Celebrate the harvest
The tradition is as old as time itself. Families gather to harvest fall’s bounty, then celebrate together in gratitude and joy. Autumn brings sweet grapes bursting with juice, hard squash to put down for the winter, nuts, apples, th
Making routine injections a success
Many Canadian children are faced with daily or routine injections to manage different conditions. For example, current estimates suggest that approximately 240,000 Canadians, or 1 in 150, have type 1 diabetes, requiring daily injections and
Salmonella infections a danger
Salmonella infections are infamous for the nastiness of their symptoms — fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and bloody diarrhea. They're also known for being particularly serious for babies under the age of one
Healthy eating for the whole family. pets included
(NC)-With Canadians becoming more and more health-conscious, it's only obvious that concerned pet owners would start to place the same emphasis on their pets eating and lifestyle habits, as they do for the rest of the family.
Like chi
Tunes from Sesame Street
Putumayo Kids Presents Sesame Street Playground (Putumayo Kids) — A few generations ago, this compilation would have driven the kids wild. I know my own age group, which grew up on Sesame Street, would have been
Writers that deliver the info
Information books can offer young readers a smorgasbord of delights. Here is a mixed bag of topics well presented.
Frieda Wishinsky and Elizabeth MacLeod give us Everything But the Kitchen Sink: Weird Stuff You Didn’t Know About
Olympic supporters
Even though the excitement of the Summer Olympics is still fresh in our minds it’s time to look ahead to 2010 when the Winter Olympics come to Canada. The back-to-school crowd can get a head start on the Games by
Coffee with kids
Children don’t usually mix well with coffee and conversation so for those parents who crave a café experience but need to keep the kids happy, there’s Small World Café in Toronto’s East Danforth Village
Two girls, two worlds
We are on a cramped wooden motorboat complete with bamboo outriggers -- heading to the shores of Poro, a remote island in the Philippines.
Music appreciation 101
Music & Truffles (Mooredale Concerts) — Time once again to think about cultural education, not just regular school stuff, and Music & Truffles is the program that will get young ones up to speed on classi
Festival celebrates books and more
The Word on The Street (Queen’s Park) — This has always been an event that literate types love to attend, and once kids come along, they keep going every year, whether the little ones like it or not. Well, they
Connecting with kids
Question: Now that school is around the corner, I’m getting nervous again about how to connect with my 12 year old daughter. The summer went well but I get anxious about how to keep our relationship strong during thi
School Year Resolution for Helicopter Parents: Back Off
While parental involvement is key to a child’s success in school, at what point does a participating parent become a smother mother (or father)?
Movie covers big theme of obesity
Queen Sized (Anchor Bay) — This made-for-TV movie now out on DVD takes the issue of fat very seriously. Maggie Baker (Nikki Blonsky famously of Hairspray) is a chubby girl who turns to food when she’s
Practicing the art of possibility
One of the magical qualities of September, is the opportunity it provides students to experience a "fresh start"—a chance to wipe away any past failures or misgivings and begin again. However, not everyone takes advantage of thi
Genetically modified foods are a mystery
It sounds like the stuff of science fiction – yet it’s entirely real. Genetically modified foods are surprisingly common, yet most of us have barely a rudimentary understanding of what they are. And most of us would be shocked to
Get set for preschool
When summer winds down back-to-school preparations are beginning, even for parents with young preschoolers. Finding the best childcare options, preparing children for starting at or returning to daycare or kindergarten, and re-establishing
Five key messages to share with students
The great thing about being a student is that every school year brings with it the opportunity for a fresh start—a chance to begin again. However, for some children leaving the past behind can be difficult. So this month I'm
Opening shell that surrounds shy students
Back to school is often a time of excitement and enjoyment for children anxious to meet new friends and participate in activities. However, for some shy children the anxiety of returning to school can be a nightmare.
Robert Coplan, C
Teach children to be smart shoppers
Back-to-school shopping is a major event that retailers hope to cash in on. Why not make the annual ritual an educational experience that teaches your child sound money management skills?
