Fitness routines are easy to talk about but more difficult to do, especially for families. Parents may work different schedules. There's always housework to be done. Kids have after-school activities. There are work and social functions. Usually, exercise is the last thing I want to think about after work, cooking, chores and errands. That's why I suggest low-impact, low-maintenance family fitness tips.

* Keep it simple. I'm a busy mom and I know how hard it is to keep up even the simplest routine. Exercising together will fall by the wayside if I over-think it. Just as education is striving to "get back to basics," so is our family. Bike rides, evening walks, jogging--these are easy to manage.

* Mix work and play. Walk kids to school or to the bus stop. The dog needs walking? There's a perfect excuse to get some exercise. Shoveling snow, cutting the grass, weeding the garden, cleaning the garage, raking leaves--these chores do double duty as a family workout. Kids have a paper

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Source: 4 Simple Tips to Encourage Your Kids' Creativity

Painting and drawing are great artistic outlets, but creativity means more than simply diving into a box of crayons. To encourage your kids' creativity in other areas, it's best to step outside the box and introduce them to fresh, new activities and environments. Whether it's a quick cooking date or a day spent out on the town, we've come up with four simple tips to help your little ones exercise their imaginations:

1. Invite them into the kitchen. Make a space for your kids in your cooking routine and teach them about different spices or food combinations. Let them create their own recipes, have taste tests, and bring them to the farmers market to introduce them to new foods. Giving them a glimpse of what goes into their meals is a great way to stimulate their curiosity and maybe even kick-start a new passion.
2. Turn off the TV and turn up the music. Whether it's during arts and crafts or while your kids do their homework, t

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A couple months ago, the suburban chatter started. Camps, classes, vacations, day trips. After all, my kindergartner has an especially long summer break due to some construction in the district. (And my preschooler always seems to have an especially long summer break.) Three and a half months. Three kids -- ranging in age from one to six. What on earth are we going to do?

The answer is simple. Whatever we want.

When I say that, there's a bit of panic, I'll admit. But there's also a lot of excitement for me. You see, this is the first summer I've been at home with my kids that isn't a maternity leave. (And let's face it, having a newborn is no vacation!) I've always been a working mom, but now I'm working a lot less and doing it from home. I know this may not last, so this is my chance to make the most of it.

So, while my plan is really to have no plan at all, I know the, "What are we going to do today?"s are just 29 days away. It's time to get my calendar and pencil out so

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I have to confess to a crazy love for lawn games. Seriously, who doesn't love a good bocce ball match during a barbecue? With the summer months quickly approaching, I am loving these ideas for great lawn games for families. (Plus many of them include DIY tutorials!) Perfect for entertaining a crowd or a little family fun in the evenings, lawn games are the ultimate summer staple…

1. Backyard Twister
Everybody loves Twister, and this backyard version is easy to create. Make a circle template, grab a few cans of spray paint in different colors, and you're good to go!
Get the tutorial















Related: 10 Game Night activities that the whole family can enjoy

Lawn Jenga

2. Lawn Jenga
Oversized Jenga?! Brilliant. You can make it yourself using lumber that's cut to size and sanded to create the requisite 54 blocks used in Jenga.
Get the tutorial

Patio Scrabble

3. Patio Scrabble
Obsession is the only way to explain how I feel about this patio Scrabble board. This set was made

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