What can your family learn from The Croods?

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media reviewer

The Croods is in theaters all across America (check out our review!). What kind of takeaways can you expect from this visually dazzling new adventure?

• Not all cartoon cavemen are like Fred and Barney. Unlike another Stone Age family (the yabba-dabba-doo-ing, socializing-with-the-neighbors, and rock-quarry-working Flintstones), the Croods don't get out much, at least at first. Grug, the caveman clan's patriarch (voiced by Nicolas Cage), thinks there's no reason to leave the safe confines of their cave -- except for some serious food-hunting, that is. But he soon learns that life is that much more fun, even if it's a little (OK, a lot) unpredictable, when you step outside your comfort zone.
  
• Anything boys can do, girls can do, too -- sometimes better! Adventurous heroine Eep (Emma Stone) jumps, runs, scales mountains, and more just as enthusiastically as her dad and Guy (Ryan Reynolds) -- and, in the case of

Why parents need to take a step backI used to hate the snow.

No, I am not immune to the mysterious beauty of snowfall. And yes, shoveling makes for an invigorating start to the morning, sledding's a rush of fun, and I love how a blizzard muffles the near-constant drone of New York City's bustle and traffic. But honestly, I'd trade these pleasures for mild days, a floor clean of salt-encrust piles of snowmelt, and dry socks. Guess I'm just a hot, passionate man of the tropics at heart!

I'm coming to change my tune though, not because I've taken up cross country skiing or snowshoeing - winter sports, and all the expensive Gore-Tex-lined gear they require, don't appeal - but because my son loves playing in the snow. And I don't mean with me. By himself.

Related: 9 ways to turn a picky-eater into a little foodie

For a kid who demands a lot of attention - he wants Mommy or Daddy involved even when playing with his most treasured toys - snow provides a rare opportunity for independence. Red of cheek and, since he refuses

Baby George. Photo: YouTube via BBCA new mom in England got the shock of her life when the she gave birth to her son George six weeks ago—and he came out weighing a whopping 15 pounds 7 ounces.

More from Shine: Graphic Births, Good for the Soul, in New Midwives Doc

“He’s a little miracle—well, a big miracle, really,” Jade King, who birthed George vaginally, told the BBC.

No one realized just how big George was until his head had emerged, at which point his shoulders got temporarily stuck and he went without oxygen for five minutes.

“There was about 20-odd doctors in the room, and that’s when it got really scary,” King recalled.

More on Yahoo!: Miracle Baby Born to Organ Transplant Patient

Once the baby was out, he was given a 10 percent chance of survival and transferred from Cheltenham to another hospital, in Bristol. He was kept there for four and a half weeks and then went home, and just received normal results from an MRI.

“It might just be that he’s a little big slow with his learning,” his mom added. “So hopefully

One of the best things about having a little one is having an excuse to make holidays extra special and just because your child is still a baby, doesn't mean you can't get a jump start on those traditions. Even though your baby may not yet be able to participate in all of the holiday traditions, it can still be fun to begin celebrating them and there are definitely plenty of fun traditions that your little one can enjoy already! By Lauren Hartmann

MORE ON DISNEY BABY

8 simple ways to celebrate Easter beyond bunnies and brunch

7 fun kids' games to play with plastic Easter eggs

30+ sweet Easter treats you won't be able to resist

Babies learn their world through all of their senses, even when it comes to words - hearing, seeing, touching. By teaching a simple, straight-forward vocabulary, you can promote more positive communication experiences with your little one. I was lucky enough to talk to Erika Cardamone - the licensed speech and language pathologist behind the insightful blog TheSpeechies.com - to get some insight into simple, effective first words. Erika explains that since babies are fascinated with faces, they'll be watching your eyes and mouth intently when you speak. These 7 words are "visual" sounds - sounds you can see (like "m," "p," and "b"). By Amy Heinz

MORE ON DISNEY BABY

"One" upon a time: How to throw a fairytale-themed birthday party

8 sneaky ways to capture baby's first smile

8 things you should really save for baby's book

There's nothing sweeter than a kid in Easter Bunny ears! Make a pair for your child with materials you may already have at home. From cardboard boxes to an old tank top, you can transform common items into an adorable holiday headband or hat. Make your own with these 7 DIY crafts - and don't forget to snap priceless holiday photos! By Marigold Haske

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12 spring-themed cupcakes to brighten up your day

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I don't think it's exaggerating much to say I've spent at least half my life as a mother in my car with sleeping children. From the colicky infant days when nothing else would soothe them besides a drive around town, to the not-quite-ready-to-drop-a-nap days when my cranky toddler and I both desperately needed for him to take a short rest, I'd say my car is Mommy's little (expensive) helper.

By Abigail Green for TheBump.com

Thinkstock / The BumpIn all that time spent behind the wheel with tiny passengers, I've come up with a list of 5 essential items you should carry in your car or minivan at all times:

1. A snack. I'm guessing you already tote around Cheerios or puffs or something for your little ones if they're old enough for solids. But I'm talking about a snack for YOU. How many times have you skipped breakfast or lunch because you're in a rush, only to find yourself ravenous and at the mercy of the closest drive-thru? I keep protein bars and a bottle of water in the center console of my car.

5 rules

YouTubeBy Leonora Desar

Meet Daniel Martinez-Leffew, a 12-year-old boy from California who wrote a letter to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts urging him to end the ban on gay marriage and strike down Proposition 8.

In a moving video, Daniel reads aloud from his letter, which talks about how he and his sister Salina were adopted by their two dads when he was five. Daniel had been told in foster care that he was "unadoptable" because he has Goldenhar syndrome, a genetic disorder which affects the whole left side of his body. "I lost my little brother Emilio because some people wanted to adopt him, but they weren't willing to adopt me because of my medical conditions," said Daniel as he read aloud from the letter. "Lucky for me, that's when my two dads came along."

Daniel goes on to write about how he recently discovered that Justice Roberts adopted a boy and a girl, which reminded him of him and his sister.

Plus: Check Out a New Episode of Lords of the Playground