Toronto ghoul guide
Halloween is approaching and as parents stock up on mini chocolate bars and rifle through racks of costumes looking for the perfect getup for their children, they often forget that the Toronto area is a goldmine of spooky activities for
Scheduled time out and spot the difference
Dear Dr. Karyn, I want my child to have the best opportunities so I’ve always enrolled him in numerous activities. Now I’m wondering if he is too busy. How full should a child’s schedule be?
HarbourKIDS presents Luminarium
There’s a philosophical shift underway at one of the city’s key arts venues: Harbourfront has decided to ratchet kids up on its priority list. "We really wanted to make children an important part of the organization. This is the be
Family meals have rewards
You run into the house, starving from your after school basketball practice, wanting nothing more than to devour all the food in the kitchen. As you walk in the door, your mother and little brother dart past you, sprinting to
Mattel Toy Recall
Nearly a million toys are affected by the Mattel recall that affects 83 types of toys
LeapFrog your kids back to school
The start of the school year brings many anxieties for both children and parents. Unlike my own start to school (about a hundred years ago) many children are concerned about the social and advantageous benefits of having the "rig
Listen up
You can’t feel it but it really does hurt. Listening to loud music through a portable music player is putting the listeners’ hearing at risk. The Canadian Hearing Association recommends some possible risks and preventative measures that
Watch for these new shows
September means back to school, and lots of new shows hitting the TV airwaves. Here’s some of the best new shows — most of them Canadian — your crew might want to watch.
Ten lessons to ensure school success
Author and psychologist Dr. Ann Dunnewold offers the following helpful tips for parents, their kids and teachers. You might want to post these and refer to them throughout the school year
Music Education Can Open the Door to Success
(MS) — There is a wealth of evidence that indicates that music lessons offer children intellectual benefits that put them ahead of others who do not participate in music education. These advantages include higher grades and IQ scores, a l
Keeping it clean
It might be unfair, or an over exaggeration but boys are not often thought of as eager to jump into the bath tub or to take care of their skin. As your son grows and matures it is natural to
Back to school sanity savers
I’m always relieved when my kids are finally home for the summer, yet equally relieved when the school year starts up again. My relief at sending them back is often eclipsed by the insanity that the back to school season
Teen voices heard in stories of personal discovery
Capturing in print the sound and sensibilities of today’s teenagers is not easy. Some writers have a wonderful ear for the edgy, irreverent and often shockingly perceptive way teens think and talk. Here are a few who strike exactly the
Pirate Festival (Fort York)
If you’ve seen all you can at the CNE and Ontario Place, the new August waterfront event to check out is Fort York’s Pirate Festival. Last year’s was the first, and things went off well and clearly it’s now going
Sun safe baby sling
Keeping your baby safe from harmful UV and UVB rays has been made easier with the development of a baby sling made from UV-blocking Solarveil® fabric. The Canadian company cxd baby, manufactures stylish baby carriers including the Splasher
Buskerfest (St. Lawrence Market)
In many other parts of the world, busking is an art form that garners respect and demands top skill. In that tradition, the eighth annual Buskerfest showcases more than 40 acts, few of which will remind you of those dudes
Dog days of summer
Animals – pets – are big business in North America. According to the ASPCA, Americans spent an estimated $38.4 billion on their pets in 2006. While it’s good news that we’re generally taking such good care of our furry friends,
Kids
(MS) — Many children look forward to sports. A chance to play with their friends, sports also represent an opportunity for children to learn many of life’s lessons, from working with others to dealing with loss to accepting authority fi
A Midsummer Night
For its 25th anniversary of outdoor Shakespeare in High Park, CanStage brings back this most accessible of the Bard’s work, with a production that is gloriously colourful, physical, and ribald
Summer boredom solutions
Nowadays, teaching your kids how to enjoy simple, old-fashioned fun is not easy. Nevertheless, it is worth your time. You won’t be trapped on the "I need a new toy every week" spending treadmill and your kids will be able
