Developing creative play
Developing creative play. Balancing the education and entertainment of books, games and toys remains an ongoing interest for parents and at an Indigo Kids Round Table event, expert panelists shared ideas and insights for inspiring learning
Montessori education is unique
Montessori education is unique. It is only a few years ago that Montessori education celebrated its 100th anniversary. The first Casa Dei Bambini, under the direction of Maria Montessori (1870-1952) opened in the San Lorenzo dis
What makes a good speller?
Even with today’s technological advances, having average to good spelling skills are still very important in life. After all, spell-checkers can only help you if your spelling is close enough to the correct version, and most of us still h
Is your teen ready for an after-school job?
Is your teen ready for an after-school job? Giving teens the chance to earn money outside of the home can certainly be worthwhile. Jobs teach the value of money and hard work, and also the importance of timeliness and time
Let children help choose charities
When it comes to charity, everyone involved benefits. From those on the receiving end to those doing the giving, charity pays dividends for all concerned
Teen Talk – Teens 13 to 17 Guiding away from poor choices.
Guiding away from poor choices. When teens make poor choices it may be a symptom of another problem and not just the present problem. Here are tips to guide you
Communicating With Your Teen
Teen Talk with Karyn Gordon - Many parents ask, “How should I talk to my teens about sex?” or “What should I say about skipping” or “I think my teens’ friends are doing drugs. Should I address this with my
Classroom Secrets
At some point in the year, if you walk into my Grade 4 classroom you will encounter 20 to 30 squealing kids laughing and darting around the room chasing tennis balls as they learn how to juggle. Is this part
Teen philanthropy increases
When it comes to fundraising for charity, through which on average teens say they are raising $516 per year, one quarter (24 per cent) have raised donations by fundraising on their own, outside of the school or a group they
Classroom Strategies: Solutions for math problems
Math is a challenge for many students. While there are many ways to improve students’ understanding of math and increase their odds of success, one of the easiest is using some or all of these key problem-solving strategies
Feeding 101
The cradle, the crossover, the football hold. They may sound like terms thrown around at the gym, but they are actually techniques moms can use to make feeding their newborn easier
Kids Party Planning Tips
Chances are if you have children, you’ll be hosting a party for kids at least once this year. Children’s parties should be more about making memories than how much money is spent. Here are tips on what to consider
Sibling Rivalry: Ideas on how to navigate this common problem
There is almost nothing more annoying to a parent than listening to your own kids bicker and fight. It often seems to start over almost nothing and then can quickly escalate into a screaming match. At best, it disturbs the
TWINS: How parents with ‘double the fun’ cope
A new mother may find that sleep is the thing she most desires after her child is born. However, the mother of multiples may be looking for something entirely different: lots of information and help. Multiples bring many things to
How to keep teens talking to you during the school year
Around this time of year many parents are concerned with the school year and ask themselves: Will my kids be motivated? Will they make good friends? Will they develop good habits for? Will they talk with me and tell me
Classroom Secrets: Starting the year off right
Ah, September! The new school year lies ahead like freshly fallen snow – a blank canvas full of promise just waiting for your kids to put their marks on it. While no one can predict all the twists and turns,
Getting Ready for Potty Training
Apart from early newborn care, a topic parents frequently lament is potty training their toddler. Some children potty train themselves while other children require much more patience and guidance
Handwriting Help
Even in an age of ever-advancing technology, handwriting still remains an essential life skill for both kids and adults. It continues to be the primary communication tool in classrooms, and yet, studies in 2002 estimate that 10 to 30 per
Teen Talk
I just wrapped a five-week speaking tour last week to thousands of pre-teens, teens and hundreds of parents across Ontario. One of my favourite times during these tours is during the question and answer period right after. I’m often asked
Classroom Secrets
Ahhh summer vacation – a time for your kids to kick back and relax, to forget about classroom routines and to lose themselves in some hard-earned play time. But July also offers you and your kids the time to reflect