While there's no denying that gratitude truly comes from within, some gentle reminders throughout the day can help us to slow down enough to truly savor the small moments.

More on fostering gratitude

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Help those in need

Oftentimes, we get so caught up in the material aspects of the holiday season that we forget about giving back. Teach your children about the importance of helping those in need. On Christmas Eve, bring gifts to your local children's shelter, volunteer your family time at a neighborhood soup kitchen or find another way to help the less fortunate.

"We have made it a Christmas Eve tradition to invite someone in need into our home for a special meal and evening of holiday fun," says Marcella Morani, a mom of three in Houston. "You can always find a serviceman or other person who is away from his family during the holidays who will really appreciate the gesture."

Open one gift

Is the anticipation of waiting until Christmas morning too much for your kids to handle? Make it a Christmas Eve tradition to open just one gift before going to bed. This can be a fabulous time for your children to exchange gifts that they have bought for each other.

"It's been a tradition in our family since I was little," explains Laura Johnsen, mother of four boys. "And, I have carried it on with my own kids. Right before bedtime at Christmas Eve, we all sit around the Christmas tree and each open one present. The kids always beg for one more, but they know they have to wait until morning for the rest."

Go to church at midnight

Many people don't find the time to attend worship services on Christmas Day. So instead, go to church at midnight on Christmas Eve. Most churches offer a midnight service on Christmas Eve.

Prepare Christmas breakfast

Who has time to cook on Christmas morning? Make it a family tradition to prepare a special Christmas breakfast the night before. Kids can help by squeezing fresh orange juice, making a breakfast fruit salad or setting the table. To make things easier, you can prepare a breakfast casserole on Christmas Eve that you can just pop in the oven in the morning.

Predictions for the new year

Some countries have very unusual traditions on Christmas Eve. For example, people throw Loksa on their ceiling in Slovakia. If the Loksa sticks, the harvest will be bountiful in the next year. On the other hand, single women in the Czech Republic find out if they will marry in the coming year. On Christmas Eve, the woman stands with her back to the door and throws a shoe over her shoulder. If the shoe lands with the toe pointing toward the door, she'll get married in the upcoming year.

Read about the Christmas Eve tradition Feast of the Seven Fishes>>

Create a unique Christmas Eve tradition in your own family. Traditions help promote family bonding and provide kids with a stable base to grow from. Whether you read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas before going to sleep, watch a classic holiday movie together or throw something on your kitchen ceiling, the traditions you start now will create wonderful memories for generations and generations.

More about Christmas Eve

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This holiday season, emotions are more fragile than ever. With tragedies on our minds and the holiday churning toward us, it’s a recipe for anxiety, depression and stress. Learn how to wind down and stay healthy this Christmas.

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Go to your happy place

Skip silly stuff, acquire awesome items

From the minute you announce to the world you are expecting, the list of "must haves" is a mile long. Five products made our lives a little easier when we had newborns and we have been recommending or buying them as gifts for expecting friends ever since.

For some of us, it has been a while since we were first-time moms, but surely a few favorite products stand out. Whatever you do, do not let anyone talk you into a baby wipe warmer. They are nice in concept, but totally impractical. You aren’t going to carry it with you wherever you go so it’s sort of pointless.

However, here are five must-have items you should have on your baby registry or consider taking to the next baby shower you're invited to:

Not a pro-swaddler? That's not a problem with aden + anais Swaddling Blankets. These amazing blankets are made from soft, breathable muslin fabric and have tons of uses: Light cover at night, emergency burp cloth, stroller or car seat shield, tummy time mat, arm rest during feedings and more. We love them because they are large , come in a variety of darling designs and are stretchy so swaddling is a cinch!

aden + anais also makes towels, wash cloths, sheets, bibs and they just launched a new skincare line worth checking out called Mum + Bub.

Carter’s long sleeve bodysuits and side-snap tees are perfect for after a bath or layering and they keep Baby cozy. Because they are white, they always look clean and fresh — at least until the next spit-up. Consider getting a larger size for a roomier fit. Carter’s is great for all baby, toddler and kids clothes and their sales are amazing.

The Kiddopotamus Snuzzler Complete Head and Body Support, or as we like to call it, "baby's bear skin rug” has an ingenious design that cradles babies in any over-sized carrier providing a cozy comfortable fit.

Pricey, yes, but oh so worth it, the BOB Revolution Jogging Stroller has super sturdy off-road tires that are perfect for sand or street. It’s nimble, rides smooth and has lots of spacious compartments for drinks, keys, phone, sunscreen and more. Plus, the see-through sun canopy is a nice added bonus for Baby's viewing pleasure.

A common complaint about the BOB is that there are only two seat settings; reclined or completely laying down. This presents a problem for some, especially if it's not naptime and you have a child that likes to sit up and look around. If you want to keep your tot upright and comfortable, we suggest rolling up a blanket to stick behind Baby's back for a little leverage.

Diapers.com should be every mom's new best friend. Diapers.com is an amazing website that offers free shipping on orders over $50 and charges no sales tax. Plus, orders take 24 to 48 hours or less to deliver! Quidsi, the company behind Diapers.com has now expanded to offer beauty products, household necessities, toys, books and pet care items all delivered right to the comfort of your home.

More on baby items

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Have a friend who seems totally put together and cheerful all the time? That woman can be you. Find out what six real moms do to stay happy, healthy and satisfied.

How real women live happy, fulfilling lives

We all have different ways of getting happy. When life gets busy and stressful, don’t lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel. Learn how six happy women keep in touch with the brighter side of life.

Get moving

Approach exercise as a way to lift your spirits instead of a way to lose weight. When you think of it as a mood booster and not a chore, you may be more likely to stick to a routine. Running is often suggested by women who love the way it gives a rush of endorphins and helps them sleep at night. Natalie, a copywriter, swears by the way running makes her feel happy. “Particularly the no-pressure runs where I'm just enjoying my tunes, a loose mileage goal, permission to walk as often as I want and daydream about being a super spy who is training to defeat robots,” she says.

Find the best mind-body workouts for the New Year>>

Enjoy some guilt-free TV

At the end of a long day, don’t be afraid to indulge in some seriously silly television. You’ve earned the distraction. Whether you love documentaries or reality TV, don’t judge yourself. Curl up on the couch and zone out. Tracy, a graphic designer, loves her romantic comedies. “Indulge in a guilty pleasure,” she says. “For me, it's schmoopy rom-coms, while drinking a beer and eating an entire bowl of popcorn.”

Focus on yourself

As a mother, you spend a lot of time making others happy. You can’t be happy if you don’t spend some of that time and energy on yourself. Caroline, a social media analyst, suggests focusing on things that make you — and only you — happy. “Not making someone else happy, not your kids, no one else,” she says. “I'm a lot happier knowing now what I like to do in my free time and what makes me a whole individual. Now that I have that down, I am happier to give to those around me.”

Learn how to turn your bathroom into a home spa>>

Enter a fantasy world

It’s easier than you think to escape to a fantasy world. Just pick up a book. The subjects may have changed since you were 7, but the concept remains the same. Books are a great way to get away. Tara, a blogger, reads regularly to stay happy. “I read for at least an hour before bed every night, and listen to audio books when I run or am in the car alone or am shopping alone,” she says. “Escaping into a fictional world helps me to unwind and relax and forget my troubles for a bit.”

Connect with family

Happiness may be closer than you think. Leaning on family, even the memory of loved ones who have passed, can be a source of strength and happiness. Chrissy, a blogger, holds the memory of her grandmother close. “I'm not sure why this started, but sometime around high school I started to think about decisions in the sense of ‘what would my grandma think about this.’ Perhaps she was the little angel on my shoulder,” Chrissy says. “Or perhaps I just really respected her and the person that she was and hoped I could be like her one day. But that thought process has stayed a constant in my life.”

Listen to your jams

Rachel, who works in the publishing industry in New York City, jams out to her favorite music to feel happy. “Hip hop and R&B from the early ’90s always lightens my mood,” she says. “Probably because it presents a reality that is fairly different from mine, yet light-hearted.” If you don’t listen to music often, try to make it a habit while you’re driving or while you’re working. Use streaming web radio to tune in to music that uplifts you, whether it’s inspirational ballads or arena rock.

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Is it just us, or does every mom seem to be obsessed with her camera lately? Moms are watching their children grow through the backside of a screen rather than right before their eyes.

Are you using your camera too much?

Your goal is to capture every precious moment on film, but are you really missing the moments that are most important?

My name is Mom... and I'm a camera addict

No offense to the moms who are die-hards for their DSLRs — we admire you for all of those insanely gorgeous pictures of your children that you take. But, as more and more moms are jumping behind the lens of their camera , we can't help but wonder if we're missing the moments of our children's lives because we are so focused on trying to capture the moment.

Earlier this year, Allison Tate wrote an article for the Huffington Post, The Mom Stays in the Picture, which hit home with all moms. She shared about a moment when her son pulled her into a picture booth with him at a family birthday party and how it made her realize how few pictures she is in with her kids. Tate's article spurred a mom-movement and it didn't take long before photos of moms with their kids started popping up on Facebook, Instagram and blogs. Moms took it to heart — the importance of getting on the other side of the camera lens — and it became such a phenomenon that Huffington Post started a gallery of the photos moms were taking, which, at the time of press, is filled with over 2,200 images.

Lasting memories: No camera required

Here's our next challenge to you, moms — stop watching your children through the lens of your camera or smartphone. Start living in the moments of their childhood and experiencing life with them, rather than alongside them. We know you want to record every moment of that adorable preschool holiday play and catch their game-winning goal on film , but give it a try and see how you feel.

There's no denying that putting the camera down is going to be hard — your shooting finger is probably itching already — and while it may take some getting used to, the results are going to be worth it. Think of it this way: Instead of photographing your kids making gingerbread houses, you're right in there with them, putting frosting on the roof and unwrapping candies. Or, rather than catching your daughter's ballet recital through the screen of your phone, as you attempt to record it, enjoy watching it in real life — when she catches your eye in the audience during her final bow, she'll love seeing your proud, smiling face, instead of your camera.

Instead of breaking up with your camera completely, try redefining how you use it. Give yourself a picture a day to capture — Instagram is full of "photo a day" projects that give you a daily prompt to take a picture of, ranging from suggestions like yellow or love or shoes, for you to interpret in any way you'd like. Or, charge yourself with taking a photo a day at a specific time each day, such as noon. But, that's all you get to take — one picture — so, you'd better make it count!

The easiest way to cut down on your camera time is to simply leave it at home. Challenge yourself to tuck it away for an entire week or an entire month, only pulling it out to capture necessary events, like your daughter losing her first tooth or your brother's wedding. No justifications allowed for keeping your camera out to grab more than just the requisite shot.

Those of you with special events coming up are probably starting to twitch as you read this. Not use your camera for your daughter's second birthday? Are you kidding? Trust us, we're very serious and the only solution to keeping your camera away during special events is to turn paparazzi duty over to a professional or a friend. There's no doubt it will be hard, but the smile on her face when you are blowing out the candles with her, instead of from across the room with your camera, trying to get the perfect shot, will be worth it!

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The pervasive nature of popular culture combined with the budget cutbacks in fine art programs in schools means that many kids grow up without any exposure to classical music.

Help children appreciate fine arts

Parents can make up for the void by exposing kids to classical music at home.

Classical music is more than just a genre or an antiquated craft. It can be a gateway to a rich cultural experience and a tool to promote an appreciation for fine arts. Parents play a crucial role in introducing their kids to classical music and encouraging them to celebrate an art that stands the test of time.

A disappearing art

Classical music provides a historical perspective on the arts, challenges the listener and expresses myriad of emotions and storylines. With all of these attributes, why isn’t classical music more mainstream? "There's a stigma attached to it," says Jana Cole, musician, composer and mother of two. "It’s too old. Video games seduce and monopolize kids’ interest and time. They condition kids to crave constant, intense, mindless stimulation, creating a need that classical music cannot meet." With educational programs dwindling, classical radio virtually non-existent and access to live performances often limited, the onus falls to parents to share this disappearing art with their kids.

Ask yourself: Are your kids addicted to video games?>>

The farm concept

It is believed that classical music can have a positive impact on cognitive ability, mood and overall health. If those aren’t reasons enough to expose your child to classical music, consider the life lessons that can be taught through the process of learning to play music. "Teaching kids to play classical music teaches them discipline and the ‘farm’ concept — that you must invest time and effort to reap a reward," says Cole. "This contrasts with the typical instant gratification environment most children live in, in this country."

Find out how to tune up your health with music>>

You are uniquely qualified

Regardless of the condition of the fine arts culture in your area or school, you are uniquely qualified to shape your child’s exposure to classical music. Just as parents can pass along a love of reading or a passion for a particular sport, they can also spark an appreciation for the emotion of Debussy or the vibrancy of Bach. "I think that a parent should take the time to expose a daughter or son to the fine arts because in many ways, it gives them what I call a historical frame of reference for the world that they live in, what others used to call a well-rounded education," says Marshall Barnes, a respected scientist and multi-instrumentalist with an extensive background in music production and composition.

Discover 10 ways music benefits children>>

Resources

Fortunately, even parents with zero musical background can effectively expose their children to classical music using some of the many resources readily available. Barnes provides the following tips for rookie parents:

• Start playing classical music for your kids as early as possible — the younger the better.
• Take notice when you visit restaurants or shops that play classical music and ask your child what he thinks of it. See if he can identify the instruments.
• Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev is a way to learn to identify instruments.
• Watch classical music performances with your kids on PBS. It helps to research the performance a bit so that you can answer questions and share information as you watch.
• Focus on the more modern composers like Erik Satie, Claude Debussy, Aaron Copland and George Gershwin.

Read more about kids and music

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Despite assertions that organic food is best for your kiddos, you may want to uncover the American Academy of Pediatrics' findings before you dish out the extra cash.

New Study by American Academy of Pediatrics

From the benefits of avoiding pesticides to the evident health benefits of varieties of cuisine, are you wasting money on organic food for kids?

Organic foods not more nutritious

In a report released by the American Academy of Pediatrics , the children-focused organization asserts their stance that organic food doesn't contain any more nutritional benefits to kids than conventionally grown food. Their research was sparked by another prior study by the American College of Physicians which came to the same conclusion. Although some parents site allergies as the reason they skip on non-organically grown fruits and vegetables, the research also revealed no significant differences between organic food versus conventional produce when it comes to the effects on allergies like eczema or wheezing as well.

But, the battle between organic versus conventionally grown foods doesn't stop at fruits and vegetables alone; for parents who choose to dish up organic nourishment to their brood, it's important to note that the AAP study found no individual health benefit from serving organic milk, so long as it's pasteurized. But, that doesn't mean that the benefits of organic food for kids are nonexistent.

Grow your own organic food in any space with these tips on how to grow a garden without a yard>> 

Benefits of organic foods

Just because the nutritional value between organic foods and conventionally grown fare aren't significant, it doesn't dismiss the benefits of buying organic food for kids. The American College of Physicians report acknowledged that the organic grub does in fact boast lower levels of pesticide residues and exposure to certain bacteria, however, the difference in risk based on maximum allowed limits were small. You may also want to carve out room on your table for organically raised meat, as it has the potential to reduce antibiotic resistance in your family. But, studies are still also digging to determine the impact of hormone exposure of children through meat and milk.

Find out how eating organic improves your child's health >>

Nutritional factors in kids' diets

Since all-natural organic foods tend to be a little steeper in price, you may find that buying organic foods eats up more of your budget, resulting in less fruits and veggies in your fridge. However, the most important aspect of your youngster's diet is that kids nosh on a wide variety of food, whether their diet is filled with organic foods or based solely on conventionally grown fare. Be sure that your family is powering up with a well-balanced diet, even if it means working in non-organic foods as well, instead of letting your budget limit how much of the higher-priced provisions your family eats.

Although the study by the American Academy of Pediatrics revealed that the nutritional benefits of organic foods may be comparable to their conventionally-grown counterparts, many parents maintain that the shrunken exposure to pesticides and antibiotics is enough reason to confirm that they aren't wasting money on organic food for kids. Furthermore, when the AAP facts are paired up with the environmental benefits of going organic, you may find yourself compelled to still reach for the green goodies when feeding your youngsters, regardless of what studies have said.

Learn more about organic foods

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What will be the hottest baby names for 2013? We checked out baby name trends and looked into our crystal ball to predict the baby girl names and baby boy names that will be the hippest on the playground.

Top baby names of 2013

The hottest baby name trends of 2013 include cool hipster names, edgy or modern names, meaningful names as well as names influenced by the Royal Family.

The Social Security Administration listed the names that are climbing the baby names charts the fastest and they include Brantley, Iker and Maximilliano for boys and Briella, Angelique and Aria for girls. We can expect those names to be hot in 2013 — as well as the following cool names.

Hipster girl names

It seems like all of the hipster celebrities are naming their kids vintage names. One of the hottest girl names of the year is Pearl. Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill and Lil Aldridge named their daughter Dixie Pearl, while Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman named her daughter India Pearl.

Olive is another buzzworthy girl name of the year, with Drew Barrymore, Isla Fisher and country singer Jake Owen all choosing this cute name.

Here are more cool hipster girl names we predict will be hot in 2013:

Edgy, modern boy names

For boys, we predict the hottest names of the year will be edgy and modern. For instance, the futuristic names Zaiden and Nico are climbing the charts. Gwen Stefani named her son the cool, edgy name Zuma, while January Jones and Robert Downey Jr. both named their sons the “X” names of Xander and Exton.

Check out more cool boy names of the year:

Baby names fit for a Queen or King

Kate Middleton’s pregnancy news means that not only are people throwing out royal baby names for the couple, but are also considering naming their own child a baby name fit for the future King or Queen.

Also check out baby names that Kate Middleton will love>>

Meaningful baby names

Many modern parents are not only wanting baby names that are unique, but also ones with great meanings.

Some popular names with significant meanings include baby names that mean “miracle,“ “love” or “blessed” as well as names that signify power and strength.

Looking for a meaningful name? Check out baby girl names with great meanings, as well as boy names with great meanings>>

Gender-bending baby names

Parents are thinking outside of the box and picking gender-bending names for their babies. This trend seems to be more popular with girls over boys, with celebrities jumpstarting this fad. Jessica Simpson named her daughter Maxwell, while Johnny Knoxville named his daughter Arlo. Other gender-bending names that will be popular in 2013 include:

More baby name ideas

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Miss some of these fantastic films earlier in the year? Check them out on DVD and have a fun movie night with the whole family.

The top family-friendly films

Here are our top kid movie picks for 2012.

Rise of the Guardians

Though it’s only made a medium-sized splash at the box office, Rise of the Guardians has quickly become a fan favorite to those who have made it to the theater. A unique take on childhood legends like the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus, this holiday film delights children with a tale of defending hope and imagination.

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A new year means a list of resolutions for many people. Why not make a few parenting New Year’s resolutions?

Commit to your kids

Whether you call them resolutions, goals or simply plans, consider the following parenting New Year’s resolutions.

I'm not a perfect parent. In fact, I am anything but a perfect parent. However, like most moms, I do my best… most of the time. Occasionally, we all have our moments. However, the new year is a great time to think about a few New Year's parenting resolutions. I am working on a list for myself. Following are a few suggestions for all parents.

Serenity now!

Find peace. Find calm. Find patience. Whatever you want to call a composed state of mind, next time your preschooler asks you for water for the tenth time — as you're in the middle of pouring it into a cup — and you think your head might explode, take a deep breath.

It can be difficult to maintain your patience all of the time and inevitably, we lose our patience occasionally. But remember that your preschooler is asking for water 10 times because he hasn't learned patience yet. And we know that "Do as I say, not as I do" does not apply to 3-year-olds.

Sometimes it takes every ounce of control I have not to say, "Oh my gosh, how many times can you ask the same question?!" With a 5-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter who acts twice her age, occasionally I have to dig deep. Well, this year, I'm going to dig a little deeper. Serenity now!

Use your indoor voice

Trust me when I say I have a list of improvements I'd like to make as a mom. For some reason, I'm not a yeller. It's nothing to my credit, but I don't raise my voice beyond the occasional "stern" level I have to use when things are serious. I can think of two times I really, truly yelled and both were awful for my kids and for me. However, I have encountered many moms who yell on a regular basis and most are not happy about it.

Yelling is not an effective parenting technique. There are several books that offer ways to break the habit and alternatives to yelling. I've even seen in-depth classes for parents who tend to raise their voices a little too much and a little too often. Whatever tools work for you, make this the year that you use volume control.

Something's gotta give

Much to our chagrin, there just isn't enough time in the day to accomplish every last task on our to-do list — at least not every single day. Show me the super mom who can do it all, all of the time, and I will either congratulate her or run away. I'm not sure how I would react because I have yet to meet this mystical woman.

Because it isn't possible to do it all, something's always gotta give. This year, make the "thing" that has to give exactly that — a thing. While some tasks simply cannot be ignored — bills have to be paid and at some point, laundry has to be done — others can. Our kids, however, shouldn't be ignored — at least not regularly.

I don't want to look back one day and think, "I really wish I would have played Candy Land with my kids instead of washing the floor or doing the dishes… every single time they asked." However, I can pretty much guarantee that I won't ever regret playing with them and ignoring the dishes. This year, when something has to give, let's try our best to make sure it isn't related to our children. Even if it's as simple as trading a chore for 10 minutes with your toddler, give it a try.

A new year means a metaphorical fresh start. Make a few parenting New Year's resolutions of your own!

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When Twitter was just catching on, mom of two Amy Lupold Bair had an idea to welcome new sites to the web with a SiteWarming party. That idea snowballed into her successful business as a marketer and Twitter party maven.

How this power social media mom started

Resourceful Mommy Amy Lupold Bair spun a little idea into a successful business. How did she do it?

SheKnows: Where did the idea of SiteWarming parties come from?

Amy Lupold Bair: This is somewhat of a long story, but the short version is that I wanted to hold an event to launch my own blog, ResourcefulMommy.com, and there were no marketing or launch events being held on Twitter. Events taking place on other platforms such as forums were being announced on Twitter, and it simply made more sense to me to keep the event where the people were already located. The first night that I held a SiteWarming, three people approached me asking to hire me to hold an event for them. SiteWarmings by Resourceful Mommy was born!

SK: Did you expect that these online parties — something that didn't exist before you created them — would take off the way they did?

ALB: We have not had a single week without a party since the launch mid-2008, but at the time I told people that I would be surprised if they lasted six months. Twitter hadn’t even monetized their own platform yet, and I was certain that my account would be kicked off of the site.

SK: At what point did it become clear that these parties were the start of something much bigger for you?

ALB: It was almost immediately clear that this was the start of a rapidly growing business and not just an occasional activity. In fact, by February of 2009 — just seven months after I began blogging — I had already hired my first staffer and launched the Global Influence blog network.

SK: What do you wish you knew before you started hosting SiteWarming parties?

ALB: I wish I had known that four years later, it would still be a business seeing constant growth and continued success. I have worked each day with the anticipation that it could all end tomorrow, and had I known that was not the case, I might have taken a few more vacation days or made time to catch my breath.

Growing a company

SK: You've grown your brand and created such a successful company — what have been the keys to your success?

ALB: Someone once told me that people working in social media appear to be running around like they are on fire, trying to keep up with what the next guy is doing or the next big thing. Rather than worry about everyone around me, I’ve continued to get better at what I do and work consistently and diligently for my clients. That has not only helped my business, but also my sanity.

SK: You come from a teaching background. How has that helped you in creating and growing your business?

ALB: Once you survive teaching Drama to middle schools, everything else is a walk in the park ;)

On life... and what's next

SK: How do you balance life with the demands of a busy online-focused career?

ALB: I am still figuring that one out.

SK: What's next for you?

ALB: Right now I am writing a book with Wiley publishers, Raising Digital Families For Dummies, that will be out in April of 2013. There are a few more exciting developments coming next year, but that is the one that I am most proud of personally. It has long been a dream to write a book, and the entire process has been nothing short of fascinating.

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Celebrate with your little ones

Ready to ring in New Year's with a bang, but feeling guilty about the little ones? No one says that New Year's Eve can't be a family affair. This year, celebrate with a bash the whole family can enjoy!

Include your kids for a fun family celebration

Get your glitter on

Planning a New Year's party with your kids is part of the fun! Start gathering decorations and props for your party a few weeks before, and include the kids in the process. Decorations don't have to cost an arm and a leg to be fun and festive. Balloons, confetti, crepe paper, funny hats and tiaras, noise makers, fun sunglasses and feather boas are just a few ideas to get you started. Be creative and let your inner sparkle shine! New Year's Eve is one time when an abundance of glitter is welcome — and expected.

Edible crafts and finger foods

Spend time planning a festive menu with the kids. Make sure to include lots of finger foods, which are always a hit with little ones. You might also choose some edible food crafts to make things exciting. Try hot dogs in the shape of an octopus, a fruit flower bouquet, ants on a log, a gummy worm dirt cake, firework juice popsicles or snowmen cupcakes. Make sure to include some adult-friendly food also, so the whole party isn't just for the little ones.

Party games? Yes, please!

Go old-school and bust out those tried-and-true board games for some good, old-fashioned fun the whole family will love. Classic games — Twister, Pictionary, Charades, Monopoly and Uno — are easy to learn, can be played in teams and are all-time favorites. If it's snowy outside, bundle up the kids and head out into the backyard for a midnight snowball fight. Love karaoke? Have a contest or challenge each family to sing a popular song together.

Movie night

New Year's Eve parties are focused on the clock striking midnight, but there are lots of hours ahead of that to fill. After the kids have finished their finger foods, cue up a family-friendly movie for all ages and pass the popcorn. Have plenty of blankets and pillows available for a cozy viewing session. Adults can enjoy their dinner fare close by while the kids relax, making the time until midnight move a little faster.

Celebrate in style

As the midnight hour approaches, do a fun family craft like making your own noise makers. Old baby food containers or plastic spice jars can be filled with rice or beans and decorated with sequins, glitter, ribbons and sparkles. As most things go with kids, the more noise, the better.

Watch the countdown ball drop on TV, pop open a bottle of sparkling grape juice for the kids, shake your homemade noise makers and ring in New Year's with the ones you love most — your family. Here's to an amazing year!

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5 Kid-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations
Let kids stay up on New Year's Eve?

Kids today don't need a ride to the library to research their big paper. So much information — from studies to full book texts — is available digitally, making research easier but also trickier.

Modern kids,
modern research

Knowing how your kids research can help you teach them to be responsible digital citizens.

Schools today are teaching students to how to select, use and cite information from the web. "Teachers want their students to access digital resources that are reputable and accurate. They don't want students pulling information from crowd-sourced sites like Wikipedia. Teachers train their students how to distinguish between reputable and sketchy websites," says Jessica Bayliss, director of education for Education Portal. "Teachers also train their students to cite all information. In the digital age, it's easy to copy and paste information without attribution, and it's important for teachers to educate students about plagiarism and attribution."

Even so, as a parent you should know about digital research — and what it means for how kids are researching today. "One great thing about the evolution of the web, is that there are so many tools that students have access to in order to do safe, responsible research," says Laura Rebecca, a freelance writer and educational media consultant. "There are several free curated search engines, such as Sweet Search, as well as bibliography and note-taking tools like EasyBib and Citelighter."

Making smart source choices

Not sure how to tell a legit site from one that isn't? Rebecca says to first look for the author of the website. "If no author can be found, it's an immediate red flag. Also, look at the publisher of the site: If you see an article on CNN.com without an author, you can let that slide because the publisher, CNN, is a reputable news agency. If you don't recognize the name of the publisher, do a Google search," says Rebecca.

A search can shed light on the website — and any nefarious intentions. "My students and I once did a class web search on Martin Luther King Jr. after investigating the publisher of a site that looked legitimate, only to find they were a white supremacist organization," says Rebecca.

Good digital citizenship

It's extremely important that teens understand that information on the internet has to be cited same as any other source. "Have that conversation about plagiarism too. Just because someone else put words and ideas on the internet for you to see doesn't give you the right to pass them off as your own: Give credit where credit is due," says Rebecca.

But, teens — and their parents — should also be aware of digital security. Same as you wouldn't give out your social security number to just anyone asking for it, teens should be careful about where they input their personal information. "Parents must understand the implications of entering personal information to websites and educate their kids about how to access firewalled material safely and responsibly," says Bayliss.

Talk about it, and set standards for when it's OK to input information — and when they should click away or ask first.

"The most important thing for parents to do is educate themselves. By throwing up your hands and saying 'these kids are more computer-savvy than I am!' isn't taking responsibility; you've just got to know what's out there," says Rebecca. "Talk to other parents and your child's teachers; many schools are more than happy to conduct seminars for parents on how their kids use the internet in school. They would rather you be aware than not be!"

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The dangers of New Year's Eve

According to a survey conducted by Liberty Mutual and Students Against Destructive Decisions , 49 percent of teens view New Year's Eve as a very dangerous or extremely dangerous day to drive.

Protecting your kids
on New Year's Eve

Unfortunately, 10 percent of teens say they have driven under the influence of drugs or alcohol on this night. How can parents take a proactive approach to try to protect their teens on New Year's Eve?

Tragic experience

"I speak with the wisdom of hindsight and the pain of personal experience, as we lost our 15-year-old son almost two years ago on New Year's Eve," explains Elison McAllaster, author of the book, Ricky Roars.

"He lied to us about where he was going early that night; he drank too much at a party with almost 300 other teens; he was late for his curfew, then he stole the spare keys to his sister's car and snuck away from our home in order to meet some girls as we were doing fireworks on the dock. After we realized that he was gone from the safety of our home and texted him to pull over so we could pick him up, he dangerously drove home too fast and still intoxicated. He didn't make it through a dangerous curve two driveways from our home."

Read about teen girls and binge drinking>>

Parental networking

It goes without saying that you should know where your teens are going on New Year's Eve . For special occasions and parties when there is likely to be drinking and other dangers, it's essential to keep tabs on your kids throughout the night. Create a network of other concerned parents to try and help.

"I have realized the importance of insisting on constant communication throughout the night, and checking, double checking and triple checking with other parents to verify the truth of your teen's plans and their location," McAllaster says. "Parental networking is crucial on this night. Parents should use the current technology of GPS tracking on their cell phones. Insist on an early curfew, and go track them down if they're not home on time. Once they get home, gather up all car keys, spare keys included and keep them with you all night."

Should you let them party at home?

Much discussion takes place among parents about whether or not to allow their children to drink alcohol at home. Proponents of this idea will say that they are going to drink and do drugs anyway — so you might as well have them at home where you can keep an eye on them.

"The erroneous thinking that you are keeping your teens safe by allowing them to party at home that night could endanger any other teens who show up — and they will show up as the word gets around of a party at so-and-so's house," says McAllaster. "Any parent who allows parties at their house is legally liable for any teen who has been drinking at their home and is killed or injured after leaving their house."

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Speak up

According to the aforementioned survey, an overwhelming majority of teens — 94 percent — said they would stop driving under the influence of alcohol if asked by a passenger.

"New Year's Eve is a time to celebrate both the past year and the possibilities of the year to come, yet far too often poor decisions by teens result in tragic injuries and deaths," said Stephen Wallace, senior adviser for policy, research and education at SADD. "To avoid a fatal start to the new year, teen passengers need to use their voices if they have concerns about their friends' behaviors. They will be heard."

Talk early and often

Underage drinking is prevalent everywhere. According to National Institutes of Health , 40 percent of kids have tried alcohol by the time they've reached eighth grade. Talk early and often about the dangers of drinking. Visit samhsa.gov to get the facts you need and create a personalized action plan for talking about alcohol to your kids.

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Images: WENN

Celebrity baby names are often trend-setting, always buzzworthy and occasionally worthy of a “what were they thinking?” With the end of the year approaching, it is time to round up the best and worst celebrity baby names of the year.

Best celebrity girl names

What a year for celebrity baby names! The most buzzworthy celebrity girl names of the year were Blue Ivy, Beyonce’s daughter, and the gender-bending name of Jessica Simpson’s daughter, Maxwell.

My pick of the best celebrity baby girl name of the year is... :

Kourtney Kardashian’s daughter Penelope, followed closely by Jack Osbourne’s choice of Pearl Clementine.

Here are more great celebrity girl names of 2012:

Best celebrity boy names

It seemed like many celebs were on the same page when it came to baby boy names. Both Vanessa Lachey and Kristin Cavallari picked the cute name Camden, while Reese Witherspoon and Jemima Kirke picked the southern names of Tennessee and Memphis.

My pick of the best celebrity boy name of the year is... :

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo’s son Hawkins, followed closely by Tori Spelling’s son Finn.

Check out more of the top celebrity boy names of the year:

Worst celebrity baby names

Many of these wacky and weird baby names left us scratching our heads and wondering — what were they thinking?

The honor of the worst baby name of the year goes to Bristol Palin’s ex Levi Johnston, who named his daughter Breeze Beretta. Yes, as in a Beretta gun.

Hawaii Five-O star Alex O'Loughlin is close behind for worst baby name of the year after naming his son Lion.

Uma Thurman made the list because she gave her daughter the ridiculously long baby name of Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence. Although, we do like her nickname of Luna, which ironically is not in her actual name.

Check out the complete list of the worst baby names of the year:

New celebrity baby name trend: No names!

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