Tapping into the gifts of nature this summer
By Ben Klasky Spending time in nature is good for our families. We know this intuitively as well as from a growing body of scientific research. Time spent being active outdoors has been demonstrated to decrease stress and depression, while also increasing concentration,
Book Shelf
By Jane Muller The Lost Picnic By B. B. Cronin Be sure to enjoy a picnic with your family this summer but be careful to secure the lid of the picnic basket. As the title of this story implies, for this family, the
Cool Stuff
By Christine Davis The World of Eric Carle backpack and lunchbag Inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this colourful backpack and matching lunchbag is specially designed for children who are 38 to 42 inches tall. The backpack features a large, durable zipper, two
Lose less learning with epic new app
By Christine Davis ‘Tis the season for summer slide, “the regress in learning children have because they’re not engaged or challenged academically,” says educator Renee Cunningham. According to studies, students can lose up to two months of learning if they don’t
Heatstroke prevention tips for parents
With August upon us and the heat of the summer in full swing, it’s a good time to reflect on the dangers of heatstroke’s for young children. Since 1998, 721 children have died of heatstroke after being left in a
Going back home
By Kinjal Dagli-Shah One of the first things we planned when our daughter was born six years ago was a trip to India, the country of her origin. At nine months old, she met all of our extended family and spent
How to prevent toe walking
By Dianne Woodruff, CMA, PhD Children often develop toe walking because they have been helped by some well-meaning relative/caregiver. The relative sees that the child naturally picks up one foot when the other is on the ground, or the lap, or wherever
Potty Training On the Go: You Can Do It
When you first make the transition to underwear, you may feel tempted to stay at home for the rest of your life. But at some point, you will have to conquer public bathrooms and toilets. The following tips and ideas
Activity registration child’s play
By Christine Davis Kids are notorious for changing their minds about activities. They want to be a yogi one day and a baseball player the next. It’s fine to change your mind and great to try new things, but it’s frustrating,
Get the back-to-school ball rolling
By Christine Davis Back to school is just around the corner and most parents and students alike tend to procrastinate on those preparations says Katherine Firestone, founder of Fireborn Institute. “Parents are just as bad as kids,” she admits, waiting until
It’s All About Birth Order Baby
By Laura Lyles Reagan How should birth order data affect parenting? Parenting expert, Dr. Gail Gross summarizes the existing roles and research on birth order by naming the first born as the achiever, the middle child as the peacemaker and the youngest
Give them the good stuff
Not all parents might care, I know. The trouble is that I’m not just a parent. I’m also a writer, a music lover, and a film buff. I read, write, publish, teach, and promote books. Over the years I’ve taught
Naming what you’re feeling
It’s not always easy to communicate to kids in a way they understand. This is true even in the most obvious sense, that they sometimes lack the experience and the knowledge to understand ideas that are more subtle or complex.
TAKING ACTION AND ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY
One of the most rewarding things for me as a parent is seeing my kids grow up and start taking on new roles and responsibilities. I’m not just talking about the new responsibilities that I give them (like doing their
Cool Stuff
By Christine Davis Finn + Emma travel entertainment items Keep babies entertained and soothed on summer road trips with these wood teething ears and rattle lovies from Finn + Emma’s new Miami Zoo collection. Available at finnandemma.com. Teething ears $22 US; Rattle
Bookshelf
By Jane Muller I Am Canada: A Celebration By Heather Patterson, illustrator Jon Klassen This picture book about Canadian childhood features artwork from 13 of Canada’s finest children’s book illustrators. Heather Patterson’s free verse poem I Am Canada was originally published in 1996. In this new
Twelve things your kids will love about Stratford
By Anne Bokma There’s something delightful about sitting in one of Canada’s preeminent theatres and listening to hundreds of school kids enthusiastically chant, “Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest. Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!” It’s a far cry from
Embracing failure: How mistakes — both yours and theirs — boost motivation and learning
By Malia Jacobson Late-fall light streamed through my minivan windshield as I approached the school pick-up line, eager to hear about my first-grader’s day. But when she climbed into her booster seat, clambering past her two younger siblings in their carseats,
Summer activity tips from a pro
By Kim Simpson What are some fun activities that parents can do with their children to keep everyone moving and active during the summer months? A great way for families to stay active and incorporate fitness into their summer is to find
Prepped for Potty Time
By Sara Marchessault When it’s time to potty train many parents learn the hard way that it’s not nearly as cute as when their toddler takes a step, not as endearing as the first time they hear “Mama”, and nowhere near
