There's one room in the house that consistently mystifies and amazes small children. The kitchen. To these knee-high toddlers, there are drawers and cabinets that open and shut, shiny bowls and utensils, running water and sometimes steam emanating from the stove-top. It's also a place where toddlers can have the most ... fun (you thought I'd say 'dangerous,' didn't you?). Here are some easy activities from “The Toddler's Busy Book” by Trish Kuffner that can calm a crazed child using items you probably already have:

A critical stage of verbal development happens before children turn 2, when they have several words in their vocabulary but they can't quite form the right words to communicate. This is why more parents are teaching their children American Sign Language, said Caroline Taylor, a sign language instructor at The Sandbox.

There are tons of ideas out there for summertime “boredom busters” to keep kids entertained when they start complaining “There’s nothing to do!” While small craft projects and simple games are helpful ways to kill time, they are often just that — largely forgettable time killers.

Summertime is the perfect time for kids to try new things and dive into bigger projects, ones that will not only while away the hours but make lasting memories as well.

Here are five surefire ways to make the headline of your kid’s “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” essay.

Walk into The Storybook Shoppe and walk into a different world. It's a world with talking bears looking for their honey, a pesky rabbit with a penchant for getting into trouble, a pair of hippopotami best friends and a brave, little French girl — to name a few colorful characters.

It's a world Nancy Beaupre, owner of The Storybook Shoppe, carefully created for moms, dads and children. The brightly colored book nook is neatly tucked into the up-and-coming Habersham Marketplace in Beaufort. Children can be seen meandering her aisles, thumbing through hundreds of books, where every page awaits an adventure.

Parents can never get too much advice, right? Here is Lowcountry Child's top picks for the best parenting books — from newborn to toddlers. 

Not outgoing enough to playgroup pick-up? 
Don't worry. Lowcountry Child has you covered.

For local playgroups, click here.

Being a new mom is a daunting job. During those first couple of months, you’re preoccupied with how to feed and how to get this little baby to sleep while trying to fit in shut-eye for yourself. But after a while, when you settle into the role of motherhood, you begin to crave the company of other moms.
Before having my son, Cole, I went to work and interacted with 10 to 20 people every day. Once I became a mom, all of that changed. I suddenly found myself cooped up in the house, just me and this little thing that cried and spit up all the time (and I mean all the time). After a while, I was desperately seeking some social interaction. But where do you turn?

We're blessed to live in an area where our days are mostly filled with sunshine, cool breezes and the smell of pluff mud. However, our parade gets rained out from time to time, and those days can create fussy kids and frustrated parents. 

The secret to surviving a rainy day indoors is to be prepared, so you and the little ones don’t get bored. Here are a few ways to make the rainy days more entertaining. Try to keep some necessary supplies for the following activities.

Parents are riddled with tips on how to feed their kids. At the base of these suggestions is the specter of the obesity epidemic. It can be easy to believe that a diet of anything other than organically grown, trans-fat-free, gluten-extracted vegetables served with lactose-stripped, vitamin-enhanced-soy-whey will lead to 30-year-old offspring that bankrupt the healthcare system, while being too fat to leave our basements. So, when my 2 year-old screamed “McDonalds!” upon spying the golden arches during a recent car trip, I was understandably panicked.

What do you do when toys or DVDs don't entertain your baby, toddler or preschooler? You asked. We answered.

Here’s a great tip to use when you’re running some errands with your toddler. Find something fun to watch while you’re out, such as checking out a decorative window display or the squirrels in the park. The slight distraction will keep them motivated to continue on with you. 

Let’s face it. We’re not all super parents. You know, the ones who can make a smiley face mask with a page from an old magazine and a piece of hair? Well, maybe they're not exactly like that, but there always seems to be that special parent who can entertain a child for hours without breaking a sweat (or their partner’s neck at the end of the day). I am not one of those parents. After playing with my son, Cole, for half an hour, I start to wonder, "What now?"Whether you’re like me or part of that unique breed of super parents, it never hurts to have ideas to keep your little ones entertained. I’ve gathered some tips from moms, family members, teachers, etc., to help us in our quest to keep the kids occupied.