Whether your junior athletes prefer to hit around a puck or shoot some hoops, they will want to deck their rooms out with the new NBA and NHL Capsule Collections at Pottery Barn Teen.

Just in time for the start of the 2019-2020 NBA and NHL seasons, these new collections feature everything you need for a bedroom refresh fit for a real fan. From duvet covers and pillows to accessories and even the perfect chair to watch the big game, here’s everything we love from the new collection.

NBA Pick Your Team Duvet Cover + Sham

Dream of play-off wins and championship titles snuggled up under your favorite NBA team logo. Available in twin and full/queen.

$30 - $159

NHL Patch Duvet Cover + Sham

You'll sleep soundly under your favorite team's NHL shield. Available in twin and full/queen sizes.

$40 - $160

Basketball Bookends

Dress up your bookshelf with this set of basketball bookends.

$79

Wall Mounted Basketball Hoop

Take a study break and shoot a few baskets with this stylish, but functional accent piece.

$99 - $179

NHL Hockey Stick Wall Storage Display

Part artwork, part hanger this display is a must-have for young NHL fans.

$89

NHL Wall Art

Skip the paper posters in favor of of these stylish wooden wall hangings for your favorite team.

$129

NBA Mini Rocker Speaker Chair

What better way to catch the big game than in this comfy rocker equipped with speakers and audio input and output jacks?

$199

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Pottery Barn Teen

 

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Summer is the perfect time to come up with all sorts of unique ideas to make sure your kids stay busy all vacation long. From fort building to movie marathons, the options are endless! 

However, it’s vital to make sure their space is fun while being free of harmful obstructions. There are plenty of options to consider that will ensure your playroom is secure and enjoyable. Read on for a great list of helpful tips to make sure your children’s playroom is the ultimate space they will want to spend hours creating in!

1. Create a Creative Corner: Creativity should be a focal point in your playroom. Rather than kids tuning out to TV or tablets, establish an area where their wildest dreams can be made into reality. Think about ideas that correspond with a kids’ interests. If your child likes drawing, try covering a wall in that area with chalkboard paint so they’re able to start the minute inspiration strikes. Or if they’re more into music, fill a corner with small instruments that will foster their artistic development over time. 

2. Provide Soft Seating: Seating may seem like an insignificant addition to your playroom, however, when you remember how rambunctious your child can be, you begin to appreciate the gravity of the situation. Seating with sharp edges, hard buttons or embellishments are a definite no. Instead, choose from various seating options that are soft, cozy and kid-friendly. Sofas are the hub of any room and can accentuate your personal style through color, material and throw pillows in fun patterns. 

3. Use Safe Cleaning Products: Non-toxic household cleaning products are necessary for basic upkeep, especially if you have young children using the space. A clean home will ensure your children are safe from dangerous germs and bacteria while green, organic disinfectant products guarantee hazardous substances won’t be consumed. Don’t forget to keep all chemicals and cleaners out of reach and away from the playroom to prevent ingestion or misuse.

4. Use Kid-Friendly Tech: While it’s not encouraged to allow your child to become completely consumed by technology, there are some noteworthy alternatives that help them learn and grow. Tablets and TVs can also be helpful when entertaining your child as long as you are following guidelines like parental controls and time limits to help decrease your child’s dependence. 

5. Choose Durable Furniture: Durability should be at the forefront of your playroom design. Forgo purchasing furniture that is unstable as it probably won’t last very long. Look for pieces with a solid base that won’t tip over if they are bumped or jostled. Also, choose styles in durable, heavy materials like wood or metal. If any of these pieces have sharp corners though, utilize protective corner pieces so your child cannot injure themselves.

6. Functionality Matters: Furniture should also be functional. Look for pieces that serve dual purposes. For example, storage ottomans are a great way to hide unsightly belongings like toys while also providing another area for seating or relaxation. Add enough areas for organization so that your playroom doesn’t accumulate mess. Built-in shelving or entertainment centers supply ample storage space while also allowing you to add some flair with playful decor accents.

7. Display Their Artwork: Some of the cheapest artwork you can get will come right from your home—your kids! Display their artwork throughout their space to spur their love for this skill. Use frames that match the playroom’s themes to enhance their look and make it more refined. Gallery walls are a very trendy addition to any room!

8. Make Reading a Priority: Similar to a creative corner, having a space dedicated to reading may inspire your child to become an active participant when it comes to reading, rather than just doing it when they are told. Make a space exclusively set aside for reading with small bookshelves and kid-sized seating. Update their bookshelf with all of the bestselling kid’s books to spark a lifelong love for reading!

9. Create Zones: Constructing zones in your playroom help a lot with organization and allow for a little more elbow room. By keeping your child’s space organized, you may foster a love for order and cleanliness. Situate your room by activity by separating the space into zones. Innovative projects like painting or drawing stay in their own area while more relaxed pursuits like movies or other tech should be grouped together.

10. Choose Timeless Pieces: Avoid choosing expensive products that are too kid-centric such as furniture or decor that will become dated quickly. Instead, purchase staple pieces in modern or contemporary styles that will withstand the test of time that your child will be able to cherish for years to come.

Jennifer is a design guru and furniture fanatic with a specialty in cozy interiors. She believes that mindful living is the key to happiness and success.

If giving your kids’ rooms a makeover is on your summer to-do list, you’ll be excited to learn that Target’s Hearth & Hand with Magnolia is debuting a brand new collection full of amazing items perfect for a kids room reno.

The collection features over 60 new items including bedding and decor. Here are a few of our favorite items perfect for a kids bedroom makeover.

Double Weave Dot Yellow Quilt

Brighten any kids' room with this beautiful, lightweight quilt perfect for summer nights.

$59.99

Give, Save, Spend Piggy Bank

Save up from those summer lemonade stands in this stylish and functional set.

$24.99

Kids Alarm Clock

Getting up in the morning is always more fun over summer break, especially with this sunny little clock.

$14.99

Globe Nightlight

Send the kids off to sleep dreaming about traveling the world with this glowing globe by their side.

$19.99

National Park Wall Art

Inspire your next family vacation with these dreamy National Park art prints.

$24.99

Wall-Mounted Bookshelf

Summer reading picks never looked so good than on display on this rustic shelf.

$34.99

Hinged Picture Hanger

Display all that gorgeous art work in style with this clever wall-mounted hanger.

$19.99

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Target

 

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Photo: Natalie via Living by the Page

With a family heritage that is South American on my side and Germanic/British/American on my husband’s, we have quite a mix in our family that is reflected in hair color, skin tone and the like. And I have many friends from various ethnicities or those who are in biracial marriages, or raising a blended family via adoption. All that to say is that we are all very intentional of reading books that feature characters that actually reflect the world around us and I’ve led workshops with children’s author Lauren Ranalli on creating an intentional bookshelf (please contact me if you would like more information on that).  

I grew up surrounded by the European/North American ‘ideal’ of blonde hair and blue eyes and while much has changed in the world of children’s literature, it is still staggering to note that only 13% of books in the last 24 years (1994-2017) contain multicultural content (source: Lee & Low Books). Representation matters and we can do our part by being mindful of what we put into the hands of our littles. With that in mind, here’s a short list of some of our favorite picture books and early chapter book series with diverse characters if you’d like to intentionally diversify your children’s summer reading:

Picture Books:

A Boy Like You by Frank Murphy

Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal

Charlotte and the Quiet Place by Deborah Sosin

Flossie and the Fox by Patricia McKissack

Hank’s Big Day: The Story of a Bug by Evan Kuhlman

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

Princess and the Peas by Rachel Himes

Steamboat School by Deborah Hopkinson

Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev

The Bake Shop Ghost by Jacqueline Ogburn

The Blacker the Berry (poetry) by Joyce Carol Thomas

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

The Very Last Castle by Travis Jonker

Early Chapter Books/Juvenile Fiction:

Book Uncle and Me

Ellie May on President’s Day

Ellie May on April Fools’ Day

Princess Truly series

The Clubhouse Mysteries series

The Questioneers series

West Meadow Detectives series

Zoey and Sassafras series

This post originally appeared on The Faith Feast.

A bookish Latina raising three bookworms in Ann Arbor, MI.  I started Living by the Page as an antidote to our current frantic high-tech world: to remind both children and adults alike that we can still find creativity, imagination and refuge in the written word. Boolists, reviews and more at www.livingbythepage.com

They are man’s best friend and no arguing that they are your kiddo’s besties too. Pups! Even if you don’t have a furry friend in your house, we’re betting you have one or all of these nine fictional dogs on your bookshelf. Scroll down to see our favorite, just in time for National #Puppy Day.

photo: patrick.fitzpatrick8523 via flickr 

1. Clifford the Big Red Dog
This giant lovable dog is now the star of a series of books and a cartoon, but we first got to know him the original story Clifford the Big Red Dog. Re-introduce yourself to Clifford and Emily Elizabeth with the classic book that started it all.

Ages: 4-8

2. Harry the Dirty Dog
When a dog gets so dirty his own family can’t recognize him, it’s definitely time for a bath. Harry, a white dog with black spots, transforms into a very dirty dog as he explores the city in this children’s classic that has endured for more than 50 years.

Ages: 4-8 years

photo: Quinn Dombrowski via flickr

3. Spot
This beloved doggie is a childhood staple and with the entire series available in board book form, Spot has helped thousands of kids learn to read! Spot Goes to the Park and Spot Loves His Mommy are super popular but we can’t stop loving on the original, Where’s Spot?

Ages: 1-3

photo: Lea Ann Belter via flickr

4. Lady and the Tramp
If you and the kiddos have already watched this film on repeat you be sure and the Little Golden Book edition is like the Cliffsnote version perfect for bedtime. Sweet Lady Dog and scampy Tramp are a match made in heaven, just like your kiddos and this book.

Ages: 3-7

photo: Cesar Ojeda via flickr

5. The Poky Little Puppy
Little puppies who dig holes under fences do not get dessert: except one. The Poky Little Puppy’s lagtime rewards him with leftover sweets for days in a row, until it finally doesn’t. This charming Little Golden Book belongs on every child’s shelf.

 

Ages: 2-5

photo: Adam Tuttle via flickr 

6. Walter the Farting Dog
Walter is such a good dog, except for one problem. He has terrible gas. This story will crack you and the kiddos up, because you know what are funny? Farts.

Ages: 5-9 years

photo: Jeremy Wong via flickr

7. Pluto
Mickey’s faithful companion has been around since 1930 and graces the screen of many a Disney film. He also makes cameos in the picture-book adaptations of popular movies like The Prince and the Pauper as well as any of the books based on Mickey Mouse’s Clubhouse, like Pluto’s Best.

Ages: 3-5

8. Snoopy
Or should we say, the Red Baron? While you and the kiddos might know him best from the latest Peanuts movie or the classics like It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Snoopy was the co-star of the Peanuts comic strip for years before his animation debut. He also stars in a ton of books including Snoopy Takes Off and the collection of Snoopy-isms and favorite cartoons by Charles Schulz, Keep Calm and Do the Snoopy Dance.

Ages: 5 and up

photo: Alpha via flickr 

9. Paw Patrol Pups
Whether your kiddo is into Marshall, Chase, Skye or one of the other canine crew of Paw Patrol, the popular cartoon has also been turned into many books including an early reader phonics series (Paw Patrol Step into Reading) which is available as a box set.

Ages: 3-7

Who is your favorite storybook pup? Tell us in the comments below. 

Want to help more kids develop a love of reading? Disney’s annual “Magic of Storytelling” campaign is back and donating books to kids in need is as easy as snapping a “shelfie.”

Now through Mar. 31 every time you post a picture of your own bookshelf or book to social media the Magic of Storytelling campaign will donate one book to First Books, a nonprofit that provides new free and affordable books to educators and organizations serving children from low-income families.

To share a “shelfie” just post a pic of yourself along with your favorite book or posing in front of your bookshelf on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #MagicOfStorytelling.

You can also donate a book each time you purchase an eligible Disney book at a participating retailer. (You can find a full list if eligible books and participating retailers at MagicofStorytelling.com.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsoCcYMHUc0/

“We are so proud to have worked with Disney to provide more than 67 million new books to educators who serve children in need through this powerful collaboration,” said Kyle Zimmer, president, co-founder and CEO of First Book.

“The impact of this generosity is staggering. Each year, the excitement around the Magic of Storytelling campaign grows—inspiring millions of individuals to help us bring critically needed new books and other resources to educators nationwide.”

First Book is also hosting a special Magical Adventure Sweepstakes for the chance to win VIP tickets to the premiere of Disney’s Dumbo, directed by Tim Burton. Entries will be accepted until Feb. 22 and you can get the full details here.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Disney

 

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photo: Pinterest

IKEA’s modular furniture can sometimes seem bland straight out of the box, but the beauty of the simplicity is that you can easily customize it to fit your own family’s style and needs. Here are a few of the best IKEA hacks to get you started and inspire your own creative makeovers.

Light up Your Room With Style

Play Chair Do-Over

Handy Hamper

Kids Art Gallery

Laundry Room Helper

Spice up Your Bookshelf

Toy Hideaway

Off to the Race Track

What are some ways you’ve reimagined this Swedish furniture? Share your own IKEA hacks in the comments below.

 

Daily
Today Is National Merry-Go-Round Day
Feeling dizzy?
1

Make merry in your own backyard with easy games you play in a circle.

2

You’ll be spinning after you click through our slideshow of the country’s coolest carousels.

3
Transform a lazy susan into an adorable bookshelf worthy of any indoor playground.

{ Today’s ideas brought to you by Carousel Horses }