Articles

A+ Kids Design: Jo Gick offers tips to create fun, organized and fanciful kids spaces

Early in her career, Jo Gick dreaded designing children’s rooms for builders’ model homes. Now the Chandler interior designer, with a national following from...

Diamondbacks home opener kicks off game giveaways, events

The Arizona Diamondbacks kick off their home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, April 5 with a pre-game fiesta. The game also...

Valley Youth Theatre stages Arizona premiere of “Tuck Everlasting” April 5-21

Bored by her white-picket-fence life, young Winnie Foster longs to find adventure. She does, with the Tuck family. But what magic lies behind their...

Tucson family fun: Things to do in the Old Pueblo

Need a quick weekend escape? Just two hours southeast of Phoenix, the Old Pueblo offers lots of family attractions and makes for an affordable...

Immersive Meow Wolf hotel and exhibition coming to Phoenix

The Santa Fe-based Meow Wolf art collective recently announced a project that will bring a Meow Wolf exhibition and hotel concept to downtown Phoenix...

Camp O’Connor offers free civics summer camp to middle schoolers

Kids entering seventh or eighth grades this fall have an opportunity to attend a free, one-week summer camp focusing on civics and leadership. The nonprofit...

Phoenix hotline addresses rising suicide rates, offers help for struggling teens and parents

Teen Lifeline, a Phoenix-based crisis intervention and suicide hotline, has been helping Arizona teens and their families for 33 years. The nonprofit staffs its...

Childsplay premieres “The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show” at Herberger Theater Center

Vibrant color and puppets galore depict a caterpillar who undergoes a magical transformation, a lonely firefly who learns to shine his light by finding friends...

Road trip: Despite the traffic, Los Angeles offers overlooked family fun

It’s easy to dismiss L.A. — with nightmarish traffic and overpriced hotels — as a family-friendly vacation spot. Yet, it’s an easy drive for...

Scramble: Egg recipes offer a great introduction to cooking for kids

When Angie Harmon enrolled her two young sons in a cooking class on eggs, she had more in mind than breakfast in bed. A board...

“Love You Hard” author Abby Maslin at Changing Hands Tempe on Friday, March 22

A young mom and teacher who spent much of her childhood in Phoenix will visit Changing Hands Tempe on Friday to discuss her new...

Chandler museum brings to life bleak lessons of history with “Gaman” exhibit

It’s a dilemma every parent has faced: How does one talk to kids about important societal issues, such as racial discrimination? Here’s an idea...

Why should kids have all the fun? Try a family sleepaway camp

My parents shipped my sister and me off to summer camp the year I finished fifth grade. We spent a month at Friendly Pines...

Run to Fight Children’s Cancer — at GCU Saturday — helps families fighting the disease

In June 2016, 4-year-old Gwyn Satterlee had a fever and red rash-like dots on her neck. Her mom, Leslie, remembers it was a busy...

Raising Outdoor Kids: Learning to paddleboard in the Sonoran Desert

The air was cold. The wind was calm. The skies were clear. And it was January, so there was a high likelihood we’d have...

“Speak” author Laurie Halse Anderson coming to Changing Hands Phoenix on March 31

Laurie Halse Anderson — whose haunting 1999 young-adult novel “Speak” was decades ahead of the #MeToo movement and became a staple in school libraries...

PARTY ARTICLES

Time to Paw-ty

Celebrating your favorite furry friend Call me crazy, but when my husband and I adopted our first dog together, we threw her a birthday party complete with cake, streamers, guests, appetizers, games, and more. Was...

Unique Ways to Host a Joint Birthday Party

My brother and I have birthdays that are just one day apart—his on March 3rd, mine on March 4th, and our oldest brother just a few weeks later on March 21st. Fast forward 31 years...

Out-of-the-box Birthday Party Ideas in Phoenix & Tucson

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Birthday Traditions & Clever Theme Ideas

Childhood birthdays are unlike any others. I have fond memories of waking up on my birthday morning anticipating all the fun that was in store. With three kids who had birthdays all in the same...

Out-of-the Box Birthday Party Ideas

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Party Etiquette

Whether you’re hosting a party or attending one, you may be wondering—do people really RSVP anymore? What about goodie bags, are those still a thing? Do I need to stay with my child at...

How to Throw a Birthday Party that Won’t Break the Bank

I remember the days when birthday parties consisted of colorful balloons, streamers, a simple cake, and the classics like musical chairs and tag with a few friends. Times have changed and suddenly it feels necessary...

How to do a drive-by birthday party

As we get deeper into quarantine, people have gotten creative with birthday celebrations. One result: the drive-by birthday party.

Home pool party? Hire a lifeguard!

Drowning happens silently and quickly. That’s why children are at risk even when — and sometimes especially when — adults are nearby. Even a "designated pool watcher" can avert his or her eyes for a...

Hiking birthday party

For a child who loves adventure and outdoors, turn a hike into a birthday party.
Tour de Liam, Biking birthday party theme, bike race, outdoor activites, arizona parties

Bike race birthday party

When there are lots of neighborhood friends who love to ride their bikes together, host a birthday party that feels like an official bike race.

Island birthday party

Pool parties are popular in Arizona. Make a stylish upgrade at your next birthday party by incorporating décor and details that will transport guests from the desert to a tropical island paradise.

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