How children find their purpose at camp
By Sandi Schwartz We all want our children to be happy and successful. Would you believe that letting them spread their own wings—without us by their side—may be the most effective way to do this? Our job as parents is to
The Sweet Spot: Experience Maple Syrup Season in Muskoka
By Andrew Hind The nights remain frosty and snow still blankets the ground, but the daytime sun has a special warmth. Icicles drip as they melt, streams begin to run and birds sing a happy song. It’s that in-between time that
Cool Stuff
By Sara Duck Dinosaur Poster Teach your children about some of the most recognizable prehistoric creatures and add some kid-friendly art to their room at the same time with this fun dino poster. $18. Hm.com Cotton Reading Nook Create an inviting reading environment in
February Bookshelf
The Return of Thelma The Unicorn By Aaron Blabey The Return of Thelma The Unicorn by Aaron Blabey is the sequel to Thelma the Unicorn. Blabey’s use of pictures and rhymes makes reading the story all that more enjoyable. Thelma and Otis
Stress-free flying with little ones
By Tanni Haas, Ph.D. Flying with babies and toddlers can be stressful. Thankfully, there are many things you can do to reduce some of the stress. Based on my own experiences, as well as conversations with other parents, I’ve pulled together
Year-round maple adventures
By Carol Patterson The maple is on Canada’s flag and on gift shop shelves, but Ontario’s Lanark County – a 60-minute drive from Ottawa – is bringing maple-themed sophistication to culinary, spa and outdoor adventures. There’s enough year-round activity to keep
Mom Stuff
By Jenna Mohammed CLIF Peppermint Bark When you’re in a crunch for time, grabbing a CLIF bar is your best bet. They keep you full for hours and taste delicious too. The new, limited-edition flavor peppermint bark will provide you with a
Who is Karli
By Sara Dimerman Sesame Street celebrated its 50th anniversary in November 2019. Funny how the long-loved characters Elmo, the Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie and friends, never age. What has changed, however, is some of this well reputed show's content. Gone are the
Winter is the time to get crafty
Planning a party or activities for your kids can be a tricky task, especially during the winter months. While the kids are cooped up inside occupy them with an easy and enjoyable winter craft project - try some of these
Cool Stuff
By Jenna Mohammed Cutetitos Cutetitos are adorable collectible stuffed animals wrapped and hidden in burrito blankets. Twelve new characters have been added. Each Cutetito comes with its own burrito blanket, personality “Hot Spot” (mild, medium, hot or super spicy), and Pet Collector card
January Bookshelf
Where’s Baby? By Anne Hunter Mama and Papa Fox can’t find Baby so Papa heads out on a search. While kids learn concepts like up, under and around as Papa explores the forests and asks its creatures if they’ve seen baby, they
The Sole Surviving Mom at the Bus Stop
By Cheryl Maguire “Hurry up or you will miss the bus,” I hollered to my 13-year-old boy/girl twins. Opening the front door, the icy air jolted me awake faster than a caffeinated coffee. The three of us scurried on the snow-covered sidewalk illuminated
The rollercoaster ride of divorce and hope
By Karen Kaye I was blindsided. I did not see this coming. Sure, we had our issues, but I was not prepared for the volcano that would erupt and continue to overflow for a solid decade. I was a stay-at-home mom.
Climate change’s connection to anxiety and depression
By Sandi Schwartz Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, droughts, rising sea levels. These are not topics for the faint of heart. But the reality today is that these types of natural disasters are on the rise due to climate change, and more people
Celebrate the season at the Quebec Winter Carnival
By Jane Muller Quebec City hosts the world's biggest winter carnival with a history dating back to 1894 and a rebirth in 1954 when it became an annual winter celebration. While the February event is steeped in tradition, it’s not frozen in
Mom Stuff
By Jenna Mohammed Annabelle Enlighten Loose Finishing Powder Don’t struggle with your makeup sliding off before you’ve left the house. Applying a translucent setting powder should be a step in your beauty routine. It can help lock your makeup in place and
Decode Your Child’s Cold
By Sandra Gordon As miserable as a cough or stuffy nose can make your child feel, it’s helpful to know that cold symptoms can often seem worse they actually are. “Congestion is a normal, healthy response to a virus or an irritant.
How to safeguard children with special needs from bullying
By Malia Jacobson When young Cody joined the peer inclusion preschool at his neighborhood public school, he fit in from the start. His class was a mix of neurotypical “peer mentors” and children with disabilities, including students like Cody with apraxia
Holidays beyond belief: Celebrating winter holidays without religion
By Malia Jacobson Geroge Juillerat is an atheist who loves Christmas — and he’s hardly alone. During the dark month of December, you might see him shuttling his 8-year-old son to Christmas parties, carrying a hot dish into a holiday potluck
Not your last day
Live each day as if it is your last. You’ve likely heard this advice and maybe given it some thought. It’s one of those inspirational sayings that sound good if you don’t think about it too deeply. It’s factual, in that