Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails opens at The Magic House

Since breaking ground on the child-inspired Nature Playscape in Forest Park last summer, Forest Park Forever, the City of St. Louis and their team of partners have been pushing forward on this much-anticipated project at full speed, constructing eight activity areas where your kids will soon splash, climb, build, and learn. Already halfway completed, this one-of-a-kind play area in the heart of the park is destined to grow children’s interest in the natural world around them.

A couple of years ago a dear friend shared with me some valuable advice: Every morning on the way to school she told her children exactly what she expected of them that day. She found her kids responded very well to this, and almost always rose to the expectation. Instantly I began using this almost everywhere we would go.

With its shops and restaurants, The Streets of St. Charles has become the go-to for grown-ups in the region. But now kids have a place here to call their own at Play Street Museum.

As much as you tell your kids that the monsters under the bed aren't real, kids' fears can be very real to them, and have a major impact on their lives. Here's how to give your kids the tools they need to understand fear and put things that scare them into perspective.