Family

Happy Home

  • Online TV Land

    April 27, 2009

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Online TV Land By By Pamela Stock for Real Families, Real Fun Real parents know this: You can limit television all you like, but you can't keep your children from the pull of popular characters. From elementary school-aged Arthur to... more »
  • Party-Planning 101

    March 30, 2009

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Party-Planning 101 By By Elizabeth Hurchalla for Real Families, Real Fun Pulling off a stellar kid's birthday party doesn't have to feel like hosting a celebrity wedding. Just follow these simple stress-busting pointers -- and put the party back in party-planning! ... more »
  • Mommy's Little Helpers

    March 2, 2009

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Mommy's Little Helpers By By Diana McKeon Charkalis for Real Families, Real Fun When it was time to clean the windows, Amy Walker's six-year-old son, Richard, begged to use the spray bottle. At first, the Sanibel Island, Florida-based Walker resisted.... more »
  • Making Mealtimes Less Stressful

    February 1, 2009

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Making Mealtimes Less Stressful By By Elizabeth Hurchalla for Real Families, Real Fun When you arrive home after a long workday, your mind is on your family...and that stack of bills, pile of laundry, and list of phone calls to... more »
  • Cutting Back on TV Time

    January 4, 2009

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Cutting Back on TV Time By By Darcy Lockman for Real Families, Real Fun It's no secret that most kids watch entirely too much television. Developmental psychologists are sounding the alarm, voicing concerns that all this tube time... more »
  • Make Your Home A Danger-Free Zone

    December 7, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Make Your Home A Danger-Free Zone By By Lisa Lombardi for Real Families, Real Fun One-year-old Ella Dundas is on the move -- to the delight and dismay of her parents. "My husband and I worry that we haven't babyproofed... more »
  • Have a Campfire at Home

    October 13, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Have a Campfire at Home By By Beth Stevens for Real Families, Real Fun Who says you have to go camping to enjoy sitting around a campfire? Invite the neighbors over, light up the fire pit, and roast marshmallows over... more »
  • Homework Helpers, as Close as Your Computer

    September 14, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Homework Helpers, as Close as Your Computer By By Shannon Maughan for Real Families, Real Fun School days, school days. If they're not already here for you, they're just around the corner. In this new millennium, going back to school... more »
  • Positive Parenting and Discipline Strategies

    August 17, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Positive Parenting and Discipline Strategies By By Kristin Bailey Murphy for Real Families, Real Fun If you're the parent of a perfect child -- one that never misbehaves (God forbid!), whines, or talks back; never argues with you, fibs to... more »
  • Blending Your Parenting Styles

    July 21, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Blending Your Parenting Styles By By Lisa Lombardi for Real Families, Real Fun Is your wife a strict disciplinarian, while you prefer to let things slide? Is your husband a screamer, and you're an "inside voice" kind of mom? When... more »
  • Simple Family Safety Plan

    June 16, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Simple Family Safety Plan By By Lisa Lombardi for Real Families, Real Fun These days, most homes are equipped with smoke detectors, but to be truly prepared for a possible fire, every family should establish a comprehensive fire safety plan.... more »
  • Try a Soothing Video at Bedtime

    May 26, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Try a Soothing Video at Bedtime By By Shannon Maughan for Real Families, Real Fun "Time for bed!" For kids and parents everywhere, these words signal the beginning of a nighttime routine -- preparing little ones for dreamland. From taking... more »
  • De-stress your Mornings

    April 28, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home De-stress your Mornings By By Lisa Bova for Real Families, Real Fun For most moms, mornings are a mad dash to get everyone up, dressed and out the door -- if your kid's shoes match, all the better.... more »
  • Spring Cleaning Made Easy

    March 31, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Spring Cleaning Made Easy By By Kristin Bailey Murphy for Real Families, Real Fun It's officially spring -- let's ditch those winter coats and open the windows wide! It's time to enjoy the feel-good ritual known as spring... more »
  • How to Get Your Kids Organized

    March 2, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home How to Get Your Kids Organized By Kristin Bailey Murphy for Real Families, Real Fun When your kids' organizational system consists of cramming every toy, book and article of clothing they own into the closet, a clutter avalanche is just... more »
  • How to Prepare for a Natural Disaster

    February 3, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home How to Prepare for a Natural Disaster By By Elizabeth Hurchalla for Real Families, Real Fun There's no need to just hope for the best when you can plan for the worst. Don't wait until disaster strikes to figure out... more »
  • Animals: Wild on the Web!

    January 6, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Animals: Wild on the Web! By Shannon Maughan for Real Families, Real Fun The crowds at zoos and aquariums prove that humans love observing wild animals. If you don't live near such facilities, you can still get an up-close and... more »
  • Make Bedtime Better

    December 9, 2007

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home Make Bedtime Better By By Elizabeth Hurchalla for Real Families, Real Fun When it's time to brush their teeth and go to bed, many kids go into meltdown mode. They refuse to put on pajamas, plead for "just one more... more »
  • In Case of Emergency

    November 11, 2007

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home In Case of Emergency By By Kristin Bailey Murphy for Real Families, Real Fun No matter how protective you are as a parent, kids are just natural-born accident magnets. They commonly scrape knees, bump heads, and bust lips in their... more »
  • A Family Banquet for the Birds

    October 14, 2007

    Real Families, Real FUN: Happy Home A Family Banquet for the Birds By By Elizabeth Wells for Real Families, Real Fun You don't need a stereo to hear soulful tunes. Thanks to some melodic birds, the air is filled year-round with sweet, light songs. So,... more »

Great Food

  • Making Fantastic Fruit Salad

    May 18, 2009

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Making Fantastic Fruit Salad By By Pamela Stock for Real Families, Real Fun The Wiggles, the wacky Australian Kid-friendly band, has won a worldwide following (and a mention in People Magazine's year-end round up of "most intriguing people of the... more »
  • Munch and Crunch

    April 20, 2009

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Munch and Crunch By By Elizabeth Wells for Real Families, Real Fun Nope, that's not the sound of autumn leaves. It's a snacker's delight. Mmmm! - Microwave Caramel Corn and Nutty Bear Crunch snack mix. So simple you will want... more »
  • Keeping Your Kitchen Safe

    March 23, 2009

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Keeping Your Kitchen Safe By By Lisa Lombardi for Real Families, Real Fun "I haven't really safety-proofed the kitchen and it scares me," says Sharlene Breakey, mom of 5-year-old Zeke and 3-year-old Edie in New York City. "But I have... more »
  • Baking and Making an Edible Teacup

    February 22, 2009

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Baking and Making an Edible Teacup By Kathy Ross for Real Families, Real Fun You say "teacup cake," I say "tea cupcake." By either name, it's a creative and charming presentation of that old favorite, the cupcake. Surprise your friends... more »
  • Kids' All-time Favorite Sandwich

    January 25, 2009

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Kids' All-time Favorite Sandwich By By Ansell Hawkins for Real Families, Real Fun The Ice Cream Sandwich, a variation of the Earl of Sandwich's namesake, can be a two-stage affair, either eaten immediately or frozen for snacks later. The cookies... more »
  • Banana Bread

    December 28, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Banana Bread By By Pamela Stock for Real Families, Real Fun "I love to bake with the kids, even though it means I have to take a deep breath and let everything be very messy without worrying about it," says... more »
  • Peachy Keen Crisp

    November 30, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Peachy Keen Crisp By By Ansell Hawkins for Real Families, Real Fun Call it a crisp or call it a crumble, it's one of the best food ideas to ever have come out of merry old England. It is simple... more »
  • Please DO Eat the Daisies!

    November 2, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Please DO Eat the Daisies! By By Susan Hall for Real Families, Real Fun After falling out of favor for many years, cooking and garnishing with flowers is back in vogue once again. Today, gourmet restaurants from coast to coast... more »
  • Tomato on Sally Lunn Bread--The Messiest Sandwich On Earth

    October 6, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Tomato on Sally Lunn Bread--The Messiest Sandwich On Earth By By Ansell Hawkins for Real Families, Real Fun Let's make Sally Lunn bread and then turn it into a memorable sandwich dripping with juice from fresh tomatoes! As the story... more »
  • Harvesting Leftovers

    September 22, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Harvesting Leftovers By By Susan C. Hall for Real Families, Real Fun There are three necessary P’s for growing kitchen scraps: potting soil, a pot, and patience. The last P is hardly a virtue among the young, and unfortunately, it... more »
  • Fruit Soups for Breakfast!

    August 24, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Fruit Soups for Breakfast! By By Susan C. Hall for Real Families, Real Fun If your heirs apparent are a bit indifferent to regular breakfast fare, why not entice them with something totally different? A bowl or cup of chilled... more »
  • Supersonic Spaceship Treats

    July 27, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Supersonic Spaceship Treats By By Beth Wells for Real Families, Real Fun What child hasn't wished to be an astronaut aboard the Space Shuttle? Let your kids' imaginations soar beyond the stratosphere with these Supersonic Spaceships, built with parts of... more »
  • Sunburst Muffins

    June 30, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Sunburst Muffins By By Elizabeth Wells for Real Families, Real Fun Finally, the days are growing longer. Soon our longing for warmer weather and sunny days will be satisfied. But for a bright fix now, stir up a batch of... more »
  • Pizzeria-style Pizza From Your Oven

    June 2, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Pizzeria-style Pizza From Your Oven By By Telly Scotchmeyer for Real Families, Real Fun Nothing is quite as good as a hot, cheesy pizza pie -- especially when you and your kids make it yourself! Follow our pointers to make... more »
  • Make Critter Cookies

    April 7, 2008

    Real Families, Real FUN: Great Food Make Critter Cookies By By Beth D. Stevens for Real Families, Real Fun Celebrate all that spring has to offer, right down to the tiny crawlers and flyers. An array of ladybug, butterfly, and long wiggly caterpillar cookies can be... more »