If you’re like me, the thought of taking your small fry skiing is, well…daunting.  There’s the expense, the crowds, and don’t even get me started on the hassle of hauling all that gear…

But now as I watch my 5, 7, and 9 year old whiz past me on the slopes (admittedly, not a major feat – I’m no Lindsey Vonn!), I’m so glad we started them skiing at a young age.  If you’re just starting to contemplate taking your little guys skiing, I’ve put together a list of ingredients essential for a successful day ski trip in Connecticut (read into this: everything-I-didn’t-do-but-wish-I-had the first few times we went on family ski trips).

A trip to the Wood Library and Museum during the holidays is an annual event for our family. After discovering the Gingerbread Festival three years ago, I have made it a point to plan a morning to take my boys there every year. The Library itself is located in a part of South Windsor that could easily be transported back in time. The little, and I mean little, library is packed to the gills with books in every nook and cranny. But this time of year, also squeezed inside are hundreds and hundreds of handmade gingerbread houses made my children and adults alike.

Childhood memories of the holiday season for me include hot cocoa, making snow angels, and going ice skating. I remember traveling to the city as a young girl with my family to see the gigantic Rockefeller Christmas tree and, afterward, skating around the beautifully lit rink. That is when it officially felt like Christmas to me. But you don’t have to travel that far to have this magical experience. Hartford County has many great choices for both indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks so that you, too, can begin making family traditions and forming memories that will last a lifetime. For more fun check out our Winter Fun Guide.

“Mankind was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business.” So says the ghost of Jacob Marley in Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol. We all know the holidays are a season of giving, but sometimes it’s hard to know exactly where to give. If you are moved by the spirit of charity this holiday, here are some organizations in Fairfield and New Haven Counties that are working hard to make the holidays (and every day) a little brighter for families in need. 

We all have our favorite holiday traditions, whether it's viewing annual light displays, cutting down a Christmas tree, or having breakfast with Santa. All good stuff, to be sure. But if you're thinking you might like to mix up your holiday adventures a bit, check out some of these, shall we say, "off the beaten path" ideas. We've got activities that will take you on a boat, to an alpaca farm, and even back in time. Because sometimes parents need to throw something new into the mix to keep kids on their toes. And who knows? One of them might become a new favorite. For even more ways to celebrate the season, check out the December GoList and our Holiday Guide.

Moms of preschoolers: Are you ready to incorporate The Nutcracker into your holiday traditions, but wondering if your child is ready for the show? I attended the dress rehearsal of Boston Ballet’s performance of Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker at the Boston Opera House with my nearly 4-year-old son to find out exactly what it’s like to attend with a young child, and we had a fabulous time on our mother-son date at the ballet. Here are some tips for you and your young ballet-goer to have a wonderful time, too.

With all the getting that goes on this time of year, you have to be intentional to get your kids to understand the importance of giving as well.  If you'd like to go beyond the family gift exchange to teach your kids about the needs in their community, there are several ways to do it here in Fairfield County -- even if they're quite young.

(We've listed some options for volunteering with kids as well in Litchfield County and Hartford County.)