How to doggy-train your toddler
For many when they picture their “perfect” family, they envision a partner, children and the family dog, a loveable, happy-go-lucky four-legged family member who will be a best friend to the children.
Teachable Talents
When my daughter was in Grade 4, a proud tear sprang to my eye when her teacher, known to be a stern taskmaster, declared: “Rebecca has something that can’t be taught – motivation.”
Pros and cons of cursive writing
Various experts and educators have weighed in on the lasting benefits of cursive handwriting. Here are just a few of the benefits proponents of cursive writing point to
Being the big kid
My youngest sometimes feels a little left out and his frustration and jealousy at this situation often comes out in really practical ways.
Taking back-to-school in stride
As I was hanging out in the playground waiting for the bell to ring, I was interested to notice the extremes of parental reaction to the first day of school.
Parents are going back to school too
It’s not just kids who go back to school this month, it’s their parents as well, minus all the new stuff.
What could possibly go wrong
I grew up in a house of five boys in one of the safest cities on the planet in an era when helicopter parents (or drone parents, as I prefer to call them) would have been laughed off the playground.
Keeping Keepsakes
Our most exciting summer adventure has been a robin’s nest on our porch. It started with a flurry of activity by two robin mates to claim their territory and put together a nest atop a lantern on our front porch.
Pink or blue not black and white: gender neutral child rearing
Five years ago, I was planning my daughter’s first birthday party and all I could think of was how not to go pink.
How to have a ‘happy little sleeper’
If you are struggling with sleep with your Baby/Toddler, I would suggest you check out this great tips from Amanda at Happy Little Sleepers.
Hey, dad, I found a phone
My kids found an old cell phone at the park the other day. I would just have chucked it in the nearest garbage can, but my 8-year old was adamant that he get to keep it.
Defusing the situation
Sometimes in our house relatively simple issues end up escalating far further than necessary.
Meditate on these things
One of the things I've found helpful to my parenting (and to my life generally, in fact) is a daily time of quiet meditation.
Community parenting
I often see kids in public places behaving in ways that are childish or impolite or even outright inappropriate and I have made a conscious effort to intervene in those kinds of situations as calmly and politely as I can.
