Washington Parent

Family dinner outings can add up quickly, but several restaurants across Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia offer free options for children on select days. Whether you’re looking for a quick after-school meal, a weekend brunch or a family dinner, these local spots make it easiest to enjoy a meal together without worrying about the cost. Make sure to check each restaurant’s current promotion before you visit, as offers may change.

“Just ask your phone.” It’s a common suggestion parents get from their children. Artificial intelligence (AI) now powers many of the tools kids use every day, from search engines and virtual assistants to chatbots and homework help. However, learning how to use these tools effectively and understanding that the answers aren’t always correct is something kids are still learning.

The best DMV pumpkin treats this fall range from vegan pumpkin chocolate chip loaves in Arlington to a $18.95 pumpkin pie and a Pumpkin Yumkin teacake in Rockville, with most pastries and drinks between $3 and $8. Here are eight bakeries across Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, what to order at each and when to go. Note: Items suggested below are subject to change at each location based on bakery availability.

“Every morning, we are late getting out the door for school and work. It takes forever to wake up my kids, then we rush to get ready and help them find their stuff for school.” “How do I get my family to use the family calendar I created? It is color-coded for each person, and everything is organized.

August marks our peak season for annual checkups as families proactively get their health requirements taken care of before the fall. Parents thumb through letters received from school about vaccine requirements. And I talk to parents and kids about vaccines, sleep, mood, focus and nutrition. As a board-certified pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente, I want to highlight the key health and emotional issues that every family should keep on their radar as they head into the school year.

Whether you’re planning a full day on the farm or a quick trip to pick the perfect pumpkin, check out these family-friendly destinations across Maryland and Virginia that offer hayrides, corn mazes, farm animals and even more seasonal fun. Make sure to reserve tickets for September and October weekends, as many of these popular events sell out.

All aboard! Train rides for kids near DC range from historic steam engines rolling through scenic farmland to miniature trains chugging along wooded park trails, so there is something here for every young conductor in the making. From historic steam engines rolling through scenic farmland to miniature trains chugging along wooded park trails, there’s something here for every young conductor-in-the-making.

Fall foliage near Washington, DC comes later than most families think. Summer brings family road trips and fireworks, but fall has its own quiet charm: fresh air, warm light, and trees showing off colors that are easy to miss if you don’t pay attention. In a city known for monuments and museums, it’s easy to forget that some of DC’s best family moments are right there for everyone: a walk under colorful leaves, a hunt for the reddest maple leaf, a warm cider after spending time outside.

Apple picking in Maryland and Virginia is one of the season’s best family traditions, and fall here has a flavor: a fresh picked apple straight off the branch. As temperatures drop and orchards open their gates, families across the region are trading weekend routines for hayrides, cider donuts and baskets full of Honeycrisps, Galas and Fujis. It is equal parts outdoor adventure, mini farm lesson and delicious payoff.

Labor Day weekend events across the DMV give families one last excuse to squeeze in festivals, fireworks, concerts, fairs and adventures before fall routines take over. It’s the unofficial end of summer, but it’s also one final excuse to squeeze in festivals, fireworks, concerts, fairs and family adventures before fall routines officially take over. Luckily, the DMV knows how to send summer out in style.