Every day I discover more and more beautiful things. It’s enough to drive one mad. I have such a desire to do everything, my head is bursting with it.
- Claude Monet
Dad Suggests was created to share with others the many different things that we have loved sharing with our own children.
Our hope is that - by reading or visiting our children’s bookstore - you will find something special to enjoy with your own family.
- Ryan
As a father of kids ages 6 and 2, junior versions of board games are a trend I greatly appreciate. In case you’re unaware, junior versions of board games are basically simplified versions of their better-known adult versions. Whether they say “junior”, “for kids”, or “my first”, they all mean the same thing - better access to the fun for the young ones.
You’ve likely noticed us mention Peaceable Kingdom more than once. They specialize in publishing cooperative games for young kids, and we absolutely love them. So, to spread the love, this month we are giving away 2 copies of our favorite Peaceable Kingdom game - Race to the Treasure!.
These are the best picture books to read on a snowy day. I have very vivid memories of books that we read as children that perfectly capture those feelings of snowy adventure and magic. This list contains several of those books, as well as many new ones that I hope will stay with my children for the rest of their lives.
Extra Yarn is the best picture book ever made. In a world full of amazing stories and many talented authors and illustrators, Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen have created the perfect kids book.
First Orchard by HABA is perhaps the very best board game to be your child’s first board game. This cooperative game teaches basic skills like taking turns and rolling the die - and the wooden game pieces are high-quality enough to be toys by themselves.
These are the benefits of teaching chess to kids. Chess is very good for a child’s brain. Playing chess strengthens their executive functions (cognitive control) at a time in their development when they need it the most, and when it can make the biggest impact on the rest of their lives.
These are the very best Christmas movies for families. The best Christmas films and TV specials are responsible for a lot of the magic found in Christmas itself. Better than any other medium, these films allow us to sit together as a family and celebrate the spirit of Christmas through imaginative works of art.
Get kids to actually want to brush their teeth. Believe it or not, sometimes our kids don’t do what we’d like them to do. Occasionally, brushing teeth is one of those things we’d prefer that they did. This is how we change their mind.
Children should be allowed to believe in Santa. The magic of childhood should be sacred. But some people seem to be of the belief that believing in Santa Claus is harmful to children, and that you should tell them he doesn’t exist.
We love the The Grinch so much we ranked it as our #2 pick on our list of the best Christmas books. So now - one hardcover copy of How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss is up for grabs.
These are the best Christmas picture books. A good Christmas book has great potential for teaching a profound life lesson. I think that’s because the true meaning of Christmas has many parallels with the true meaning of life.
These are the best film versions of A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens’ classic is the ultimate Christmas story. The selfish Scrooge gets himself a wakeup call about love, and the whole thing basically culminates in a greater understanding of the meaning of life. What more could you ask for?
This is a positive way to calm down an angry child. What do you do when your child is so upset that their anger leads to bad decisions - like saying hurtful things or even hitting? Check out our special trick for calming down our kids in a fun way.
These are the best logic games for kids. Children aren’t born with the ability to masterfully resist their impulses and weigh the potential consequences of their actions. For that reason, learning logic through games is not only a lot of fun, it truly grows an incredibly useful skillset.
A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O’Leary is a picture book that celebrates love - and how it’s love that makes a family. The message inside is extremely important for kids. If you’re looking to vaccinate your child for bigotry, just read them this story every night.
These are the very best picture books that teach kids empathy. Teach your children how to empathize with others. All of these kids books do a spectacular job of placing you in the shoes of someone else, and they show you that other creatures have lives and feelings too.
Quiet Please, Owen McPhee! is a picture book about listening. Trudy Ludwig has once again proven herself to be the queen of empathy. Ludwig and Patrice Barton have teamed up again to bring us another incredible story that will lead to our kids reflecting on how their actions might affect others.
The Dad Suggests 2018 Holiday Gift Guide. These are all personal recommendations for books, games, and toys to give as gifts to your family. They caught our attention this year and sparked the imagination of our own children (currently ages 6 and 2). And, to be perfectly honest, they all blow me away with their quality too.
