Holiday lights are a staple of many winter traditions. Solstice candles, Hanukkah menorahs, colorful Christmas strings, and Kwanzaa kinaras cast dancing light in the darkness.

The winter holidays offer many opportunities for families to cook together. What might sometimes seem like drudgery – preparing meals day in and out –

Moana spends her days exploring the ocean, searching for other islanders. The ancestors have said that her people will come to an end unless she can help them reconnect.

When my family took our seats to watch the movie version of Wicked,

Learning to be courageous takes a lot of work. It’s not the same as just being fearless or comfortable taking risks.

Bedtime fears are a common childhood experience. Monsters under the bed or in the closet. Strange noises and shadows.

“Oooh…the skeletons’ bones clattered in the dark night as they rose from the graveyard and began to march. The moonlight made them glow eerily as they moved with purpose.

Based on an award-winning children’s book by Peter Brown, Dreamwork’s The Wild Robot is a beautifully animated movie.

‘Why?’ is one of my children’s favorite questions. When they were little, they asked, “Why is the sky blue?” As they have gotten older,

Bread is a diet staple. It comes in many forms, from rye loaves and buttermilk biscuits to focaccia and tortillas.

I watched a mom hurriedly feeding an infant while another child hopped up and down next to the table.

When my daughter was four, she came home from school and told me that we could no longer show our teeth when we smiled.

Scientists who study the environment made an amazing discovery in the 1960s: the health of the Amazon forests depend in part on dust that travels more than 5,000 miles from the Sahara Desert region.

Hopefulness is more than just a spiritual virtue and positive emotional state. Psychologists also view it as a teachable skill that requires children to have desires,

Psychologists suggest that true humility is not about making oneself smaller to please others, but being able to share praise and refuse misplaced blame.

Everyone – young or old – have bad days. Days when it’s hard to get out of bed. Days when we don’t feel like talking.

Every year, cicadas awaken from a long dormant period and dig their way out of the ground. The noisy clicking of the males to attract females can be so loud that it drowns out other sounds.

Kindness is more than just a feeling. It’s a way of being in the world that requires paying close attention to other people’s needs as well as our own.

Pop up a digital calendar and you’ll likely see a host of cultural ‘holidays’ created to encourage local, national,

Growing up in Oklahoma and Texas, summers were hot. My siblings and I loved nothing more than to head to our local park,

With the 2024 Summer Games about to kick off in Paris, children and adults are hyper-aware of how athletes look and act.

My family went on vacation with friends a few years ago. It was fun but also complicated to figure out how to live together for a week.

Recently, my children were discussing who might have made their clothes. We have talked about child labor in factories,

“Paint my fingers and toes, too, mommy!” pleaded my four year old son. “I want to be sparkly like the girls!” He was already wearing a pink tutu and tiara from an afternoon of playing with his sister and friends.

The transition from childhood to adolescence brings a host of new emotions to the fore: anxiety, envy, embarrassment, and ennui (boredom).

Every June 19th, the U.S. celebrates Juneteenth. It’s a national holiday commemorating the ending of slavery as a legal practice.

Gratitude may seem like a natural attitude, but studies show it is primarily a skill that children learn from others.

We often wonder what pets are thinking and feeling, especially when they do something that seems odd or silly.

Studies show that around 65% of children develop imaginary friends (IFs) before they are seven. These sometimes quite colorful characters provide kids with companionship and support.

My son’s favorite plant in our garden is chocolate mint. He says it smells like a Girl Scout cookie.

My kids have always been pretty good about settling down to do their homework. But after a half hour or so,

Looking through photos, I found several of my family celebrating Passover with friends who are Jewish. They would invite us to join them for their seder feast and explain the various prayers and practices as they occurred.

Easter, like many holidays, is both a religious and cultural event. Some families focus on the Christian aspect, some embrace the cultural traditions,

I have a bumper sticker on my car that reads, ‘Well-behaved women rarely make history’. It’s a reminder to myself (and everyone else) that being a little bit ‘uppity’ and determined are positive traits in girls and women.

The Kung Fu Panda movies are some of my kids’ favorites. Together, we have watched Po grow from a noodle maker into a leader and defender of the Valley of Peace.

Every year, my kids’ school does a Valentine fundraiser. Parents and grandparents can purchase pink and red carnations to be delivered to children during the day.

Before the pandemic, churches in my city would take turns providing overnight accommodations for persons without regular housing. My family would help serve dinner and hang out with the kids playing games.

When I was growing up, money was tight. My mom took my siblings and me to the city health clinic for our childhood vaccinations.

A few years ago, our family collected household items to help Afghan refugees relocating to our hometown. A local organization needed dishes,

My nephew is a science nerd. He collects facts about climate change and uses them to convince other family members to reduce,

“Mom, I’m hungry, and there’s nothing to eat!” my 10 year old wailed while staring into a well-stocked refrigerator.

When my daughter was little, she watched a movie where the mother died.  Afterward, she would become upset every time I was out of sight.

When my eldest was two, she asked if there would be “little meats” for Christmas. I was puzzled and tried unsuccessfully to decipher her meaning.

For the Northern Hemisphere, winter officially begins on December 21st with the marking of the winter solstice. It’s the day when the North Pole tilts furthest from the sun and daylight is at its shortest.

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is an eight day celebration that recalls how a small band of ancient Jews triumphed over their oppressors.

During the month of December, many Christian families retell the biblical Christmas story as part of their holiday celebrations.

“Why do bad things happen?” asks my son. That question is hard enough to answer, but he doesn’t stop there. 

Movies and commercials often highlight traditional families and focus on the joys of being together. But real families are complicated and not always places of comfort and happiness.

“No, no, no!” said the preschool teacher as she rushed over to a child threatening to hit a playmate.

Hobgoblins, witches, and ghosts are staples of Halloween, celebrated with glee by children throughout North America. But families of Latin American descent often combine their trick-or-treating with the festivities of an adjacent holiday: Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

My family moved when I was a child. For the first 6 months, I refused to call the new house ‘home’.

Moviegoers are sporting a special look this fall. Glittery shirts and jackets. Purple jerseys with the number 13 on the back.

After the 9/11 terrorist attack, my four year old asked, “Mommy, were there children on those planes?” I responded that there were people of all ages,

Preparing for a family get-together, I gave each child a different job. My youngest collected cups and my third scrubbed the sink.

Children begin learning about differences at a young age. Figuring out how to categorize things is one of the ways they make sense of the world.

Sexism, racism, and classism are hard concepts for children to understand. Kids have a strong bias toward fairness and equal treatment.

Countless families and children become refugees when extreme poverty or violence force them to leave their homes. The journey to a new land is often long and hard.

Children are often curious about differences. They wonder why someone has red hair instead of brown like them, or stands instead of sitting to use the toilet.

Children from several nations gather in a playroom while their parents learn English as a Second Language next door.

Children long to make a difference in the world around them. From their earnest commitment to fairness as preschoolers to their persistent questions about right and wrong as elementary kids,

Dreamers, by Yuyi Morales, follows a mother and her young child as they immigrate to the United States and begin to make a new life together.

Children don’t always get along. Like adults, they get angry with siblings and friends. They feel resentment and frustration when somebody tells them what to do or restricts their activities.

My kids used to grab paper and pens and create their own comics. Their scratchy designs would tell stories about their everyday lives.

I grew up in Oklahoma, where tornadoes are a common summer occurrence. My family would huddle in the basement as sirens blared and the wind roared.

Being aware of one’s surroundings can be an important safety practice. We teach children to pay attention when crossing a road or walking after dark.

Outside the movie theater, two young girls are pointing at all the people wearing pink. A group of women observe,

Fairy tales can play a powerful role in children’s lives. Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen has morphed into the popular Frozen movie,

Children learn pretty quickly that there are often right answers and wrong answers to the questions adults ask. Those who are school age get used to being tested on their ability to provide correct responses quickly.

Sometimes a story doesn’t need words to be powerful. That’s the case with Marta Bartolj’s Every Little Kindness,

Being a small person in a big world can be overwhelming at times. Children may feel overshadowed by the adults around them.

Movements can be powerful teachers. Our bodies remember and repeat motions associated with specific practices, such as eating, playing an instrument,

Stranger danger lessons, active shooter drills – these experiences can teach children that others are to be feared. Most People,

I have a peach tree in my front yard. Some years, there are lots of peaches and we scramble to pick our share before the deer get to them.

A few days ago, one of my children wanted breakfast for dinner, while another preferred Indian. The first argued that they can’t tolerate spicy food.

Learning about the seasons of the year is a common focus in many preschool and elementary programs.  My Friend Earth,

Brendan Kearney’s Forest is part of a series that chronicles the adventures of fisher Finn and his dog,

Like generations of children before them, my kids would chant, “Rain, rain, go away,” whenever raindrops threatened their outdoor time.

My family lives close enough to the ocean that we can visit frequently. My children enjoy walking on the beach,

The new Spider-Man movie, Across the Spider-Verse, is visually stunning, with different graphics for each universe.

Some days are just yucky. Things happen that children can’t control and don’t like. They might be little things,

Children have long loved Ariel, the star of Disney’s The Little Mermaid,

Fears are a part of childhood. Whether it’s worries about monsters under the bed, big dogs, loud noises, or parents leaving for a night out,

One summer, my kids and I planted a small garden. While our cucumbers and zucchini did well, our tomato plants struggled.

Marvel’s newest release, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3, focuses on Rocket’s origin story as Groot,

Just a few weeks after cherry blossoms peak in the U.S. capital, Americans begin a month-long celebration of Asian American,

I keep a small stone on my desk with the word ‘breathe’ painted on it. It’s a reminder to slow down,

Americans have celebrated Earth Day since 1970, with other nations joining in beginning in 1990. The theme for 2023 is ‘Invest in Our Planet’.

After 30 days of fasting, Muslim worldwide mark the end of Ramadan with Eid al Fitr, literally a festival of breaking the fast.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie begins with the Nintendo game’s familiar theme music, a siren call to multiple generations.

Eggs hidden on windowsills or in the grass. Baskets filled with chocolate bunnies and jelly beans. Pots of tulips,

Lockdown (Active Shooter) Drills have become a staple of children’s lives. Schools and organizations build them into the year alongside other safety measures: controlled access,

Six years ago, I visited Istanbul with two of my children. We were there during Ramadan, which meant we observed families coming together night after night to break their fasts.

My daughter loves creating videos. Lego movies inspire stop-action Lego shorts.  Super Bowl halftime shows prompt dance videos. She’s even documented her passions with interview-style videos featuring conversations with me,

Children’s feelings can shift and change rapidly. One minute a toddler is happily playing and the next they’re screaming and kicking on the floor because someone disrupted their activity.

Daniel* wasn’t having much success lighting his campfire. Everything seemed stacked against him: too much wind, a sloping hillside,

Rihanna’s Super Bowl LVII performance is trending on social media. Several reviewers place it in their all-time top five halftime shows.

For children, Valentine’s Day is more about friendship than romance. They’re generally eager to exchange valentine cards with classmates.

“Do they bite?” asked Marcus* when we spotted a family of mule deer during a camping trip. Our group was excited and a little bit apprehensive as we observed the animals.

Lessons about slavery in the United States typically begin with life on a plantation in the American South.  This White-centric perspective further dehumanizes Africans by ignoring their homelands,

Seven candles stand tall in a kinara, ready for lighting. Their number and colors (red, black, and green) suggest this is not a Hanukkah celebration.

Avatar: The Way of Water continues the story of Jake, Neytiri, and their children.

The winter months can be hard. Short days and long nights leave us longing for more sunlight. Cold temperatures chill our bodies and chase us inside.

I love holiday lights! Strings of colored bulbs wrapped around trees, icicle lights hanging from rooftops and fences, a yard full of inflatables,

Hand-me-downs can be a dreaded necessity or longed-for acquisition. I remember being crestfallen when a neighbor passed down her daughter’s no-longer-fashionable clothes.

How do you create a Black Panther sequel without the Black Panther? Chadwick Boseman’s death made it difficult for my children to imagine what might happen next in a movie series that had lost its signature superhero.

With her latest album sweeping the top 10 slots on Billboard’s Top 100 – a first for any artist –

How can children learn to build a better world? According to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the answer is in the title of her new picture book: Just Help!

As fall crops are harvested and days grow shorter, many cultures and religions acknowledge the season with celebrations of light.

Lyle, Lyle Crocodile offers several big songs and dance scenes that will engage and excite young moviegoers.

Fall brings two major Jewish holidays: Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), which is one of the most important observances in Judaism.

Less than 24 hours after Queen Elizabeth’s death, media outlets were carrying articles about ‘what to expect’ as a nation mourned her passing and celebrated her life.

In Unfadeable, Bella Fades is a fierce tween girl who loves her community and wants to see it thrive.

It’s the usual afterschool chaos in my house. Classic rock plays loudly and all three kids are gyrating in an impromptu dance party.

Small Town Pride stars a tween working to understand himself, change his community and gain autonomy over his own story.

A friend’s 5 year old daughter recently visited our local science museum, where she was mesmerized by the Webb telescope images.

Summer can often be a time of celebrations and reunions as family members and friends travel to see one another.

My family rarely misses a Marvel movie, and the new Thor: Love and Thunder is no exception.

Earlier this month, UNESCO added borsch, the national soup of Ukraine, to its list of endangered cultural heritage items.

The new Minions movie has much of the silliness you expect from the Despicable Me franchise. 

Taking chances is risky. Some children can’t wait to explore the unknown. Others prefer familiar structures and routines.

What Do You Do with a Chance?

Sam and TJ have learned a lot about ‘Dead Straight Cisgender White Men’ in history. So when they have to research a local historical figure for commemoration on Staten Island,

As long time fans of Toy Story, my children were excited to learn Buzz’s backstory. They watched as Buzz and Alesha diverted their Space Ranger to explore an uncharted planet,

Imagine a bag of candies with the power to bring your sofa to life and give voice to falling leaves.

Disney’s popular movie, Turning Red, has called attention to how children struggle with big emotions,

Setting small spiritual goals each day is one way that children can take responsibility for their own moral and ethical development.

Cultural and spiritual heritages are often passed on to new generations through stories and teachings by elders. Knowing this,

Kids love emojis. As fun visual substitutes for words, they help children share how they’re feeling and communicate ideas.

Self-awareness and emotional regulation are spiritual skills that every child needs. Research shows that art activities can be powerful tools for supporting these skills.

What can children do about a situation that seems unfair or unjust? How can they be allies? These are two of the questions that Karina Yan Glaser explores in her new novel,

Every year on April 22, more than a billion people take time to reflect on the earth and its importance for human wellbeing.

In their latest book, author A.J. Sass creates a neurodivergent main character (Ellen) who is negotiating changes in her friendships and sense of self.

I do a lot of walking. I sometimes walk from my house to my office two blocks away. I pace while talking on the phone at work or home.

Pixar’s newest release is a coming-of-age story about a Chinese Canadian girl accepting both her changing body and shifting relationships as she enters adolescence.

Like many parents, Michael W. Waters looked at his newborn son and thought him the most beautiful baby on earth.

Bo’s summer plans completely change when her mother moves into a Harlem brownstone with her fiance and another family.

Children’s spiritual well-being depends, in part, on strong self-esteem. They need to see themselves as individuals valued and respected by others.

For a book lover like me, one bedtime story often turned into two or three as I tucked my young children in.

My sisters and I often engaged in imaginative play when we were growing up. We came up with various pretend situations,

My dad collected rocks his whole life. He particularly liked geodes: rocks that – when broken open – contained a hidden cavity filled with crystals.

Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on the 3rd Monday in January reminds us that society needs strong leaders: people who show us how to respect and honor diversity.

Examen is a reflective practice that originated in the 15th century. It’s purpose is to help children and adults become more aware of the power that thankfulness,

The last two years have been incredibly difficult. Children, as well as adults, have struggled to find spiritual wellbeing in the midst of health concerns,

When my oldest child was 4, he begged to have his face painted as Spiderman. But when he saw his new face in the mirror,

Encanto, Disney’s newest animated feature, tells the story of an extraordinary family. Once upon a time,

Wearing hijab is a spiritual statement for Muslim girls and women. It is a sign of faith and a practice of faithfulness.

Stress and anxiety are common occurrences in contemporary family life. Parents and children have a lot to do each day,

Mindfulness practices help children to become more self-aware. When they spend time being present with themselves, they learn more about who they are.

Older children often wonder about the reasons refugees and asylum seekers have left their homelands. They are able to think critically about economic and political systems that displace people and want to hear refugees’ stories.

With stories about refugees and immigrants frequently in the news, children are certain to wonder about why they’ve come and what their experiences are like.

During quarantine, my family watched all of the Marvel movies in chronological order.  It was one of the few series that both my high schoolers and older elementary children could enjoy together.

For teachers and program facilitators who want to be reflective practitioners, Mills College School of Education suggests organizing regular fishbowl-style conversations with other teachers or an advisory group.

As children return to in-person gatherings, they may feel anxious and stressed.  An art-based mindfulness practice can help children regulate their emotions and prevent their fears from overwhelming them.

A common way to check whether children have understood something is to give a test. But even in schools,

Valuing who we are and respecting others’ identities are crucial to spiritual wellbeing. Every child wants to be seen for the unique individual they are.

Hearing others’ stories and telling one’s own is a powerful way for children to connect spiritually. Personal stories reveal details about children’s personalities.

Learning to make good decisions is an essential spiritual skill. Becoming a self-reflective person requires children to figure out the moral and ethical norms of their community and use this information to make judgments about their own actions.

Even as places open for in-person experiences, virtual engagements can continue to be part of children’s and families’ positive spiritual interactions.

As many places lift pandemic restrictions, children need ways to look back over the past 15 months and reflect on their experiences.

Family spiritual rules are a little like superhero codes of conduct: they outline our values and the activities we believe represent them.

Nature plays a significant role in spirituality for people of all ages. During the pandemic, many families have found that spending time outdoors has soothed their souls and broken the monotony of being socially isolated.

Learning to be attentive to the spiritual aspects of life takes time and practice. From the time we are preschoolers,

Many cultural and religious traditions have some kind of spiritual practice that involves reflecting on one’s activities over a period of time and evaluating how well they conform to shared values.

Mindfulness is all the rage these days, and rightly so. When children take a few moments to focus their attention,

The world can be a noisy place. From the sounds of traffic in the streets, neighbors through apartment walls, Zoom classrooms,

Forming an identity is a complicated task. The arts provide space to create and play with different identities. Education researcher Kim So Jung notes that poetry has many benefits for early elementary students,

Children and adults often use guided meditation to help them relax or fall asleep. A soothing voice inviting you to imagine yourself sitting beside a babbling brook or wandering through a lush forest can be both calming and refreshing.

When life gets tough, a spiritual practice that deals with anxiety can make the difference between a whiny child and one that feels empowered to cope.