As parents, we all need a break from being "on" from time to time even if it's just for a few hours. Whether it's dinner with your spouse, a night out with friends, or a few hours where you just shed the role of "parent" and enjoy some alone time, we need those nights off duty. But what happens when you can't find a sitter? You take the kids to a local Parent's Night Out! Many churches, gyms, and other businesses have dedicated evenings - usually on Friday or Saturday - for parents to come drop their kids off for a few hours in a safe, supervised setting.

The kids get to play games and do crafts with other kids, and you get a few hours off; it's a win-win situation for everyone. To make scheduling your next "adults only" night easy, we've rounded up Parent's Night Out offerings across the Houston area - and even a Parent's Day Out so you can enjoy the random day date, too. 

It's a school holiday and your kids are at home, but you still have to go into the office, leaving you scrambling for childcare. If you find yourself in this situation, or if you just want to have the kids do something fun and different on a day they're out of school, check out some of these holiday day camps around Houston. We picked a variety of camps that span everything from arts and crafts to gymnastics to a day at the Zoo, so your kids can spend their day learning through creative outlets and active play while you're at work.

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and if you're anything like me you've already started dreaming of all the delicious holiday food you're going to enjoy with family. After all, this is the one time each year that it's actually acceptable to spend the entire day eating...and then eating some more. But consider starting a new family tradition - participating in a family Turkey Trot, which gets everyone up and moving and allows you to raise funds for a good cause. Here are 12 family-friendly runs happening around Houston!