Category Archives: parenting

Staying Healthy While on Vacation

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Staying Healthy While on Vacation

When preparing for a holiday with your family, there is a lot of preparing, planning and organizing to be done. We all want to be sure that we are Staying Healthy While on Vacation. There are some things that we must take into consideration including, but certainly not limited to: the typical weather to be expected the type of food that will be available (particularly for children of individuals with allergies or food sensitivities what comforts from home should be packed for children what regular vitamins, medications or homeopathic remedies need to be packed Orange Naturals has an excellent list … Continue reading →

Helping Kids Understand the Importance of Online Safety

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Online Safety and Children

For some parents, the internet can be a scary place when they start to think about what their kids might get up to – or run into – online. The vast majority of people in Canada – nearly 87 per cent – have internet connections at home. Smartphone ownership also surpasses the global average: more than half of Canadians (57 per cent) own a smartphone, while 42 percent of people own smartphones worldwide. In 2014, Facebook Canada reported that 19 million Canadians used Facebook at least once a month, and 14 million were logging in daily. And while Facebook’s terms … Continue reading →

How Can I Teach My Preschooler?

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teach my preschooler

From the moment your child is born, you are their teacher. You teach them to talk, to walk, to use a potty, to wash their hands, to hang up their coat and put their shoes in their place. You teach them how to share, how interact with others, and even how to talk on the phone. Now that your toddler has become a preschooler – what are they learning? Letters. Shapes. Numbers. Reading. Writing. The focus has shifted to more academics, and for many people – that can be intimidating. But, don’t panic. You CAN teach your preschooler. You’ve already … Continue reading →

5 Tips for Comforting Your Child When They Need Stitches

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On Monday, I got the dreaded phone call from my kids’ school. At first, I wasn’t concerned because last week, I also got a phone call (along with many other calls in the past few years). Last week, it was just a call informing me that my son fell and bumped his head, but he was fine. Monday, however, was different. Monday, it WAS the dreaded call. It was…. “Hello, this is the school calling. Your son was playing at recess and he got knocked over and cut his chin on the ice. We think you should come over as … Continue reading →

Is Smartphone Etiquette a Life Skill? #FirstPhoneEtiquette

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Lumia 830 Infographic

OK, perhaps I should start at the beginning…. At what age do you think a child should have a smartphone, if at all? AND If children do have a smartphone, where do you think they get their smartphone etiquette from? I’m not sure where I stand on this. With children aged 6 and 9, I still find it rather easy for me to say that my children are much too young and that they will not own a smartphone for a LONG time to come, but it seems like trends are changing! And with changing trends comes new challenges like … Continue reading →

Helping My Kids Learn How to Declutter and Purge #40bags40days

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Helping Kids Learn How to Declutter

I think I was born a “pack rat” because for as long as I can remember, I have collected things, I’ve had a cluttered living space and I’ve had a difficult time letting items go. Unfortunately, I think I’ve passed that gene over to my daughter, as she is having a hard time letting things go as we clean out our house. A perfect example is when we sorted through her doll collection that she never plays with anymore. I remember my parents having a Garage Sale when I was younger and when I saw certain toys/games that I wasn’t … Continue reading →

Teaching Your Kids How to be Hopeful

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Teaching Your Kids to be Hopeful

Did you know that hope is a verb, something that we can all do together? It’s also, arguably, the most influential of all emotions. Hope is what gets us through stressful times. It’s also what gives us the courage to reach out for help when we need it, trusting that by doing so, things will get better. At Kids Help Phone, many kids reach out saying they feel hopeless. Young people are under a lot of pressure, even from a young age, to become career-oriented, excel in school, and fit in among their peers in a variety of ways – … Continue reading →

Kids and Holiday Stress: What Parents Need to Know

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Kids and Holiday Stress

Last week, I wrote about 20 Ways to Reduce STress During the Holiday Season. I included many tips for adults and a few for children. However, after some reflection, I truly believe that more emphasis needs to be put on stress reduction for children during the holidays, don’t you? What do you think of when you think about kids and holiday stress? For many, family dinners, time with loved ones, and the hustle and bustle of last-minute shopping might come to mind. But the holidays can also be a stressful time. Financial pressures, high expectations, and packed schedules can be … Continue reading →

How to Help Your Child if They are Being Bullied OR if They ARE the Bully

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Did you know that 75 per cent of people say they have been affected by bullying1? Bullying has been widely talked about in mainstream media within the past year, but recent statistics indicate that 78 per cent of Canadians believe that not enough is being done to stop it in their communities2. One step we can all take is to empower young people to do something about bullying, like reaching out for help. In 2013, Kids Help Phone saw a 10 per cent increase in calls related to bullying and harassment during Bullying Awareness Week. What can parents do to … Continue reading →

50 Amazing Ways to Steal One on One Time With Your Kids

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50 Amazing Ways to Steal Time with Your Kids

I have been focussing a lot lately about how important it is to plan specific one on one time with your children. Why? Those special moments show your child how important they are, it reinforces how much you care and it allows you an opportunity to deepen your connection and bond with your child. Sometimes, finding special moments to spend that one on one time with your child can be a challenge, but thankfully Karen from Simply Fun Families has made it SO easy for you! A few times a month, I try my best to ensure that both of … Continue reading →