The Play Forum is a collection of voices from parents and people in the toy and children’s entertainment industries. Read what’s on their minds, and join the conversation.
Like most parents, I was looking forward to my son’s 1st birthday. My wife and I had gone back and forth about theme, size of party, food, and everything else. About 90 days out we became overwhelmed with the process. We had gone from a mini mogul/Monopoly theme to just a simple cookout in the [...]
May has always been one of my favorite months of the year. I live in Chicago, the home of the long, cold winter. May means a lot to us all. We’re told not to plant flowers until this month, not to even think of putting away winter coats until this month, and to hold tight [...]
Birthday party planning with three kids—not exactly the easiest task even if the birthdays are spread out throughout the year. For me, my challenges are keeping the birthday party on budget and also coming up with a whole new idea three times each year, every year! My kids have no interest in having the same [...]
Okay. So it’s that time of year again to start planning your child’s next birthday party. Of course you want the party to be fun and memorable for everyone who is in attendance. After all, this is an important day to you, your child, and your family. But how do you throw a party that [...]
As we endure April showers—and for some, an extended winter—we’ve been getting creative with playtime, quite literally. Boy or girl, baby or big kid, rain or shine, playtime is inherent—especially after a long winter. Beyond the TV and touchscreens, here are some helpful ways to have fun on those rainy days: 1. Be creative Rainy [...]
As a mom of three, there are no shortages of fights, bickering, and finger pointing between my children. My kids mostly enjoy each other’s company, but we have our fair share of not getting along. It’s never the same two fighting against each other, which is somewhat of a relief. And usually, they get along [...]
Modern families are busier than ever. With hard-working parents, kids in multiple after-school activities (many folks still aren’t listening to the advice from experts to lighten their loads), higher academic standards and rigor, and the bustling business of simple day-to-day life, family units are often exhausted and grumpy trying to do it all. And in [...]
As a young man growing up, I was often taught that vulnerability equaled weakness. This common theme has played out in several different situations from academics, relationships, athletics, and now even into parenthood. Now you would think that this is a correct way of thinking. The less vulnerable you are, the safer you are. The [...]
My 9-year-old girl loves to play alone in her room. I peek in at her during her playtime, and I notice she enjoys imaginative play the most. Because her sibling is 10 years older than she is, she has gotten comfortable with playing by herself and using her imagination to create her own world. As [...]
Childproofing is no easy feat for any parent. Not only is it imperative for household safety, but it also helps to maintain sanity as well. Despite all of my concerted efforts to babyproof our home, somehow in the last few weeks I have fished out rogue Christmas tree needles, scrap paper, and tiny Legos from [...]
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