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New research commissioned by Melissa & Doug, finds that for most (59%) families with young children, going to the dentist or doctor can be challenging. * Parents in those families cite fear of the unknown as the top contributing factor to children's challenges when learning of an appointment. Dr. Tyler Hanks, D.M.D., of the pediatric dentistry practice Happy Tooth is here to share strategies and tips for preparing young children for appointments.

“A child's first experience visiting the dentist can have a lasting influence on how they view dental health for the rest of their lives. Helping children understand what to expect can go a long way to ensuring they have a positive experience and begin to build healthy habits at a young age,” says Dr. Tyler Hanks. His tips include:

1. Set the scene early: If possible, stop by the office before the appointment so your child can see the space and meet the team. Familiarity reduces fear.
2. Schedule smart: Avoid appointment times when your child is hungry or overtired – a well-rested child is a more confident patient. 
3. Explain the “why”: Help kids understand that the dentist keeps their teeth strong and healthy. When they know the reason, they’re more likely to cooperate.
4. Role-play the visit: Take turns being the dentist and the patient using Melissa & Doug’s Smile Dentist Kit, talking through what’s happening. Narrating each step helps make the real appointment feel familiar and less intimidating.
5. Be strategic with siblings: Let younger kids observe a calm sibling first to build confidence. 
    

*Melissa & Doug "Children's Checkups Survey" Methodology
Commissioned by Melissa & Doug, the "Children's Checkups Survey" examined how children and parents feel and behave before, during, and after medical appointments as well as strategies to prepare. The research included analysis of completed responses from nearly 1,000 U.S. parents of children ages 1-5. The online survey was fielded by Dynata, LLC, Jan. 25-Feb. 7, 2026, with a margin of error of 3.1%.

Autism Acceptance Month: Resources Supporting Neurodiverse Children and Families

April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time dedicated to celebrating neurodiversity while promoting understanding, inclusion, and support for individuals on the autism spectrum. For many families raising neurodiverse children, acceptance also means ensuring access to the services, tools, and resources that help children thrive.

As a Connecticut-based autism provider, parent, and advocate, I’m excited to share several resources launching this spring that are designed to support families, providers, and communities during Autism Acceptance Month and beyond.

The Challenge Many Families Face: Long Waitlists for Autism Services

Families seeking services such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, autism evaluations, and speech therapy often encounter long waitlists. In many cases, families may wait months or even years before services become available.

During this waiting period, parents frequently find themselves calling multiple clinics, filling out numerous intake forms, and checking back repeatedly for openings. The process can feel overwhelming and uncertain.

At the same time, providers and agencies are working hard behind the scenes to manage large waitlists while responding to inquiries as quickly as possible. Many organizations want to help families access services sooner but lack a streamlined way to collaborate with other providers.

Seeing these challenges firsthand inspired the creation of a new solution called CollabWait, designed to support both families and service providers.

CollabWait: Improving Access to Autism Services

CollabWait is a new software platform created to help agencies manage waitlists more effectively while improving collaboration between providers.

The platform allows organizations to:

Organize and manage waitlists more efficiently
Coordinate referrals with other providers in their network
Provide families with greater visibility into their waitlist status
Families can also request services from participating agencies that may currently have openings, helping them find care sooner instead of navigating the system alone.

CollabWait is currently being rolled out to provider cohorts state by state, with the goal of building a stronger collaborative network of providers that families can access. By improving communication between providers, the platform aims to reduce uncertainty for families waiting for autism services.

To further support this effort, CollabWait has partnered with Rethink Behavioral Health, one of the leading ABA software platforms used by providers across the country.

Together, these partnerships aim to strengthen care coordination and improve access to services for families.

Promoting Autism Acceptance Through Everyday Advocacy

Acceptance and advocacy can also be part of everyday life.

The Collaborative ABA Store was created to promote inclusion, neurodiversity awareness, and autism acceptance through apparel and merchandise. The collection, called “Step Into the Spectrum,” encourages individuals, families, educators, therapists, and advocates to show their support for neurodiverse individuals.

The merchandise is designed for both professionals working in behavioral health and individuals who simply want to celebrate acceptance in their communities.

A New Children’s Book About Autism and Big Feelings

This March also marks the release of a new children’s book designed to help young readers better understand autism and the experience of big emotions.

It’s Okay, Mattie: A Story About Autism, Big Feelings, and Learning to Cope, releasing March 24, 2026, introduces readers to Mattie, a thoughtful and bright girl who experiences the world in her own unique way.

For Mattie, everyday situations like loud environments, unexpected changes to her routine, or even small disruptions to her plans can sometimes feel overwhelming. Through Mattie’s experiences, young readers gain insight into how everyday moments can feel very different for children on the autism spectrum. When a difficult day brings big emotions, Mattie learns that it’s okay to need support and that there are ways to work through those feelings.

Through gentle storytelling and relatable experiences, the book encourages empathy and helps children understand that people may experience the world differently. It also opens the door for meaningful conversations about neurodiversity, emotional regulation, and acceptance.

The book concludes with parent/caregiver tips and discussion prompts, offering parents, educators, and therapists' practical ways to continue talking with children about autism, emotions, and coping skills.

At its heart, the message of the story is simple but powerful: every child deserves to be seen, understood, and supported just as they are.

Supporting Families During Autism Acceptance Month

Autism Acceptance Month is an opportunity to continue building communities where neurodiverse individuals are supported, understood, and celebrated.

Whether through improving access to services, creating resources for families, or helping children learn about neurodiversity, every effort contributes to a more inclusive world.

Learn More About These Resources

Individuals, families and providers interested in learning more can explore the following resources:

CollabWait
www.collabwait.com

Collaborative ABA Services
www.collaborativeabaservices.com

Collaborative ABA Store – Step into the Spectrum
www.collaborativeabastore.com

It’s Okay, Mattie will be available beginning March 24, 2026, through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers where books are sold.

You can also follow updates and advocacy work on Instagram (@LeadingwithAlisha) and LinkedIn.

ANIMAL ADVENTURES is a beautifully designed board book series that invites little ones to explore the natural world through playful language and stunning photography. Each title follows animals through a day in their environment, offering a gentle rhythm that’s ideal for both daytime discovery and bedtime snuggles.

With gorgeous full-spread photos, rhythmic storytelling, and durable, high-quality construction, these books are designed to captivate curious babies while supporting early language development. School Library Journal calls the series “an absolute thrill for children,” praising its glossy photography and poetic tone.

Durable, beautifully designed, and developmentally engaging, these books make a thoughtful gift for baby showers, birthdays, and first libraries

By Josh Dilts, Chicco Senior Product Manager – Car Safety

As families navigate one of the coldest winter seasons in recent years, it’s important to prioritize safe and stress-free travel on the road. Snowstorms, icy conditions, and frigid temperatures can all create additional challenges, making it critical for parents to understand the precautions needed to keep their children protected while traveling. Whether you’re traveling with an Infant Car Seat or a Rotating Car Seat, these tips can ensure safer winter journeys for your family.

When it comes to choosing the right car seat for a newborn, parents typically select from four types of car seats: infant car seats, convertible car seats, rotational convertible car seats, and all-in-one car seats.  In all of these seats, a newborn will ride rear-facing, for maximum protection. 

For most families traveling with newborns, an infant car seat like the Chicco KeyFit Max ClearTex will be the optimal choice... Infant seats’ lightweight, portable design makes it easy to transfer from car to stroller – an especially helpful feature during colder months. In winter conditions, parents should dress babies in thin, warm layers, such as fleece sleepers or onesies, rather than bulky coats or snowsuits, which can interfere with proper harness fit by creating extra space between the harness and your child’s body.

For parents seeking an alternative to an infant car seat, rotating convertible car seats can offer added flexibility. Chicco’s Fit360 ClearTex Rotating Convertible Car Seat allows the seat to rotate toward the vehicle door and offers the unique, quick, and secure harness system, making it easier to place your child in and out of the car, which is particularly useful when navigating icy parking lots or tight spaces. With cold, blustery winter winds blowing all around, it’s great to have a car seat that can help loading and unloading your baby quick and fuss-free.

No matter which car seat you choose, selecting the correct seat for your child and ensuring proper use is essential, especially when winter road conditions are less forgiving. For additional guidance on car seat selection and installation and seasonal safety tips, visit ChiccoUSA.com.

Joshua Dilts is a passionate advocate for child passenger safety, serving as a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician and the lead car safety product manager at Chicco.  As a father of three, Josh’s real-life experience provides continued inspiration and motivation for creating solutions that make it easier for families to travel safely with car seats.  

An excavator-driving alligator and his swamp crew pals learn that it takes teamwork to build it right!

Penguin Young Readers is proud to publish EXCA-GATOR! (Flamingo Books; on sale February 17, 2026; ages 3-7), an adorable rhyming picture book about an over-enthusiastic, construction loving alligator who discovers that the best things are built when everyone shares the fun and work together. With a powerful lesson in accountability and asking when it's appropriate to help, this book isn't just a funny book about an alligator with an excavator, it's also a powerful learning tool that can have a home in any nursery or classroom, perfect for fans of Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site and Crocodiles Need Kisses Too!

Exca-Gator is so excited for a new day of building and constructing with all of his buds! He may be even a little too excited, when he overestimates his abilities and causes a big old construction site mess. Can Exca-Gator make things right with his friends and save the day?

Author Brooke Hartman was inspired to write Exca-Gator when her daughter was a toddler and struggled to say the word "excavator," instead saying "excagator," and thus our main character was born.  Told in rhythmic bouncing rhyme from Brooke Hartman, this book is a can't-miss pick for any young readers who love books about construction vehicles and adorable animals. The book is also packed with gorgeous and colorful art by picture book veteran Michael Slack, not to mention construction vehicles galore and classic picture book hooks that will teach readers the importance of teamwork.

EXCA-GATOR!

By Brooke Hartman; illustrated by Michael Slack

Flamingo Books; On sale February 17, 2026; ages 3-7

Hardcover: 9780593693339; $18.99; $24.99 CAN

Ebook: 9780593693346; $10.99; $11.99 CAN

Brooke Hartman is an Alaskan mom who seriously loves to write not-so-serious books for kids. Her writing has garnered multiple awards, including honors from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Writer’s Digest, Pacific Northwest Writers Association, and the Alaska Writers Guild. Her debut picture book, Dream Flights on Arctic Nights, received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, while her 2020 release, Lotte’s Magical Paper Puppets: The Woman Behind the First Animated Feature Film was a Poetry and Pose First Edition Book Club selection. Her latest, Klyde the Kraken Wants a Friend, is outfrom Hazy Dell Press. Brooke also serves as an occasional instructor of writing for Alaska Pacific University and member of the board of directors for the Alaska Writers Guild, and was an SCBWI Tribute Fund Scholarship Recipient. When she isn’t writing, you can find her flying, fishing, and having fun with her family, enjoying all the magic life has to offer. Learn more at BrookeAHartman.com, or on social media at @BrookesBooksAK.

Michael Slack is an artist, illustrator, character designer, and award-winning app designer. He has illustrated many funny picture books, including Kitties on Dinosaurs, which he also authored, and the Nugget and Fang books by Tammi Sauer. He lives with his family in the San Francisco Bay area.

Whether you're gifting family, friends, or even yourself, our gift box is the perfect way to spread holiday cheer. Share the joy of Cooper Street's collection with a variety of Twice Baked Cookies and Granola Bakes. Each bite brings a pop of flavor, a smile, and maybe even a new favorite. These low-calorie snacks are peanut free, dairy free, soy free, and low sodium, making them an easy choice for even those with dietary restrictions. 

Each box ships free, wrapped up in colorful packaging turning every delivery into a happy surprise.  All Products – Cooper Street

New NATPAT data uncovers a surprising Daylight Saving side effect: bedtime chaos spikes up to 28% in key states.

As Daylight Saving Time approaches, new data from NATPAT reveals how clock changes fuel bedtime chaos, especially for families in the 48 states that ‘spring forward’ and ‘fall back’ each year, while those in Arizona and Hawaii, which do not observe DST, escape the struggle altogether.

In states observing Daylight Saving, sales data of NATPAT’s SleepyPatch surged up to 28% in California, 25% in New York, and 22% in Texas during the week after the March 2024 clock change.  Data on online purchase behavior also highlighted parental urgency: 35% of orders in DST states were placed after 8 p.m., reflecting how parents scrambled for natural solutions as bedtime chaos set in.

The Daylight Saving Divide

Forty-eight states spring forward and fall back each year, but Arizona and Hawaii stand apart, providing a unique “control group.” Families in Phoenix and Honolulu aren’t fighting the same bedtime wars as those in Los Angeles, New York, or Chicago.

“Every time the clocks shift, we hear the same thing from parents that bedtime gets harder,” said Michael Jankie, NATPAT co-founder. “Kids aren’t ready to sleep because their body clocks haven’t caught up. Our data reflects that frustration, with families turning to solutions to help smooth the transition.”

Putting The Problem To Rest, Naturally

NATPAT’s SleepyPatch sleep-promoting stickers use a calming blend of lavender, mandarin, and sweet marjoram. Through NATPAT’s patented AromaWeave® technology, the patches release a gentle scent for up to eight hours, helping kids wind down naturally without melatonin, sugar, or chemicals. Unlike melatonin gummies or liquid sleep aids, NATPAT’s SleepyPatch is non-ingestible.

But beyond the science, NATPAT is also child-friendly, with kids seeing the sticker as a bedtime “superpower badge,” which helps reduce resistance. Furthermore, it provides a consistent sensory signal for sleep, which is especially helpful for children aged 2–11.

As Daylight Saving Time interferes with children's sleep patterns, NATPAT's SleepyPatch offers parents a natural, non-invasive solution to help their kids adjust without the need for chemicals or nightly struggles. SleepyPatch can be purchased online from NATPAT's website and Amazon. It is also available at major US retailers such as Target and Walmart. To find the nearest retail location near you, refer to NATPAT’s store locator.

The adorable New York Times bestselling Valentine’s Day pig Cupig is back for a holiday adventure in CUPIG SAVES CHRISTMAS!

Perfect for fans of How to Catch Santa Claus, Little Blue Truck's Christmas, and The Crayons' Christmas, CUPIG SAVES CHRISTMAS is a hilarious and sweet Christmas adventure set with clever rhyming text and comically expressive art.

Cupig loves love. She loves love more than chilly hands love fuzzy gloves. On a chilly December night, Cupig receives an urgent call from a sick and sniffly Santa Claus. After thorough instruction, she's ready to fill in for Santa Claus and don the red hat and suit. But when delivering presents proves to be harder than she thought, Cupig will have to learn about the real meaning of Christmas if she's going to fix her mistakes and save the day!

This is a game-changer!   All Around. Easiest. Every day. The 360° design allows you to rotate the seat toward you, then rotate to rear-facing or forward-facing for an easy in-and-out experience, every day!

If you’ve ever bent awkwardly or twisted around trying to buckle a toddler into a car seat, the Chicco Fit360 ClearTex definitely brings parent-friendly features that aim to reduce that strain. The seat rotates a full 360° with one hand, allowing you to start in a face-to-face position (so you’re on the door side) and then swing into rear facing or forward-facing mode. It also uses Chicco’s LeverLock™ self-tensioning system for easy, secure installation, complete with level indicators and multi position recline. The ClearTex® fabric is flame retardant free and GREENGUARD Gold certified, offering lower chemical emissions and excellent comfort. There are convenient touches like a magnetic chest clip, a flex forward crotch buckle, harness adjustments, and buckle pockets for cleaner strap storage. Key specs & amenities include: • Rear facing: 4–40 lbs, up to 43″ tall; Forward facing: 26.5–65 lbs,
up to 49″ tall. • 15 position headrest, 2 crotch buckle positions, dual RideRight™ level indicators. • Two dishwasher safe cup holders and machine washable seat pad. • Dual layer protection with steel reinforced frame and EPP energy absorbing foam. Parents praise the rotating mechanism as “life changing” for loading kids without back strain, and the installation system as among the easiest. The seat feels premium and comfortable. Downsides? It’s heavier and bulkier than some models, which could be a factor in smaller cars. Best for families who value safety, convenience, and eco-friendly materials—and who have enough vehicle space to handle its size. For those, the Chicco Fit360 ClearTex offers a top-notch balance of design, safety, and daily usability.

Parents are you looking for practical, natural solutions to support your kids with attention challenges including creating routines, calming rituals, etc. ZenPatch is a natural, scent-based sticker that results in calm and concentration.

ZenPatch uses child-safe essential oils like mandarin, bergamot, and cedarwood to regulate emotions like stress and anxiety for up to 8 hours, perfect for achieving a steady, focused calm all day long. ZenPatch is a natural, safe, drug-free ways to support focus and emotional regulation. 

 Website: https://www.natpat.com/products/zenpatch-mood-calming-stickers