientist, this portable science lab includes test tubes, experiment cards, and more. Kids can personalize the case with included stickers and record findings on the included notepad. JUST PLAY, justplayproducts.com ARTIE MAX, 8+ Kids can have an immersive STEM experience as they create a variety of designs by plugging in code for Artie Max to draw with three colored pens. It features secure, private WiFi; a light-up mouth; LED eyes; emotive sounds; and edge detection. EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS, educationalinsights.com CANDY CLAW MACHINE, 6+ Build a working model of the classic arcade game. Learn how the gears, levers, belt, screws, hydraulics, linkages, cranks, and claws work together to pick up, move, and drop prizes. Includes 10 lollipops and decoys to grab. THAMES & KOSMOS, thamesandkosmos.com

CODING CRITTERS MAGICODERS, 4+ Kids can learn STEM skills through 100% screen-free storybook coding adventures with these interactive pets. Each playset includes a magic wand programmer and spellbook that kids can use to make the pets dance, light up, and move. LEARNING RESOURCES, learningresources.com

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CRAYOLA PAPER BUTTERFLIES SCIENCE KIT, 7+ Create paper butterflies while learning about capillary action. Kids can watch as the colorful inks are absorbed into the wings. This kit features step-bystep instructions and enough materials to make 12 wicking paper butterflies. CRAYOLA, crayola.com

GAME BUILDER GARAGE, 8+ Learn the basics of video game design and visual programming in this game that offers step-by-step lessons to help kids create and share their own video games. Compatible with the Nintendo Switch family of systems. NINTENDO, nintendo.com

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 100-PIECE MAKEWAY MAGNETIC MARBLE RUN, 8+ Turn any magnetic surface into a marble run racetrack with this 100-piece, vertical-mount construction set. Includes a detailed marble run guide with track-building puzzles and challenges. BLUE MARBLE, thinkbluemarble.com OSMO MATH WIZARD AND THE AMAZING AIRSHIPS AND OSMO MATH WIZARD AND THE ENCHANTED WORLD GAMES, 6+ With these games (sold separately), kids must solve problems using various math skills and the included materials. Osmo base and tablet device not included. OSMO, playosmo.com THE YOUNG SCIENTISTS CLUB FUTURE VETERINARIAN, 5+ From X-rays of exotic animals and household pets to encouraging empathy and learning how to care for animals, this set features more than 10 activities to spark an interest in becoming a veterinarian. HORIZON GROUP USA, horizongroupusa.com

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HEXMODS PRO SERIES ELITE RACEWAY, 14+ This set comes with a hobbygrade, R/C tuner car chassis with thousands of mod combinations, including hoods, bumpers, an LED underglow, and more. Kids can build a track configuration with more than 20 feet of connectable barrier and race up to 18 mph. HEXBUG, hexbug.com

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AGES

0-2

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Infants & Toddlers Every day is a new adventure for babies and toddlers, who amaze their parents with their continuous growth and development. For this age range, choose items that stimulate their minds, bodies, and all five senses. Toys that play songs and allow kids to make their own music are big hits with little ones, as are ride-ons and toys that encourage babies to crawl or walk. Seek out toys that offer experimentation with colors, shapes, sounds, and textures. Provide opportunities for hand-eye coordination, motor skills, language recognition, and nurturing. Toys that grow with kids are a plus.

25TH ANNIVERSARY TICKLIEST TICKLE ME ELMO, 18 MOS+ Based on the iconic Tickle Me Elmo toy from the ’90s, the more kids tickle Elmo, the more he laughs. As kids reach to tickle him, he giggles and kicks his legs in anticipation. HASBRO, shop.hasbro.com

BLUE’S CLUES & YOU! WOODEN RAINBOW STACKING PUZZLE, 18 MOS+ Piece together Blue’s world with this chunky stacking puzzle, which features a wooden puzzle board that holds six rainbow pieces and Blue, Magenta, and Blue’s House. MELISSA & DOUG, melissaanddoug.com

CLASSIC PUSH & PLAY WALKER, 1+ Safety Resist Clickers provide resistance when kids push the wagon to keep it steady for early walkers. Toddlers build confidence and balance, while engaging with sensory activities such as interlocking gears, textured shapes, and more. RADIO FLYER, radioflyer.com

COCOMELON SING-ALONG BOOMBOX, 18 MOS+ Kids can sing along to built-in songs with a real, working microphone, and activate fun speech and sound effects. The face and buttons on the boombox light up as kids play. Plays “Wheels on the Bus” and other CoComelon songs. EKIDS, ekids.com

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COLORFUL & SENSORY STATION, 6 MOS+ This activity table comes with seven interactive features, including 1-2-3 buttons, a butterfly book, a light-up piano, a ball drop, and more. Features music, lights, and educational elements to encourage motor skill and sensory development. BATTAT, mybtoys.com COUNT-ALONG BASKET AND SCANNER, 2+ This interactive set includes play food, shopping lists, and an interactive scanner that recognizes the food pieces. Kids can enjoy three play modes with different activities that span numbers, colors, shapes, and more. LEAPFROG, leapfrog.com

FISHER-PRICE LITTLE PEOPLE FRIENDS TOGETHER PLAY HOUSE, 1+ This interactive playset includes three Little People best friends figures, accessories, and features like a patio, a pool, and a tree swing. As kids play and interact with the house, they will hear educational content. MATTEL, mattel.com GREEN TOYS DISNEY BABY TRUCKS, 6 MOS+ These trucks are made from 100% recycled plastic and feature mouse-shaped designs and a Mickey Mouse driver. They are available in Mickey Mouse Dump Truck or Recycling Truck styles. Each truck is sold separately. GREEN TOYS, greentoys.com

JOHN DEERE PRESCHOOL JOHNNY TRACTOR RIDE ON, 12 MOS+ This happy tractor provides ride-on fun for little ones. Kids can turn the key for farm noises, press the blinkers for lights, and even use the included screwdriver for takeapart play. TOMY, us.tomy.com

KID TRAX RIDEAMALS SNACK TIME BLUE, 18 MOS+ Kids can ride, pet, or share a snack with the star of Blue’s Clues and You! This interactive ride-on features 20 sounds, comes with food accessories, and has a top speed of 1.5 mph. Also available in Magenta (sold separately). KID TRAX, kidtraxtoys.com

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LEGO DUPLO CREATIVE PLAY NUMBER TRAIN — LEARN TO COUNT, 18 MOS+ Toddlers can load and unload the number bricks, line them up in the correct order, and stack them together into a number wall. The train set features moving wheels, an opening roof, and multiple LEGO Duplo figures. THE LEGO GROUP, lego.com MAGICUBE SHAPES WHEELS, 1+ This set adds three new shapes: the half cube, the quarter circle, and the half sphere. Kids can invent characters, animals, structures, and vehicles with real wheels. They are made of 100% recycled plastic. GEOMAGWORLD USA, geomagworld.com MINNIE MOUSE 6V MOBILE BAKERY RIDE-ON, 18 MOS+ This battery-operated ride-on features Minnie Mouse graphics and a pink-and-white, polka-dot design. An easy-to-use, heartshaped foot pedal also turns on the front headlights. The front compartment opens like a small oven and contains two removable toy cupcakes. DYNACRAFT, dynacraftwheels.com ROCK ‘N ROLLER PIANO, 10 MOS+ Little ones can use the included mallet for melodymaking fun as they create their own tunes on this colorful piano. They can also flip to the other side and spin the wheels for more fine motor play. FAT BRAIN TOYS, fatbraintoys.com

SORT & RECYCLE RIDE-ON TRUCK, 18 MOS+ Made from 90% reclaimed plastic, little ones can hop on this ride-on truck and learn about recycling and reusing everyday objects. They can sort pieces that represent plastic, metal, and paper into the correct bin and take quizzes that reinforce learning. VTECH, vtechkids.com TOOMIES JURASSIC WORLD TODDLER LINE, 12 MOS+ This Jurassic World-inspired line features toys that are perfect for budding paleontologists. Includes Chase & Roll Raptors, a Dino Rescue Ranger, Spin & Hatch Dino Eggs, and a Pic & Push T. rex. Sold separately. TOMY, us.tomy.com

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AGES

3-4 Preschool

ADOPTION DAY BABY, 3+ Kids can learn about the adoption process with this assortment of 14-inch baby dolls. Each doll includes an adoption certificate, a hospital wristband, a blanket, a pacifier, and a disposable diaper. The included cradle becomes a changing table. MADAME ALEXANDER DOLL CO., madamealexander.com

ANIMAL PLANET WILD RESCUE CENTER, 2+ The treehouse playset features lights, sounds, and movable pieces. Kids can use the examination chair, stethoscope, and magnifying glass to take care of the animals. It clips together and has a carry handle. DISCOVERY INC., animalplanet.com

BABY ALIVE LULU ACHOO ASSORTMENT, 3+ This 12-inch interactive doll sneezes, makes sounds, and lights up red when she is not feeling well. When kids take care of her using the check-up accessories, she responds with more than 50 reactions and giggles when she is feeling better. HASBRO, shop.hasbro.com

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Preschoolers are ready to take on a new type of play. Encourage imaginative and creative activities with role playing and pretend play. Provide opportunities for active play to exercise their bodies and spirit of adventure. Social and emotional skills are emerging in this age group, so music, arts and crafts, teamwork, and language skills are important to build self-esteem. Toys that teach vocabulary and social skills and give kids a sense of accomplishment are important. At this age, kids are likely to have favorite characters from movies and TV shows, and toys that feature these characters are always a hit.

ABCMOUSE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, 2+ Designed by education experts, this online learning platform features more than 11,000 learning activities in literacy, math, science, social studies, art, music, and more. Available on computers, tablets, and smartphones. ABCMOUSE, abcmouse.com

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BABY SHARK’S BIG SHOW SHARK HOUSE PLAYSET WITH LIGHTS AND SOUNDS, 3+ Discover Baby Shark’s kitchen, bedroom, and living room with this playset featuring more than 25 pieces. Sing along with Baby Shark’s karaoke machine and dance to the music under the included light-up disco ball. Encourages imaginative play. WOWWEE, wowwee.com BARBIE FAST CAST CLINIC PLAYSET, 4+ This set includes a Barbie doctor doll and four play areas: a medical station, an exam table, an X-ray machine, and a gift shop. Kids can use the cast-making feature and colored dough to make casts for their dolls. MATTEL, mattel.com

BIG! MAKE & GO! 70 PIECE, 3+ With the open-ended fun of this building toy, younger Plus-Plus fans can make a fire truck, a motorcycle, a farm truck, and more. It features new wheels and BIG Baseplates in three new colors. PLUS-PLUS, plusplususa.com

BLUE’S CLUES & YOU! CHECK UP TIME BLUE, 3+ Josh guides kids through giving this interactive plush a check-up with the included accessories. Kids can listen to Blue’s heartbeat, take her temperature, and give her medicine to help her feel better. JUST PLAY, justplayproducts.com

BLUEY’S CARAVAN ADVENTURES, 3+ Inspired by the “Camping” episode of the show Bluey, this set features a caravan with removable furniture and accessories — including a table, benches, and a fire pit — and an exclusive Jean Luc figure. MOOSE TOYS, moosetoys.com

BRIO MICKEY MOUSE DELUXE SET, 3+ Take Mickey Mouse and his friends on a railway adventure with Mickey-shaped tracks. Features the BRIO Mickey Mouse Record & Play Station and Mickey Mouse Battery Train, four character figures, 23 wooden track pieces, and more. BRIO, brio.us

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CALICO LAND BABY AMUSEMENT PARK, 3+ This interactive playset features four attractions, including a rocket ship launcher ride, a rocking pirate ship, baby go-karts, and a Ferris wheel. Comes with three Nursery Series Critters. EPOCH EVERLASTING PLAY, epocheverlastingplay.com

CHARACTER TONIES, 4+ These new character tonies are compatible with the Toniebox (sold separately) and give kids a screen-free digital listening experience that plays them stories, songs, and more. Choose from Disney’s Mickey Mouse, PAW Patrol’s Chase, and Sesame Street’s Elmo. tonies, us.tonies.com

CREATIVITY FOR KIDS SENSORY BINS, 3+ Each uniquely themed sensory bin is a self-contained, handson, tactical play experience that helps kids explore, learn, and create while engaging their senses. Themes include Outer Space, Ocean & Sand, Dinosaur Dig, and more. FABER-CASTELL, fabercastell.com CRY BABIES MAGIC TEARS STORYLAND STORY HOUSE SERIES, 3+ Kids can find the rainbow key to open the capsule to find one of seven fairytale-inspired Cry Babies characters, a pet, and 10 accessories, such as a fabric outfit and a baby bottle. IMC TOYS, imctoys.com

DESIGN & DRILL BOLT BUDDIES FIRST RESPONDERS, 3+ This line includes three vehicles inspired by frontline workers: a fire truck, a helicopter, and a police motorcycle (each sold separately). Snap the pieces together and use the kid-friendly drill to attach colorful bolts. Features eco-friendly packaging. EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS, educationalinsights.com DISNEY ENCHANTING MESSAGES MUSICAL VANITY, 3+ This musical vanity comes with five rings, a brush, a comb, and a tiara that activate affirmation phrases and sound effects throughout the vanity. It also plays the Ultimate Princess Celebration anthem. JAKKS PACIFIC, jakks.com

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DISNEY JUNIOR MICKEY MOUSE FUNHOUSE WACKY WHEELER DUMP TRUCK, 3+ This motorized dump truck features a nonremovable Mickey Mouse in the driver’s seat and an oversized dump bed and wheels. Press the buttons on the top to watch Mickey perform different stunts. JUST PLAY, justplayproducts.com FISHER-PRICE BOUNCETASTIC BOUNCE HOUSE, 3+ This bouncer comes fully assembled, inflates quickly, and includes 50 balls. It features a single entryway and mesh sidewalls for extra safety. Kids can develop hand-eye coordination and dexterity while they bounce. BESTWAY, bestwaycorp.us HEDGEHOG ROLL, 4+ Roll the fuzzy hedgehog ball across a field of sticky flowers, leaves, and pine cones. Players move their hedgehog one space forward for each item they pick up. Play cooperatively to outrun a wily fox, or race competitively. GAMEWRIGHT, gamewright.com

HONEY BEE ACRES BUZZBY FARM HOUSE, 3+ This three-story house features more than 50 pieces, including beds, a crib, living room and kitchen furniture, a toilet for the bathroom, a movable staircase, and more. Comes with Grandpa and Granddaughter figures. SUNNY DAYS ENTERTAINMENT, sunnydaysent.com HOUSE MONSTERS, 3+ Kids can meet the friendly monsters that live under their bed, in their closet, or elsewhere in their house. Munchy, Dizzy, Drowsy, Sudsy, Bumpy, and Fluffy are plush characters that come in habitat box playsets. LUKI LAB, lukilab.com

KID TRAX USPS MAIL DELIVERY TRUCK RIDE-ON, 3+ This kid-sized mail truck includes a mail slot, an opening rear door, working headlights, a horn, and an FM radio with an MP3 input. Features a 6V rechargeable battery and moves at a top speed of 2.5 mph. KID TRAX, kidtraxtoys.com

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KINETIC SAND SANDISFACTORY SET, 3+ Kids can use new tools and molds to make Kinetic Sand creations. Flow, mix, cut, and mold the sand with the included nine tools, two molds, and four colors of sand. SPIN MASTER, spinmaster.com

LALALOOPSY SILLY HAIR, 3+ These Lalaloopsy dolls have bendable hair that kids can style by curling, twisting, and straightening. Each doll comes with a brush, clips, hair beads, a styling chair, and a pet with a matching, bendable tail. MGA ENTERTAINMENT, mgae.com

LEAPLAND ADVENTURES, 3+ This plug-and-play learning video game includes an HDMI game stick, a USB power cable, and a wireless controller. Kids can run and jump through progressive, replayable levels to learn while having fun. No downloads or internet connection are required. LEAPFROG, leapfrog.com

LOVE & HUG 36-INCH BALLERINA DOLL, 3+ Dance and cuddle with this soft, plush ballerina rag doll. It features a pink tulle skirt and matching satin wrap ballet slippers, which kids can slip their feet into to make the doll move with them. PLAYTIME FUN, loveandhugdolls.com

MAGFORMERS CARNIVAL PLUS 48PC SET, 3+ This upgraded carnivalthemed set features new ride accessories and figures; a sturdy, crosshatch base to attach character figures; and hexagon clip-on panels that spin vertically and horizontally. MAGFORMERS, magformers.com

MARBLE RUSH ULTIMATE SET, 4+ Roll through challenges and stunts with this 145-piece, color-coded building set. Build up the set and then drop 10 marbles into action. Features a spinning Ferris wheel, ramps, fast tracks, and more. VTECH, vtechkids.com

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MINI COUNTRYMAN, 3+ This realistic Mini Countryman features working headlights, horn and engine sounds, folding mirrors, and a cup holder. It features added traction with rubber tire strips and a clear windshield for added safety. ROLLPLAY, rollplay.com

MY FUZZY FRIENDS, 4+ The extra-long arms and legs of these interactive pets grab onto kids’ arms for lots of hugs. Each pet moves its head to nuzzle like a real baby animal and features more than 50 sounds. SKYROCKET TOYS, skyrocketon.com

ON-THE-GO STORY PAL, 3+ Kids can enjoy more than 70 stories, poems, and lullabies with this portable, bunnyshaped player. Parents can record up to 10 minutes of custom audio. Includes a headphone jack and an autoshut-off timer. LEAPFROG, leapfrog.com

PANCAKE MONSTER, 3+ Players take turns placing a pancake card in the monster’s mouth and pressing the button. At random, the monster will pop, swallowing the players’ arm. The player who stacks all of their pancakes without getting bit wins. BLUE ORANGE GAMES, blueorangegames.com

PAW PATROL TABLETOP ART CENTER, 3+ Create alongside the PAW Patrol team with this portable tabletop easel. The set comes with a paper roll; a chalkboard; a magnetic, dry-erase surface; character magnets; markers; activity sheets; and more. MELISSA & DOUG, melissaanddoug.com

PAW PATROL ULTIMATE MOVIE TOWER, 3+ This 36-inch-tall PAW Patrol toy includes a transforming ramp, a vehicle launcher, a command center, a suit-up station, uniform storage, pup cubbies, a helipad, a pup elevator, and more. Features lights and sounds inspired by the movie. SPIN MASTER, spinmaster.com

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PEPPA’S ADVENTURES PEPPA’S FAMILY MOTORHOME, 3+ Kids can roll the motorhome in vehicle mode or convert it to a multilevel RV playset. Press the steering wheel to hear music and phrases from the Peppa Pig series. This set comes with Peppa, George, Mummy, and Daddy Pig figures and 15 accessories. HASBRO, shop.hasbro.com

POLLY POCKET RAINBOW FUNLAND THEME PARK PLAYSET, 3+ Kids will discover 25 surprises in this playset, which features a castle with seven play areas and three amusement park rides. The set also comes with micro Polly and Shani dolls and two unicorn figures. MATTEL, mattel.com

POP 2 PLAY 2-IN-1 KITCHEN AND NURSERY, 2+ This storable, pop-up playhouse can be assembled in less than five minutes and folds flat for easy storage. Made from Strongfold cardboard, it features a kitchen on one side and a nursery on the other. WOWWEE, wowwee.com

PLUGO FARM, 4+ Kids build and manage their dream farms digitally, while using real figures to compete in more than 500 on-screen challenges. Kids will practice problem-solving skills as they care for animals, grow produce, and help customers. PLAYSHIFU, playshifu.com

QUADRILLA SUPER SPIRALS, 4+ Kids can build this marble run using critical thinking and problem-solving skills, then watch the marbles race down the tracks. The marbles will play a tune down the xylophone rail and spin through colorful spirals. HAPE, hape.com

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PAWZ, THE CALMING PUP, 3+ Pawz encourages kids to bring awareness to their thoughts and feelings with auto-adjusting lights and three guided breathing patterns: square breath, fourby-four breath, and laddered breath. It also doubles as a night light. HAND2MIND, hand2mind.com

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RAINBOCORNS FAIRYCORNS, 3+ Seven new Rainbocorns join the Rainbocorn collection, including a rare Golden Hippocorn. Each features 10 surprises including a Magical Fairy glitter heart, new fairy wings, color-changing Rainbocorn poop, a BooBoocorn egg, and more. ZURU, zuru.com RAINBOW DREAMERS UNICORN MERMAID DOLLHOUSE, 3+ Kids can enjoy hours of imaginative play with this three-story, fantasy dollhouse that spans from the clouds to the oceans. The house stands nearly 4 feet tall and includes themed furniture, such as seashell chairs. KIDKRAFT, kidkraft.com RYAN’S WORLD CHEF RYAN’S FRIDGE SURPRISE, 3+ This fridge-inspired playset includes 15 surprise toys and play accessories, including compounds, mini-figures, a Ryan build-a-figure, and more. It features lights, sounds, and a dry-erase board. JUST PLAY, justplayproducts.com SCRIBBLE SCRUBBIES OCEAN PETS LAGOON PLAYSET, 3+ Kids can use the washable markers to add designs to the shark, octopus, whale, and clownfish pets. When they’re ready to redesign, they can use the kid-powered lagoon shower to clean their pets and color again. CRAYOLA, crayola.com SESAME STREET 3 IN 1 EDUCATIONAL GAMES, 3+ Kids can play color match, number match, and alphabet match games featuring iconic Sesame Street characters, including Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and more. MASTERPIECES INC., masterpiecesinc.com

SNAPSIES: SERIES 2, 3+ Snapsies: Series 2 features characters like French bulldogs, Alicorns (a mix of a Unicorn and a Pegasus), leopards, skunks, and koalas — each with distinct personalities, looks, and accessories that kids can customize for endless combinations. FUNKO, funko.com

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SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS — MY FRIEND SPIDEY FEATURE PLUSH, 3+ Kids can snuggle and squeeze this Spidey feature plush that includes more than 15 sound effects from the Disney Junior animated series, Spidey and His Amazing Friends. JAZWARES, jazwares.com

SQUISHVILLE, 0+ Kids can collect dozens of soft plush characters, vehicles, and environments with Squishville by Original Squishmallows. The range of “squish-panions” and their accessories brings the Squishmallows into a new scale of mini-collectibles. JAZWARES, jazwares.com

STEP2 STOP & GO MARKET, 3+ Kids can pull up to the market on their bikes or play cars and fill up on gas and pay the toll. This playset features a gas pump, a tollbooth, cones, a chalkboard, a working cash register, an umbrella, and wheels to move it easily. STEP2, step2.com

TREASURES AWAIT! ADVENTURE SHIP, 3+ Kids can live out their pirate adventures with this freerolling vessel. It comes with snap-in captain and first mate figures and features folddown stairs, a steering wheel, crow’s nests, and a detachable rowboat and treasure chest. LAKESHORE LEARNING, lakeshorelearning.com VIP PETS COLOR BOOST, 3+ With an all-new unboxing reveal, kids will discover a VIP Pet and nine surprises. There are 12 new characters to collect, each with 12 inches of vibrant hair that kids can color and style. IMC TOYS, imctoys.com

VLAD & NIKI SUPERHERO SURPRISE, 3+ With this complete unboxing experience, kids can bring the included comic book and story to life. Each features more than 20 surprises, including a mask and a cape, Super Hero Vlad and Niki figures, slime eggs, and more. ZURU, zuru.com

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AGES

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Grade School

Grade-schoolers are expanding their worlds into broad communities of schoolmates and teammates. They are enjoying new experiences as they explore their choices and enhance their abilities. Encourage them to seek out and pursue their passions. Toys and games can help develop an appreciation for science, the arts, strategic and mind-stimulating activities, and spending time with family and friends. Discovery begins to play a much larger role for this age group, and building sets and creative activity toys come into play. At this age, kids are ready to explore and create with their hands and minds.

3DOODLER START+ ESSENTIALS PEN SET, 6+ This easy-to-use 3D printing pen gives kids a unique, hands-on way to make art, design objects, and build things. The pen extrudes a special eco-plastic that quickly hardens and is completely safe to the touch. 3DOODLER, the3Doodler.com

AIRBRUSH PLUSH, 6+ Kids can design and create their own multicolored plush with the battery-powered airbrush gun and stick-on stencils. When they are ready for a new design, they can simply wash off the old one and start over. CANAL TOYS, canaltoys.com

B-KIND DOLLS, 6+ This eco-friendly doll line is made from recycled materials and promotes positive messages of kindness. There are five 12-inch dolls for kids to collect, and each character comes with a DIY activity that reflects her individual personality and passion. JADA TOYS, bkinddolls.com

CATS VS. PICKLES MYSTERY BAGS WAVE 2, 4+ Reveal more than 200 unique designs of collectible, 4-inch, bean-filled Cats. vs. Pickles plush. Based on a YouTube animated series and a hyper-casual app game, these collectible toys are super squishy. CEPIA, catsvpickles.com

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CHEER BEAR BUDDY, 5+ Spread cheer, kindness, and sunshine with this soft, furry Cheer Bear backpack. This Care Bears accessory measures 16 by 12 inches and features a zipper closure to safely hold kids’ items inside. ISCREAM, iscream-shop.com

CIRCUIT BLOX BUILD YOUR OWN BUBBLE MAKING MACHINE, 5+ Kids can create their own bubble-generating machine complete with 3D circuits using E-Blox brick pieces. Kids will build a circuit with a geared motor that spins a fan to blow bubbles using the included solution. E-BLOX, myeblox.com

CRAYOLA PAINT AND CREATE EASEL CASE, 4+ This dual-sided, portable art case makes it easy to keep supplies protected and organized on-the-go. Young artists can try new painting and coloring techniques with more than 65 pieces, including tools, paints, pencils, crayons, and more. CRAYOLA, crayola.com

DISNEY 5 SECOND RULE, 6+ In this fast-paced family party game, players get five seconds to name three things that fit in a Disney-themed category, such as “Disney dog characters” or “Pixar movies that have fish” to score points. PLAYMONSTER, playmonster.com

DISNEY ILY 4EVER DOLLS, 6+ These 18-inch fashion dolls come dressed in outfits inspired by Disney characters, including Ariel, Minnie Mouse, Elsa, Cinderella, and Tinker Bell. Each outfit also comes with accessories based on the doll’s theme. JAKKS PACIFIC, jakks.com

DISNEY IT’S A SMALL WORLD GAME, 4+ This find-and-match game includes a 3D gameboard centerpiece with illustrated scenes inspired by the classic Disney Parks attraction. Players journey through the waterway in a team boat and match picture cards to the scenes. FUNKO GAMES, funkogames.com

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DISNEY PRINCESS SEE THE STORY, 4+ Kids will see enchanting objects and memorable characters from Disney Princess stories in the magic wishing well and race to find two pictures from the same story. Players can toss a token into the well and point out a match to earn points. FUNKO GAMES, funkogames.com

DREAM SEEKERS, 5+ These soft, 14-inch dolls feature wings, long hair, “dream marks” on their wrists, and removable skirts and accessories. The reusable packaging features a seat and a secret wish pocket where kids can write their dreams. MOOSE TOYS, moosetoys.com

FAMILY FUN TIME!, 4+ This activity kit includes more than 45 boredom-busting games and activity ideas for families to enjoy together. Table talk cards jump-start conversations, team activities and timed challenges showcase skills, and a customizable family puzzle becomes a keepsake. LITTLE BRIDGES, littlebridges.com

FGTEEV MR. BEATS, 6+ This boombox-style playset features six songs from the FGTeeV YouTube channels and contains exclusive collectible figures, a removable DJ booth, and a working microphone that kids can use to sing along. BONKERS TOYS, bonkerstoys.com

FOR KEEPS, 4+ This fashion doll line promotes positive affirmations. Each doll includes interchangeable clothes, accessories, a unique hairstyle, and more. The dolls help inspire meaningful communication through messages of love, acceptance, empowerment, and inclusivity. THE LOYAL SUBJECTS, theloyalsubjects.com

GO POP! HEXO, 5+ Players take turns selecting a row and pressing down any number of bubbles. The player that is left to press the last bubble on the board loses the round. Players can then flip over the board to start another round. FOXMIND GAMES, foxmind.com

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GRAVE DIGGER FREESTYLE FORCE RC, 4+ Master more than 12 epic stunts in style with the premium metallic decor of the Special Edition Champion design. Features wheelie-balancing technology for front and rear wheelies, and beginner and advanced modes. SPIN MASTER, spinmaster.com

GRAVITOR, 4+ Kids use their hands or body to unleash gravity-defying movements and master countless tricks, such as the shoulder slide, kick flip, and sling shot. It bounces and rebounds without damaging walls or furniture. SPIN MASTER, spinmaster.com

HOGWARTS CASTLE, 5+ This realistic playset stands almost 2 feet tall and features interactive lights, sounds, and magical elements. It includes 12 accessories and an exclusive Hermione doll. Classroom playsets and small dolls are sold separately. SPIN MASTER, spinmaster.com

HOPE, 2021 FREEDOM SERIES HORSE OF THE YEAR, 4+ Hope is the limited-edition 2021 Freedom Series Horse of the Year. The bright markings on her coat reveal the message of hope. For each Hope purchased, $1 goes to the nonprofit organization Covenant House. BREYER, breyerhorses.com

HOT WHEELS ACTION MASSIVE LOOP MAYHEM, 5+ This track features a 28-inch-wide loop designed for multicar play. Kids can launch the included car using the slam launcher, then add more cars (sold separately) until there’s an inevitable crash. MATTEL, mattel.com

JUNKBOTS LARGE FACTORY HABITAT — NEW PORT POWER PLANT, 5+ Kids will unbox more than 250 pieces in 15 stages, find three hidden Junkbots collectibles, then deconstruct and rebuild the habitat. This playset is based on the locations found in the Roblox game and the animated series. HEXBUG, hexbug.com

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KIDIZOOM SMARTWATCH DX3, 4+ This kid-friendly smartwatch features dual cameras, daily reminders, a flashlight, and more than 50 animated clock faces for time-telling fun. Switch to school mode when it’s time to limit its capabilities to the watch feature. VTECH, vtechkids.com

LASER X REVOLUTION ULTRA LONG-RANGE DOUBLE BLASTERS, 6+ Each blaster in this set of two features a range of more than 500 feet and a built-in receiver. Players can light up their blasters with more than 20 different colors. NSI INTERNATIONAL, getlaserx.com

LITE-BRITE OVAL HD, 4+ This classic toy comes in a new oval shape and has three colorchange features. It includes 650 mini-pegs and eight HD templates, plus an “animate” mode that kids can use to bring movement to their lightup designs. BASIC FUN!, basicfun.com

LITTLE TIKES TOBI 2 INTERACTIVE KARAOKE MACHINE, 6+ This karaoke machine features eight built-in songs and beats, pitch correction, voice and sound effects, a light show, and a corded microphone. Kids can save up to nine recordings and play seven interactive games. MGA ENTERTAINMENT, mgae.com LUMITEK NEON GIANT, 8+ This 2.5 GHz, 1:10-scale, remote-controlled car has slick rear wheels for drifting and durability. With a flip of the switch, the high-speed car lights up and is ready to race. WECOOL TOYS, wecooltoys.com

MAGIC TRACE LIGHT TO DRAW BARBIE AND FRIENDS, 6+ Magic Trace helps kids learn to draw Barbie and her friends with light-up lines that appear when kids need them and disappear when they don’t. Kids can turn on the light, draw the outline, and color it in. WECOOL TOYS, wecooltoys.com

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MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE ORIGINS CASTLE GRAYSKULL PLAYSET, 6+ This diorama-style playset opens to reveal four rooms. It features a working elevator, a trap door, themed accessories, and a special-edition Temple of Darkness Sorceress ﬁgure. MATTEL, mattel.com

MOJI THE LOVEABLE LABRADOODLE, 4+ Moji is a soft, cuddly dog that responds to kids’ voices and touch with more than 150 reactions. His smart collar features a color screen that displays animated emojis that communicate his puppy thoughts. SKYROCKET TOYS, skyrocketon.com

MY FAIRY GARDEN LIGHT UNICORN PARADISE, 4+ Kids can plant the included seeds in this fairy garden set, which features a toadstool house, a light-up rainbow, and lights and sounds that kids can activate by playing with Dahlia the fairy and her unicorn. PLAYMONSTER, playmonster.com

MY LITTLE PONY MOVIE SING ‘N SKATE SUNNY, 5+ Sunny sings songs from My Little Pony: The Movie and comes with a microphone for kids to sing along. Includes accessories for kids to get themselves and Sunny ready for a show. Kids can use the remote control to make Sunny dance to the music. HASBRO, shop.hasbro.com

NEW BRIGHT RC 1:10 SCALE REMOTE CONTROL HEAVY METAL 4X4 TRUCK COLLECTION, 6+ These 15.25-inch, R/C trucks feature oversized rubber tires and all-wheel drive. Available in four models, each car comes with a wireless remote and a rechargeable battery. NEW BRIGHT, newbright.com

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MARVEL BATTLEWORLD: TREACHERY AT TWILIGHT, 6+ Treachery at Twilight introduces Loki’s devious Tick cards and includes fan-favorite additions like the Black Panther’s Talon Fighter, The Collector’s Tower, and an ofﬁcial Battleworld Storage Case to store 50 collectible heroes. FUNKO GAMES, funkogames.com

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NOODLE KNOCKOUT FINE MOTOR GAME, 4+ Build their fine motor, counting, and sorting skills with this game inspired by slurpable soup. The zero-waste box serves as a gameboard and storage for the spinner, cards, and chopstick-style tongs. LEARNING RESOURCES, learningresources.com

PEEK-A-ROO, 5+ This interactive plush features a pouch that reveals a mystery baby inside. Play together with Mom and baby to see how they sing, dance, and cuddle together. It features more than 150 sounds and actions. SPIN MASTER, spinmaster.com

PIXICADE, 6+ Kids can draw a game on any white surface, take a picture with their device on the Pixicade app, then play their unique game on-screen. Kids can also share their creations and play other kids’ games in the arcade. BITOGENIUS, pixicade.com

PIXTER ELECTRONIC DRAWING COACH, 6+ Pixter shows kids how to draw 50 different images step by step. They can move at their own pace or use “auto draw” mode, then press a button to see an animation of the on-screen drawing. NSI INTERNATIONAL, pixtertoy.com

PLAYMOBIL DINO RISE T-REX: BATTLE OF THE GIANTS, 5+ Inspired by Playmobil’s Dino Rise YouTube series, this 84-piece set includes a robot machine figure; a T. rex figure that the human figure, Ian, can ride; a Deinonychus figure; armor; and accessories. PLAYMOBIL, playmobil.us

POKÉMON SURPRISE ATTACK GAME, 4+ Kids can hone their Pokémon training skills by battling with two included Surprise Attack Poké Balls, two Pokémon figures, and six Attack Disks. Kids can play solo or with friends using Junior and Master Trainer rules. JAZWARES, jazwares.com

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POPZEEZ, 5+ Kids can pop open these toy popsicle homes to reveal miniature, animal-themed collectible figures and accessories. There are 48 different Popzeez to collect, including fruity, choco, creamy, and rare themes. JAY@PLAY, jayatplay.com

RAINBOW HIGH COLOR CHANGE CAR, 6+ Kids can press a button to make this white convertible change colors using LED lights. Features a working steering wheel, wheels that move, and two seats that fit Rainbow High Fashion Dolls (sold separately). MGA ENTERTAINMENT, mgae.com

RAINBOW HIGH FASHION RUNWAY TOTE, 6+ Kids can host a fashion show and create custom outfits for each die-cut Rainbow High character by following a design template on fabric, then decorating it with sequins and glitter. All pieces fit into the reusable tote. HORIZON GROUP USA, horizongroupusa.com RAINBOW HIGH WINTER BREAK FASHION DOLLS, 6+ The six original Rainbow High fashion dolls get a wintry makeover in this collection. Each doll comes with two outfits, winter fashion accessories, and snow gear that doubles as a doll stand. MGA ENTERTAINMENT, mgae.com

REBOTZ: REBOOTED ROBOTS, 6+ Four robot pals spring into action from a heap of junkyard parts. Piece together a motorized model of each from a set of easy-to-assemble parts. Conduct experiments with the mechanisms that make the robots move. THAMES & KOSMOS, thamesandkosmos.com SCRUFF-A-LUVS CUTIE CUTS, 5+ Transform a messy mutt into a pampered pup with this plush pet that kids can groom and “shave” to reveal its breed. Kids will discover 10 surprises as they give the dog a makeover. MOOSE TOYS, moosetoys.com

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SPY NINJAS COVERT COMMUNICATORS, 6+ This set includes two two-way, wrist-mounted walkie-talkies with a broadcast range of more than 100 feet. Each unit includes a removable compass, a disc launcher with two discs, a magnifying lens, an LED signal light, and a Spy Ninjas ID card. PLAYMATES TOYS, spyninjasgadgets.com

STYLE SQUAD HYPE HAIR FLORAL FRENZY, 7+ Pick from more than 250 flowers and jewels to create the perfect look that stamps into hair in seconds. Layer and restyle in a click with the Hype Hair applicator. The pieces store easily to reuse again. WOWWEE, wowwee.com

SUPER MARIO BLOW UP! SHAKY TOWER, 4+ In this balancing game, players place the red wrecking ball at the top of the wobbly tower, then roll the die to determine how many Super Mario characters to balance onto open ledges without dropping the ball. EPOCH EVERLASTING PLAY, epocheverlastingplay.com VIBE GIRLS, 6+ There are six 8-inch Vibe Girls for kids to collect, each representing a different vibe, such as happy, art, kindness, and nature. Each doll comes with five accessories and a diary that has 50 stickers featuring positive messages. JAY@PLAY, jayatplay.com

VOLCANO EXPEDITION BASE CAMP, 4+ Join researcher Yuki as she collects information on dinosaurs. Action-packed and exciting play functions include glowing lava, cool smoke, eruption functions with vibration effects, and dino sounds. SCHLEICH, schleich-s.com

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SQUEAKEE THE BALLOON DINO, 5+ This interactive toy is part balloon animal and part dinosaur, with new tricks, games, and more than 70 sounds and reactions. Squeakee Dino comes with removable headphones and a bone squeaker accessory. MOOSE TOYS, moosetoys.com

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AGES

8+ For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider

Tweens

Whether online or in person, socializing is a key activity for kids in this age group. While tweens are comfortable with technology and the digital world, they also enjoy playing games, being creative, and being active. Provide opportunities for them to try new things both on their own and with their peers. Toys that teach a new skill — whether it’s DIY crafting or programming — get kids thinking in different ways, helping to expand their minds and abilities. Parents and caregivers are still key role models for this age group, so remain present and involved in their passions.

ALEX SPA DOUBLE-COLOR NAIL POLISH SET, 8+ Kids can apply two colors of nail polish simultaneously with this exclusive blending palette design and the included brushes. The set comes with seven bottles of nail polish and a storage tray. ALEX GLOBAL PRODUCTS, alexglobalproducts.com

ALL-PRO PASSER ROBOTIC QUARTERBACK, 8+ Kids can practice football with this device that throws a perfect spiral every time. It features nine different passing zones and can launch the included football more than 25 yards. NSI INTERNATIONAL, allpropasser.com

AMONG US 16-INCH SUPER SOFT PLUSH, 3+ Kids can collect all four colors of this 16-inch, super-soft plush. Made from stretchy and durable Velboa fabric, this Among Us plush is perfect for planning kids’ next mission. YUME, yumetoys.myshopify.com

APEX LEGENDS SERIES 4, 8+ These action figures are based on the Apex Legends video game. Each poseable figure features 25 points of articulation and includes multiple accessories. Series four styles include Octane (Rare: Hit and Run), Pathfinder (Rare: Team Lift), and Caustic. JAKKS PACIFIC, jakks.com

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BATTLE BOSSES, 13+ Players can command gigantic beings, deities, monsters, and armies of minions to dominate the battlefield. Each set includes a Boss figure, game cards, tiles, tokens, dice, and a rulebook. Two Bosses are required to play. KESS GAMES, kess.co

BATTLEBOTS ARENA MAX, 8+ This arena features more fighting space and an interlocking floor tile assembly. Kids can push enemies into the motorized auger or the corners of the arena to knock off their weapons. Includes Tombstone and the Build-YourOwn-Tank robot. HEXBUG, hexbug.com

BST AXN, 14+ This Japanese-inspired, detailed action figure line features popular characters from anime, sci-fi, TV shows, movies, comic books, and more. These 1:15-scale figures are highly poseable with multiple points of articulation. THE LOYAL SUBJECTS, theloyalsubjects.com

BEYBLADE BURST SURGE SPEEDSTORM VOLT KNOCKOUT BATTLE SET, 8+ Kids can let it rip into the Power Vortex in the center of this Beystadium, designed to pull tops in and give them a speed boost. The set comes with two launchers and two Speedstorm battling tops. HASBRO, shop.hasbro.com

CODING CHARMS, 8+ Kids can create beaded patterns to build keychain charms, then adults can iron the designs to fuse the beads together. Kids will learn about algorithms, sequencing, and other STEAM concepts. Includes enough materials to make 18 charms. HAND2MIND, hand2mind.com CORNER CRUSH, 7+ In this game of memory and strategy, players can drop tokens into the rotating tower to score four in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. They can also play around the corners. The game features built-in storage. BIG G CREATIVE, biggcreative.com

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CRAFT YOUR OWN LIP BALM, 8+ Kids can create and customize lip balm using all-natural ingredients, including olive oil, shea butter, and beeswax. There are three different kits available, each containing all the necessary ingredients, scents, and equipment. PURPLE LADYBUG, plbfun.com CRAFT-TASTIC ALL ABOUT ME EMPOWER FLOWER, 8+ Kids can create a flower design with holographic foil and colorful strips, then personalize it with more than 250 descriptive and empowering words. Finish the project with a shaker bubble filled with metallic confetti. ANN WILLIAMS GROUP, annwilliamsgroup.com CRYSTAL SECRETS TREASURES, 8+ Kids can unbox a DIY jewelry set, complete with enough materials to create a necklace and a bracelet, including a Swarovski crystal charm. Eight different marine animal-themed characters are available to collect. MAKE IT REAL!, makeitrealplay.com DIGIMON X, 8+ Kids can hatch, raise, feed, and train their digital monster for a showdown with another. These devices connect to each other (and previous versions) to allow users to compete with whoever challenges them. BANDAI AMERICA, bandai.com

GHOSTED, 10+ In this game of boo-dunnit, players must solve the mystery of their own demise. They will work to identify which suspect had it in for them, what wacky weapon was used, and the modern motive. BIG G CREATIVE, biggcreative.com

GIBGAB, 8+ Say a word that matches the category and press your button. When you do, your lights begin to creep toward your opponent as they think fast, say a word, and press their button. Whoever’s lights reach the other end of the gameboard first wins. FAT BRAIN TOYS, fatbraintoys.com

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GO GO BIRD BUTTERFLY, 8+ This R/C toy looks and flies like a real butterfly. Use the remote control to make it perform aerial tricks from up to 100 feet away. Inspired by nature, the butterfly features a lightweight design and is safe for flight both inside and outside. ZING, zing.toys

HASBRO GAMING KA-BLAB!, 10+ Players must roll the dice to determine how many items they will blurt out in a given category before the randomized ticking timer goes off. They will continue rolling until it’s time to pass the dice. HASBRO, shop.hasbro.com

ICEE MAKING GIFT SETS, 12+ Make a cool, sweet treat right at home with ICEE accessories and flavorings. The collection includes a countertop ICEE Machine, a Shaved Ice Maker, a Milkshake Maker, and a Freeze Pop Making Kit, each sold separately. ISCREAM, iscream-shop.com

LEGO VIDIYO THE BOOMBOX, 9+ This 996-piece building set comes with a stage, accessories, four mini-figures, and 18 BeatBit effect squares. Kids can customize the physical set, then scan it with the compatible mobile app to create augmented-reality music videos. THE LEGO GROUP, lego.com LETSGLOW STUDIO, 8+ First, create a custom look by using the LetsGlow accessories and materials. Then, kids can affix the multicolor LED clip to a phone to make their designs glow and create light shows or dance-sync videos. SKY CASTLE, letsglowhq.com

MAKE YOUR OWN BEESWAX FOOD WRAPS, 14+ Help the Earth by designing and creating reusable beeswax food wraps that can store and cover food. The kit comes with everything needed to make four beeswax food wraps, including 100% pure beeswax. PURPLE LADYBUG, plbfun.com

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MEGA CONSTRUX POKÉMON JUMBO PIKACHU, 8+ Kids can use more than 600 pieces to build a 12-inch Pikachu featuring its lightning bolt-shaped tail, red cheeks, and smiling face. The built figure is articulated so kids can position it in different poses. MATTEL, mattel.com

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MONOPOLY BUILDER, 8+ In this strategy game, players travel the board buying properties, collecting rent and resources, and using builder’s blocks to build their island city. The more a player builds, the more points they’ll earn. HASBRO, shop.hasbro.com

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER SERIES POTTERY WHEEL, 8+ Kids can make bowls, vases, and more with this pottery wheel designed for beginners. Includes a detachable tool arm, a centering tool attachment, and additional tools. BLUE MARBLE, thinkbluemarble.com

NERF ELITE 2.0 FLIPSHOTS FLIP-32, 8+ Fire darts from the 16 frontfacing barrels one or two at a time, then flip the 16 rear barrels forward to continue blasting darts. The back-toback barrels are connected, making it quick and easy to rotate them. HASBRO, shop.hasbro.com

NINTENDO SWITCH (OLED MODEL), 8+ This new system in the Nintendo Switch family features a 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, 64 GB of internal storage, enhanced audio, and more. Play on the TV or on the go. Available in two color options. NINTENDO, nintendo.com

POKÉMON TRAINER TRIVIA: AN ELECTRONIC GAME, 7+ Kids can test their Pokémon trainer trivia and battle it out to become a real Pokémon expert. Play in single or multiplayer mode and answer up to 1,000 questions. ULTRA PRO ENTERTAINMENT, ultraprogames.com

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SONIC GLOW ELECTRIC SCOOTER, 8+ A built-in wireless speaker synchronizes with multicolor LED lights on the handlebar and deck, creating a light show that matches the beat. Features 55 minutes of ride time per charge and speeds up to 10 mph. RAZOR USA, razor.com

POKÉMON BRILLIANT DIAMOND AND POKÉMON SHINING PEARL, 8+ The Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version video games are reborn for the Nintendo Switch family of systems. Players will explore the Sinnoh region and encounter Pokémon on their journey to become Champion of the Pokémon League. NINTENDO, nintendo.com

QUICK KNIT HEADBANDS WITH LION BRAND YARN, 9+ Create more than five headbands and ear warmers, complete with accents including a handmade tag, pompoms, buttons, and bows. The set includes yarn, a knitting hook, a needle, a loom, and accessories. FABER-CASTELL, fabercastell.com SHASHIBO: EXPLORER SERIES, 8+ Each Shashibo contains more than 36 rare Earth magnets and transforms into more than 70 shapes. This fidget-friendly toy comes in new designs inspired by the Earth, the moon, and the sea. FUN IN MOTION TOYS, funinmotiontoys.com

SHIMMER ‘N SPARKLE DELUXE TIE DYE STATION, 8+ Design and create superbright, tie-dye fashions with this self-contained unit. Kids can make trendy accessories in a mess-free way. Learn to create five different effects including rainbow burst, spiral, striped, and more. CRA-Z-ART, cra-z-art.com

SMARTIVITY PINBALL MACHINE, 8+ This kit contains everything kids need to build a fully functional pinball machine. It also features easy-tounderstand, illustrated instructions complete with experiments to help kids learn STEM concepts. ELENCO, elenco.com

TETRIS, 8+ Tetris comes to the tabletop in this strategy game for 2-4 players. Each player takes a turn dropping Tetrimino pieces into their own Matrix tower, scoring points by completing horizontal rows and special challenges. BUFFALO GAMES, buffalogames.com

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SPIROGRAPH ANIMATOR, 8+ Create traditional Spirograph designs using the included gears. Then, the animator machine creates a 3D motion effect using spinning and lights. Features built-in storage, six gears, and five markers. PLAYMONSTER, playmonster.com

POP UNDER PRESSURE, 14+ Flick the spinner to determine the letter, then race to fill in the categories before the inflating balloon bursts in this fast-paced family game. The player with the most points is the winner. WHAT DO YOU MEME?, whatdoyoumeme.com

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TINY TV CLASSICS, 5+ These real-working TVs feature the most famous scenes and quotes from hit shows and movies. Each Tiny TV comes with a working remote and a custom backdrop scene. Choose from Friends, Back to the Future, Batman, and more. BASIC FUN!, basicfun.com

TRASHED, 7+ Line up cards numerically, but look out for the Trashed card. Inspired by the classic game Garbage, this reimagined card game includes wild cards and stop cards that change the course of gameplay. WINNING MOVES GAMES, winning-moves.com

UBONGO 3D, 8+ Players race to place the blocks so they fit perfectly in a specific area of a puzzle card and completely fill the designated three-dimensional space. Each time a player wins, they collect colorful plastic gems. THAMES & KOSMOS, thamesandkosmos.com

VEX ROBOTICS EXCAVATOR BY HEXBUG, 8+ Kids can use more than 370 snap-together pieces to build this vehicle, complete with a working boom arm, a bucket, a rotating turret, and rotating treads. With no glue or adhesive, it’s easy to tear down and rebuild. HEXBUG, hexbug.com

WHAT DO YOU MEME? SPONGEBOB FAMILY EDITION, 8+ Players can compete to caption iconic moments from SpongeBob SquarePants with characters from the series, including SpongeBob, Squidward, Sandy, and Patrick. WHAT DO YOU MEME?, whatdoyoumeme.com

WHAT NEXT?, 10+ This cooperative, choose-your-own-adventure game is packed with twists and turns that players will face together. The game will test players’ dexterity and motor skills through physical challenges. BIG POTATO, bigpotato.com

YOU.

T E N D T O Y OU R S E L F, B O D Y A N D S OU L WE ASKED MOMS: W H AT A C T U A L LY H E L P S YO U F E E L TA K E N CARE OF?

JAVIER DÍEZ/STOCKSY.

Self-Care for Real Life Parents work amazingly hard, and hey, their self-care practices need to do the same. We talked to 50 moms of young kids hailing from across the country to discover the trends that truly work, the rituals worth making time for, and some mood-fixing musts. Here’s to finding a routine that rises up to you. by S H A N N O N M . B AU E R PA R E N T S

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YO U Ñ B e aut y

Do you think you get enough time for self-care?

82% said nope

Is Everyone Finding “ Me Time ” (Except Me) ? While restorative rituals might not happen often, the vast majority of those surveyed said they make time for some form of self-care at least once a month. (To those who say they can’t remember the last time they did something for themselves, you deserve all the brownies—or better yet, a babysitter.) H E R E ’ S W H AT M O M S ARE DOING

“My kids are afraid of the blow-dryer, so drying my hair has become ‘me time.’ I make it a long and laborious process!” “I book a one-hour yoga class and then get a Starbucks iced tea afterward.” “I read a book with a nice glass of wine.”

“If I Could, I’d Do This Every Day ... ”

PA R E N T S

“I love taking a long shower—and I make it more spa-like with a scented shower steamer.” “ Working out makes me feel like a new person. I use the Tone It Up app because it has classes that range from a few minutes to 40, so I can always find something that fits my schedule and energy level.” $15/month; available on Google Play and Apple

Meditate

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Take a nap

Dry brush

2021

“I take art classes.” “I meet up with good friends and no kids for an hour or two.” “On Sunday nights after the baby goes to sleep, I’ll put on a cozy pair of pj’s, apply a facial mask, and curl up with a book in bed.” “I love getting a mani-pedi with my girlfriend. It feels so good to treat myself and catch up with my bestie.”

Work out

Do a full skin-care routine Read a book

Working out ranked highest as the best self-care activity to do on your own. And it makes sense: A walk or a bike ride has a positive effect on mental and physical health. It also happens to do great things for your skin. Sweat contains a natural moisturizing factor called urea, a hydrator that’s often found in expensive moisturizers. (You should still wash your face post-workout; left too long, sweat can become irritating.) Another benefit of exercise? When our body temperature rises, blood vessels dilate to increase blood flow to the skin. That’s what creates a f lushed appearance—and over time, it keeps skin looking healthy too.

TOP LEFT: THAYER ALLYSON GOWDY. BOTTOM RIGHT: LAYLABIRD/GETTY.

Exercise Is Good for Body, Mind—and Skin

YO U Ñ B e aut y

And Now We Soak A relaxing bath came in as the number-one favorite form of at-home self-care. (Applying a face mask was second.) Cue up your favorite podcast, fill the tub, and pick your treatment. FO R A N AC H Y B O DY

FOR A BEDTIME

CBD Is Up There on the List of Trends to Try, Moms Say Many of those surveyed were curious about cannabidiol, or CBD, but still unclear on what it is and how to use it. (On the flip side, 22 percent were already big fans.) Some FYIs:

B AT H

The new Seaweed Bath Co. Soak ($15; seaweedbathco .com) brings all the chill vibes with sustainably picked, skin-softening seaweed, calming oat milk, and chamomile—an aromatherapy scent used to encourage sleep.

It will not get you high. CBD is a compound found naturally in hemp plants and does not contain THC (the main component in marijuana that produces a high). What CBD does is interact with receptors in our cells that affect common conditions like inflammation, anxiety, pain, and potentially even medical issues such as seizures, says Kevin P. Hill, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Many CBD fans say the effect is like turning down the volume on their internal and external stress.

FOR A REBOOT OF YO U R S E N S E S

Lightly fragrant with neroli (or orange blossom) oil and clary sage for potential mood-improving benefits, Shea Moisture Relaxing Mineral Soak ($13; sheamoisture.com) also contains minerals to help soothe skin.

70.5% skin care

What part of your beauty routine is the most relaxing and fun?

20.5% hair care

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Some evidence suggests CBD may calm eczema and other skin issues when used topically. Try Happy Dance Look Alive CBD Face Moisturizer ($29; ulta.com).

Charlotte’s Web CBD Calm Gummies ($30 for 30 count; charlottesweb .com) taste like lemon-lime soda and are melatoninfree, so they won’t cause sleepy side effects.

30%

of moms we surveyed devote 30 to 45 minutes at a time to self-care. 9% makeup

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Foria CBD Relief Salve ($58; foriawellness.com) incorporates the oil for its pain-relieving effects. You can try it on sore muscles or on your belly and lower back for period cramps.

THIS PAGE, WOMAN: KAYLA SNELL/STOCKSY. PRODUCTS: COURTESY OF THE BRANDS. OPPOSITE, PRODUCTS: PETER ARDITO. SPA: COURTESY OF THE LOCATION.

Back pain from one too many piggyback rides or a crick in the neck from breastfeeding? Time to bring on the Epsom salts, like the ones in Degree Maximum Recovery Epsom Salt Muscle Soak ($6; walmart.com), which can help ease aches and relax the body.

“The Best Self-Care Thing I Ever Did Was ...” Book a massage on the beach See a good dermatologist Stop pleasing other people Join a gym Get therapy Become a yogi Pay for a weekly blowout Sign up for Kindle Unlimited for books Become my own boss Create a vision board Start believing in myself Practice plant therapy Buy a Peloton Put my needs ahead of everyone else’s Love the skin I’m in Get in the car and leave for an hour—or more!

Sometimes It’s the Little Things Moms said they reach for these products when they want (or need) to turn their day around. 1 / “I love refreshing

undereye patches. They always make me look less tired than I feel.” INC.redible Party Recharge Hydrating Hyaluronic Under Eye Masks ($20 for 20 pairs; sephora.com) have a fun, glittery look for an extra hit of happy.

Escaping on a Wellness Retreat Half the moms polled said spa getaways live up to the hype. Our travel editor has some suggestions: F O R A F R I E N D S ’ G E TA W AY

Consider a retreat. (Everyone loves an Airbnb find, but a rental doesn’t alleviate the grocery shopping and dishwasher unloading you’re likely trying to escape.) Bonding moments are easy to come by on the trails surrounding the Sunrise Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort, in New Mexico. FOR A SOLO AFTERNOON

To make the most of a few hours, a hotel spa—like Chuan Spa at The Langham Hotel & Resorts, in Chicago—is a good way to go. Some hotels offer day rates for adults-only pools, Jacuzzis, and saunas. Or if you have time for one service, a facial—and the mini neck massage that comes with it—offers the best bang for your buck.

2 / One sentiment that

came up a lot: “It’s hard to frown when you’ve got a red lip on.” Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge Drama Ink Liquid Lipsticks ($28; lancome-usa.com) are weightless beauties that come in 13 bigenergy shades.

WORTH IT

3 / Call it the sunshine

effect, Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops ($29; sephora.com) “give my tired skin a lit-from-within, beachy glow.”

WHEN THE KIDS ARE TA G G I N G A L O N G

4 / “A scrub feels

very therapeutic, and it’s satisfying to see the smoothing results.” We like Tree Hut Margarita Citron Shea Sugar Scrub ($9; ulta.com). 5 / “My nice-smelling

bodywash always puts me in a good mood,” one mom said. Her fave: OGX Coconut Coffee Scrub & Wash ($7; target.com), which is exfoliating and hydrating and has an uplifting scent.

Book the family at Woodloch Pine Resort, in Hawley, Pennsylvania, then sneak away to The Lodge at Woodloch down the road for lunch and a massage.

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BIG MOM ON C AMPUS The time commitment, the cost, the fact that you’re already exhausted? These factors may be daunting, but it is still possible to get the degree, certificate, skill, or new career you’ve dreamed of pursuing. by L E S L I E G O L D M A N

FOR MOST PEOPLE ,

the words college student conjure an image of an 18-yearold in a dorm or pulling all-nighters at the campus library. But for Michael and Chad Rendon-Thofson, of Denver, college is two dads finishing up bachelor’s degrees after more than a decade in the workforce—while juggling two kids under age 2. For Diana Vargas, of Brentwood, California, returning to school means logging on to an

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online coding boot camp at 6 a .m. while her 4-year-old sleeps. And for Mary A. Hansen Smith, M.D., of Tucson, returning to college—med school, actually—meant jumping from more than a decade of playdates and school pickups as a stay-at-homemom of five to taking organic chemistry courses. Students who are not of typical age have long been known as “nontraditional,”

but about one-third of U.S. college undergraduates are over age 25, and more than 20 percent of undergrads are parents. Some return to school to boost qualifications or enter a new field, some seek degrees to ensure job security, while others crave personal growth or want to set an example for their kids, says Rebecca Klein-Collins, vice president of impact at the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning and

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MANAGING THE COST Turns out, college doesn’t have to be wildly expensive. Here’s how to find the funds. FILL OUT THE FRE E APPLICATION FO R FE DE R AL STUDE NT AID (FAFSA).

Available at studentaid.gov, the FAFSA connects you with federal grants, loans, or work-study jobs, plus aid offered by your school or state. It can be filled out as early as October for the following school year. “Even if you can pay out of pocket, fill out the FAFSA,” says Rebecca Klein-Collins. “Don’t turn down free money.” AS K YOUR E MPLOYE R TO HE LP.

Around 90 percent of midsize and large employers offer some form of tuition reimbursement. Ask your HR department for details.

author of Never Too Late: The Adult Student’s Guide to College. Still others are determined to finish what they started: According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Some College, No Degree (SCND) report, more than 36 million Americans have left college without completing their studies. However, for many parents, the idea of going back to school can be daunting: Cramming for tests while potty training and juggling work may feel impossible. (And then there’s the cost ...) But there are ways to make it work, according to the parents and experts we spoke to for this story. Consider this your required reading (a prerequisite, if you will) before taking the leap.

LESSON ONE

There’s no time like the present. In 2016, Chad Rendon-Thofson graduated at age 44 with a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance. One year later, his husband, Michael, earned his bachelor’s in organizational leadership. They opted to return to school when

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their kids were 1 and 2; Michael, who’d recently been laid off, had two years of undergrad, and Chad, a stay-at-home dad, had left college in 1998 one credit shy of a degree. Rather than both returning to work just as their family was growing, “we decided, ‘Let’s show our kids that it’s never too late to put your mind to something,’ ” Michael says. Chad and Michael, now 49 and 37, are two of the 1 million SCND students to return to school and earn a degree between 2014 and 2019. Whether your goal is to complete a bachelor’s degree or embark on a new one, your first step is to explore nearby schools (unless you’re open to relocating) and admissions requirements. Some schools are open admission, meaning all applicants are accepted (i.e., community colleges and some state schools). Other schools are more selective. Many no longer require the ACT or SAT, but some do, so make sure to do your research. If you’re applying to selective schools, Klein-Collins suggests starting the process at least nine months before you hope to begin, and longer if testing is required. Also, find out if the schools accept previous credits or if they conduct prior learning assessments, evaluations of your life

loans usually have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment plans than private loans, KleinCollins says. (Note: Federal loans are likely to be more generous for full-time students, and students considering certain professions may qualify for loan forgiveness.) Dr. Autumn Green says subsidized Stafford loans are ideal. “You can borrow $3,500 the first year and $1,000 more with each year, up to a maximum of $5,500.” These must be paid back but are interest-free. LOOK FO R SC HO L ARS HIPS.

Schools, your state, the federal government, or local companies or community groups may offer them. Klein-Collins suggests the My College Guide overview of options for adult learners (mycollegeguide .org/paying-for-college/ scholarships-adult-students). LOOK INTO PUB LIC AS S I STANC E . If you make less

than 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($26,500 for a family of four), look into Medicaid, SNAP, TANF cash assistance, child-care and housing subsidy programs, WIC, and more. For Elizabeth Preovolos, the UC Berkeley mom, a combo of public assistance and a scholarship made her collegiate pursuits possible.

PREVIOUS SPREAD AND THIS PAGE: BONNINSTUDIO/STOCKSY. OPPOSITE: MARIJA SAVIC/STOCKSY.

KNOW YOUR LOAN S. Federal

experience that will hopefully allow some of it to count as college credit. Some schools offer credit for on-the-job experience, military service, or volunteer activities.

LESSON TWO

The logistics may be more manageable than you think. Many institutions offer flexible course schedules; accelerated, self-paced, or part-time degree tracks; and rolling admissions. Online classes are widely available. Many certificate programs can be completed in less than a year. (However, beware of suspicious promises. Per the Federal Trade Commission, if a program says, “no studying or exams required,” or promises a degree in just a few days or weeks, it’s probably a scam.) When applying, “think carefully about what you need to make college work for you, approaching it like a consumer,” Klein-Collins says. “You want a school that meets you where you are.” Zero in on colleges where adult learners compose a sizable chunk of the student body. If a school is trying to attract adult learners, it will highlight the benefits it provides to parents and full-time workers on its website. Reach out to the admissions office and ask how its staff can help with fitting in classes around your schedule. And remember, Klein-Collins adds: You’re an asset to them, and they should “offer ways to help students like you get to the finish line.” Finally, while statistics show you’re more likely to finish your degree if you carry a full course load, don’t get discouraged if that’s not feasible, Klein-Collins says. Seek out colleges with self-paced programs, and chip away at your goal in a way you can manage.

LESSON THREE

It really does take a village. Joycelyn Keller, 30, a fourth-year medical student at Morehouse School of Medicine, in Atlanta, says that to make her studies work, her partner had to become what she calls SuperHousehusband Dad. “During my first two years, sometimes I’d be gone before

playdates to give one another time to tackle assignments, suggests Elizabeth Preovolos, a 39-year-old mother of two at the University of California, Berkeley. Mid-pandemic, she and other student parents took turns reading books over FaceTime to each other’s kids. And while only 15 percent of colleges offer on-campus child care (public colleges are most likely to do so, as are historically Black colleges and universities), this resource can be gamechanging. When Autumn Green, Ph.D., transferred from community college, she was a 19-year-old mom with a 2-year-old and an infant. She chose the University of Oregon, in Eugene, because it offered on-campus child care and family housing. Now a research scientist at the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College, in Massachusetts, she created the Campus Family Housing Database, a nationwide list of about 250 colleges and universities offering collegeaffiliated family housing. (Search it at wcwonline.org/ Family-Housing/familyhousing-project-database.)

LESSON FOUR

our son woke up and home after he was asleep.” For the Rendon-Thofsons, the division of labor shifted over time. Michael’s classes were online, while Chad’s were in person, which meant Michael handled child-care drop-off and pickup and studied at night and on weekends. (Grandparents helped too.) For single parents or families where help will be needed, tap extended family, friends, and neighbors: Can someone babysit for a few hours while you study? If your school has an organization for student parents, try to connect with people there. Switch off hosting

Advanced-degree programs may be less flexible, but they’re still doable. Master’s, law, and doctoral programs are typically tied to traditional academic schedules with fall start dates, involving two, three, and six years of full-time study, respectively. Admissions criteria are institution dependent, Klein-Collins says; some schools have dropped the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) requirement, but the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is still required to apply to the vast majority of law schools. Most programs require transcripts, recommendation letters, and personal statements as part of the application materials.

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If you want to pursue a career in medicine, like Dr. Hansen Smith, scour the websites of schools that interest you, and make a list of courses needed to apply. (For most, this will include physics, biology, organic chemistry, and possibly genetics.) Geoffrey Young, Ph.D., senior director of student affairs and programs for the Association of American Medical Colleges, recommends consulting the school’s admissions office to review your undergraduate record to assess if additional coursework might be needed. Dr. Hansen Smith took the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and was accepted at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson when her oldest was 12; she graduated in 2019. Now 43 and a third-year pathology resident, she says she “decided to brush up on basic science courses at the local community college” before the big test.

LESSON FIVE

Certificate programs are a quicker option. Noncredit education is exploding in popularity, particularly in fields like project and program management and content development. The classes are typically flexible, brief (months, not years), and field-specific. A 2020 poll conducted by the Strada Center for Education Consumer Insights found that two out of three adults considering enrolling in education preferred a nondegree pathway, as compared with just one in two in 2019. Certificate programs typically start in the fall or on demand. Some require a bachelor’s degree, but they’re increasingly designed for SCND students or those with a master’s degree looking to switch fields or feel more confident in a certain skill set (like fund-raising or human resources management). When researching certificate programs, note whether the institution is accredited. Accredited certificate programs are taught by faculty and may come in handy if you choose to pursue a degree later on, whereas nonaccredited programs are typically taught by experts in the field,

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WHERE THE JOBS ARE If you’re hoping to use your back-to-school journey as a way to begin a new career, consider trying one of these hot professional paths. PAR ALEGAL

With a two-year associate’s degree, paralegals support attorneys with document prep, client intake, and more. Enrollment is open all year, and many programs are online, says Debra R. Geiger, Esq., immediate past president of the American Association for Paralegal Education. RE AL E STATE AG E NT

With one to two months’ worth of education and a licensing exam, you can work for a managing broker and help clients buy, sell, and rent property, says Toby Schifsky, executive director of Kaplan Real Estate Education. (Join the National Association of Realtors and pay dues, and you can call yourself a Realtor.) Schifsky calls real estate “a fantastic second career, in which you can take Wednesdays off because the kids have volleyball or work 60 hours a week—it’s up to you.” You can take courses at a local real estate school, a community college, or a university, and they may be online or in person. REG I STE RE D NURS E

Thanks to job security, competitive salaries, and flexible hours, nursing is a popular second career, says Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., M.S.N., R.N., a faculty member in Walden University’s Master of Science in Nursing program. R.N.’s usually have an associate’s degree in nursing (A.D.N.) or a bachelor of science in nursing (B.S.N.). The B.S.N. is usually a four-year program, but Dr. Sullivan says some schools offer two-year “bridge programs” if you already have an undergrad degree. Nursing school involves coursework, supervised patient care, and simulation (treating a fake patient for respiratory distress, for instance). Graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to obtain licensure and earn the R.N. title.

keeping the cost lower, and are “intended to help you take the next step in your career,” says Rovy Branon, Ph.D., vice provost for the University of Washington Continuum College, in Seattle. If you’re hoping to break into computer programming or tech, you might try one of the popular coding boot camps. That’s the route Diana Vargas, 33, coding-whiz mom of one, took after her military spouse was stationed abroad for several years. “I had a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and had worked at Microsoft, but there was a gap in my résumé,” she says. “I needed something I could add on to my existing skills.” Vargas attended online classes full time from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. for four months, though many programs allow you to move at a slower pace.

LESSON SIX

There will be sacrifices ahead. You may feel guilty if your midterm conflicts with your daughter’s softball game or question the wisdom of paying for your own degree instead of funding your kid’s 529. “My kids didn’t get fancy Pinterest birthday parties because there just wasn’t time to plan something elaborate,” Dr. Hansen Smith says. But don’t beat yourself up, because the bottom line is clear: Your going back to school benefits the whole family. “My kids have a better life because I made this decision,” says Dr. Green. In order for the Rendon-Thofsons to make school work, they cashed out their 401(k)s, downgraded from a fourbedroom house to one half the size, and sold their cars. But, says Chad, “it was one of the greatest gifts. We were home for the first years of our kids’ lives.” And when they found Sophie and Maximus jumping in bed, giggling in their dads’ blue mortarboards after Michael’s graduation, “we thought, ‘This is why we worked so hard.’ ” Says Preovolos, the mom of two at UC Berkeley, “I’d always told my kids they could be anything, and one day my daughter asked, ‘Well, what about you?’ It felt so good to go back. I did it for me as much as for them.”

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Meet the Kindest Families in America

What does it look like when a whole family spreads goodness in the world? Read on to meet four incredibly caring clans, nominated by Parents readers and chosen by judges who know a thing or two about sharing the love. by H O L LY C A R T E R

THE WINNER!

The Barrón Family Edmond, Oklahoma Luke (39), Holly (38), Keaton (forever 8), Reid (7), Holden (4), Conley (1) FOR THE

Barrón family, kindness is a mission with profound personal meaning. “When we’re out somewhere, we’re always thinking, ‘What can we do here? How can we help?’ ” says mom Holly. Even while in New York City for this issue’s cover shoot, the family saw a boy asking his mom for a toy at the LEGO Store. After clearing it with his parents, the Barróns gifted the boy and his sister with new toys (to their great delight). The Barróns’ desire to give is instinctive, says Marie Jeanne Lopez, the family friend who nominated them. “They have a can-do spirit,” she says. “They lend a hand and expect nothing in return.” Contest judges Kristen Bell and Benjamin Hart agreed: “The Barróns’ kindness is a clear representation of what we aspire to be as parents, friends, and neighbors.” Said fellow judge Angela C. Santomero: “The Barróns are the epitome of kindness.” And the hosts of the 3rd Hour of Today said, “As soon as we heard their story, we knew they had to be the winners.” The family heads up the K Club (kclubkindness.org), an organization founded by their son Keaton Barrón, who passed away on May 11, 2018. Keaton was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at 21/2, went into remission, then suffered a series of

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recurrences, including one when he was 6. “This time, there were complications, and it was super-scary,” says Holly. In January 2018, Keaton was hospitalized with the flu. When a volunteer and friend named Kay came to visit him, they created the K Club. “Kay’s name starts with K, and we called Keaton ‘K,’ ” says Holly. “They decided to make a club about kindness.” Keaton wrote a mission statement: “To be kind to others, be courageous, compassionate, and caring.” He established a clubhouse and membership dues ($1, or whatever people could afford). Soon, donations rolled in. The K Club helps kids with cancer and their families, hosting several fund-raising events a year, from a golf tournament to aid childhood cancer research to an annual charity auction to a Christmas celebration where they sell hot chocolate and homemade cookies. Then there are K Club’s kindness efforts, which include collecting diapers, wipes, and clothes for a pregnancy resource center; donating to build wells in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; making hygiene packs for those struggling with homelessness; and chalking kind messages all over Oklahoma City and Edmond, Oklahoma. In fact, when the Barróns heard about their win, they were at Keaton’s school setting up a “FUNderwear Party,” an underwear drive for the homeless. They dedicate much of their time to the K Club, with Holly and husband Luke working nights and weekends. They also spread kindness in their daily lives. Luke, for example, surprised a child at an Oklahoma City Thunder game with a jersey. Holden, now 5, once asked if he could do a good deed at the grocery store. Luckily, Holly kept stuffed animals in her car with “Keaton cards” attached; they’ve gifted more than 200 in the past two years. The K Club has also created “K Packs,” which allow families to make precious keepsakes to remember a child with a

“It’s an honor to provide a tiny bit of hope or peace in the most unimaginable time in a family’s life.”

terminal illness: a recordable book for children to leave for siblings, parents, and friends so they can always hear their voice, and a canvas and paints to make fingerprint art. If a local patient or family needs extra joy, the K Club steps in with “K Boosts.” Holly recalls making goody bags for a party thrown by an 8-year-old nearing the end of his life. He wanted to

say goodbye to his friends and to make sure they had a good time. “It’s an honor to provide a tiny bit of hope or peace in the most unimaginable time in a family’s life,” Holly says. “We feel for every parent who may lose a child and will do anything and everything we can to be there for them.” They developed the “K Cares” portion of the organization to help pay for funerals for loved ones lost. “There are lots of organizations that do stuff at the beginning of treatment, but at the end, when it’s harder, darker, and more depressing, that doesn’t get as much attention,” Holly says. There are happy moments too. The family provides treats for parties thrown in honor of children leaving the hospital and hosts a monthly LEGO party at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, in Oklahoma City, where Keaton was treated; each child gets to choose a set to keep. “Keaton loved LEGO. They’re good for a hospital stay because you can play with them in bed,” Holly says. Despite his LEGO love, Keaton always thought of others first. Lopez recalls a few times when, instead of picking a toy for himself, Keaton chose one for his brother. “He realized his brother’s life had been turned upside down by his treatment. How many 6-year-olds do that kind of thing?” says Lopez. That’s who Keaton was, his family says. “He was a saint on earth from the moment he was born,” Holly says, “different from anyone we’ve met. It’s a privilege to be his parents.” The Barróns worked tirelessly for almost six years to keep Keaton alive. Now the K Club gives them an outlet for their energy, and gives Keaton’s younger brothers, Reid, Holden, and Conley, a way to continue Keaton’s legacy. “I think Keaton would be pleased with it all, but I don’t think he’d be like, ‘Whoa, this is unbelievable!’ ” Holly says. “I think he’d just say, ‘Yeah, this is what I’d planned. Good job.’ ”

FINALIST

The Phaire Family Danbury, Connecticut Charnay (43), Candace (39), Chelsea (12), Corey (10)

C H E L S E A P H A I R E , 12, has felt compelled

to spread kindness ever since she learned to speak. Always an avid creator, she would often draw pictures for waiters when the family went out to eat. That’s how she quickly caught on to the impact of art: On one occasion, her work brought a staffer who’d had a rough week to tears. Eventually, a family friend gave Chelsea a suitcase full of elaborate art supplies. The gift planted a seed. “We explained to her that this was an extraordinary present, that art supplies are expensive and not everybody has them,” says Chelsea’s mom, Candace. “Chelsea was like, ‘Wait a minute. Everybody should have this, because I love that feeling I get when I make art and everyone should have that feeling.’ ” At her tenth birthday party, Chelsea had an idea. She asked her friends for any gifts they brought to be art supplies, then used these gifts to make art kits to be donated to kids in need. Chelsea’s Charity (chelseascharity.org) was born, and it’s been growing ever since.

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Her parents nominated her for this contest to honor her awareness and generosity, but also to help her see that she’s actually making a difference. And our contest judges agreed. Said judge Santomero, “For Chelsea to realize the therapeutic power of art at such a young age is inspiring.” The 3rd Hour

“You want to support your kids, and find your own role in what they’re doing. It becomes an awesome family experience.”

of Today hosts told us that Chelsea’s “commitment to spreading joy through art left us in awe.” Thanks to donations received through the charity’s website, Chelsea packs her kits with crayons, colored pencils, paints, smocks, sketchbooks, and glue sticks. They’re given to children in foster care, shelters, hospitals, and underresourced classrooms. There are also art packs for adults. For Women’s History Month, Chelsea donated 1,000 bundles of supplies to shelters that support women with mental health challenges. And their work is far-reaching. The family traveled to El Paso after the mass shooting there in 2019 to distribute kits to 140 kids at a school very close by. The charity stems from Chelsea’s realization of art’s restorative power. “It’s a part of the healing process and helps kids recover from trauma,” Chelsea says. “I know firsthand how those kids feel. After my swim coach was shot and killed, I drew a poster of him, and it really helped me recover from that loss.” Chelsea hopes one day to be an actress and singer with hot-pink and blue hair (or purple and green; she’s still deciding). Fitting, since her proposed stage name is Cotton Candy. But for now, she’s laser focused on ramping up her charitable work. Everyone in the Phaire family does their part: Chelsea’s brother, Corey, is the organized one, so he’s in charge of operations, making sure the assembly line runs smoothly. Dad Charnay takes the packaged supplies from the garage or the basement to the post office to be shipped. And Candace oversees kit distribution. For Chelsea’s 12th birthday, the family held a virtual packing party with people across 12 states, yielding 1,200 kits to be donated to organizations in each community. None of it would have been possible if Candace and Charnay hadn’t encouraged Chelsea’s inclination to give back. Candace hopes other parents follow suit. “You want to support your kids and find your own role in what they’re doing,” Candace says. “Then it becomes an awesome family experience. We’ve become so much closer.” As Chelsea says, philanthropy “is a family a-Phaire.”

PREVIOUS SPREAD: MELANIE ACEVEDO. WARDROBE STYLING BY SHELLEY YOUNG. GROOMING BY BRETT JACKSON. CHILD WRANGLING BY PATRICIA SENER. ON HOLLY: SWEATER, ALEX MILL. PANTS, WEEKEND MAX MARA. ON LUKE: SHIRT, H&M. JACKET, ALEX MILL. PANTS, BANANA REPUBLIC. ON REID: SWEATSHIRT AND SHOES, ZARA. PANTS, UNIQLO. SOCKS, J.CREW. ON HOLDEN: SHIRT, J.CREW. SWEATSHIRT, UNIQLO. PANTS, H&M. SHOES, CONVERSE. ON CONLEY: JUMPSUIT, JACKET, AND SHOES, ZARA. SOCKS, H&M. THIS PAGE: COURTESY OF THE FAMILY. OPPOSITE, TOP LEFT: JUSTIN EISNER. JUDGES: COURTESY OF THE SUBJECTS.

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The Contest Judges

FINALIST

The Corner House Family Durham, North Carolina Top row, from left: Lee Anderson (31), Bonnie Ellis (60), Tony Simpson (70), Bill DeFulvio (31); Middle row, from left: Erin Payne (34), Tikelah Wrein (40); Bottom row, from left: Janice Little (33), Elias Little (19 months), Greg Little (35), JoyAna Little (4) G R E G LI T T L E vividly remembers the day

Tikelah Wrein, affectionately known as Ms. T., moved into the Corner House (northstreetneighborhood.weebly.com/ corner-house), a home of care for people of differing abilities owned by nonprofit Reality Ministries (realityministriesinc .org) and tended to by Greg and his wife, Janice. As Ms. T. pulled up with her things, she stuck her hands out of the car window and yelled, “I’m home! I’m home!” Says Greg, “We’ve been living into that feeling every day.” Before Corner House, Ms. T., who has a developmental disability, had been in and out of group homes that lacked the stability, support, and caring she craved. Greg, who knew Ms. T. from his work with the ministry, wondered, “What if Ms. T. could live with people she loved?” Corner House was born out of that ideal,

and so named because it’s on the corner of the block and reflects the message of Psalm 118, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” As Greg says, “The house is oriented around folks who have been overlooked, and because we live here, too, these residents are the cornerstone of our shared life.” Greg resides in Corner House with Janice and their two kids, Elias and JoyAna, along with the six residents. Greg hesitates to call himself the head of the household. “I’m grateful to live here,” he says. “My kids receive the wisdom of the people here, and learn to create an atmosphere of kindness.” Everyone has chores, some have outside jobs, and all sit down to dinner most nights. The three guiding pillars of the house—prayer, hospitality, and homemaking—help create structure. There’s a chapel for worship and prayer. Homemaking is about cultivating a welcoming place and sharing household to-dos. Bonnie Ellis is in charge of the running grocery list, Tony Simpson is a gardening guru, and Ms. T. is a whiz at dishwashing. But as Greg says, it’s the hospitality pillar that connects everyone. During the pandemic, they hosted Sloan, a neighbor with cerebral palsy, at the house on weekends, to relieve the responsibility of his caregiver. “The residents remind me that we’re all in need in different ways, and all receivers of grace and gifts,” says Sarah Swandell, another neighbor, who nominated the Little family for the contest. Our judges were just as inspired. Said the hosts of the 3rd Hour of Today, “Greg and Janice make it possible for anyone to find a loving home.” At Corner House, residents have space to be who they really are, something they haven’t necessarily had before. “They’ve often been pressed to the periphery of society, whether through poverty or vulnerabilities of some kind,” Greg says. “We want to offer a mutual sense of belonging.” The house’s residents do make for a peculiar family, Greg jokes, but his family wouldn’t have it any other way. “We love being an expression of togetherness in the midst of difference,” Greg says. For the residents, Corner House isn’t a house at all. As Ms. T. perfectly put it, it’s home.

C R A I G M E LV I N 3rd Hour of Today cohost Dad of two

DY L A N D R E Y E R 3rd Hour of Today cohost Mom of two ANGELA C. SANTOMERO Creator, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood; coauthor, Radical Kindness: The LifeChanging Power of Giving and Receiving Mom of two SHEINELLE JONES 3rd Hour of Today cohost Mom of three

KRISTEN BELL Actor and coauthor of The World Needs More Purple People Mom of two

AL ROKER 3rd Hour of Today cohost Dad of three BENJAMIN HART Designer and coauthor of The World Needs More Purple People Dad of two

JULIA EDELSTEIN Editor-in-chief of Parents Mom of two

G R AC E B A S T I DA S Editor-in-chief of Parents Latina Mom of two

YO U Ñ C o v e r C o nt e s t

“For the trauma these kids have been through, they’ve adjusted so well. We honestly couldn’t ask for better.”

The Moss Family Waddell, Arizona Top row, from left: daughter-in-law Jordan (26), Parker (25), Darin (49), Kara (52), Shannon (20), Eva (12); Middle row, from left: Kilik (15), Makenzie (23), Kadence (23), Juan (12), Marisol (15), Drina (10); Bottom row, from left: Keyton (7), Maiya (6), Zachary (5) W H E N DA R I N A N D K A R A M O S S

married in 1994, they talked about the future. Darin wanted four kids; Kara, six. After their fourth was born, they evaluated their situation and wondered if they should stop there. “I told Kara, ‘We can look into foster care or adoption later,’ ” Darin says. He assumed she’d forget that chat. She didn’t. Kara’s hope for six kids has been fulfilled—times two. Today, the Mosses are a happy family of 14. Of course, the path from four kids to 12 brought many twists and turns. The plan was to adopt the first couple of kids they fostered. But it took seven years for the stars to align and all the pieces to fall into place. They grew discouraged, worrying that maybe they weren’t cut out to be adoptive parents. So they continued fostering, taking in a newborn who remained in their care for 14 months. They tried to adopt this child, too, but a family member of the child’s chose to adopt him. Again, the Mosses were

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devastated. Then their caseworker called: A newborn girl needed a home. They picked up Maiya from the hospital; now 6, she was their first adopted child. They then got a call about a boy, Zachary, the brother of the baby they’d raised for 14 months. With Maiya and now Zachary, their second happy adoption, in the mix, Darin realized his calling. “I was looking at my two younger kids and my four older biological kids, and there was a 12-year gap between them. I told my wife, ‘Honey, we’re going to be parents forever; we may as well fill in the gap,” he says. “As soon as I said it, I knew it was what I was meant to do.” They adopted six more children. But the Mosses still wanted to do more. They noticed that when foster kids came to stay with them, they came with either nothing at all or trash bags of dirty, old clothing. One 5-year-old girl came straight from the hospital, owning only the clothes on her back. The Mosses started the organization A Mighty

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COURTESY OF THE FAMILY.

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Change of Heart in 2016. When a kid enters the foster system, their caretakers can post the child’s name and clothing sizes on the website (amchaz.org) . The Mosses will then embroider the child’s name on a duffel bag and load it with new outfits, pajamas, shoes, socks, personal hygiene supplies, a book, and a stuffed animal—things many of these children have never had. Said contest judge Santomero, “It’s clear to me that the Moss family is filled with love. Darin and Kara have the biggest hearts.” The 3rd Hour of Today hosts felt that “selflessness doesn’t even begin to describe them.” To date, their organization, which receives both monetary donations and in-kind donations from companies, has distributed more than 6,000 bags across Arizona. The Mosses’ mission is so moving that it was a stranger, Barbie Boehler, who nominated the family after seeing their story in a local newspaper. They have since become friends. As much love as the Mosses have given, they say they also get it right back. “For the trauma these kids have been through, they’ve adjusted so well,” Darin says. “They’re all doing well in school, have good relationships with friends and family—we honestly couldn’t ask for better.” Darin says that to make a huge difference, one need only start where one is. “You don’t have to change the world today. You just have to be kind to one person,” he says. “And from there it just grows and grows.”

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FOOD STYLING BY DUNCAN FITZPATRICK/PAT BATES. PROP STYLING BY MAEVE SHERIDAN.

Because the cranberry mixture benefits from time to set, this dessert is perfect for prepping in advance.

A Feast With an Extra Side of Gratitude CranberryChocolate Tart For recipe, see page 158.

Thanksgiving is always big on tradition. And this year, familiar rituals and comforting foods feel more worthy of celebration than ever. Whether you’re hosting friends you haven’t seen in ages or keeping things small, here’s a starter kit of customs to share, cool crafts for kids, and new recipes bound to make future appearances. (Just add family.) recipes by A L A N A C H E R N I L A crafts by J O D I L E V I N E photographs by L I N D A X I A O

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Get Your Gourds On A wow-worthy centerpiece can be as simple as lining up colorful mini pumpkins down the middle of the table. And painting a bunch is an entertaining project for kids to take on. (The more, the merrier: We used about two dozen artificial white ones that are easier to paint than the orange kind.) Cover the stems in painter’s tape, then let kids coat them in punchy shades of acrylic craft paint. Relatives can take one home, or you can reuse them year after year. Assorted Harvest White Artificial Baby Boo Pumpkins, $15 for 12; factorydirectcraft.com

“It’s been almost a year and a half since my family was all together. Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime are great for keeping in touch, but nothing beats real-life hugs!” —Veena Crownholm, mom of two and lifestyle blogger

Maple-Glazed Carrots and Parsnips Active Time 25 minutes Total Time 25 minutes Makes 6 servings I N G R E DI E N T S 2 Tbs. unsalted butter 1 lb. carrots (about 6), peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced crosswise into 1-in. pieces 1 lb. parsnips (about 3), peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced crosswise into 1-in. pieces 3 Tbs. pure maple syrup 3 Tbs. water 1½ Tbs. balsamic vinegar 1½ Tbs. Dijon mustard ½ tsp. kosher salt ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper ¼ cup chopped fresh dill MAKE IT

1. Melt butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Add carrots and parsnips, cover the skillet, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender with caramelized edges, about 15 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, whisk together maple syrup, water, vinegar, and mustard in a small bowl. Pour maple mixture over vegetables and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring constantly as the liquid bubbles up and coats vegetables, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with dill.

Vegan Gravy This veggie-stock-based gravy is one that everyone can enjoy, even the omnivores. For recipe, see page 158.

NUTRITION PER SERVING

155 calories; 2g protein; 4g fat (2g sat. fat); 28g carbs; 6g fiber; 14g sugar; 1mg iron; 66mg calcium; 313mg sodium

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“My husband and I did not grow up in the U.S., so we created our own version of the holiday. Some years we take a trip; others we enjoy a feast with relatives. Anything goes!” —Saranya Raghavan, mom of one and bookstagrammer @shelvesofcolor

ButtermilkRanch Rolls For recipe, see page 158.

Brown Butter Green Beans Active Time 30 minutes Total Time 30 minutes Makes 6 servings I N G R E DI E N T S 4 Tbs. unsalted butter, divided 11/2 lbs. green beans or haricots verts, ends trimmed 1 Tbs. water 2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon) 1/3 cup sliced almonds 1/2 tsp. large-flake sea salt MAKE IT

1. Melt 11/2 Tbs. butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add beans and cook, stirring frequently, until they brown and blister in spots, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in water and cover the skillet; continue to cook, stirring often, until beans are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer beans to a large serving bowl and return the skillet to medium heat. Toss beans in lemon juice. 2. Add the remaining 21/2 Tbs. butter to the hot skillet; cook, stirring often, over medium heat until butter turns golden and smells nutty, about 2 minutes. Pour brown butter over beans and return the skillet to the heat. Toast almonds in the pan, stirring constantly, until a few almonds show color, 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle almonds over beans and top with salt. Serve immediately. NUTRITION PER SERVING

134 calories; 3g protein; 10g fat (5g sat. fat); 9g carbs; 4g fiber; 4g sugar; 1mg iron; 58mg calcium; 201mg sodium

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“I’m looking forward to the commotion that comes with more guests. I never imagined saying that because last year was easier to recover from. Thanksgiving should be celebrated with many: family, friends, neighbors, anyone needing community.” —Alexandra Stafford, mom of four, cookbook author, and blogger at Alexandra’s Kitchen

Dress Up Some Silverware Bags Package each guest’s utensils in a colorful bag that kids can make out of the plain brown lunch variety. First, have the kids go outside and gather leaves in different shapes. Next, place a sheet of thin colored paper, like origami paper (Yasutomo Medium Origami Paper Set, $6; michaels.com), over a leaf, and use the side of a crayon to rub over the paper so that the leaf’s imprint is revealed. (Hold the paper firmly with the other hand so it doesn’t scoot around.) Repeat with various shapes and colors of paper and crayon. Cut out each leaf rubbing (an adult should handle the scissors), and fold along the center rib so the leaves’ edges pop up. Then, for each lunch bag, cut a slit a third of the way down on each side of the front of the bag; fold the resulting flap down inside the bag. To make the bag narrower, fold left and right sides around to the back and secure with washi tape. (For bags just the right size, try Desert Green Store Natural Kraft Paper Silverware Bags, $6 for 25; etsy.com.) Adhere a few leaf rubbings to each bag with Glue Dots and tuck silverware inside.

L I F E Ñ C e l e br a t e

Add a Personal Touch Label napkins at place settings with sprigs of fresh thyme in the form of each guest’s first initial. Twist thin floral wire (about 28 gauge) around a stem. If you need to add another piece to make, say, the crossbar of the letter A, or if your stem isn’t long enough, intertwine the sprigs together using wire. (An adult can help a kid crafter by clipping off excess wire with wire cutters.)

DIAL UP THE THANKS “We take turns making toasts at the table, a ritual that holds gratitude and celebration in equal measure. It always makes the meal feel special and our family connected.” —Caroline Wright, mom of two and author of the kids’ cookbook series Little Bakers

“Our family volunteers at a soup kitchen or a food drive. It’s important for the kids to understand that we as a community have to come together and help those in need.”

Let the Kids Be Hosts Too

—Meredith Masony, mom of three and author of Ask Me What’s for Dinner One More Time

“They love making and decorating place cards for the guests. I save them every year, and it’s so cute to look back on their artwork and see how it has developed.”

“We specifically zero in on the turkey and thank it for giving its life so we can have this feast for many days to come.” —Stafford

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—Stafford

“My older son, Eddie, is 11 and helps with everything from finding recipes on Pinterest and shopping to making dishes and cleaning up. Sure, it makes it a little messier and a longer process, but he is learning life skills. It wouldn’t be the same without a cooking fail that we will reminisce about later.” —Crownholm

2021

“They trim vegetables, roll pie dough, and love to mash and whisk. The perk of being behind the scenes—including sneaking tastes along the way—boosts their confidence and investment in the feast ahead.” —Wright

Cornbread Stuffing Active Time 45 minutes Total Time 2 hours Makes 12 servings I N G R E DI E N T S 8 cups crumbled day-old cornbread 2 Tbs. olive oil 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, casings removed 2 small onions, coarsely chopped 3 small celery stalks, chopped 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 Tbs. finely chopped fresh sage 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley 1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted 1/3 cup white-wine vinegar 8 Tbs. unsalted butter, divided, plus more for foil 2 large eggs 11/2 cups chicken stock, plus more as needed MAKE IT

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread cornbread onto two baking sheets lined with parchment. Bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. (Keep oven on.) 2. Heat oil over medium-high in an ovenproof skillet. Cook sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl with cornbread, leaving oil in pan. 3. Add onions, celery, salt, and pepper to skillet and cook over medium, stirring often, 10 to 12 minutes. Add garlic and sage and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 2 minutes. Transfer onion mixture to cornbread mixture. Add parsley and pecans. 4. In same skillet, heat vinegar over medium heat and deglaze pan, scraping up browned bits as mixture boils, until most liquid has evaporated, about 30 seconds. Add 6 Tbs. butter to skillet, stirring often, until melted, 3 minutes. Drizzle vinegar mixture over cornbread mixture. Set skillet aside. 5. Whisk eggs and 11/2 cups stock in a bowl; pour over cornbread mixture. Gently toss, adding more stock, 2 Tbs. at a time, as needed, until cornbread is hydrated. Transfer back to skillet. Cut the remaining 2 Tbs. butter into cubes and sprinkle over cornbread mixture. Cover with buttered foil and bake until a knife inserted into center comes out hot, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven and uncover. Increase oven temperature to 425°F. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Let stuffing rest for 10 minutes. NUTRITION PER SERVING 334 calories; 12g protein; 22g fat (8g sat. fat); 23g carbs; 3g fiber; 6g sugar; 1mg iron; 36mg calcium; 635mg sodium

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F R O M PAG E 1 5 1

NUTRITION PER SERVING

CranberryChocolate Tart

TURKEY-DAY TRADITIONS

Active Time 30 minutes Total Time 8 hours Makes 10 servings I N G R E DI E N T S For the cranberry topping ½ cup fresh orange juice plus 4 tsp. freshly grated zest (from 2 oranges), divided 1 tsp. unflavored gelatin 10 oz. fresh or frozen cranberries ⅓ cup granulated sugar ½ tsp. ground cinnamon For the chocolate-cookie crust 6 oz. chocolate wafer cookies (about 30 cookies), finely ground (1½ cups) ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted 2 Tbs. granulated sugar ¼ tsp. kosher salt For the mascarpone filling 8 oz. mascarpone cheese ⅓ cup confectioners’ sugar ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder ½ cup heavy whipping cream Whipped cream, for topping (optional) MAKE IT

1. Prepare the cranberry topping: Measure ¼ cup orange juice into a bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over juice and let mixture sit for 10 minutes. 2. Heat cranberries, remaining ¼ cup orange juice, orange zest, sugar, and cinnamon in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, until berries are tender and have just begun to burst, 3 to 4 minutes. 3. Pour cranberry mixture through a fine-mesh strainer set over a bowl. Add gelatin mixture to hot liquid in the bowl, and whisk to dissolve gelatin. Stir in strained cranberries, cover, and chill until thickened, at least 6 hours. 4. Prepare the chocolate-cookie crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine ground cookies, butter, sugar, and salt in a bowl; stir until mixture has a wet-sand consistency. Press firmly and evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-in. tart pan with a removable bottom. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until crust is firm and appears dry, 10 minutes. Set aside to cool, about 15 minutes. 5. While crust cools, prepare the mascarpone filling: Combine mascarpone, confectioners’ sugar,

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“Our family is Indian, so we always incorporate a few Indian dishes, like dosa, biryani, and channa masala, into our Thanksgiving meal, in addition to the more traditional casserole, mac ’n’ cheese, and pies.” —Raghavan

330 calories; 3g protein; 21g fat (13g sat. fat); 35g carbs; 3g fiber; 22g sugar; 1mg iron; 35mg calcium; 184mg sodium F R O M PAG E 1 5 3

Vegan Gravy Active Time 15 minutes Total Time 15 minutes Makes 6 servings I N G R E DI E N T S ¼ cup olive oil ¼ cup all-purpose flour 2 Tbs. soy sauce 2 Tbs. nutritional yeast 2 cups vegetable stock, plus more as needed ¾ tsp. poultry seasoning

“We are a dodgeball and Wiffle ball family. It’s fun to see how competitive and intense these simple games get. Often a game will end in tears, but the laughs and joy they bring make the sorrows worth it. The kids learn how to lose (and win!) graciously.” —Stafford

“Thanksgiving is probably the only meal, honestly, that we eat at the dining-room table. We’re the people who eat in front of the TV. So if we’re sitting at the table, it really is a special occasion.” —Masony

½ tsp. Dijon mustard MAKE IT

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Sprinkle flour over oil, and cook, whisking to combine, until the mixture smells nutty and toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Add soy sauce and nutritional yeast, whisking to combine. The mixture will seize up and get chunky. 2. Slowly add vegetable stock to the pan, whisking constantly, until the stock is fully incorporated into the flour mixture and is very smooth. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook, whisking often, until the mixture thickens and can coat the back of a spoon (add more stock if the gravy gets too thick), 8 to 10 minutes. Whisk in poultry seasoning and mustard. Serve warm. NUTRITION PER SERVING

114 calories; 2g protein; 9g fat (1g sat. fat); 6g carbs; 1g fiber; 1g sugar; 1mg iron; 5mg calcium; 469mg sodium F R O M PAG E 1 5 4

ButtermilkRanch Rolls Active Time 30 minutes Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes Makes 12 servings

cocoa powder, and whipping cream in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on low until just incorporated, 30 seconds. Spread into cooled crust, starting in center and spreading filling with an offset spatula to edges. Cover and chill until filling is firm, about 1 hour. 6. Spread cranberry topping over mascarpone filling; cover loosely and chill until ready to serve. Top each slice with a dollop of whipped cream, if using.

2 Tbs. dry ranch-dressing seasoning (from one 1-oz. pkg.) Nonstick cooking spray MAKE IT

1. Combine water, buttermilk, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir gently and let the mixture sit until slightly foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir in softened butter, the sugar, and salt. 2. Add 2½ cups flour, and mix with a wooden spoon until dough comes together in a shaggy mass. Attach the dough hook to the stand mixer. With the mixer on low speed, add ranch seasoning, then add the remaining ½ cup flour, ¼ cup at a time, until a smooth ball begins to form, 1 minute. Increase speed to medium, and knead until ball of dough becomes soft and feels elastic, 4 to 5 minutes. (It’s okay if dough is a bit sticky.) 3. Coat a large bowl with cooking spray and add dough, rolling it so it’s coated with oil. Lightly cover with plastic wrap, and let dough rise at room temperature until doubled in size, 20 to 30 minutes. 4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape into a rough 5x8-in. rectangle, gently deflating it as you go. Cut dough in half lengthwise, then cut each strip crosswise into 6 equal pieces. 5. Coat a 9x13-in. baking dish with cooking spray. Shape each piece of dough into a ball, spraying your hands if necessary to prevent sticking. Transfer rolls to dish and cover with plastic wrap. Let rolls rise until doubled in size and touching, 25 to 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F toward the end of this rise. 6. Brush tops of rolls with melted butter. Bake until rolls are golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. NUTRITION PER SERVING

173 calories; 4g protein; 5g fat (3g sat. fat); 27g carbs; 1g fiber; 2g sugar; 2mg iron; 30mg calcium; 279mg sodium

I N G R E DI E N T S ¼ cup water, heated to about 100°F 1 cup buttermilk, heated to about 100°F 1 Tbs. plus ½ tsp. instant yeast (from two ¼-oz. envelopes) 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, softened, and 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted, divided 1 Tbs. granulated sugar ¾ tsp. kosher salt 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed

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Morning Glory

With all the prepping for Thanksgiving, it’s easy to forget that you’ll actually need to feed your family breakfast that weekend too. These easy and delicious Mexican-inspired meals are the perfect change of pace from turkey leftovers. recipes by PA I G E G R A N D J E A N / photographs by A N T O N I S A C H I L L E O S

FOOD STYLING BY TINA STAMOS. PROP STYLING BY AUDREY DAVIS.

OPEN HERE

Serve your crew a colorful Sweet-Potato-Tot Casserole. For recipe, turn the page.

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SWEET-POTATO-TOT CASSEROLE

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CHILAQUILES VERDES

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Better taste. Better nutrition. Better eggs.®

L I F E—B r e a k f a s t

Morning Glory

FOOD STYLING BY TINA STAMOS. PROP STYLING BY AUDREY DAVIS.

recipes by PA I G E G R A N D J E A N / photographs by A N T O N I S A C H I L L E O S

Serve your crew a colorful Sweet-Potato-Tot Casserole. For recipe, turn the page.

L I F EÑB r e a k f a s t

Sweet-Potato-Tot Casserole Active Time 20 minutes Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes Makes 6 servings I N G R E DI E N T S Nonstick cooking spray 1 large jalapeño pepper (optional) 8 oz. Mexican chorizo, casing removed 1½ cups chopped onion 14 oz. frozen sweet-potato tots ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (2 oz.) 4 large eggs 2 Tbs. whole milk ¾ tsp. kosher salt 2 Tbs. Mexican crema MAKE IT

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 1½-qt. baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. 2. Thinly slice half of the jalapeño, if using, and set aside. (To make it less spicy, remove the seeds.) Finely chop remaining half of the jalapeño to equal about 1½ Tbs. 3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chorizo and cook, stirring occasionally to crumble, until just starting to brown, about 2 minutes. Add onion and chopped jalapeño, if using, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 6 to 8 minutes. 4. Arrange tots in an even layer in prepared baking dish. Top with chorizo mixture and cheese. Whisk together eggs, milk, and salt. Pour egg mixture over tots. 5. Bake casserole until golden brown and set in the middle, about 45 minutes. Drizzle with Mexican crema and top with sliced jalapeño, if using. NUTRITION PER SERVING 375 calories;

Chilaquiles Verdes

MAKE IT

13g protein; 24g fat (7g sat. fat); 26g carbs; 2g fiber; 8g sugar; 2mg iron; 134mg calcium; 704mg sodium

Active Time 20 minutes Total Time 25 minutes Makes 4 servings

1. Preheat broiler to high. Heat 1 Tbs. oil in a 10-in. broiler-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add zucchini and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is tender and lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Transfer zucchini to a medium bowl; wipe skillet clean.

I N G R E DI E N T S 2 Tbs. olive oil, divided 2 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into ¼-in. slices ½ tsp. kosher salt 4 large eggs 5 oz. unsalted tortilla chips (5 cups) 1 cup salsa verde ½ cup crumbled queso fresco (2 oz.), divided ¼ cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves (optional) ¼ cup thinly sliced radishes

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2. Heat ½ Tbs. oil in skillet over medium. Crack 2 eggs into the skillet, and cook until whites are set and yolks are still runny, 4 to 5 minutes, or to desired doneness. Transfer eggs to a large plate

and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining oil and eggs. 3. Arrange tortilla chips in skillet; top with salsa verde and zucchini. Broil until heated through and chips are lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Layer on top of chips in this order: half of the queso fresco, eggs, remaining queso fresco, cilantro, if using, and radishes. NUTRITION PER SERVING 368 calories; 12g protein; 22g fat (4g sat. fat); 31g carbs; 4g fiber; 5g sugar; 3mg iron; 151mg calcium; 704mg sodium

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Pick Colors Like a Pro These design experts (who happen to be parents) share a foolproof formula for choosing just the right paint schemes for your family’s favorite spaces. by L A U R A F E N T O N

comes from pillows, art, or other little touches. Like any décor “rule,” this one is not hard-and-fast. You might think of 60-30-10 as a helpful starting point that can go in many different directions.

Peek at a color wheel. If you need inspiration while choosing three colors, you might start by googling “color wheel” for some can’t-fail combinations (this is color theory at work!). Any colors that are neighbors on the wheel (say, red and purple) go together automatically, as do colors that are opposite one another (like blue and orange). You also have the freedom to lighten or darken the shades, maximizing the possibilities. Julia Marcum, a mom of three in North Carolina and half of the couple behind the blog Chris Loves Julia, riffed on oranges and blues for her daughter’s room, with navy wallpaper, a lighter blue ceiling, and apricot drapes.

S P E C I A LI S T S

in the design world have long leaned into an in-the-know guideline to brighten various rooms: It’s called the 60-30-10 rule, and you don’t have to be a decorating professional to work its magic. The idea,

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in short, is to land on a trio of colors, with 60 percent as the dominant hue, usually the walls. A second color accounts for 30 percent, from furniture, bedding, or a rug (or even a painted accent wall). Your final 10 percent

Thanks to shots of gold and white, a pink room doesn’t feel overly princessy. (See next page for paints.)

If you love one color, you can still go all in. “You don’t need to select three completely different colors for the 60-30-10 rule to work,” Marcum points out. If your kid adores purple, you can use light, medium, and dark tones in their room. A monochromatic look is often more interesting this way.

LAURA GUMMERMAN FOR A BEAUTIFUL MESS.

Check out nature. Another helpful way to decide on a combo: Picture the shades of the sunset if, say, you’re craving pinks and oranges. Sky and forest colors—blues, greens, and browns—make as good partners indoors as they do out. (Browns are earthy and neutral and can pair with almost anything.) Green and most bright colors jibe well too—think leaves and petals.

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L I F EÑD é c o r

Expert Picks Designers share their go-to combos using the 60-30-10 rule. (Feel free to mix each trio up, making your favorite of the shades the star.)

Pink + Gold + White ( S H O W N O N P R E V I O U S PA G E )

60: ECOS Strawberry Whip

30: Valspar Mustard Glaze

10: Valspar The Perfect White

“My 4-year-old’s room is small, but it feels so happy that it’s one of my favorites in the house.” Pink walls celebrate the child’s favorite color and provide a perfect backdrop for white and yellow flowers. —Laura Gummerman, mom of one in Pittsburgh, contributor at the lifestyle company A Beautiful Mess, @gummergal

Ivory + Violet + Emerald 60: Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee 30: Benjamin Moore French Violet

Teal + Aqua + Navy (ABOVE)

10: Benjamin Moore Nile Green

This straight-from-the-garden combo is all about Zen vibes. Start with the cloud white, then segue to the darker shades: “The blue-violet reminds me of hydrangeas. When you toss in a few green accents, they have the calming quality of leaves.” —Cara Fox, mom of five in Holladay, Utah, owner and lead designer of The Fox Group

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60: Clare Deep Dive

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30: DunnEdwards Caribbean Cruise

10: DunnEdwards Blue Earth

“Using a dark blue on walls can be dramatic, but we knew that it would make this grown-up bedroom feel sophisticated. We then layered on other blues with the headboard and the bedding. The result is cocoon-like, comforting, and chic!” —Joy Cho, mom of two in Los Angeles, founder of Oh Joy!

Green + Coral + Tan

Stone + Turquoise + Rust 60: Behr Cotton Grey

(BELOW)

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30: Benjamin Moore Varsity Blues

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10: Behr Rusty Gate

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60: SherwinWilliams Evergreens

30: SherwinWilliams Coral Island

10: Valspar Warm Cappuccino

Pink and green are opposites on the color wheel, so they pair flawlessly. Any variations on the shades work, but these earthy tones, teamed with tan, feel grown-up yet still fun. “This unexpected combo looks amazing in a living or dining room or a study space.” —Ginger Curtis, mom of five in Richland Hills, Texas, and principal designer of Urbanology Designs

Gray has remained a popular wall color for its homey feel and not-quite-white utility. It also sets off a gem tone, such as a turquoise couch or rug, beautifully. “I’ve used a variation of this palette in living rooms. Adding rust accents—throw pillows or a blanket—makes the room feel invigorating and happy.”

OPPOSITE: PHOTOGRAPH BY BETHANY NAUERT. INTERIORS BY CLEO MURNANE OF PROJECT M PLUS AND JOY CHO. THIS PAGE: IDEAL HOME/FUTURE CONTENT HUB. ALL PAINT SWATCHES: COURTESY OF THE BRANDS.

—Shamika Lynch, mom of two in Jersey City, New Jersey, and founder of Maximizing Tiny, a small-space design service

Pale Gray + Slate Blue + Sage 60: SherwinWilliams Tinsmith

30: Clare Set in Stone

10: Valspar Green Water

If you want to keep a heavily trafficked room like the kitchen, bathroom, or living room looking clean, consider these simple hues, which manage to be muted but not boring. “Together, they make a really fun, vintage, cool trio. Your room’s lighting will bring out the undertones of the gray in different ways, so testing the color in the space is a must.” —Shaolin Low, of Studio Shaolin, mom of twins and a designer in Honolulu

L I F E ÑT r a v e l

The New All-Inclusives

A trove of family-focused resorts has opened in the Caribbean and Mexico, which means there’s a getaway to match every family’s vacation vibe. by K A R E N C I C E R O

Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda This resort debuted on a large stretch of a white-sand beach in the Dominican Republic in early 2020, then reopened this summer. Why Kids Have It Made Willy Wonka would appreciate the resort’s secret chocolate room filled with sweets and a chocolate fountain created from locally sourced cocoa. While dining at Cacao & Co. restaurant, families receive clues to crack the code to enter the room. Supervised clubs keep kids and teens entertained with experiences ranging from trapeze training to pickleball. “My kids didn’t want to leave the club,” says Instagram travel influencer Sally Butan (@thebutanclan). “At night, we loved dancing to the live music together.” How You Can Get a Breather

Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda

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While your mini-mes are busy, you can head to the adultsonly Zen Oasis. It’s in a lush part of the resort surrounded by palm trees. There you can order a cocktail at the swim-up bar, run on the nature trail, or take a yoga class in a treetop palapa. Or book a sunset horseback ride on the beach. Starts at $192 per adult, per night, including room, meals, and most activities. Kids ages 4 to 15 are half-price; younger kids are free. At press time, the resort requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of arrival.

Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya

in 2020. It uses an estimated 50 percent less energy than a typical property. Why Kids Have It Made

OPPOSITE: CLUB MED. THIS PAGE, TOP: NICKELODEON HOTELS & RESORTS RIVIERA MAYA. BOTTOM: PALMAÏA — THE HOUSE OF AÏA.

Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya Tucked away on Mexico’s western coast, the second Nick-themed resort rolled out the orange carpet to families in August. (The first location, which won a Parents Family Travel Award in 2019, is in the Dominican Republic.) Why Kids Have It Made The massive water park with ten slides, a PAW Patrol section for younger kids, and daily slimings from Nick characters succeeds in its mission to blow little minds. “The look on my 4-year-old’s face when the water canyons came into view was beyond belief,” says Brad DeYoung, of Frisco, Texas. “She kicked off her shoes and started running toward them.” DeYoung says the water park’s design is thoughtful: Play structures for similar ages are clustered together, the toddler area is shaded, and the bottom of the pool is lined with rubber mats. How You Can Get a Breather

You score your own bedroom and bath. All accommodations are suites; most have a master bedroom and en suite bath, plus a Murphy bed, a double sleeper sofa, and another bathroom. The design is colorful and modern, with framed Nick art. Hire a

babysitter or put kids ages 4 to 12 in the supervised club (no extra cost) and opt for a tequila tasting or a spa day. Try the open-air Yacht Club for meals. Caretakers whisk kids off to their own seating area so you can enjoy the food and ocean views. Starts at $259 per person, per night, including room, meals, and most activities. At press time, a COVID test isn’t required to enter, but you’ll need it to fly back. The resort offers testing.

Palmaïa — The House of AïA Named after the endangered palma chît tree, the eco-chic wellness resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, opened

Palmaïa— The House of AïA

A Waldorf-inspired program for children ages 3 to 12 includes enriching activities like baking bread, strolling around a path with fairy houses, and painting with watercolors. “Treasure hunts are one of the kids’ favorite things to do,” says program director Laura Diaz. “We tell them a story that supplies all the places and clues, and then they go on a mission during our jungle or beach walk.” How You Can Get a Breather

You’re assigned Nomadic Guides, who take care of all the logistics and whims. (Need more kombucha in the mini fridge? Done!) While the kids are at their club, take an art class, get an astrological-chart reading, and have a peaceful lunch. All of the resort’s menu items are plant-based, with some optional meat add-ons. The mango-chia pudding is a favorite of all ages. Starts at $600 per person, per night, including room, meals, and most activities . At press time, a COVID test isn’t required to enter, but you’ll need it to fly back. The resort offers testing.

Coming Soon! Some resorts to keep on your radar later this year and next Rock House Turks & Caicos This Mediterraneaninspired getaway on Providenciales’s North Shore features 46 resort-style homes, many with their own swimming pool. Ideal for traveling with grandparents or other extended family, the property has a yoga pavilion and walking trails as well as the largest infinity pool on the island. Opening in January 2022.

Beaches Runaway Bay Resort, Jamaica The all-inclusive chain, known for its Sesame Street–themed activities, is redeveloping an existing resort on the island’s quieter North Coast. With bike trails, a climbable treehouse, and farm-to-table restaurants, the resort is all about bringing families closer to nature. Opening date hasn’t been announced yet.

Hilton Cancun, Mexico Got a toddler and a teen? This Mayan coast resort has fun clubs, including supervised water sports, for a variety of ages. A restaurant with unlimited ice cream and churros is the proverbial cherry on top. Opening November 7.

Ages + Stages ADVICE AS YOUR CHILD GROWS

P R E G N A N CY

HOW TO

Manage Stretch Marks by A D R I E N N E FA R R

Understand what they are.

Up to 90 percent of pregnant women can develop stretch marks (also called striae). When they first appear, they may be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown, or dark brown, depending on your skin color. They are caused by extreme growth of the skin beyond the limits of its elasticity, and are most likely to develop when the skin is stretched rapidly, as it is during pregnancy. Although anyone can develop them, you may have a higher risk of stretch marks if other people in your family have gotten them. No one method has proven to be 100 percent successful in preventing stretch marks, but there are some things that may help minimize their appearance if you get them. Take your vitamins.

Collagen and elastin fibers in the skin are necessary to keep rapidly growing skin taut. The stronger they are, the less likely they are to break—which is what causes stretch marks. To make sure that your skin maintains its natural elasticity, eat plenty of foods that are rich in vitamins E and C, zinc, and silica, all of which help

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form collagen. Vitamin C in particular is an important antioxidant that aids in protecting tissue from damage. Vitamins B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin) are also a great defense against stretch marks and can help promote and maintain healthy skin. Make sure to hydrate.

Staying hydrated will not only help maintain your skin’s elasticity during pregnancy, but it’s also essential for supporting skin’s natural cell renewal. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pregnant women should drink eight to 12 cups of water daily. Using moisturizing serums can also keep your skin hydrated. Check with your doctor before treating stretch marks on your own, though, because some products contain ingredients such as retinol that could harm your baby. Consult a dermatologist.

If you do have lasting stretch marks and want to have them removed (to the degree that this is possible), speak to a board-certified dermatologist. The doctor may be able to offer solutions to help minimize stretch marks’ appearance, but advanced treatments will generally be done after your pregnancy. Early stretch marks, which can be reddish, are easier to manage because the presence of functioning blood vessels makes them more responsive to

Staying hydrated will help maintain your skin’s elasticity and support its natural cell removal.

treatment. As stretch marks mature, they turn lighter and are more difficult to deal with, but the options that your dermatologist may discuss include chemical peels, radio frequency, laser therapy, and microdermabrasion. Sources: Parents advisor Kim Nichols, M.D., founder of Nichols MD of Greenwich, in Connecticut; Mona Sadeghpour, M.D., cofounder of the SkinMed Institute, a board-certified dermatologist, and a fellowship-trained laser and cosmetic surgeon.

0 –12 MONTHS

HOW TO

Deal With Diaper Rash by M I C H E L L E C R O U C H

Don’t freak out.

No matter how diligent you are about diaper changes, at some point you’ll probably open your baby’s diaper and encounter the red splotches and inflamed skin that are telltale signs of a diaper rash. When it happens, take a deep breath; it doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. Almost all babies have bouts of diaper rash because their skin is so sensitive and they poop and pee so often. Schedule air time.

Going diaper-free lets the skin breathe and heal. Right after a poop or a bath, leave your baby in the buff and try some tummy time on a towel. Even five to ten minutes can make a big difference. In a rush? Give your munchkin a 30-second blast with the blow-dryer on the cool setting. Use ointment regularly.

Make sure your baby’s bottom is dry, then apply a thin layer of diaper-rash ointment. It creates a physical barrier to prevent the skin from coming into contact with urine and stool. Most contain petroleum, zinc oxide, or both, which help seal out wetness and

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A G E S + S TA G E S

promote healing. Be wary of those that have fragrances or a long list of ingredients, even if they’re organic. They can be irritants and make the rash worse. Clean gently.

The chemicals in some commercial wipes may bother your baby’s skin. When they have a rash, try using a soft washcloth with warm water instead. You can also try a baking-soda bath to soothe raw skin and promote healing. Dump a quarter cup of baking soda into their bath and let them soak for ten minutes. Steer clear of laundry detergent or dryer sheets with color or fragrance for your baby’s clothes, especially if you use cloth diapers. Choose breathable clothing like cotton instead of polyester. And even though baby powder used to be a changingtable staple, experts now say parents should avoid it because it can be inhaled and cause breathing problems in babies. Contact your pediatrician.

If your baby’s diaper rash blisters or bleeds, reach out to your pediatrician for help. Some diaper rashes develop into bacterial, fungal, or yeast infections that call for a prescription to clear them up. Fortunately, as kids grow, their skin toughens up and they have fewer bowel movements, so it shouldn’t be long before diaper rash is a distant memory. Sources: Kristen Bruno, M.D., a Washington University pediatrician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital; Neal Davis, M.D., a pediatrician and medical director of pediatric communitybased care for Intermountain Healthcare, in Salt Lake City.

family’s life. Those simple, everyday interactions—smiling, talking, and playing with your child—set the stage for later friendships. Babies as young as 6 months may be interested and excited about seeing a peer, but kids ages 1 and 2 years are still very self-focused. They tend to be curious about other kids, but they’re easily frustrated when these children don’t do what they want. So if your child hasn’t been able to spend time with peers in the past year, don’t worry that they are missing out; it won’t harm their development, and there is no pressure to play catch-up. And many kids don’t start playdates until preschool, so there’s no rush. But if you want to begin, now can be a time to slowly dip your child’s feet into the social waters, if you take the right precautions. They just may be curious about other kids, even if they don’t actually want to play with them. Set the scene.

Supervised environments with room to run and explore, like a playground or a backyard, give kids 1 and 2 years old the chance to interact safely and manage how close or far apart they are from each other. Have toys or activities on hand, but don’t expect the kids to play a specific game or even do things together. Put away any item that’s very precious to your child. Sharing is a challenge at this age! Also, keep in mind that an hour is long enough for a playdate now. Any longer than that makes conflict more likely (think “stolen” toys and tired, grumpy kids). Manage your expectations.

1 –2 Y E A R S

HOW TO

Plan First Playdates by R E B E C C A R A KO W I T Z

There’s no pressure.

From birth, your child has already been doing a lot of socializing with you and other important people in your

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At around 18 months, kids show definite preferences for some children over others. Usually, they like kids whom they see often and who like doing the same things they enjoy. While you may picture your child and their friend playing together, it is more typical for kids this age to engage in parallel play. This means they are playing the same way near each other but not with each other. A playdate is an opportunity for your child to get comfortable being around other kids. They may imitate or simply watch one another. Your child is learning

just by being in the same space with other kids, even if they’re not interacting directly. Go with the flow.

If you feel that your child doesn’t have what you consider to be appropriate social skills, it’s totally fine. Withdrawn or aggressive behaviors are typical when young children don’t know how to handle a situation. Pushing can be common at this age because kids are focused on what they want and not so good at using their words or imagining someone else’s feelings. Aggressive behavior is often short-lived and more extreme in younger children, so try not to overreact. Instead, do your best to gently and patiently help your child speak up kindly or redirect their attention to a new activity. Getting along with others is complicated, even for bigger people. So creating opportunities for your child to play with other kids and offering caring guidance to get through those unavoidable rough spots are great ways to help your child begin to figure out the social world. If you have concerns regarding your child’s social skills, talk with their pediatrician. Sources: Parents advisor Eileen Kennedy-Moore, Ph.D., a psychologist and author of Growing Friendships; Tovah P. Klein, Ph.D., director of the Barnard Center for Toddler Development and author of How Toddlers Thrive.

3–4 YEARS

HOW TO

Introduce Board Games by K AT E R O C K W O O D

Start simple.

Kids’ first forays into board games should be all about the basics—learning to take turns, count spaces, make decisions, and follow directions. That’s why classics like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders are such great starting points for preschoolers. But

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A G E S + S TA G E S

if you’re looking to branch out a little, try a game such as First Orchard that introduces concepts like color matching and simple decision making (and it can be played solo too). And don’t forget about dice-based games. They teach an important skill that really takes off at this age: “subitizing,” or being able to look at the dots on dice and know the number without counting.

5–6 YEARS

HOW TO

Give Them Confidence to Speak Up by M A RY N L I L E S

Downplay winning.

Board games are often a kid’s first experience with losing. And yes, there may be tears, but that can actually be kind of a good thing. Games are a chance to teach kids basic sportsmanship and that it’s okay to make mistakes. If your child gets upset when they lose, tell them: “I’m proud of you for taking turns and trying your best. I know it can be hard to lose, and I can’t wait to play with you again.” To keep things encouraging, include games with cooperative play like Busytown, Feed the Woozle, and Race to the Treasure! Stretch their muscles.

Board games aren’t just good for the mind and the emotions—they can boost kids’ physical development too. Games like Gumball Grab or The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game! use tools that give the pincer grasp a workout. That’s perfect for kids who are almost ready to write. And for a game that gets kids hopping, skipping, jumping, and walking backward, try Marvel’s I Can Do That! Hero Training Game.

Tell them fear is normal.

Being comfortable speaking to others, whether one-on-one or in front of a group, will make it easier for your child to convey information and make social connections. Although facing an audience of classmates is not the same as facing a ferocious beast, it can feel just as scary to your kid. Their worries about the crowd’s reaction, such as being teased by peers or asked a question they can’t answer, can give them butterflies, sweaty palms, and a racing heartbeat. But let them know that this fight-or-flight response is natural and that they’ll learn to overcome jitters with practice. Help them with technique.

Encourage your child to practice using confident body language by standing tall, smiling into the mirror while speaking, and making eye contact with the “audience.” You might help them learn to project by using puppets to model the difference between speaking

Source: Chelsey Rosen, Psy.D., an adolescent and adult psychologist at Manhattan Psychology Group.

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Rehearse together.

Show your child that the same set of words or sentences can carry different meanings, depending on their inflection and presentation. Try using an exercise dubbed “I can’t believe this is happening.” Have your child say that phrase using various emotions—excitement, shock, or anger, for example—and make up a scenario in which each expression of the phrase could be appropriately used. To make it even more personal, choose a phrase that they often use and do the same exercise. Get experience IRL.

The next time you go out to eat, urge your child to order their meal themself. At dinner, ask them to share a story about their day, or help them dial Grandma for a phone update that will get them chatting. Having them pipe up in familiar situations will prepare them for moments in the spotlight, at school or elsewhere. Sources: Jackson Chow, director of Communication Academy, in Cupertino, California; Stacey A. Marshall, author of Captain Courage and the World’s Most Shocking Secret.

7– 9 Y E A R S

HOW TO

Handle Clothing Conflicts

Have fun as a family.

One of the best gifts you can give your kids is uninterrupted playtime together. It’s good for your relationship and their mental health (even if playing Chutes and Ladders for the 100th time might not be so good for yours). When it’s game time, clear out the distractions—power down all devices, try to forget about the sink full of dishes that’s waiting for you, and just focus on being present with your kiddo.

up and mumbling. Explain that taking deep breaths before talking, slowing down, and increasing their voice volume can help too.

by K AT E R O C K W O O D

Explain that taking deep breaths before talking, slowing down, and increasing their voice volume can help too.

Tap into their inner designer.

Your child may be increasingly interested in establishing their own sense of style and have strong feelings about what they like. It’s best to establish some basic rules (say, fresh undies and socks daily, nothing with holes in it), and try to let go of your

A G E S + S TA G E S

Together make a “weekend” drawer so they can grab what they want on Saturdays and Sundays.

clothing choices. Stash a spare set of shoes or a sweater in their backpack or in the car just in case. It’ll be a wonderful welcome, even if they don’t tell you so. Sources: Barbara Greenberg, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Fairfield, Connecticut; Maggie Mamen, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Ottawa, Ontario.

1 0 –1 2 Y E A R S

worry over some of the other combos, like a leopard-print top, pastel bottoms, and mismatched socks. If it irks you when your kid’s clothes clash, it might be more about your own fears of being judged as a parent than about any real damage that stripes and polka dots might cause together. And who knows? You might be raising the next set decorator for feature films. Offer options.

Obviously, different seasons and settings require different attire. When you ask open-ended questions like “What do you want to wear to the restaurant tonight?” you could be inviting a battle. Instead, just explain the dress code (“You can’t wear your wrestling T-shirt to dinner this time”), then offer your kid two or three parent-approved choices (“Would you rather wear this dress tonight or your nice blue pants?”). Such a practice helps teach your kid how to tailor their choices while still empowering them with a bit of control. Your kid’s not allowed to wear logos to school? Together make a “weekend” drawer so they can grab what they want on Saturdays and Sundays. Let them learn for themself.

If your second-grader decides to wear flip-flops in a rainstorm, you can fuss with them over it or let their feet get wet. Sometimes the most effective teacher is Mother Nature (as long as your kid isn’t at risk for frostbite, of course). The next time you feel a major meltdown brewing over the need for a jacket, take a deep breath and let them handle the natural consequences of their bad

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HOW TO

Respect Their “Alone Time” by J E N N A W I R T H

Give them space.

Everyone deserves some privacy, and as kids transition from childhood to adolescence, it’s very common for them to crave it. But not because they’re up to no good. At this age, kids are juggling the demands of school, peer pressure, home, and social media, which can all be stressful. They are becoming increasingly aware of the opinions and perspectives of others and are motivated by achievement and social reinforcement. Allowing your child to have some space away from others helps them reflect and process what has gone on in their life—and recharge their battery.

expectations, which can influence their behaviors, actions, and strategies. Because of this, your kid’s authentic creativity can suffer. But when your child has time to be on their own, they’re able to explore new interests and generate their ideas without worrying about what others think. The pride and satisfaction they feel from learning what they can do themself, and the ability to enjoy their own company, can then boost their sense of self. Support their efforts.

The most important thing for you to do is recognize and support your child’s growing sense of independence by limiting your feedback, letting them make mistakes that don’t have major consequences, and not overscheduling them. You should also make sure that you and your partner model this behavior in your own lives to help your child understand that everyone needs downtime. And remember, when they prefer to be behind their closed door, it isn’t a rejection of you and doesn’t mean they’re trying to keep things from you. They’re enjoying getting to know who they are, which can actually make your relationship stronger in the long run. Sources: Parents advisor Lisa Damour, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Shaker Heights, Ohio, cohost of the Ask Lisa podcast, and senior advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University; Parents advisor Wayne Fleisig, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at Children’s of Alabama Behavioral Health in Birmingham; Caroline Fulton, Psy.D., a child and adolescent psychologist at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, in Winfield, Illinois.

Promote self-sufficiency.

Your child is becoming more responsible, and one of the hardest challenges they face is gaining independence from you while still living at home. Giving them some room to breathe offers them the opportunity to make decisions as well as organize and direct their time. Providing excessive supervision can be harmful to your relationship because it can make them believe the world is dangerous or that they’re not capable of doing things on their own. Foster creativity and self-esteem.

In general, when kids are around others, they tend to be mindful of certain social

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Berman, 380 Lafayette Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10003; Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Attn: Selwyn Notelovitz, 6300 Bee Cave Rd., Building One, Austin, TX 78746; Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan, Attn: Mary Abbott, 1 York St., Suite 1900, Toronto, ON M5J 06B; State Street Global Advisors (SSgA), Attn: Christopher Micah Baker, Channel Center, 1 Iron Street, Boston, MA 02210; Norges Bank Investment Management, Attn: Stanislav Boiadjiev, Bankplassen 2, PO Box 1179 Sentrum, Oslo, NO Q8 0107; Geode Capital Management LLC, Attn: Jeffrey Miller, 100 Summer St., 12th Floor, Boston, MA 02110; Northern Trust Investments Inc. (Investment Management), Attn: Robert P. Browne, 50 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60603; D. E. Shaw & Co. LP., Attn: Nathan Thomas, 1166 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10036; GAMCO Asset Management Inc., Attn: Douglas R. Jamieson, One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580; Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc., Attn: Jonathan De St. Paer, 211 Main St., San Francisco, CA 94105; Stewart Capital Advisors LLC, Attn: Malcolm Polley, 800 Philadelphia Street, Indiana, PA 15701; PPM America, Inc., Attn: Thomas Barrus, 225 Wacker Dr., Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60606; Through some of the nominees listed above, the E.T. Meredith and Bohen families and family foundations own, directly or beneficially, approximately 12 percent of the issued and outstanding stock of the corporation. Each nominee listed above holds stock for one or more stockholders. 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgages, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 percent or more of Total amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Securities: None. 12. Tax Status (For completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at nonprofit rates). Check one: The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: __ Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months __ Has Changed During Preceding 12 Months (Publisher must submit explanation of change with this statement) Not applicable. 13. Publication Title: Parents October 2021 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 2,034,380 a. Total number of copies (Net press run): b. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Outside-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions Stated 1,740,783 on PS Form 3541: (2) In-County Paid/Requested Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: 0 (3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter 1,683 Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS: (4) Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS: 0 1,742,466 c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: d. Nonrequested Distribution (by Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Outside-County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541: 277,094 (2) In-County Nonrequested Copies included on PS Form 3541: 0 (3) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail: 1,991 0 (4) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: 279,085 e. Total Nonrequested Distribution: 2,021,551 f. Total Distribution 12,830 g. Copies not Distributed: 2,034,380 h. Total: 86.19% i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: No. of Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 2,035,000 a. Total number of copies (Net press run) b. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Outside-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions Stated 1,727,600 on PS Form 3541: (2) In-County Paid/Requested Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: 0 (3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS: 1,266 (4) Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS: 0 c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 1,728,866 d. Nonrequested Distribution (by Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Outside-County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541: 278,680 (2) In-County Nonrequested Copies included on PS Form 3541: 0 (3) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail: 2,200 0 (4) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail 280,880 e. Total Nonrequested Distribution: 2,009,746 f. Total Distribution: 25,254 g. Copies not Distributed: 2,035,000 h. Total: 86.02% i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 16. Not applicable 17. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requester Publication is required and will be printed in the November 2021 issue of this publication. 18. Signature and title of editor, publisher, business manager, or owner Chris Susil, VP/Planning & Analysis. Date: September 20, 2021. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/ or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

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GIGGLES Preston, 3 While at her grandparents’ house, my daughter lost a tooth. She was worried the Tooth Fairy wouldn’t know where she was and said, “Can you send her a text message?”

Brittney Jarrett Sandy, UT

Rani Shankar Queens, NY

Cali, 4

My daughter was telling me she remembers being in my belly. “It was so, so dark, and I didn’t have my iPad.”

Alli, 6 One day, my daughter told me, “When I get older, I can’t wait to wear purple eyeshadow under my eyes like you, Mom!”

Clairisse Doswell Upper Marlboro, MD

Shelley Deriger Ottawa, Ont., Canada

Zella, 3

Got a Funny Kid Quote to Share?

Emily, 3 While using hand sanitizer, my daughter asked, “Do you think my germs are running away screaming ‘Ahhhh!!!’?”

Hover your phone’s camera over the smart code for a chance to be featured. Or email kidquotes@ parents.com. See the abbreviated terms on page 178.

PA R E N T S

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FredaMae Christian Jackson, MO

2021

Zella was looking at a human-body book with her grandpa. When he told her about where the kidneys are, she asked, “When I grow up, will I have adult-neys?” Bree Tischleder Portland, OR

SANDRA FREIJ. PARENTS (ISSN 1083-6373); November 2021, Vol. 96, No. 11, is published monthly by Meredith Corporation, 1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023. Periodicals postage paid at Des Moines, IA, and at additional mailing offices. Subscription prices, $15.98 per year in the U.S.; $27.00 (U.S. dollars) in Canada; $49.00 (U.S. dollars) overseas. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Parents, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508. In Canada: mailed under Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40069223; Canadian BN 12348 2887 RT. © Meredith Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Your bank may provide updates to the card information we have on file. You may opt out of this service at any time. Printed in the U.S.A.

My son asked, “Can we go to Costco and get a brother?”

Tabitha, 7

HOLLY JOLLY HAIR DAYS!

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Parents - November 2021

Articles inside

Editor’s Note