It is a known fact that the brains of young children are primed to learn languages and the earlier they are exposed to a language, the easier it is for them to learn it. Research has shown that there are many benefits to learning a second language, including higher self-esteem, better test scores, enhanced creativity, a higher level of complex problem solving, and an appreciation of other cultures. And that's not to mention increased employability as an adult in our increasingly globalized and diverse society.

The natural ability of young children to learn a second, or third, language makes a dual-language or language immersion preschool a great option for childcare and may even save you money in the long run when your kids test out of college language credits! Consider giving your child the gift of a second language and check out these 10 language immersion and dual language preschools located in and around Houston. 

Valentine's Day as an adult can be wonderfully romantic or terribly lonely depending on one's relationship status. But from a child's perspective, the day can be fun and sweet. It gives kids a chance to be creative by making cards, mailboxes, and decorating cookies and is an opportunity to learn about love, kindness, and caring for others. If you are going to have a Valentine's date night, make sure to check out some of these options for Parent's Nights Out childcare. And don't forget there are also fantastic ways to celebrate Black History Month with many events around the Bayou City. 

Here are some ways you can celebrate Valentine's Day as a whole family:

Being a mom and a friend can sometimes feel like mutually exclusive concepts, from navigating around naptimes to finding a babysitter (make sure to check out these parent's night out options). It can be helpful to have some mom friends who understand what you are going through, but it is also challenging - you have to put yourself out there and be willing to talk to new people before setting up that first (play) date (perhaps at one of these museums, restaurants or indoor playspaces). Here are 10 ways to meet other moms in the Bayou City, so get out there! Your new mom clique could be just one library story time away.

The beginning of a new year is always a popular time to make healthy lifestyle changes and start a new fitness plan, but getting fit as a parent can bring many challenges. It can be hard to make yourself a priority, and it is often difficult to figure our how to keep your children occupied while you work out. Fortunately, there are quite a few options for gyms and yoga classes with childcare in and around Houston. For some workouts you can do with your children check out Houston's rock-climbing gyms and baby yoga classes. 

For many people, News Year's Day tends to be a lazy day of recovering from the previous evening's festivities. But once children come along it is nearly impossible to stay in bed all day relaxing or have a four-hour long brunch with friends. If you celebrated New Year's Eve with the family, you should be ready to go on January 1, or if you happened to snag a babysitter and enjoyed some champagne, chug that coffee and get ready to start the year off right with some memorable family fun! Here are 17 ideas for how to spend the first day of 2017 in and around Houston (and you can also check out our guide to family fun throughout winter break). 

Every year as I'm doing some last-minute gift shopping I tell myself that next Christmas I'm definitely going to make amazing gifts for my family and friends. Well, I haven't made anything yet, but fortunately for me and those of you who have similar intentions, there is still time to flex our creative muscles. There are plenty of fun classes and workshops where you can make one-of-a-kind gifts and learn techniques to create original works of art, delicious treats, and a variety of other crafty items.

For those of you who are not interested in DIY gift-giving but want to give unique presents to your loved ones, you might consider supporting local artists and artisans who sell their goods and wares at a holiday market or getting the children in your life special gifts from one of Houston's independent toy stores. And while you're shopping, don't forget to pick up a gift for a Christmas toy drive. And don't forget to check out our holiday guide filled with things to do and see in Houston this season.

There are so many wonderful activities to enjoy this time of year in and around Houston. From shopping at holiday markets, checking out the Nutcracker Ballet and other holiday shows to family volunteering, there is no shortage of holiday fun. You can even cut down your own Christmas tree. But if you are looking for an exciting, family-friendly tradition that truly captures the beauty of the holiday season, attending a tree lighting is the way to go. We've rounded up some wonderful tree lighting celebrations and best of all, they are all FREE!

As a yoga teacher, I love that Houston has tons of yoga studios and varieties of yoga to choose from. From hot yoga, live music, partner yoga or practicing in a brewery - if there is a way to practice yoga, you can find it in Houston! Yoga offers a multitude of benefits, from increasing strength and flexibility to decreasing stress and tension. I credit yoga with decreasing my anxiety, improving my posture and helping me to become more mindful in my daily life.

When I was pregnant, prenatal yoga helped me to embrace my changing body while allowing my busy mind to quiet down. Once my baby arrived, I was no longer sure how to incorporate yoga into my life. I felt intimidated by the idea of attending a traditional yoga class as my body was still recovering. I also had to contend with the new challenge of finding somewhere for my baby to be. Fortunately, Houston’s yoga community did not disappoint, and I found two great mommy and baby yoga classes that offer two very different approaches.