MaryJoe Jenkins

For the final entry of my April Showers series, and the final day of April, I thought it best to take a moment to focus on a true classic: blanket forts! Personally, I love fort building. I think it’s great. Kids learn about balance, gravity, and that special know-how that only comes from making something with your own two hands. Most kids, especially the younger ones, still need help but it’s the start of a process and it’s one I have never known a kid not to be interested i

Drawing inspiration from everyone’s favorite chocolate rabbit, I’ll be sharing another of my favorite indoor games this week. This one is both physically active and educational, for those who want to take that extra leap. All you need is six-sided die. Personally, I’m a big fan of the giant, foam ones, but any dice will do. (Just be careful they don’t do under the couch! Hop to It: How to Play Now that you have your die, find an open space in the house. You can use the living

Whether it’s for family fun nights or a rainy day in, board games are a classic way of passing the time. These days, there are new games coming out all the time. There are puzzles, card games, strategy games, and guessing games. With a seemingly endless supply, how do you pick which game is best for your child? Walking into a store and looking at a wall of color and cartoon figures can be a bit overwhelming, so here’s a simply guide to help you shop. Step One: Age Ranges Game

With Spring in the air, I know a lot of us are happy to be getting back outdoors again. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of warm sunshine on your face and grass between your toes! Unfortunately, that old cliché of “April showers bring May flowers” is around for a reason. To help make sure the weather doesn’t rain on your parade, I’ll be spending the next few weeks talking about some fun and active games to play with your kids indoors. This week’s game? Balloon Bops! Thi