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This parenting stuff can get rough. Especially when magazines, mothers-in-law and mom group frenemies tell us everything we think we’re doing right is utterly wrong. It’s no wonder we feel less than confident in our parenting skills, panicked that any mistake we make now will scar our little ones for life. But cheer up, mom and dad! You’re doing a better job than you – or any of your friendly naysayers – may think. By simply playing with your child day after day, you’re stimulating his or her development, setting the foundation for a healthy and happy life now and for years to come.

Chess grandmasters and action heroes aren’t usually known to run in the same circles. But once you start comparing the adventures of Superman or Batman to the game of chess, you begin to see the similarities. While they may not have god-like strength or the ability to fly, every chess player has the superpower of strategic thinking. In a chess board battle where kings, queens and knights fight it out to the end, brains beat brawn every time – and that’s one superpower every kid can aim for. Your little superheros can explore the overlap between chess and their favorite comic books at this new, hands-on exhibit at the World Chess Hall of Fame. 

Becoming a reader is one of the most exciting learning adventures your child will ever experience. Many children need little more than exposure to books and they’re off on their own. But others need guided support as they struggle with sounds, fluency and reading unfamiliar words. Here are some tried and true methods that will help your child build strong reading skills.

Never mind that I’ve read all the parenting books. Or the fact that I was once a preteen girl myself. But girls this age can be impossible to relate to - even if you’re a relatively hip and cool mom like me (at least in my own head).

On those days when my daughter’s defiant sighs make my head explode all over the living room or the nights when my yelling is the least helpful way to deal with her stubbornness, it would be ideal to have an expert on hand to guide us both through the rocky times.

With A PLAYful Celebration: Toy Fest, Metro Theater Company (MTC), which creates professional theater for kids, has put to rest snooze-fest fundraisers and created a gala straight out of our wildest imaginations. With Toy Fest, parents and kids alike can enjoy non-stop fun from dinner through dancing, and best of all, help support award-winning programs that treat kids to the best in children’s theater.