Family traveling with children pose outside of an airplane with arms up in excitement.

Tips for Traveling with Toddlers and Children

Family trips are a great way to bond and create lifelong memories with your children. But some days, just going to the grocery store without a temper tantrum or unexpected potty break can feel like “Mission: Impossible.” If the thought of traveling with your kids is too stressful, you may avoid it entirely – but … Continued


Parent and child reading a book with cartoon foxes.

How to Encourage a Child to LOVE Reading

Are you about ready to buy earplugs if you have to sit through another episode of “Sesame Street” or “Puppy Dog Pals?” We all let our little ones indulge in some TV time. Perhaps as a result of unfavorable weather conditions that prevent outside play, or the need for a few uninterrupted minutes to send … Continued


10 Affirmations to Help Parents

10 Encouraging Affirmations for Parents

It is easy for parents to feel burned out from time to time. For parents of children with special needs, this is particularly true. Watching your child encounter obstacles of any kind can be emotionally draining – whether it be well-meaning adults who make a thoughtless comment, or a playground without any accessible equipment for … Continued


Give The Gift Of Play

One of the great pleasures of long, warm days is heading to the park after dinner. The kids think you’re the best for letting them get in an extra hour of play, while you think it’s the best that you get to cool it on a bench. But the playground is so much more than … Continued


Boy’s legacy builds all-accessible playground

HERCULANEUM (KMOV.com) – As a kid, time outside is frequently spent at the playground. There a ton of them in St. Louis, but only five are accessible to all kids, of any ability. One of those five is in the small Jefferson County town of Herculaneum. It’s called Kade’s Playground. It looks a little out … Continued


Play With Purpose

Few Places are as Joyful as a playground! As the founder of the nonprofit organization Unlimited Play, Costco member Natalie Mackay has created accessible playgrounds that enable all children and their parents – regardless of their physical disabilities – to experience that joy and play together.   Visit Costco Connections Here To Read The Full Article


Inclusive playgrounds welcome all children

BY ELAINE ADAMS AUGUST 31, 2017 4:23 PM The Johnson County Park and Recreation District plans this fall to build two inclusive playgrounds that can accommodate children with disabilities — a first for the county park system. The playgrounds will be built at Shawnee Mission Park, 7900 Renner Road, and Stilwell Community Park, on 207th … Continued


Oak Brook park plan would move ball field, lights near Forest Gate

An Oak Brook Park District plan for substantial changes and additions, including moving lights and an athletic field at Central Park near the Forest Gate subdivision, will be decided by the Village Board with contradictory recommendations. The village’s Plan Commission voted unanimously in favor of the plan, but the Zoning Board of Appeals voted against … Continued