The ugly side of the beauty business
My two daughters – aged five and 10 – routinely return home from birthday parties with goodie bags stuffed to the brim with lip-gloss, nail polish, body glitter and “perfume”. Putting aside for the moment my concerns that they’re
Anxiety in New Moms
While most people are tuned into the warning signs of postpartum depression in new mothers, friends and family members are far less likely to make the connection between a mom's feelings of anxiety about her new role as a mother
The voice of experience
Are you what might be described as a helicopter parent? Are you the kind of parent who hovers around your children, trying to make sure that everything is just right for them? Do you believe that your kids are entitled
Play explores mental illness
Edward the Crazy Man (Workman Arts/Lorraine Kimsa) — Young Charlie doesn’t know what he wants to be for Halloween, and the pressure to be creative is coming from his family and friends. Then he meets Edward, a
Sunny days ahead
You already know that sunscreen is an all-seasons superhero, protecting your kids from the sun's super-strong rays. Here are a few additional tips that will help you to keep your child's tender skin safe during the sunny days ahead.
Hearing ear dog is her link to the world of sound
It can be difficult for parents to stand back and let their child fend for themselves, especially when their child has a disability. Toronto resident, Caroline Cook, has been hard of hearing since birth and felt dependent on her fami
Write about your breast cancer hero
A serious illness like breast cancer affects not only the patient but her family as well. These women often face the disease in heroic ways that can inspire and sustain their loved ones. Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada is accepting
Keep track of immunizations
Chances are that when you need to find your child’s official immunization record it is hiding in a “safe place.” Or worse yet, it was accidentally destroyed in the washing machine because you forgot to remove it from your jeans
Enviro Baby
New parents today often do not even consider cloth diapers as an option when caring for their child. Often when cloth diapers are suggested the response is something like “Yuk, that’s disgusting” or “My mom did that, you’ve got t
Childhood obesity
Modern medicine has virtually wiped out the illnesses and health risks our parents worried about such smallbox, polio, and measles. But we are currently facing another serious health problem that cannot be cured with vaccinations. Ch
Righting Fitness Wrongs
Quality counts when you're exercising. So to get the most from your workouts and avoid getting hurt, don't just do it — do it right.
Car Seat Safety
Traveling our highways can be a dangerous journey. Make sure your children are in a certified car seat appropriate for their size and weight that is properly installed in your vehicle.
New Year
If you have a child who sets sky-high standards for herself and is unwilling to settle for anything less than gold-medal performances in any area of her life, why not encourage her to resolve to do something radically different this
Turbo charge your immune system
You can take control. True, the world is filled with nasty viruses, bacteria and carcinogens just waiting to do you in. That's especially true if you've got germ magnets, otherwise known as kids. Just follow these easy steps, and you'll
Switching From Work Brain to Parent Brain
Making the mental shift between work and home can be particularly tough when you’re a parent who works from home. Here are some tips that will help you to leave your work-related worries at the office, even if work happens
Pre-teen night owls
It’s taken scientists more than two centuries to figure out why Benjamin Franklin’s timeless advice—”Early to bed and early to rise” makes so much sense.
On-course, off-course, or lost
In September’s column we examined how your child could LEAP ahead this year through the creation of a Learning & Academic Action Plan (L.E.A.P.)—using the
Kick junk food habits
Question: Now that the New Year has arrived, I started making a New Year resolution list for our family. At the top of my list was around eating junk food
Confronting body image
Question: My daughter and I were talking this week about how she wants 2007 to be different for her. Immediately she started talking negatively about her body. She just turned 13. What can I do as her mother to help
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