RAISING ARIZONA KIDS history

Raising Arizona Kids wins 4 national Parenting Media Association awards

Raising Arizona Kids was recognized for excellence in writing and design in print and digital media during the Parenting Media Association's annual conference.

30 Years of Raising Arizona Kids

The shelves of storage boxes take up nearly a full wall on the south side of our garage. I fight off the dust and...

Debra Citron wins Arizona Press Club Award for profile of illustrator Molly Idle

The Arizona Press Club announced this week that Raising Arizona Kids writer Debra Citron won a first-place writing award in the “community personality profile”...

Oh, the places they have gone!

I can’t think about summer without remembering the many summer interns who have passed through the doors at Raising Arizona Kids over the years....

Spellicy brothers: Big hearts and big dreams

Sixteen-year-old Colin Spellicy bounded past my front door with a bromeliad plant in his arms, its spiky, hot-pink blossom adding a festive touch to...

THEN and NOW: Bryant, Garrison and Lauren Mais

It was the fall of 2001 and 4-year-old Garrison Mais was sitting comfortably on his big sister’s lap in a red-painted train car at...

THEN and NOW: Rachel and Jeff Geiser, 10 years later

The way Rachel Geiser remembers it, her mom dropped the news the night before. It was something like, “Oh, by the way, I entered...

THEN and NOW:Teaching ballet is a “two-way magic wand”

Yen-Li Chen-Zhang was nearing the end of a 13-year career as prima ballerina with Ballet Arizona when she and her daughter, Emily, then 5,...

THEN and NOW: Tiny “supermodel” is now a thoughtful “old soul”

Few people knew what was going on behind the scenes the day we photographed 2-year-old Annabelle Stern for our November 2003 cover. Her parents wanted...

THEN and NOW: Cochlear implants and “a lot of work” to overcome hearing loss

When Svetly brothers Joey, then almost 4, and Conner, 8 months, appeared on the cover of our February 1996 issue, their hearing aids were...

THEN and NOW: The Brose triplets

It’s easy to tell that the Brose fraternal triplets are related, though they sport different personal styles. They even work together, along with their older...

The more things change…

Pushing a stroller around our neighborhood was a way for me to escape the “cabin fever” of a hot Phoenix summer—and to lose some...

THEN and NOW: Sheri Heitner-Anderson, Abbi & Ari

Often during a cover shoot, a young child will have a whining-and-sobbing meltdown. The result is red eyes and a runny nose—hardly the ideal...

THEN and NOW: Claire and Ashley Tasev (March 2009)

Ashley Tasev was 4 years old when she and her mom, Claire, appeared on our March 2009 cover. That was the month we celebrated...

THEN and NOW: Javen Jacobs (November 2007)

In February 2006, we received an email from the very proud mom of two young sons. “I was curious to find out how the cover...

THEN and NOW: Deborah Brewer and Charles Brewer (March 1990 to February 2014)

Mom gushes: “He was truly heaven sent. It’s been wonderful every day of the 25 years.” Son adds levity: “She’s full of it.” Stay tuned. He...

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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