Make Halloween Great Again
I should start by saying that I don’t hate all of Halloween. I like the dressing up of it, though it’s distressing how few creative and homemade costumes there are anymore. For every kid in a giant handsewn pickle costume (that
Promoting the adoption option
Campaign challenges the unadoptable perception By Catarina Muia It’s hard to imagine that more than 30,000 Canadian kids aren’t getting the childhood they deserve; one with a family that provides them with laughter, care and love. It’s also hard to imagine that
Taking a break
I’m not sure if everyone’s kids are like this, but mine sometimes need a stimulus break. Take this weekend for example. We had a first Thanksgiving dinner at my Dad’s place on Saturday night, with lots of cousins and craziness. The
Left to Their Devices
I don’t want to sound like a Luddite here, but I think parents need to consider carefully how their kids use electronics. I say this as someone who uses a computer to do almost all my work. I say this as
Nippy Apple Cheddar Soup
Ontario Apples and Cheddar cheese have always been a perfect match. Here’s a new twist, a steaming bowl of Apple Cheddar Soup, with just a hint of curry, it will surely hit the spot on a cool fall day. Preparation Time: 15
Help Ward Off Cold and Flu Season with a Healthy Diet
By Hana Klimczak As much as we might hate to admit it, cold and flu season are right around the corner. Studies have shown that children bring home germs from school and spread them to their parents and younger siblings, which
Coping with new motherhood
By Dr. Dina Kulik When you are pregnant, especially for the first time, it can be difficult to fathom how dramatically your life is going to change once baby arrives. You may anticipate a change to your day to day life,
Halloween isn’t just black and orange
There is nothing high tech about Halloween, unless you count looking for costume and décor inspiration on Pinterest. This issue of City Parent is heavy on technology with features that examine the concept of tracking kids with GPS, the concern about
The ‘Guilty Truth’: New Research Reveals Top Reasons for Parental Guilt
Children may see their parents as superheroes, but moms and dads across America would readily admit they’re far from perfect. In fact, new research by Farm Rich reveals American parents feel an average of 23 pangs of guilt every single
Spend less, get more back to school fashion
By Christine Davis Between new clothes and school supplies, parents can spend a small fortune getting their kids ready to go back to school. Shopping thrift is one way to save without sacrificing quality or style. Offering thousands of new items every weekday,
Healthy School Lunch Ideas and Tips
By Dr. Keith Kantor School lunches can make or break your child’s overall performance in the classroom and any after school activities that they participate in. A school lunch that is loaded with processed ingredients and sugar will leave your child
Growing Up Online: How to identify cellphone addiction
By Carolyn Jabs How much time did your kids spend with their cellphones yesterday? When was the last time you checked yours? If contemplating these questions makes you uncomfortable, you’re not alone. Cellphones dominate our lives in part because they are
Science says make time for play
By Malia Jacobson When Meag Diamond began touring potential preschools for her toddler son, Keats, she saw a number of beautifully laid-out spaces filled with immaculate worktables, inviting book nooks and inspiring art stations. What she didn’t see was unstructured, unhurried
Fidget Spinners: Helpful or harmful
Fidget spinners have soared in popularity over the past few months. You can find them in convenience stores, classrooms and all corners of the Internet. The three-pronged gadgets centre on a ball bearing mechanism that allows them to whir in
Nanny Sharing
By Martha Scully Childcare can be expensive; many daycares across the country charge hefty fees that pose a challenge to families. While nannies can often offer the same care services for less, many families may not require a full time care provider.
Lice!
I’ve never had to deal with lice before. I’ve been doing this parenting thing in various ways for a decade and a half – never had lice. I grew up in a house of five boys who were not shy
Seven Ways To Be More Attractive During Cuffing Season
Hint: It’s Not About Your Looks By Laura Doyle Cuffing season is upon us--that period when crisp, cold mornings signal that the long, cold months of winter are ahead, and something deep within tells us to partner up and stay that way--at
Doing it the old fashioned way
I took my kids to an early settler farmhouse museum yesterday. We’ve been to these sorts of things before, and they’re always fun, but there was an especially good guide at this one who really got the kids into the
Tips for families on the move
By Sara Marchessault Did you ever move when you were a kid? Not leaving your family home to go to college, but the move that happens when you have no choice or control. When you leave the life you knew behind
Cooking with the kids
By Catarina Muia Picky eaters. Everyone knows at least one person who doesn’t even need to open the menu at a restaurant because they know they’re getting those chicken fingers for the zillionth time. How does a person become this way