Show your faves how much you appreciate them with these gifts for coworkers

They get you through the day. Understand what you’re going through. On some days, they’re the best part of the job. Your coworkers are the glue that holds your workdays together. (We’d know. We have the best ones.) It’s the season for spoiling them, obviously. Afterall, they always remember you take oat milk in your lattes. But gifts for coworkers can be tricks. Well, unless you have our guide. Which you do.

Gifts for coworkers can range from ultra-professional to ‘we hang out on the weekends, too’ and everything in between. That doesn’t mean, though, that you’re stuck with another nice pen or a gift card (no shade to either, of course). We’ve rounded up some of the best office bestie, inspiring manager, keeps-it-all-straight admin assistant gifts out there that are sure to make them feel super appreciated. And, if you’re still shopping for your whole list, don’t miss our holiday gift guides that have everyone covered.

Work from Anywhere Kit by Pinch Provisions

Pinch Provisions/Amazon

This handy kit comes with a notepad and sticky flags, pen, phone/tablet stand, cord organizer, 2-in-1 charging cable, and more for working from home, vacations, or just to have on-hand in case.

Work from Anywhere Kit by Pinch Provisions ($36.99)—Buy Here!

'Things I Want to Say in the Meeting But I Can't' Notebook

Amazon

Make sure they write down all the things they're thinking when you exchange glances during those lengthy meetings so you can catch up later.

'Things I Want to Say in the Meeting But I Can't' Notebook ($7.24)—Buy Here!

Food Decider Dice

Amazon

For that coworker who never knows where they want to go for lunch.

Food Decider Dice ($14.99)—Buy Here!

CamelBak Cocktail Shaker & Tumbler Limited-Edition Set

CamelBak

Whether your high-stress job causes for the occasional relaxing cocktail, or the holiday libations deserve some special treatment, this sleek set from CamelBak delivers.

CamelBak Cocktail Shaker & Tumbler Limited-Edition Set ($58.50)—Buy Here!

'I'd Quit My Job if You Didn't Work Here' Candle

Coffee & Motivation

Pick the scent that your coworker will love and remind them how important they are to you.

'I'd Quit My Job if You Didn't Work Here' Candle ($26.95)—Buy Here!

Forms Desk Organizer Set

Poketo

These adorable desk organizers are made from powder-coated metal and are perfect for jazzing up any desk.

Forms Desk Organizer Set ($78.00)—Buy Here!

Pajamagram Addictively Soft Micro Velvet Gift Box

Pajamagram

Find their comfort soulmate at Pajamagram. Featuring their customer favorite addictively soft micro velvet Tempting Touch Pajamas, this gift is complete with plush Cozy Escape Socks, a Scented Candle, and a cozy definition Tote Bag all inside a deluxe box.

Pajamagram Addictively Soft Micro Velvet Gift Box ($92.79)—Buy Here!

PhoneSoap 3 UV Cell Phone Sanitizer & Dual Universal Cell Phone Charger Box

Amazon

They can sanitize their phone and other small, high-touch objects using UV-C light and charge their phone at the same time. It all only takes 10 minutes and germs don't stand a chance. 

PhoneSoap 3 UV Cell Phone Sanitizer & Dual Universal Cell Phone Charger Box ($39.95)—Buy Here!

Desk Dumpster Pencil Holder + Flame Note Cards

Amazon/Genuine Fred

Some days are just like that. Your favorite coworkers get it (and help you get through it).

Desk Dumpster Pencil Holder + Flame Note Cards ($11.82)—Buy Here!

Hand Massager with Heat

Amazon

As writers, we can attest that the sore hand situation is real, so your typing coworkers will thank you all year for this one.

Hand Massager with Heat ($34.98)—Buy Here!

Thinking Egg Desk Set

Bespoke Post

These four eggs are all perfectly weighted, ergonomically designed, and made from various earthly elements—each with its own set of natural properties. They're perfect for fidgeting (though they have way more benefits than just something for your hands to do) and helping you keep your focus, plus they're very cool to look at.

Thinking Egg Desk Set ($64.00)—Buy Here!

Everlasting Stained Glass Succulents

Uncommon Goods

They'll never have to worry about forgetting to water these stunning succulents. Pick from three gorgeous designs that stand on a small copper wire tripod, or they can be added to a pot with filler (sold separately).

Everlasting Stained Glass Succulents ($62.00)—Buy Here!

Bright Plaid Fleece Sherpa Throw Blanket

Maurices

For your chronically cold coworkers, this fun blanket will keep them from dragging a space heater into the office. Hopefully.

Bright Plaid Fleece Sherpa Throw Blanket ($15.00)—Buy Here!

Shattered Glass Ceiling Necklace

Uncommon Goods

Help them to remember the glass ceilings they've shattered, and the ones they have the power to keep shattering with this symbolic necklace.

Shattered Glass Ceiling Necklace ($68.00)—Buy Here!

Delightly Boss Babe Box

Delightly

Delightly offers the best gift boxes for everyone on your list, like this 'handle anything' kit that includes a tumbler, journal, magnet, and more.

Delightly Boss Babe Box ($64.95)—Buy Here!

Calle Vase & Pillar Candle Holder

Anthropologie

Display flowers or prop up a pillar candle with this dramatic glass holder.

Calle Vase & Pillar Candle Holder ($28.00)—Buy Here!

Confetti Card Holder

Packed Party

Use it as a business card holder, or just stash all the necessities for lunch hour in it.

Confetti Card Holder ($15.99)—Buy Here!

Kinship Little Lights Kit

Kinship

Give the gift of glow. This 4 piece set is packed with Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides for bouncy, beaming skin.

Kinship Little Lights Kit ($20.00)—Buy Here!

ArOmis Aromatherapy Diffuser

Amazon

How gorgeous is this essential oil diffuser? It comes in multiple styles and finishes.

ArOmis Aromatherapy Diffuser ($89.99)—Buy Here!

Eastern Standard 'Comfort & Joy' Gift Box

Eastern Standard

Everyone loves pretzels and waffles. This box is the perfect mix of gourmet soft pretzels and Liège Belgian waffles (which were both selected as Oprah’s Favorite Things in years past), plus artfully blended sauces, and gourmet toppings.

Eastern Standard 'Comfort & Joy' Gift Box ($69.99)—Buy Here!

Puffer Laptop Sleeve

Urban Outfitters

A fun laptop sleeve that comes in 4 colors and keeps their tech protected.

Puffer Laptop Sleeve ($26.00)—Buy Here!

Coffee Mug Warmer

Amazon

This coffee (or tea or hot cocoa or milk or candle...) warmer offers 6 timer settings, from 2 to 12 hours, plus it shuts off when it no longer detects the warmer is occupied. Available in multiple colors.

Coffee Mug Warmer ($25.59)—Buy Here!

Avocado Hand Warmers

Amazon

We know we're not the only ones who have watched our work buddies suffer at the hands of locked office thermostats.

Avocado Hand Warmers ($27.99)—Buy Here!

Crystal Tree Desk Decoration

Amazon

These beautiful little trees are perfect for adding some color to their desk (or home, of course). Since it comes with 12, they could use them in both, actually.

Crystal Tree Desk Decoration ($35.99)—Buy Here!

 

 

All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.

All images courtesy of retailers.

Waiting at a doctor’s appointment or need to pass some time at a restaurant? Try one of these fun games to keep your baby happy

When you’re stuck waiting somewhere—for the doctor, in line at the DMV, on the subway, or just for brunch—keeping an energetic little one occupied can be a major challenge. Have no fear. We’ve got a list of awesome, do-almost-anywhere activities that will keep you and your baby busy and keep waiting room crankiness at bay. Try a couple, and watch the minutes fly by.

Copy Cat

Mimic the sounds your baby makes – coos and ba-ba-bas – mixing it up by stretching them out a little. Try making a few funny faces, and watch as your baby pushes her lips to copy your fishy face. With older babies, you can add in gestures and body movements – lifting your arms, clapping, nodding your head from side to side, or stomping your feet.

Peek-a-Boo

This classic gets extra special from a kiddo’s perspective if you just toss a blanket over your head and wait for your baby to pull it off. Or, when traditional peek-a-boo gets old, try hiding a toy instead. Grab a stuffed animal, hide it behind your back or under a blanket, and see if your little one can find it.

Crinkle Crinkle Paper Ball

Paper’s available pretty much anywhere, from the place mat at a restaurant to the paper cover on the exam bed at the doctor’s office. Hand that good stuff over to your little one to crunch, crinkle, and rip to shreds. You can even scrunch it up to make a ball that you two can toss back and forth.

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Flying Baby

Bounce that baby up into the air and swoop her around. Add in a few spins and you’ve got your own mama-powered thrill ride. Flying babies are happy babies.

What’s in the Bag?

Textures are fascinating for little ones, especially when they’re unseen. Find a small bag or an empty tissue box, slip different objects inside (soft fabric, a sippy cup, a spoon, smooth rocks, a teething ring), and let your baby reach in to explore the invisible wonder.

Ice cubes

Photo Credit: Oz Spies

Ice Ice Baby

The next time you’re waiting in a restaurant, try this: dip a spoon into your water, and scoop out an ice cube. Put it on the table in front of your kiddo. Watch her fascination as she touches and tries to catch the slippery wonder.

Build and Crash

Stack up a few things and encourage your baby to stomp (or crawl) over, Godzilla-style, and tip them to the ground. A tissue box plus cotton balls at the doctor’s office, a stack of board books, plastic spoons – anything that can balance precariously for a few moments and then tumble to the ground is great fun for little ones.

Nursery Rhymes

Great for literacy development, there’s a reason they’ve never gone out of style. Sing a little Itsy Bitsy Spider with your best preschool teacher-style enthusiasm. If you don’t know the hand motions that go along with the nursery rhymes or want to learn a few new ones, check out this resource created by librarians.

Dip into Your Bag of Tricks

A small container of bubbles can take you far if you’re outside and waiting around – keeping one in your diaper bag means you’ll always be prepared for fun. Cheerios, when handed out one at a time, give your kiddo a chance to work on fine motor skills and extend interest longer than handing over a full snack container. You can even create a new challenge by slipping a single Cheerio inside of or underneath a clear baby bottle cap and asking your baby to retrieve it. And now’s the time to pull out anything that makes noise – if you have a small music-making toy that drives you nuts at home, keep it in your diaper bag to pull out when you’re on the go.

Watching the World Go By

Furry creatures are endlessly fascinating. If you’re stuck somewhere with a window, peek out the window and hunt for dogs or cats. Or try counting trucks as they drive past. Your enthusiasm is what will make this one: if you exclaim with fascination about the animals or vehicles you see out there, there’s a good chance your baby will get on board.

Funny Stuff

If all else fails, put a shoe on your head. Find something random, pretend it’s a hat, and do your best Three Stooges-style pratfalls. Toddlers are sure to dissolve into giggles.

Make sure to capture all the silly moments—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.

Spoiler alert: If your kids can read, do not let them read about how to send letters to Santa. Read this post in secret!

You stay up late wrapping presents in secret and make a show of setting out cookies and milk, but there’s one more thing you can do to prove Santa is real. This year, take the classic letter to Santa to a new level by not only sending it but also making sure your kiddos receive a response from the Jolly Old Elf himself. The USPS has an awesome program in place and if you’ve never done it before, this is your year. Here’s what you need to know.

Step 1: Write the letter to Santa!

First things first: write the letter to Santa. Kids that can’t write yet can dictate to parents and spend a little time decorating the letter with stickers or a drawing. If your kiddos are learning their letters, you can always have them trace over some of the words. For kiddos that can write, make sure they have enough paper on hand but try and keep it to one page. Remember, this does not have to be a list of all the things they want for Christmas. They can also just send a letter thanking Santa for his hard work or asking him what his life is like. Be creative!

Have them put their letter in an envelope, addressed to: 

Santa Claus
North Pole

Try to avoid sealing this envelope without being too obvious.

 

Step 2: Write a response to your child.

iStock

Okay, here’s the spoiler part! Using your stealth parenting-in-the-night skills, the same ones that power you to wrap presents and fill stockings undetected, you will need to write out the response from Santa (disguise your writing if you think necessary) and place it in an envelope addressed to your child with a return address of Santa Claus, North Pole. 

Make sure you put a stamp on this envelope: The current rate is 66 cents, or use a Forever stamp.

Tip: USPS suggests writing the response from Santa on the back of your child’s letter to save space and to make sure your kiddo will remember what they wrote (plus this way you get to keep it without giving anything away!).

Related: Do Your Kids Write Letters to Santa? They’re Not Alone 

Step 3: Mail it.

iStock

Place everything into a larger envelope (like a Priority Mail Flat Rate or manilla envelope) and make sure there is adequate postage. A flat rate is great because you can buy the postage online and print the label, saving you a trip to the post office. 

Remember, in your envelope, you will have:

1 letter to Santa in an envelope addressed to Santa

1 response from Santa in an envelope addressed to a child with an actual postage stamp (and Santa’s return address)

Address this larger envelope to:

North Pole Postmark
Postmaster
4141 Postmark Dr.
Anchorage, Ak 99530-9998

The rest is up to Santa’s busy elves at the Postal Service. 

Important: The USPS recommends having the letters sent no later than Dec. 1 so that they can arrive at the Anchorage, AK office in time. 

Learn more here

Good to Know:

The USPS also operates Operation Santa, a letter-writing program for any kid in need. Children can write to a specific address and make requests. They even have a letter-writing kit. To learn more about this program, or to answer letters and donate to kids in need, click here.

Contact your state elections office or just ask a friendly poll worker about rules and limitations on bringing your children along with you to the voting booth

Election Day is almost here and…well, maybe you have a preschooler, toddler, or newborn in tow. Now what? Um, go ahead and bring your kid with you to vote! Yep, that’s right. Take your pint-sized politician (in the future sense, of course) into the booth.

Many parents wonder if they’re legally allowed to bring their children with them into the voting booth. Even though this civic duty is a highly private one, the government allows minor children to accompany their voting parents in every state. That said, some states have their own laws setting maximum ages for kids who can come into the voting booth.

can you take your kids into the voting booth
iStock

Related: How to Steer Kids Through a Divisive Political Season

Don’t worry, your kindergarten kiddo can still go with you. States that do have age restrictions have set limits that are well into the teenage years. But keep in mind that each state has different rules, so ask questions and be prepared. In Virginia, for example, only children 15 years old and younger are allowed in the booths, according to NBC News. The same goes for Connecticut. But in California and other states, parents can bring along any minor under the age of 18.

If you’re not sure what the legal maximum age for a child accompanying a parent into a voting booth is, just ask. Call your state’s elections office before you go, or just ask the helpful friendly faces at your local polling place when you arrive. Go in knowing that every. single. state. in the country allows parents to bring their minor children into the voting booth with them, so if a poll worker turns you and your child away, remind them of their state’s laws not only dictating voting booth rules, but also voter suppression.

Along with age restrictions, some states also have total child maximums. Depending on your state, the law may limit the number of kids you bring into the booth to one or two. Again, always ask ahead of time. If you have three kids and your state only allows two, consider setting up an Election Day babysitting collective in your community or bring a friend with you to vote.

Related: Rock the Vote! Election Day Games for the Kids

Related: Things to Do with Your Family Instead of Talking Politics

Okay, so what happens if your toddler throws a tantrum while you’re waiting in line to vote? Disrupting the voting process is a no-no. If your child’s not-so-pleasant behavior is impeding others from voting, distracting them, or causing problems for the other voters, polling place helpers could ask you to leave. Hey, you can go back to vote later on—after the babysitter comes.

So here’s the big question, “Why should you bring your kids with you to vote?” Taking your kids into the voting booth gives them a chance to see democracy in action and encourages them to think critically about what’s in the news. According to a study by the University of Chicago, nearly half of young people aged 15 to 25 get news at least once a week from family and friends via Twitter or Facebook. And it can be difficult to tell fact from fiction. One of the study’s conclusions is: “Youth must learn how to judge the credibility of online information and how to find divergent views on varied issues.”

There’s no reason to wait until they’re 18 (and of legal voting age) to start talking about their civic rights and responsibilities. Going into the voting booth with mom or dad makes our country’s political process concrete and tangible for them, helping your young child to better understand it.

There you go—kids plus voting is a win-win situation. Happy voting!

with additional reporting from Erica Loop

There’s nothing left-handers can’t master

Spiral notebooks, scissors, keyboards. Just a few of the “tools” you’ve mastered twice as well as any right-hander. Being a lefty is something to be proud of: did you know that according to MENSA 20% of all geniuses are left-handed? So, for International Left-Handed Day, celebrate the southpaws in your life, and enjoy these hilarious left-handed memes. If you’re looking for more laughs, check out our mom memes, our Halloween parenting memes, and potty training memes.

1. Stupid scissors.

left handed meme

2. Because being left-handed is totally right. 
left handed meme

3. Funny, but true.

left handed meme 3

 

4. No one believes you.
lefties meme left handed meme

 

5. Your parents kept putting your pencil/spoon/baseball bat in your other hand. 
left handed meme kid

 

6. Because you rejoiced when you discovered stores like this really do exist. 
leftorium

 

7. If you had a nickel…
Screen Shot 2015-07-27 at 6.01.37 PM

 

8. I can wave with my left hand, too! 

left handed meme scale

9. ‘Nuf said. 

 

bear
10. Sigh. 

leftie meme two

 

11. Because you still have to “special order” what you need at the office. 

 

Screen Shot 2015-07-27 at 6.01.59 PM

 

12. Awww, yeah! 
keep-left-slide

 

 

 

The original voice of the video game Mario and Luigi will have a cameo in the new film!

Get your coin-collecting, cart-racing selves ready because Illumination has just dropped the final Super Mario Bros. movie trailer. The animated film, which hits theaters on Apr. 5th, looks to be a ride through a thrilling new universe based on the classic ’80s Nintendo game that had kids guiding two Italian plumbers through the toadstool world of Princess Peach and Bowser.

In this new, animated version, Brooklyn plumbers Mario and Luigi are working on a water main when they’re transported to a magical world via a mysterious pipe. When the two are separated, Mario sets off on a quest to find his brother. He’ll team up with well-known characters in the battle against Bowser and his Koopa Troop. The star-studded cast includes Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, and Seth Rogen (who’s been all over the animated world as of late) as Donkey Kong.

Related: All the New Family Movies Hitting Theaters in 2023

The first Super Mario Bros. movie trailer had everyone talking about how different it was from the ’90s live-action version

While the video game is one of the most popular of all time, unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the disastrous 1993 film that is easily one of the worst movies ever made—and that’s according to the film’s director! Things are about to turn around for Mario and Luigi, however, as their story has landed in the magical hands of Illumination.

“I like that this was not done well the first time,” producer Chris Meledandri told Variety. “I think that’s more exciting or more worthy than simply making another version of a film that was done incredibly well, to begin with.”

Melendandri also explained that he planned to work closely with the game’s creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, on developing the film. The 1993 version did not involve Miyamoto at all, and Melendandri believes that was a huge mistake. The new Super Mario Bros. Movie is a true collaboration, as Miyamoto is listed as a co-producer of the film and worked with Melendandri for over six years on the project. If the trailer is any indication, it’s clear that this one won’t miss the mark.

—with additional reporting by Sher Warkentin

Target, Walmart, Costco, and Home Depot are among the retail giants closing on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. The turkey. The stuffing. The warm, welcoming love of your family as you surround each other and give thanks for everything you have. Oh, and the shopping too. Wait. Isn’t this supposed to be a holiday about thankfulness, and not about where you can get a new mattress for 60% off or the latest TV for one-third off the price that it normally is? If you’ve noticed that a growing number of stores are starting their Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving Thursday, you’re not alone. And plenty of people (shoppers and employees) don’t like it.

In response to this, some retailers are staying closed on Thanksgiving Day. Yep, that’s right. Those amazingly awesome deals are going to have to wait until Friday — giving employees a full day off. So instead of heading out to the mall, you may just need to stay home with your family.

photo: Heidi Finn via Unsplash

Which stores are waiting until Black Friday to open? There’s a growing list of stores that have full Thanksgiving closings, including:

  • Ace Hardware
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Bed, Bath & Beyond
  • Best Buy
  • BJ’s Wholesale
  • Costco
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods
  • Footlocker
  • Home Goods
  • Homesense
  • IKEA
  • Kohl’s
  • Macy’s
  • Marshall’s
  • Nordstrom
  • Nordstrom Rack
  • Petco
  • REI (with be closed both Thanksgiving and Black Friday)
  • Sam’s Club
  • Staples
  • Simon Property Group (U.S.’s biggest mall group)
  • Target
  • The Container Store
  • TJ Maxx
  • Walmart

Check with your favorite retailers before heading out to shop them on Thanksgiving Thursday.

Every kid loves getting something addressed to them in the mail, but what if they received correspondence from a real astronaut? Thanks to NASA’s pen pal program, they can write and receive answers from real, live astronauts. It’s a great way to keep kids interested in science, and if a letter does come back, it’s a pretty cool item for the family “brag board.”

Astronaut in space

Step One: Pick an astronaut

Have your kids look through the list of astronauts on at NASA’s website and read through their bios to see what each one does. Maybe your kids want to know what it’s like to live on the Space Station. Maybe they are more interested in the engineering and problem-solving that goes into making a rocket fly. Picking an astronaut who deals with exactly your kid’s interests makes the NASA pen pal program process even more fun.

Step Two: Decide what to ask their astronaut of choice

Once you’ve picked your lucky astronaut, you should help your kids compose their letter (or have them write it on their own if they’re old enough). The best bet is to ask a specific question that an astronaut can answer. (Check out this amazing two-page letter one four-year-old received after her dad helped her write a letter to NASA scientist Dr. David Williams with a question about a probe headed to Jupiter’s moons.) Kids can think about what they’ve learned in school to help draft their questions. You can also make a request for an autographed photo from current astronauts who are in training or are assigned to an upcoming flight.

Step Three: Address and mail the letter to the NASA office

Any mail and photo requests can be sent to:

NASA Johnson Space Center
CB/Astronaut Office
Houston, TX 77058

You can make it easier on the astronauts by including a self-addressed and stamped return envelope.

Good luck, space cadets!

 

RELATED: This Teen Intern at NASA Discovered a New Planet 

 

 

 

 

Make homework fun by changing the way you look at it

Your kids just spent all day at school. And now you’re asking them to do what? Homework? Hey, that’s kind of like having school at home. After an entire day of paper, pencils, and books, your child may resist (and that’s putting it politely) getting down to business during the after-school hours. Don’t stress out. Whether your child has to study a vocab list, do a few zillion math equations, or finish a few extra assignments, we’re sharing seven tips that can magically transform homework from a super-struggle to some serious fun!

kids working on homework
iStock

1. Work Together
Why not be hands-off when it comes to your kid’s homework, while still working beside one another? Return emails, answer your co-worker’s texts or work on the PTA fundraiser, modeling focused work to your child as the two of you spend QT together. If you think this seems like you’re not paying attention to your child or you’re slacking when it comes to parenting—you aren’t. Instead, you’re creating a shared workspace where the two of you can get business done together.

2. Get Creative
Sitting like a statue and calculating problem after problem on a math worksheet isn’t exciting, so consider turning a study session into an all-out artsy adventure! As your kid reads a chapter from the assigned text, use the opportunity as a chance to put on a play. If not acting, paint out math problems, sculpt letters or turn American history into a song.

Other ideas (perfect for older kiddos) include more sophisticated setups like creating a series of paintings explaining a text the child is trying to interpret or interpreting a poem using their musical notes. Kindergarten-aged kids set can get back to basics and finger paint letters, make clay characters from a story or bang on pots and pans to learn about patterns or counting.

RELATED: 11 Math Games That Equal Tons of Fun

dads making homework fun
iStock

4. Take It Outside
If there’s an outdoor space where they can spread out and study in your home, encourage it. A study showed that workers saw a 45% increase in productivity after being outside for about 30 minutes. Plus, offering up 10-minute breaks in the sun is a huge perk.

4. Make It a Group Effort
Start a study group. Have your kiddo invite classmates to read, write and do math equations together. If your student is old enough to handle organizing and delegating, take a step back and let your kid take on a leadership role. Younger kids may need more help—think of this as a mini-educational play date for them.

make homework fun with an awesome workstation
Danny Piassick via Ellen Grasso & Sons, LLC

5. Design an Awesome Workspace
Take a page from some of the coolest places on Earth to work. Google, Apple and other tech giants all have fab workspaces for their employees. Why? To increase productivity. Create a communal workstation that all your kids (or all your family) can share instead of sending your little learners off to their room alone. Mix it up with a tall desk (by using a shelf), so your child can stand and work, or swap out desk chairs for a yoga ball or a twisty stool.

RELATED: 17 At-Home Learning Spots to Keep Kids on Track

6. Engage the Senses
There is a reason those darned pop-its were suddenly in every kid’s hands. While engaging their sense of touch, smell or sight might seem like a distraction, it helps them focus. Try doing a sensory activity like making your playdough. You can also engage other senses: Stash a stress ball in the homework area to engage the sense of touch or play white noise to break the quiet distracting to your child.

7. Hold Office Hours
Your child needs some homework help. Instead of hovering (no helicopters here) or taking over and writing your very own book report, set up office hours—just like your college professors did. Make the living room couch or the dining room table into your “office.” The kids can schedule a time to ask questions or can come to your “open hours.” This lets you help your child without actually doing the work yourself

 

As we celebrate Women’s History Month this March, we recognize local luminaries who have shaped DC’s history through the arts, politics activism and more. Scroll down for some of the most influential Washington women who have shaped our city’s deep history.

Kamala Harris

A 1986 graduate of Howard University with degrees in political science and economics, Harris was inaugurated as vice president in 2021.  She is the United States' first female vice president, the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, and the first Black and first Asian American vice president. 

Eleanor Holmes Norton

US House Office of Photography

Eleanor is a native Washingtonian who was very active in the Civil Rights movement. She is now DC’s delegate to Congress. The District’s tireless nonvoting representative serves on committees, introduces legislation, and speaks on the House floor; however, she is not permitted to vote on the final passage of any legislation, since DC is not a State.  

Muriel Bowser

Lorie Shaull

Bowser has been mayor of the District of Columbia since 2015. She is the second female mayor of the DC after Sharon Pratt, and the first woman to be reelected to that position. A lifelong Washingtonian, Bowser attended Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA for her undergraduate degree and then returned to DC to obtain a masters from American University's School of Public Affairs. Bowser is responsible for Black Lives Matter Plaza, the two-block-long section of Downtown Washington, DC. Written in striking yellow paint, the words "Black Lives Matter" run down the blocks near the White House. She is also known for her tireless work in trying to make DC the 51st State.

Clara Barton

Wikipedia

While she is mostly known as the founder of the American Red Cross, Clara also served as a clerk in the US Patent Office. This was the first time a woman had received a substantial federal clerkship and at a salary equal to what a man would earn. She was a hospital nurse in the American Civil War and is noteworthy for doing humanitarian work and civil rights advocacy at a time before women had the right to vote.

Lucy Burns

Library of Congress

One of the leaders of the National Woman’s Party in the early 1900s, Burns was arrested  six times and led a hunger strike at the Occoquan Workhouse. She is remembered for being a fervid  advocate for women’s rights. She retired from public life with the passage of the 19th amendment.

Mary McLeod Bethune

State Archives of Florida

As president of the National Association of Colored Women, Ms. Bethune purchased a property at 1318 Vermont Ave., which became the first black controlled organization to be headquartered in the District! She was also invited by Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover to lead on issues relating to children’s health. She later formed a coalition called the Federal Council of Negro Affairs which advised President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Shirley Horn

Bruno Bernard

A singer and pianist who was born in DC, Shirley teamed up with dozens of jazz greats including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Wynton Marsalis. She was nominated for nine Grammy Awards winning in 1999 for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. Encouraged by her grandmother, Horn began piano lessons at the age of four. She studied piano and composition at Howard University.

Chita Rivera

Kingkongphoto via Wikipedia

Also born in DC, Rivera is a singer, dancer and actor who starred in Broadway musicals including Anita in West Side Story,  Chicago, and the title role in Kiss of the Spider Woman. She is a three-time Tony Award recipient and is the first Hispanic woman and the first Latino American to receive a Kennedy Center Honor and is a recipient the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Denyce Graves

John Mathew Smith via Wikipedia

Famous opera singer, Denyce Graves was born in Washington, DC, and was raised by her mother on Galveston St. SW., in the Bellevue section of the District. She graduated from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts  and studied voice at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory. The Mezzo Soprano is recognized worldwide as one of today's most exciting vocal stars and continues to gather unparalleled popular and critical acclaim in performances.

Helen Hayes

Wikipedia

Hayes was born in Washington, DC in 1900. She was an actress whose career spanned 80 years. She is one of a handful of people to be an EGOT (recipient of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony).  Hayes received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Ronald Reagan in 1986 and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1988. The annual Helen Hayes Awards, which have recognized excellence in professional theatre in greater Washington, DC, since 1984, are her namesake.  

Sharon Pratt

Wikipedia

A native Washingtonian, Ms. Pratt is an American attorney and politician who was the third mayor of the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1995. Most notably, she is the first African-American woman to hold that position.  

—Guiomar Ochoa and Aimee Della Bitta

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