Parenting Tips & Advice

Parenting articles

I'm not one to dole out parenting advice as I'm still figuring it all out myself with three boys. But along the way I've come to collect quite a few tips, tricks and lots of resources to help make parenting easier!

You can also do a search in the search bar found at the top of the page, or search by topic or category that's found in a pulldown menu on the right-hand side.

Popular parenting articles can be found below, they're a great place to get started!

Making Time for Myself

10 Tips for Cleaning Up the Mess After Fun Activities

Talk About School with Your Kids: Questions to Ask

Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?

The Latest Portraits of the Kids!

ABC Guide to be a Hands on Mom

What I Wish Moms Would Say: Parenting Is…

10 Top Toys for Builders

12 Things I Gotta Do Before the Baby Arrives!

How to Cope with Night Terrors

Family Challenge: Get Outside as a Family

Proud Moments: The unRecognized Firsts

Getting to Sleep after Daylight Savings Time

Parenting: Be your Child’s Advocate for a Better Education

Parenting : On Motherhood

Learning to Let Go of Creativity Control

Allowing Kids to be Independent

How to Teach Kids Responsibility

30 Days to Hands on Play : Family Time

Seven Mom Tips : Activia Selects

How to Referee Fighting Boys

How to Discipline a Demanding 2 Year Old

Raising Kids is Tough : Gender Awareness

Raising Kids is Tough : Adult Differences

Raising Kids is Tough : Eating Battles

Raising Kids is Tough : Healthy Snacks

Raising Kids is Tough : Picky Eaters

Raising Kids is Tough : Dining Out

11 Fun Ways for Preschoolers to Clean Up

Conflict Resolution : A Mommy Fun Fact

American Heart Walk : Ellie’s Story

Traveling Activities

Henry vs George [0-6 months]

Toddler Talk : Helping

Hey! I'm Jamie. I have 3 boys that are crazy energetic & we like to have fun!

Hands On As We Grow Newsletter

"It is hard to think of things to keep the 3 year old entertained and engaged while taking care of the baby. Everything we have tried so far from your website, the three year old has loved. Your ideas are so simple and he can do them for hours. HEAVEN!" - Karen I.
I am now one happy Dad!

"You have changed how I spend time with my kid in so many positive ways! I am now one happy dad that no longer wonders what I am going to do with this little guy for the next 12 hours :P Your site was this first time dad life saver!" - Jack C.
Hands On As We Grow Newsletter

"I feel like a new mama having so many fun ideas. I used to dread the afternoon, after naps, as it was so boring doing the same thing day after day but now I look forward to our "play" time!" - Haley S.
Free Activity Challenge

"Thank you so much for these activities. They have proven to me that I CAN be that mom that does cool and creative things with her kids! And those cool and creative things can actually be quite simple! What a revelation. Thank you!!" - Katie M.
Activity Plans eBooks

"This takes down the need to scour the internet for ideas. It's like looking for a recipe on the internet, so many options that often times it is less overwhelming to look in a book on the shelf than stress about too many options." Robyn G
So organized and easy to use.

I have found it impossible to Google ideas from a million different sites, get organized, shop for supplies, etc. This is exactly what I have been searching for! Thanks for making something so organized and easy to use. - Early Years Activity Plans User, Melissa C.
The Activity Room Member

"I absolutely love that this takes all the prep work out of engaging my children. It is so easy to just put up the calendar, and glance at it for inspiration when we are in a funk." - Rachel
Grateful to have activities handed to us...

"There's always something new for us to discover, as well as old favorites. I am so grateful to have activities handed to us... Fun and easy ones that can be put together in a moment's notice! You're awesome Jamie and I appreciate you sharing your activities and ideas!!" - Melissa C.