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
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.
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
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?
Questions that baffle us
Someone much wiser than I often tells me that one of the most important aspects of being a parents is taking time for our own relationships. Since that “someone” is my mother-in-law, I'm actually allowed – in very specific situations
Even little girls play to win
Girls aren't any less competitive than boys. But the strategies they use to compete are a little more subtle. That's the key finding to come out of a study conducted by psychologists at Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts and publish
A dietitian wades into the food fight
Ask any group of parents whether their children are ‘good’ eaters and you’re likely to get a collective eye-rolling groan. One may be struggling to please a picky eater, another may be trying to combat a child’s weight problem and
Pick what’s on your plate
City dwellers often don’t have the space to grow their own fruits and vegetables, let alone the time that it takes to cultivate them. A small plot or containers filled with herbs or a tomato plant or two are as
Bikes aboard
Timmy Salama hands his bike up to an orange-vested Bike Train loader. The 10-year-old has just returned from a couple of hours cycling around Niagara Falls with his mother and father. It’s his first trip to The Falls and he’s
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
Child-friendly baking – batches of learning
Want a fool-proof way to have delicious fun with your kids, while teaching them reading math and science? Just step into the kitchen. There’s tons of safe and easy ways to work with kids in the kitchen. The chefs at
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.
Angel food
For thousands of Toronto students the day does not begin with breakfast and may not even include lunch or a snack. In fact there are students in priority neighbourhoods who get their only meal of the day served to them
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