Did you hear the one about the fish who moved to Hollywood?
We’re not laughing at L.A.; we’re laughing with it. From jokes about earthquakes to jokes about LA traffic, these kid-friendly jokes will have your little one laughing out loud.
We’re not laughing at L.A.; we’re laughing with it. From jokes about earthquakes to jokes about LA traffic, these kid-friendly jokes will have your little one laughing out loud.
Buddy cop movies are always a blast! What’s not to love? Adventure, drama, laughs—an unlikely team ends up coming out on top and leaves us wanting more. We are loving this young-reader version of that archetype—and we all know the book is always better than the movie! Horace & Bunwinkle is a mystery-adventure series about Horace, an anxious Boston Terrier, and Bunwinkle, an exuberant potbellied pig, who team up to solve crimes in their barnyard and local neighborhood. If you have a reader ages 6-10, this exciting book could be the one to get them psyched about reading and a whole lot more confident, too.
Will Horace & Bunwinkle solve the case? You’ll have to start reading to find out!
Horace & Bunwinkle: The Case of the Rascally Racoon is on sale now—get yours today!
—Jamie Aderski
To say the past year has been turbulent would be an understatement. I feel like it’s one bad thing after the next, and despite best efforts, nothing seems to make it stop.
It reminds me of when I came home from church to water spilling out of our ceiling onto our kitchen table. Not only was the water ruining the ceiling, but it was also destroying our Christmas cards, iPads, and school projects. We rushed to turn off the water, get towels, buckets, anything to stop the madness. Unfortunately, nothing helped. The water kept coming. There was so much that it somehow reached the smoke detector wires and caused each one of the alarms to go off.
At this point, water was falling, alarms were going off, our kids were crying, and our dogs were barking. It was madness. Since my husband was deployed at the time, I called every friend I knew to help, but no one was home. I felt helpless and completely out of control. I’m not sure how, but despite the chaos, I heard the doorbell. I was utterly embarrassed to open the door with my house in such disarray, but when I finally opened the door, I was filled with relief. It was a rescuer, a firefighter.
I didn’t call 911, I’m not sure who did, but I was so thankful he was there. With tears in my eyes, the only words that came out of my mouth were, “I don’t know how to make it stop.” He asked if he could go in, and within minutes he and his coworkers helped calm the chaos. The firefighters didn’t solve every little thing. Our ceiling and pipes still needed to be fixed, and it took time. Several things needed to be repaired, and believe me, there were still lots of tears.
The fact is, when I opened the door, despite my embarrassment, someone was there to help. Things weren’t solved instantly, but help was with me, and because of that, I was given the strength to do the next something in front of me.
That, my friend, is precisely what it’s like when you reach out for help. My hope for all of you today is that despite the chaos in the world right now, you open the door and receive support if you feel overwhelmed so you are given the strength to do whatever is in front of you.
RELATED:
Saving Baby Bunnies & Other Brave Acts of Courage
Meeting Them at the Bottom of the Slide
Finding Your Place at the Table
By the time I was seven years old, I had experienced racism. Growing up as a person of color in the 80s and in the small town of Ajax, Ontario, I quickly became aware that I was different. Not only did I feel invisible at school, but also when reading books and watching TV. I never saw myself in the characters, which made me feel that much more unimportant.
I felt ugly—always wishing I could change the way I look—so much so that out of desperation, I tried to bleach my hair blonde with lemon juice. I was 13 years old. I was ashamed and embarrassed about being Iranian and hid a lot of myself. I stayed quiet and tried to blend in as much as I could. I became an extremely shy kid—who turned into an adult with anxiety. That anxiety is amplified because of the color of my skin. I’ve lived in Canada almost my whole life, but I still don’t feel fully welcome.
Art was always my safe place. I’ve been drawing since I could hold a pencil in my chubby hand. My parents were always supportive of my art and I’ve been fortunate to have teachers that encouraged me as well. I don’t know if I would be where I am today without my high school art teacher, Mrs. Doran. In the 10th grade, I had decided to drop my art class to take Spanish. To this day I still don’t understand what I was thinking, as I am terrible at languages! Mrs. Doran found out about my plans and made me march down to the counselor’s office that day to switch the Spanish class back to art. I have never forgotten what she did for me. Art gave me the power to be myself. In a world where big and loud voices are favored, art gave me a voice.
My confidence as an adult has gotten better, but I’m still not completely open or forthcoming with my culture and heritage. I’m always afraid someone is going to label me as a terrorist, just because of where I come from. Often I get asked, “What are you?” I’m a human being… just like you.
Year by year, day by day, I’ve learned to be proud of who I am. And my art has helped me along the way. As an artist, I’ve dedicated myself to spread kindness with my art and to be the voice for all kids and adults who have had to hide themselves in the shadows. And I do that with my books. I illustrate books with the intention of creating characters of color. To shine the spotlight on characters who have never been a hero of a story. And now as a mom of a biracial son, my mission of publishing diverse books is that much more important. I don’t want him to feel as I did growing up. I want him to be proud of who he is and where he came from.
For the first time, I have felt that I am a part of something meaningful and that my contribution, no matter how small, can make the world a kinder place.
Books and art are so much more than just books and art to me. It’s about having a platform for change. It’s about creating something where kids and adults can feel proud of who they are, step out of the shadows and be the bright voice this world needs.
In-home discos are the new way to celebrate! According to stats from L.O.L. Surprise!, 65 percent of American households are staging impromptu dance parties in their kitchens.
L.O.L. Surprise is celebrating its new Dance Dance Dance toy line with a few fun facts about family dance parties. Along with the number of fams turning their eating areas into makeshift discos, the brand’s survey also found that 42 percent of kiddos think dad’s dances are totally embarrassing—but only 37 percent believe mom’s moves are equally as bad.
photo courtesy of MGA Entertainment
Isaac Larian, CEO and Founder of MGA Entertainment, conducted the research as part of the L.O.L. Surprise! Dance Dance Dance toy launch, said in a press release, “Dancing is always something that has brought people together from around the globe. We love that our toys have inspired our fans, parents and children, to find escape and joy together in kitchen disco parties, and that they have embraced dance as a way to connect no matter what is happening in the world around them.”
When it comes to the time and the tunes, the survey stats show that Saturday at 6:00 pm and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” are the most popular picks. Following Queen’s iconic anthem are Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” and Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
So what’s with all the dance parties? The data shows spending time together and the mood boosting effects of dance may have more than just something to do with the sudden uptick in at-home disco activities. Two-thirds of parents surveyed reported that dancing with their littles lifted their spirits and 82 percent said it always improves their mood. Fifty-five percent of parents also said they use family dance parties to let off some steam.
—Erica Loop
Featured photo: gradyreese via iStock
RELATED STORIES
PAW Patrol Is Coming to Your Living Room with a Live Event
Here’s How to Transform Your Living Room into a Dance Club
The Cast of Disney’s Juniors “The Chicken Squad” Features Egg-cellent Celeb Stars
Social media is like riding a bike—just make sure you give your child a helmet, knee pads, training wheels, and a whole lot of instruction.
I’ve researched the dangers of social media, including conducting a study on recruitment into sex trafficking through social media. Yes, social media can be very dangerous—particularly with little supervision. So, most are surprised when I allow my children, at age 10 and 11 to use social media instead of waiting for the more accepted age of 13. Before getting all judgy, hear me out.
When the magic age of 13 hits, there is a lot that is going on with your child. Developmentally this is the age when children seek independence, crave having their own space, rely on friendships over family, value privacy and may even dabble in rebellious behaviors. This happens whether we want it or not—they are hardwired for this—it is part of their natural development.
If social media is introduced during this time, parents may have a hard time monitoring, exploring together and many children will attempt to push boundaries. In contrast, my 10 and 11-year-old still find me tolerable, and even (dare I say), cool on some days. They still feel close to the family, eagerly share about their school days, and have a healthy fear of the world. I know that in a couple of short years, that could all change and I may miss my opportunity to lay down some critical groundwork in their ability to safely navigate social media.
So, to their surprise and excitement, we embarked on the ride of social media together—equipped with training wheels, knee pads, a helmet, and strict instructions on where and when to ride the bike. We started off slow, I instructed them along the way, I was there to caution them, I let them have some independence, we processed any mistakes they made, they were aware of the dangers and trusted me to guide them. We also have a lot of fun—I have my own Tik Tok account, we watch together, I try to dance, they are embarrassed by my comments, I learn about their friends, and I have valuable insight into their life. They also know the stakes—any purposeful wrong move and the bike goes in storage.
I know that by the time they are 13, when I ever so slowly let my hand off the back of the bike seat, they are equipped with the knowledge to steer independently. While I will always make them wear the helmets of parental control, time limits, and privacy settings, I will take off the training wheels and knee pads and trust that the practice we have had will keep them safe.
So, if you get a disapproving glance or are questioned “Your kids are on Tik Tok?” just say “Sure, it’s just like riding a bike.”
Theater kids rejoice!. Today, Disney+ released the trailer for High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special, which premieres Fri., Dec. 11 on the streaming service. Later this week, on Fri., Nov. 20, the soundtrack from the special will be available on all streaming services.
The trailer includes a preview of “The Perfect Gift,” a new song from the highly anticipated second season of the series, written and performed by Joshua Bassett.
In addition to “The Perfect Gift,” the soundtrack and special will provide fans a sneak peek of “Something In The Air,” the first major musical number from the upcoming second season of the series.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special will also feature Bassett, Olivia Rodrigo, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Larry Saperstein, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Frankie Rodriguez, Joe Serafini, Mark St. Cyr and Kate Reinders sharing their childhood holiday memories, best – and most embarrassing! – gifts, favorite traditions and family photos.
The track listing for the special and soundtrack is as follows:
“This Christmas (Hang All The Mistletoe)” – performed by Sofia Wylie
“The Perfect Gift” – written and performed by Joshua Bassett
“Feliz Navidad” – performed by Frankie Rodriguez and Joe Serafini
“The Hanukkah Medley” – performed by Julia Lester
“Last Christmas” – performed by Matt Cornett
“White Christmas” – performed by Larry Saperstein
“Little Saint Nick” – performed by Joshua Bassett and Matt Cornett
“Believe” – performed by Dara Reneé
“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” – performed by Kate Reinders and Mark St. Cyr
“River” – performed by Olivia Rodrigo
“Something In The Air” – performed by the season two cast of “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”
“That’s Christmas To Me” – performed by Frankie Rodriguez, Kate Reinders, Julia Lester and Joe Serafini
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – performed by Dara Reneé
High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special is executive-produced by High School Musical: The Musical: The Series creator and executive producer Tim Federle (Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated Ferdinand) and Ashley Edens (Dancing With The Stars). The series has been “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes as measured by a consensus of reviews by top critics and audience members, and recently received the 2020 GLAAD Media Award for “Outstanding Kids & Family Programming.”
—Jennifer Swartvagher
All photos courtesy of Disney+
RELATED STORIES
Target’s Hottest Holiday Toy List Is Here & Cue the Shopping
Sam’s Club Invites You to the “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” Shopping Experience
There’s a certain lure to self-help books. Especially if you’re anything like me. I’m always on the quest for more knowledge, always the perpetual student.
I’m always either trying to constantly look for ways to better myself or I’m looking for ways to do things better, faster or quicker—in other words: shortcuts galore!
I am embarrassed to admit this, but I’ve read almost every popular parenting book out there. (Heck, I’ve even co-authored a surviving twins guide.) Even before I was a parent, I read many self-help books on dating, better communication how to improve my career and more.
(Well, by read, I don’t mean that I actually read all of the books from cover-to-cover. I usually skim through them or read only particular chapters of interest or those that I feel will be of benefit me.)
What I’ve come to realize is this: there’s no magic solution to parenting. There’s no hack.
Parenting is a work in progress. It’s an evolution of ourselves and our children.
Some parenting techniques require both parents (and often grandparents) to consistently apply those techniques for them to be able to work. Some techniques are more rigorous than others. Some are too lax for my parenting style, some are to rigid. But I like picking up a few key ideas from each book.
You have to know your own temperament—and your child’s You have to constantly adjust. Needs change as situations change and as their development changes. Know your child and know yourself so that you can anticipate problems and set boundaries, but adjust them when you need to.
No one tells you how hard parenting is going to be! No single self-help book can help you hack parenting. It’s a work in progress for all of us.
(PS: My current favorite parenting book? Weird Parenting Wins, by Hillary Frank of the parenting podcast, The Longest Shortest Time.)
Christmas carols meet the high school drama club. The cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series are coming together to perform their favorite Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s songs and share their fondest holiday memories in High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special. The 45-minute special premieres on Fri., Dec. 11 on Disney+ and will also feature a sneak peek performance from the highly anticipated second season of the popular series.
Series regulars Olivia Rodrigo, Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Larry Saperstein, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Frankie Rodriguez, Joe Serafini, Mark St. Cyr and Kate Reinders will get viewers in the holiday spirit with their renditions of holiday classics, popular hits and a medley of Hanukkah favorites. They will also share anecdotes of memorable holidays from their childhoods, best – and most embarrassing – presents, favorite traditions, family photos and poignant New Year’s resolutions. Bassett will also debut an acoustic version of an original song which he wrote for season two of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
“The holidays remind us of the universal importance of family and loved ones,” said Tim Federle, executive producer and director of the special. “The cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is its own kind of family, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to share their favorite holiday music and traditions with our viewers.”
High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special: The Soundtrack, featuring holiday songs performed by the cast in the special, will be available beginning Fri., Nov. 20 on all major music services and streaming platforms.
The special is executive-produced by High School Musical: The Musical: The Series creator and executive producer Tim Federle (Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated Ferdinand) and Ashley Edens (Dancing With the Stars). The series has been “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes as measured by a consensus of reviews by top critics and audience members and recently received the 2020 GLAAD Media Award for “Outstanding Kids & Family Programming.”
Season one of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is currently available on Disney+.
—Jennifer Swartvagher
Featured photo: Disney+
RELATED STORIES
Disney Junior Announces Short-Form Series “Dance with Mira and Friends”
Disney Junior’s “Puppy Dog Pals” Pay Homage to Mister Rogers in a Brand-New Episode
Disney+ Releases Music Video for Christina Aguliera’s “Loyal Brave True” from Mulan
Disney+ Original Docu-Series “Becoming” Chronicles the Lives of Celebrities
Lately, a walk through the park (even wearing a mask) has been a welcome escape from the confines of home. Throughout my life, swimming, singing, and reading books have provided opportunities for me to escape. But I rarely have access to a pool in my adult life, there are too many people in my home for me to sing every time I want to, and I’m embarrassed to admit how long it’s been since I’ve read a book for pleasure. I used to go through three books a week and tune out the world as I read. I found joy in reading to my children, or even sitting in the same room as we all read our own books.
This week—after far too long—I finally started reading Becoming by Michelle Obama. It’s a relief to escape into someone else’s world, adventures, successes, and struggles. As an educator, I read constantly for work, and while I enjoy much of it, it’s not really by choice.
In mid-March, like most kids, my boys had to continue school from home, online. My boys are now 19 and 21. They came home to continue their first and third years of college from their bedroom or our living room, on their laptops. They celebrated their birthdays at home—I put together a surprise Zoom call for my older one. Twenty-one. I wanted there to be something to remember beyond ‘COVID-19.’ He was initially so annoyed that I told him “Nana wants to say Happy Birthday via video after dinner.” Actually, so annoyed doesn’t really describe it. He used some not-so-lovely words and told me that his birthday was always about me. Actually, it is so close to Mother’s Day, a day that usually winds up being about him, or everyone other than me. Anyway, he was pleasantly surprised that I figured out how to contact his friends from camp, high school and college to join our family from near and far—everyone said ‘surprise!’, sang happy birthday, and chatted for a while. I had the chance to do a little activity which, of course, embarrassed him a bit before he continued the call with a small group of close friends who remained. He couldn’t go out to a restaurant or bar and order his first legal drink that night, but he was able to buy himself a gift, with his face mask on, at the liquor store. A rite of passage, I suppose. I just hope that when my younger one turns 21, the coronavirus is truly a thing of the past. Not that he will need to go to a bar in order to celebrate his 21st birthday, it would just be nice for him to be able to be with friends.
Sheltering in place. We’ve had select moments here and there, though honestly, it has been anything but ‘sweet’ to be home all together these past few months. My husband and I were supposed to be ’empty-nesters.’ Initially, that made me really sad; my kids had grown up, gone away to school, moved onto a new chapter in their lives. We knew it was temporary, but no sooner had I begun to kind of like it, did they move back in with no real end in sight.
Their summer jobs were even canceled. My husband and I also both teach for colleges, so with the four of us at home, there were many hours each day that at least 3 of us needed a private, quiet space to take or teach classes. Now college semesters are over, but there are still times when more than one of us needs a private, quiet place for a meeting or a class, to practice guitar or drums, have a Zoom call for fun, or simply to be alone for a few minutes. We don’t have an attic or a basement or a garage or a back yard, so I had made a color-coded schedule to hang on the fridge to minimize the arguments when it came to who got the bedrooms behind closed doors and who had to be in the living room while someone else was there working out in our new mini ‘home gym’, or watching TV with headphones. It was agreed that the drum set and the beds couldn’t be moved out of the bedroom, yet that didn’t keep one brother from being angry with the other for needing the space.
I’ve always worked part-time from home. However, having to balance parenting young adults with 100-percent of my work from home and limited opportunities to be with friends, colleagues, students, and clients is not easy. I have the good fortune of still having my work. And yes, I can also go out without worrying about not having a babysitter. We have our health and one day I’m sure I’ll miss them so terribly, perhaps I’ll look back on this time feeling grateful that we were together. Perhaps.
I’ve known that one day my kids would grow up and move out. As difficult as parenting is, I never thought I’d actually want them out. And at the same time, I never want them to leave. I question my parenting skills and choices, I then question my professional self because I have a deep understanding of child development and human behavior. I feel the challenges of being a good role model for adapting to change and dealing with stress when I’m trying to adapt and deal.
I have to trust that I’ve given my kids the love and guidance they need to survive with us and on their own, pandemic or not. This story is not yet over, but of course, I’m hoping for a real happy ending. Life as a parent certainly isn’t ‘a walk in the park.’