imaginative play

Easy ways to boost your kid's language with games like "I Spy"

Easy ways to boost your kid's language with games like "I Spy"

By getting creative with games like "I spy", you can help to grow your child's vocabulary and model the social aspects of language.

Maya Payne Smart

5 ways to get your kid to play alone

5 ways to get your kid to play alone

It's impossible to play with your kid all day long. Here are five ways to encourage him to play alone.

Laura Grande

Can 15 Minutes a Day Transform Your Kid's Behaviour?

Can 15 Minutes a Day Transform Your Kid's Behaviour?

Some experts say giving your kid a small amount of undivided attention everyday can do wonders for their behaviour. Here's what happened when we tried it.

Claire Sibonney

My kids forgot how to play

My kids forgot how to play

So after a restless morning of whining and arguing, I banished them from the house to get my kids playing outside.

Rebecca Swanson

This simple hack makes kids way more likely to help around the house

This simple hack makes kids way more likely to help around the house

Living with kids, the house gets dirty so fast. Experts say this fun trick will encourage them to tackle their chores.

Yeshe Colliver

How to organize your disaster of a playroom

How to organize your disaster of a playroom

Calming the chaos of all those toys might be easier than you think—we asked Rebecca Simon of kids interior design firm Maison Ellie to share her tips.

Simone Olivero

Confession: I hate playing with my kid

Confession: I hate playing with my kid

One mom's deep, dark secret? Playing with her four-year-old sucks.

Leah Rumack

Don’t worry, your child’s learning doesn’t stop just because they’re not in child care

Don’t worry, your child’s learning doesn’t stop just because they’re not in child care

Research shows children's learning never actually pauses. They'll continue to make meaning of their world as they think, question and play at home.

Jeanne Marie Iorio

"Sorry, she thinks she's a cat"— why some kids are obsessed with role play

"Sorry, she thinks she's a cat"— why some kids are obsessed with role play

Having your preschooler morph into a creature for hours on end can be frustrating. Here's why some kids are obsessed with pretend play.

Jessica Leeder

Let the children play: 4 reasons why play is vital during the coronavirus

Let the children play: 4 reasons why play is vital during the coronavirus

Adults sometimes trivialize play when we say children are ‘just playing’ or when we use play as a reward for when the so-called ‘real work’ is done.

Christine McLean

Social distancing has had surprising upsides for my kids

Social distancing has had surprising upsides for my kids

Not to say the benefits outweigh the drawbacks—obviously not—but there may be a silver lining to this bizarre new world we find ourselves in.

Rachel Cameron

Sometimes I want to be the "fun dad"—even though I'm the mom

Sometimes I want to be the "fun dad"—even though I'm the mom

Between work, kids and everything that keeps a household running, moms are battling burnout. Here’s how to bring some playfulness back into parenting.

Ariel Brewster

16 of the best toys for your one-year-old's development

16 of the best toys for your one-year-old's development

From large wooden blocks to peekaboo books, this wide assortment of best toys for a 1-year-old makes playtime fun and educational.

Andrea Karr

I never wanted my daughter to play with dolls, until this happened

I never wanted my daughter to play with dolls, until this happened

A mother who thought she didn't like the idea of dolls realizes the valuable lessons they can provide.

Amy Klein

Why it's time to bring back classic toys

Why it's time to bring back classic toys

With kids surrounded by screens, it can be hard to get back to dolls and building blocks; but here's why you should embrace the benefits of open-ended toys.

Claire Gagne

Play-Doh kitchen creations magical oven unboxing and review

Play-Doh kitchen creations magical oven unboxing and review

Whip up make-believe muffins and stick them in the oven to "bake." Watch as Grace unboxes the Play-Doh kitchen creations magical oven—a top toy of 2017.

Today's Parent

5 reasons why every kid should play outside

5 reasons why every kid should play outside

Did you know playing outside can actually make your kid smarter? Here are five unexpected ways outdoor play works wonders on your kid's well-being.

Shanda Deziel

Confession: I love my kid’s fancy play kitchen way more than he does

Confession: I love my kid’s fancy play kitchen way more than he does

My toddler’s awesome play kitchen has felt food, handy utensils and cute tiny plates. It’s so awesome in fact, I find myself “tidying” it up every night.

Katherine Clover

Oh boy! American Girl unveils a new drummer boy

Oh boy! American Girl unveils a new drummer boy

There's a new boy in town. Meet Logan, American Girl's super-cool drummer doll.

Amy Valm

This adorable commercial about #DadsWhoPlayBarbie is giving us all the feels

This adorable commercial about #DadsWhoPlayBarbie is giving us all the feels

"Sundays are always football, and now that gets interrupted with a little, uh, Barbie time."

Jessica Spera