Jeannie Krill I’m a planner. My husband and I visited Bright Horizons® child care centers back in 2019 when I was just three months pregnant. We decided on one, and were set to start in June of 2020, when our son would be three months old. He was born at the end of February — right before the pandemic hit the U.S. in full force — and, needless to say, our plans changed. When we went back to work (from home), caring for our son was manageable for a while. He napped on my chest while I wrote and answered emails; he joined my husband’s team meetings and hung out in his swing in our office. But it ..read more

Lisa I don’t have kids. Let me rephrase that. I do have kids. I just don’t have kids at home right now (they’re grown). So, every day, when my husband and I sit down at our home-office desks, here’s what we do: We work. Here’s what I don’t have to do. I’m not bouncing a baby while making a deadline. I don’t have a toddler underfoot – and in my Zoom meetings. I’ve never had to camouflage my world to make people think it looks like this, when really it looks like this. I’m not up nights recalculating the metrics of safety versus well-being versus sanity that make up the impossible choice between ..read more

Blog Editor Summer may seem far away, especially if you’re experiencing that chilly winter weather, but the end of the school year will be here before we know it. And with all of the different types of summer camps for kids out there, making a decision can feel a little overwhelming. From location to cost to your child’s interests and personality – there are several things that should factor into your family’s summer camp choice. Here are some tips from parents on how to choose summer camps for kids and things to consider when deciding where to send them. 12 Tips for Choosing Kids’ Summer Camp ..read more

Melissa More often than not, there are numerous questions a family might have when visiting a center, especially if this is their first experience with child care. The process can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. A common topic that comes up often when looking for child care is health and safety. Here are some important things to consider and questions to ask when you’re searching for a child care solution. Security and Open Door PoliciesCPR and First Aid Ratios and Supervision Food and Allergy Management Preventing Illness at the Center Sanitation and CleanlinessApproach to P ..read more

Blog Editor With Earth Day falling in April, it’s a great time to teach children about the importance of taking care of our environment. Using art as a learning mechanism is a great method of teaching children in a hands-on way. Cultivate your child’s creativity and teach them about the importance of being kind to our world all at the same time with these Earth Day art project ideas for kids. Earth Day Arts & Crafts for Kids Decorate rock creations using recyclable materials. Bright Horizons hosted a “Rocking Earth Day” contest on Facebook a few years ago with this very mission. Check out ..read more

Naoko The proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child,” is no joke. What happens when you suddenly have to work late and can’t pick up the kids? What happens when your kid throws up at school, you’re in the middle of a meeting with the higher-ups, and can’t bail to go get your child? What if your child has an end-of-year recital and you can’t be there because you’re on a work trip? What happens when it’s school vacation week and the kids are home, but you didn’t draw the straw to have that week off from work this year? Those are just a few examples of the scenarios working parents face as th ..read more

Naoko These days, it’s natural to talk incessantly about work-life balance: wanting to be successful at work, but then, wanting to be a more present parent, keep the house presentable, have healthy homemade dinners, take family trips, and somewhere in between, work out, connect with friends, read a book, and maybe even sleep. We think: balance – try to pile everything on top of everything else and see if the scale doesn’t tip. If you’re like me, that scale tips and things fall off, like…all the time. But when I first met Morra Aarons-Mele, she immediately gave me a different view of the equati ..read more

Blog Editor My son has been throwing fits during pick-up time at daycare recently. It’s a new phenomenon and one that has been tough for both my wife and I. We are thrilled he likes being with his teacher and friends, but dealing with this battle at the end of the long workday is hard. He’s fine once we get home! Anyone else dealing with pick-up time tantrums? Any advice? – Timmy Pick-ups can be emotional times for all sorts of reasons. At the end of the day, a child may be tired, and “going to pieces” may be a natural reaction to the sight of the person they are closest to – you! Acting out ..read more

Blog Editor Working from home means you skip the commute – unless you count the ten-second walk to your desk. But it also means that your house becomes your office. For working parents just like you, it can be hard to create a productive work environment that also allows for work/life balance and the sometimes elusive “me” time. Take a look at these tips from our Family Room bloggers and learn how they make the most of their work-from-home days. 5 Tips to Make the Most of Working From Home Create a Work Space Your couch might be comfortable, but a setting up a work space, like a home office or ..read more

Aili Editor’s Note: We recently shared Laura’s experience about why she chose child care near work. Today Aili shares why choosing child care near home ended up being the best decision for her family: I had little doubt whether or not I would be going back to work after the birth of my son. I love my career, enjoy being a part of the workforce, contributing to the home, and using my brain in new and different ways each day. Choosing a child care option that worked for our family’s busy schedule was important to my husband and me. We are both out of the house almost 12 hours a day between ..read more