Putting the brakes on the Christmas train
By Jane Muller It may seem hypocritical that a magazine filled with a Santa’s sack worth of gift ideas would also include a feature about a family that has stepped away from abundant gift giving. The reality is that most of us
Making room for fun
Let’s face it, finding time can be tough for families these days with all the things expected of us by our jobs, our schools, and all our other activities. I understand that, so I know the implications when I suggest
Young People’s Theatre presents Beauty and the Beast
By Christine Davis It’s a tale as old as time: A love story with a healthy dose of self-discovery thrown in for good measure. From now until Sunday, Dec. 31, Beauty and the Beast takes the main stage at Young People’s Theatre
Mom Stuff November 2017
By Christine Davis Crated with love This date night subscription box allows couples to save time, money and stress when planning monthly dates. Each box includes a date geared towards the season, as well as activities or games corresponding to the theme
Parents are going online this holiday season
With the holiday season fast approaching, eBay Canada offers the following insights on Canadian consumers, specifically parents. GIFTS CANADIANS ARE WISHING FOR THIS YEAR The top types of gifts Canadians would like to receive are ones that are thoughtful (32%) or useful
Survival Guide to Parent-Teacher Interviews
It’s getting to be about that time when schools schedule their parent-teacher interviews, which can sometimes be an unpleasant experience (on both sides of the desk, I assure you). As a parent, especially if your kids have special needs, or
Make Halloween Great Again
I should start by saying that I don’t hate all of Halloween. I like the dressing up of it, though it’s distressing how few creative and homemade costumes there are anymore. For every kid in a giant handsewn pickle costume (that
Promoting the adoption option
Campaign challenges the unadoptable perception By Catarina Muia It’s hard to imagine that more than 30,000 Canadian kids aren’t getting the childhood they deserve; one with a family that provides them with laughter, care and love. It’s also hard to imagine that
Remembering through literature
By Jane Muller Books can bring about discussion and understanding around difficult subjects including war. The following is a selection of books for children age 5 and older that skillfully approach the subject through real and imagined characters and events. The Vimy
The secrets to sleep and safety
By Christine Davis When I had newborn babies at home one of the first things people always asked me was: “Is the baby sleeping through the night yet?” Before becoming a parent I had no idea that getting a baby to sleep
Mitigating the Emotional Toll of Dyslexia
By Don M. Winn One constant in the universe is that human beings don’t like doing things we’re not good at. When we put forth our very best effort and still struggle or fail, many of us will be reluctant to
Not Too Old To Cuddle
I get it that kids become less dependant on physical affection from their parents as they grow older. They move from babies who constantly need to be picked up, rocked, and held, to children who only need hugs when they’re
Going to the dance
Ah, grade school dances – kids standing around awkwardly in homogeneously gendered groups, eating snacks, sneaking lots of glances across the room, but doing precious little dancing. Those currently “in a relationship” venturing out at last, trying not to look
Taking a break
I’m not sure if everyone’s kids are like this, but mine sometimes need a stimulus break. Take this weekend for example. We had a first Thanksgiving dinner at my Dad’s place on Saturday night, with lots of cousins and craziness. The
Left to Their Devices
I don’t want to sound like a Luddite here, but I think parents need to consider carefully how their kids use electronics. I say this as someone who uses a computer to do almost all my work. I say this as
Calling names
My middle son tried out for a rep soccer team the other day. It wasn’t the team he’s been playing with the last few years, but one in a town close by where the coaching had been highly recommended to
Bed time
I don’t know if other parents experience this, but bedtime misbehaviour seems to come in waves around our house. We’ll go for months with relatively few problems, all the kids getting through their bedtime routine and heading off to sleep
Nippy Apple Cheddar Soup
Ontario Apples and Cheddar cheese have always been a perfect match. Here’s a new twist, a steaming bowl of Apple Cheddar Soup, with just a hint of curry, it will surely hit the spot on a cool fall day. Preparation Time: 15
What parents need to know about streaming video
By Melissa Henson The temptation for parents of young children to make the switch from terrestrial broadcast and cable television to streaming video is powerful. I know. I’ve been there. Frustrated by the non-stop efforts to market junk food, video games, cheap
What to consider before using GPS to track your kid
By Carolyn Jabs Sooner or later, most parents lose a kid—usually for only a few minutes. A toddler figures out how to open an unlatched door. A kindergartener heads off to investigate something in another grocery aisle. A school age child gets
