Wanna be a popular parent? Throw the pajama party of the year with help from beijingkids. This month Tania McCartney dreams up a Sleeping Beauties slumber fest that should please little girls everywhere. Host a mini pampering session, make an easy-yet-personalized cake, and play games into the night. Hyperactive boys? We’ve got a roster of high-energy games that will occupy your kids for hours. (To be safe, consult Chona Rodriguez’s five rules for playdate etiquette beforehand).

Has living abroad created relationship problems? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. In a feature by Donna Scaramastra Gorman, expat wives open up about the relationship challenges of living abroad, from money woes and control issues to isolation and identities in flux. And editor Amani Zhang explores the experience of expat kids who attend Chinese schools. Would a local school be a good fit for your child?

Attention all new expats! Lost in Shunyi? Worried you’re paying too much? Check out our “Beijing 101” feature for 19 mini-guides on living in the city, including how to nab a bespoke qipao a la Maggie Cheung, start a band, quit offending your Chinese friends with your small-talk, order a Chinese banquet like a pro, and beat the expat spouse blues. Before long, you’ll be feeling like a lao Beijingren.

Lost in transition? Donna Scaramastra Gorman tells you how to bridge the expat gap. Jessica Pan dives into the world of third culture kids and finds out how they cope with the regular globetrotting.