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
Let Them Eat Cake
By Pam Molnar Every new parent wants to celebrate their new baby in a big way and the announcement is just the beginning. Moments after you announce your pregnancy, the next question is, “Are you having a boy or a girl?”
Create a hands-on celebration for the big 1-5-0
Up Front By Jane Muller If Canada Day means little more than a day off of work each summer, this is the year to actually celebrate our country’s birthday. With Canada Day falling halfway through the year, we’ve had time to warm up
A break in the routine
Our family went to camp this past weekend. It’s usually a sleepover camp for kids during the summer, but it also has a couple of weeks and a weekend geared toward families. My wife runs the programming for this particular family
Sitting in the stands
So, I’m not bragging (okay, I am), but my middle kid just took a first place and two second place ribbons at city track this year.
The healthy brain diet
Whether you’re divvying up the restaurant tab, helping with homework or multitasking on projects at work, your brain works better when you feed it well.
Getting a grip on the internet of things
It’s no secret that things are getting smarter. Devices let parents check in on sleeping babies and keep track of children when they are away from home.