“I can do it!” This shout rises from within us when we feel confident. While it may come more easily to some, this self-assurance does not come naturally. It develops as we experience life from infancy to adulthood. As children grow, every day presents a new adventure. After all, much of their experience is uncharted.…

A cozy fort and an anticipated book make a good pair. Both offer an escape into another world in which children explore and dream without limits. Discovering the possibilities of who they might become opens children’s imaginations and future potential. As it turns out, this dynamic duo of books and forts offers so much more to…

We can still imagine acorns dropping amid piled leaves of vibrant, changing colors as the first snowfall covers the remaining leaves. Aromas of pies, pines, and ciders waft through the house. The inspiration of fall remains in our memory as we prepare for Christmas and Hanukkah. The spirit of Thanksgiving gratitude can linger throughout the…

How many times did it ring in your ears as a child? “Sit still!” It holds true through the generations. Wiggles and giggles accompany childhood. Seemingly bitten by the energy bug and filled with natural curiosity, kids bounce from one thought to another and one activity to the next. The whirlwind has the potential to…

Dreams rest in the hearts and minds of children waiting to burst forth. In these formative years, nothing seems impossible and options lay wide open. Many of these dreams are birthed and grown in the no-limits, safe space of the blanket fort. Cool blanket forts offer a world where kids explore interests and personalities while…

Despite video and online sources becoming a primary outlet for the news, parents can still encourage their kids to learn the value of a newspaper. Even the youngest child loves to mimic Dad as he eats breakfast while reading the paper. With encouragement, this behavior extends beyond a physical copying to an intellectual one. In…

From the moment of birth, kids demonstrate their wiring to explore the world and learn. Responses to voice and sound teach them to communicate. Tactile experiences of feeding and play develop their senses, components of speech and understanding of the natural world. Watching the interactions and natural occurrences around them draw their interest and engage…

As parents, we would wrap our kids in bubble wrap and clad them in armor if we could protect them from the pain that the world can bring. In fact, we might just let them live out their days in the safety of that backyard or living room fort. Under our watchful eye, certainly, they…

A playhouse marks nearly every childhood. Whether extravagant and Dad-built, created with blankets or hidden among the trees and foliage of the woods, this staple of back when memories delights. But, at five or eight or ten years old, who knew all that building and imagining was anything more than fun? Using a Fort Magic…

Growing up, there are certain things all children need to have a successful start in life. The basic needs of personal hygiene, sleep, and nutritional foods help children grow big and strong as they go through the various stages of development during those first few years. Physical activity is an equally important aspect of childhood.…