Brave Parent
Dr. Susan Maples is a health educator and practicing dentist for 37 years. Her total health dental practice focuses on mouth-body connections and strives to help patients prevent many of the most common life-diminishing conditions affecting people today. Her latest
Loving Yourself Without Losing Your Cool
Who is Shantelle Bisson? For one thing, she is an author who has just penned her third book, Loving Yourself Without Losing Your Cool. If you ask her, in this book, she is, “Me completely laid bare. Me as a
Low Tech Simple Toys
As the digital world continues to evolve, there is no shortage of cool gadgets for kids and parents to choose from. Tech kids learning apps and devices have become the norm in homes, classrooms and any child focused facility or
How to Set Healthy Boundaries with Your Tween
As a parent of a young adult, you may find yourself walking on eggshells to preserve a good-natured relationship. As your child reconciles with the tribulations of puberty and adolescence, they will increasingly value privacy, which gives them the ability
How to help your daughter build strong self-esteem
It is unlikely that anyone enters adulthood unscathed by insecurities developed throughout their childhood. As insignificant as this self-doubt may seem, weak self-esteem throughout adolescence may prevent you from maturing into a self-assured adult. As a parent, you feel responsible
How-to teach children to respect their parents
Parents are tasked with teaching their children many lessons. Some are more obvious, like how to live safely or how to ride a bike or tie their shoes. Other lessons are more complicated and abstract, especially as they pertain to
The Unlikely Art of Parental Pressure
Parents want the best for their children. That’s a given, and they will move heaven and earth to help their kids navigate bumps in the road. After all, parents want their kids to lead successful and purposeful lives. But there
Mydoh Financial Literacy Month: Let’s start with our kids
As a kid, my parents taught me values that prepared me for success – and saving and planning was a priority for them. Their dedication instilled values and a sense of confidence that remains today. This is what inspired the
Plan International How to Unleash Your Power Within
Did you know: • 1 in 5 girls in Canada have felt anxious about going to school because of negative comments they receive on social media” • Only 57% of girls in Canada are satisfied with their overall appearance?* Still not convinced that
How to Help Your Daughter Handle Peer Pressure
WORDS BY Elizabeth Casciaro from Apricotton As your daughter grows, so will the amount of peer pressure she faces. Pressure from friends to act a certain way can be brutal to deal with all on your own, especially when you’re so
HOW FAMILIES CAN USE HUMOUR TO RELIEVE COVID-INDUCED STRESS AND ANXIETY
After a year of dealing with online schooling, working from home and a restricted social life and activities due to COVID-19, parents and kids alike may be struggling to find the funny in everyday life. As a Chinese proverb says, a
Holiday Memories
By: Marylene Vestergom What makes the holidays special? Sometimes it’s the memories of family gatherings -- the exotic aromas coming from the kitchen, the scent of freshly cut evergreens or the festive lights twinkling in the night that strike a chord. For
Learning to Say ‘No’
By Lorraine Pelley Saying no to your child is never easy. The tears, emotional pleas, and tantrums make it difficult to stand your ground and fear of your child not liking you for doing your job as a parent adds to
Having a Safe and Fun Halloween During a Pandemic
By: Lorraine Pelley One of the most enjoyable holidays is just around the corner, and for many children and parents, that means picking their costumes, buying treats, decorating the house, and planning the best trick-or-treat route. Overshadowing the excitement of the
Free Stay at Home Resources
During these times of social distancing and #StayHome initiatives, it may be challenging to find alternative options for usual out-of-home activities. How do we keep our family engaged from the safety of home as we all work to do our part
Last call
I wrote my first article for this column in August of 2013, which means that I’ve been writing it weekly now for six years and three months. If you were wondering, that works out to something like 300 articles, give
Making good manners cool again
By Sandi Schwartz Have you noticed that kids these days do not have the best manners? When I volunteer at my daughter’s school at lunchtime, I rarely hear the children saying please and thank you, although they are certainly not shy
The Right Situation
Helping your kids be successful is in many instances about putting them into the kinds of situations that emphasize their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. This is true in big ways, like when choosing high school classes. Why force your
Dropping the “n” word
My middle kid had the N-word dropped on him again yesterday (he’s had to put up with this at least once a year since he was school aged). This time he was playing basketball with a kid he’d never really
This is our day to do our way
By Jane Muller Even on days when we’re not feeling it, there is love. And even though our loved ones know they are loved, it’s reassuring to them when we express those feelings. We’re not an “I love you” out loud kind