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Over the last few years, our family has celebrated Thanksgiving in different ways with family and friends, in large groups and small groups. We've even gotten together via video call. [...]

Welcome! We're so glad you and your family have joined us for another exciting year of Highlights High Five. This month, we are focusing on friendships. In 'Friendly Contest' (pages [...]

There is an Icelandic Christmas Eve tradition where people gift each other books. Then everyone reads their books and sips hot chocolate for the rest of the evening. As a [...]

As parents, we spend a lot of time reassuring our children about things they're scared of: There's no monster under the bed. The storm won't hurt us. That's just a [...]

Last month, our car broke down on a very busy road. As we waited for roadside assistance, a stranger stopped to make sure we were OK. And then our neighbor [...]

Sometimes it feels like childhood is an endless stream of unpredictable questions. Do snakes eat worms? Can I sleep in a nest like a bird? Why can't I eat ice [...]

Have you ever camped in your backyard? We tried it a few weeks ago, and it was more fun than I expected! My daughter loved listening for owls and sleeping [...]

At our latest library visit, my daughter picked out a book about a mom in a wheelchair. It was a thoughtful story, and I appreciated the discussion the book inspired [...]

I'll be honest--I think spring is a tricky season. On sunny days, we run out of the house for a walk. Other dreary days, we put it off for as [...]

Every so often, my daughter decides she doesn't like a certain food. She may have been eating it for weeks beforehand. She may even have said it was her favorite [...]

As you've heard from the experts, routines are a bedrock for young children. I think about this a lot with my own child, especially during times when we're struggling with [...]

When I was little, I loved getting school supplies and picking out a first-day outfit. But not every child approaches a new school year with confidence and joyous anticipation. And [...]

As a child, I loved the book Rumpelstiltskin, retold and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. I found the story a bit scary, but the illustrations were fascinating. The colors, the [...]

Sometimes our children are not our children but are instead cats, puppies, or dinosaurs. You might address your child by his or her name, only to be reminded that he [...]

Here at Highlights, optimism has been on our minds. We have been thinking about how we can partner with you in nurturing optimistic children who are curious and willing to [...]

As a parent in a state with four distinct seasons, I think a lot about what it takes for our family to go outside throughout the year. So, as we're [...]

The High Five team LOVES to see readers' photos. Whether it's a castle or a paper bag village, maracas or pumpkin bread, our readers' ingenuity is exciting. And sometimes, readers [...]

When our local playground closed temporarily last year, I tried to show my daughter another way to have fun. Our walks to the park turned into searches for puddles. And [...]

We are happy to welcome you to another year of Highlights High Five. Our goal every month is to create a joy-filled experience for you and your child to share. [...]

Every December, I look forward to making cookies for my friends and family. My love of baking comes from my family, and it's something I now share with my daughter. [...]

A few months ago, High Five received an important e-mail: Sophia, age 3, had learned to ride her bike without training wheels! Our team was so delighted that Sophia and [...]

How do you pick a pumpkin? As a kid, my family would travel to the same pumpkin patch every year. The farm had the best pumpkins and the most delicious [...]

As a toddler, I would run to the deep end of a pool and want to jump in. As a preschooler, though, I hesitated to do that exact same thing. [...]

We are grateful for you, our readers. Whenever you write in to tell us what you think or share a photo of your children doing a craft, it means a [...]

When I was a kid, my favorite piece of art was the painting Cakes by Wayne Thiebaud--not because of the painting's brushwork or composition, but simply because it was a [...]

Wasn't it incredible--the moment you first met your child? Do you remember the intense feelings you had? I recall relief when my daughter was born, but also surprise that she [...]

How often do you think about words? I confess that I think about them a lot, not just in my role as editor but also in my everyday life. Do [...]

Last December, I opened our mailbox to find a note from the mail carrier, thanking us for a small Christmas gift we'd given him. This unexpected gesture made me smile. [...]

Children have a natural desire to help. They get excited to sweep the floor or feed a pet. But with busy lives, adults can find it challenging to slow down [...]

In the town where I live, the firefighters are volunteers. These men and women are often the first ones on the scene, not only for fires but also vehicle accidents [...]

My first day of kindergarten was a disappointment. I thought I would walk out of school at 3:00 p.m. knowing how to read. I had assumed the schedule would be: [...]

When I talk with young children--especially those I'm meeting for the first time--I like to ask them a silly question to break the ice: Did you drive here in a [...]

With so many milestones for young children to reach, it can be hard for parents to remember what children should know and when. A survey by the nonprofit ZERO TO [...]

Babies have an intuitive sense of numbers, according to research. Even before they can count, infants can tell the difference between small and large groups of items. Of course, even [...]

Starting in infancy, puzzles and games capture children's interest and attention. Great games can also grow with a child. I played anagrams and Hearts as a young girl, and those [...]

The language in this month's story 'Mouse's Adventure' (pages 20-23) reminds me of Edward Lear's alphabet rhymes. 'Mouse's Adventure' begins 'eensy-weensy-teensy mouse' and continues with 'slinky-sleeky-sneaky cat.' In Lear's nonsense [...]

I recently played Raffi's 'Down by the Bay' for my young daughter. The pick was a nostalgic one for me, but we both enjoyed moving to the music.We've included a [...]

Several months ago, the Highlights High Five[TM] team tested this month's craft, 'Pretend-Play Hot Cocoa' (pages 34-35) with a group of young children. All the kids enjoyed making the craft, [...]

I'm an editor. I'm also a mom, wife, sister, and friend. It's both fun and a challenge to think of myself from different perspectives. In the story 'Who Am I?' [...]

What does it mean to be a bookworm? That's the question Madeline asks in 'What's a Bookworm?' (pages 12-15). Before you read the story, ask your child if he or [...]

From a poem about pretending to be an astronaut to a nonfiction activity about studying the Moon, this issue includes some engaging ideas for exploring and talking about outer space. [...]

Recently, I attended a webinar about math in the preschool classroom, and I learned something that really surprised me: of all the different math components--including numbers, arithmetic, geometry, measurement, patterns, [...]