Playing with your child is an essential way to improve his or her speech, language and social skills — and this can be done with toys you likely already have at home. Learn five different toys and ways to play with your child to encourage language growth and development.

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This month, we share inspirational adoption stories from Northeast Ohioans, as well as the third installment in our back-to-school series covering how local families are adapting to the new school year. Also look for how the local arts community is embracing virtual and in-person ways to help kids cope with the pandemic, plus Thanksgiving and early holiday events, and more.

Family happens in all different ways. You bring someone in your life because you want them to be there. That’s how adoption works. It’s about opening your home and making room for love. These challenging times might make it difficult to think about the possibility of adoption or foster care. Most families who have gone through the process of adoption say it’s worth it, although it takes time, some patience and, often, a few heartaches to complete.

It’s been a stressful year for many people, as uncertainty and social isolation cause anxiety and weigh heavily on families. Learn how to better understand resiliency — something for which military families receive training — and how to foster it in any family, for any situation.

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October is the real beginning of fall. The leaves start to turn orange, red, yellow and brown. Halloween is right around the corner, and I get to see the interesting yard displays people put out. This year, there are other things on the grass — political signs. Have you talked to your kids about the election? Do you think it matters to them?

Halloween looks a little different around here this year. Trick-or-treating is canceled in some neighborhoods, or adapted to be more pandemic-friendly. In-school Halloween parties aren’t happening, and everyone is trying to figure out how to celebrate Halloween in a fun — and safe — way. Northeast Ohio Parent blogger Melissa Koski Carney shares six ways families can still enjoy Halloween in a pandemic-friendly way.

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