As an adult, by my late 20s, I started to feel a little bit “meh” about Christmas. Sure, it was a nice time of year, and I enjoyed seeing my family when I could, but I didn’t really understand the appeal of decorating, baking or most holiday-themed events. All of that changed, however, once I got into my 30s and had kids.

Hurricanes are a strong force of nature. Many have seen the toll they can take on people, homes and land, but there are a few things you may not know about the storms, and they’re pretty intriguing.

There’s a new friend in the neighborhood!“ Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” that is.

Calling all fellow parents: “Waffles + Mochi” is the show you never knew you always needed. ‘Waffles + Mochi’ is an exciting invitation to get kids and grown-ups cooking together in the kitchen and connecting to cultures around the globe.”AdCute, right? Anyway, “Waffles + Mochi” show stars puppets and real humans, and I liked the balance. “Waffles + Mochi” introduces so many concepts, and provides a springboard for conversation. “Waffles + Mochi” also gives Obama the chance to extend the work she did as first lady to support children’s health.

Most films are kid-friendly.

Watching an NFL playoff game might not be a typical family activity in your house, but CBS and Nickelodeon have unveiled a plan to try and change that -- at least for one game this Sunday. While CBS will televise the game and broadcast it in the traditional sense, Nickelodeon will also televise the game, but with more unconventional twists in an effort to appeal to kids. The show will feature a 10-year-old SpongeBob and his friends as they have various fun at a summer camp. People can also go to NFLNickPlay.com for content leading up to and during the game. Examples of content include educating kids on football basics and engaging kids with quizzes, polls, facts, videos and information galleries.

A major event is happening in the sky this month, and it’s one that won’t be matched again until 2080, according to experts. The two largest planets in our solar system — Jupiter and Saturn — will engage in what is called a great conjunction. The two massive planets will be at their closest on Dec. 21, when they will be only 0.1 degrees apart. The last time there was a great conjunction was in 2000, but the planets were near the sun and difficult to observe. The great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn happens every 20 years, but because of the way the two planets orbit, astronomers predict the view of this year’s won’t be matched until 2080.

Having a baby, and bringing that baby home from the hospital for the first time as a new parent, is a whirlwind.

This year, the International Space Station celebrated 20 years of having a continuous human presence on it. But what exactly is the International Space Station and what does it do? Over a 13-year period from 1998-2011, different modules were launched into space and attached to each other in orbit by astronauts. That mission was successful to create an initial base, and in subsequent years, other modules were launched into orbit and connected. The ISS is aging -- and if it’s not eventually destroyed or taken down by humans, space obstacles might arise, according to space.com.

Let’s officially talk Halloween.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Walt Disney World is set to once again open its gates to the Magic Kingdom following a lengthy closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. But with most families staying inside and not traveling, how crowded will the theme parks really be when they reopen? Park Capacity Capacity at 25% Magic Kingdom 57,000 people 14,250 people Epcot 34,093 people 8,523 people Hollywood Studios 30,843 people 7,710 people Animal Kingdom 37,671 people 9,417 peopleA park at 25% capacity would mean very minimal wait times. As we can all imagine, visiting a Disney theme park when it reopens will be a new experience for all -- no matter how many times you’ve visited. The Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom parks will open first July 11, with Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopening July 15.

According to Disney, buses and monorails will implement a combination of physical distancing and physical barriers to provide separation between guest parties. Ground markings will help promote proper physical distancing in attraction queues at Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)In order to provide appropriate social distancing, Walt Disney World is only allowing a limited number of guests to visit each theme park per day. “Ground markings will help promote proper physical distancing throughout the parks, including attraction queues,” Disney said. Guests at Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., are encouraged to use cashless payment options whenever possible when making purchases as the parks begin their phased reopening July 11, 2020.

Even considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to people driving less and working from home more, the risk of hot car deaths remains high. Thats according to AAA, which is urging parents to be extra cautious as the pandemic has changed our routines. Summer-like temperatures have arrived, and the inside of a hot car can be fatal. The boys death follows 52 hot car deaths in 2019, and a record 53 deaths in 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The majority of hot car deaths, at 54%, according to AAA, happen because someone forgets a child in a car.

You don’t have to be a devoted prepper -- you know, those people who stockpile food and supplies for doomsday scenarios? -- to get your family ready to face potential emergency situations.

Summer camp might not be an option this year, but YouTube has created a free #CampYouTube, so as to re-create common camp experiences through YouTube videos. These include arts and crafts, sports, writing workshops, photography tutorials, mental health exercises, exploring the outdoors and SO much more — seriously, there are about 1,200 videos in total. Any interest in learning how to make a ping pong ball float? Plus, YouTube uses resources for its videos from partners like the BBC, Imagination Library, Code.org, Breakthrough Junior Challenge, Google Arts and Culture, National Geographic Society, Sesame Street and others. “These resources are not meant to replace homework assigned by teachers, but meant to complement that work,” YouTube states on its camp website.

If it goes off as planned, this will mark the first mission involving astronauts from U.S. soil since 2011. Still, NASA astronaut Bob Behnken has said he and Doug Hurley are “really comfortable” with the risks. So you’re making educated guesses, at best.”It seems there’s just more uncharted territory when it comes to space travel. “The first astronauts really started out as test pilots,” Garfinkle said. But assuming this launch goes well, “It would be great for kids to see a successful, triumphant moment of science,” Fink said.

“Cooking With Pixar” is a new series featured on the Pixar YouTube channel. Each video shows a step-by-step process for making easy recipes that kids of all ages can help out with. Cook alongside Forkey from “Toy Story 4” as you create a Pizza Planet pepperoni pizza with bell pepper rings. It’s important to note that Pixar’s cooking videos don’t include ingredient portions or measurements. So, if you aren’t comfortable cooking that way, it might be a good idea to keep a similar recipe handy to compare.

A mother of two mindlessly picked up a paintbrush in late March, and started painting the cover of one of the books she had read to her children earlier in the day -- and said she incorporated some “cartoonified” coronavirus themes, to try to make the situation less scary.

We asked around for some of the best parent-endorsed picks when it comes to Netflix offerings. So, not only are you providing good entertainment for your kids, but you’re instilling a love of classic rock, as well. Although this one isn’t new or new to Netflix, we were surprised just how many parents hadn’t seen this one yet. "Masha and the Bear""My kids think this is the funniest show ever," one father of three said. I’m not suggesting you plop your kids down in front of a screen all day -- or even every day.

The value of reading cannot be overstated. No matter how old or young your children are, have you read with them today?

The value of reading cannot be overstated. No matter how old or young your children are, have you read with them today?