Parenting

If you plan to hit the road this summer, consider ways to avoid fast food by making your own munchies for the road. It saves time and money, lets you make fewer stops, and breaks up the boredom of long car rides. Plus eating nutritious foods is healthier. Whether you are traveling in an RV or a car, here are some tips for the best foods to pack that the whole family will enjoy — and that will keep you on the road longer. ...

Northeast Ohio Parent blogger Aisha Taylor of "FNPhenomenal" shares what families should consider when making travel plans as COVID-19 restrictions begin to wind down across the U.S. Each family has to make their own decisions regarding safety precautions. ...

Don’t feel you need to travel the Pacific Coast Highway, the Blue Ridge Parkway or any of the other famed roads throughout America. Start planning a summer road trip in Ohio and its surrounding states. Within a few hours’ drive, the whole family can spend the day at these unique attractions. ...

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While visiting a college might look different this year, it’s still an important part of the search process. The timing can vary due to the family’s schedule and visiting schools takes planning. We provide your family with some tips on when to start planning, the best times to visit and how to get important questions answered. ...

The results are in! Each year, we ask our readers and online followers to weigh in on their favorite family-friendly spots — local businesses, attractions, family services and more — in the Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards. While some longtime favorites topped the ballots again this year, they’re joined by several new honorees in 26 categories. Find out which places were chosen as winners and finalists for 2021! ...

If the pandemic showed us one thing, it’s that furry friends help us feel better, both mentally and physically. That's something pet lovers have known for a long time, and why it’s no surprise that getting a pandemic puppy (or kitty) became so popular in 2020, after stay-at-home orders isolated people from their social networks. ...

[sponsored content] A unique, fun, and free opportunity for fathers and their young children to learn and practice yoga at home. Judge William L. Dawson, an expert yoga instructor, motivational speaker, and presiding and administrative judge in East Cleveland Municipal Court, leads the class. He also offers insights and encouragement for healthy living and other life goals. ...

Amy Chand, exercise physiologist for Akron Children’s Healthy Active Living program, shares five ways to keep your toddler on the move and smiling — maybe even giggling — all summer long. She says getting kids active and outdoors is not only a great way to turn those frowns upside down, it’s important for their health, too. Even easier, these games can be played right in your own backyard. ...

Leah Artman, Northeast Parent blogger of "NEOhio Frugal Living" shares how being stuck at home during the pandemic has led to ah-ha moments, from meal prep, home organization to spending quality time with the family. ...