Summer Camp

How to Create an Allergy Action Plan for Summer Camp

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Mabel’s Labels; How We Run Our Business in an Eco-Friendly Way

Parenting

Are Sleepovers Safe for Kids? Risks, Alternatives & What Parents Should Know

Summer Camp

The Best Clothing for Summer Camp; When Laundry Isn’t an Option

walk to school
In Parenting

Walking to School – How to Overcome the Roadblocks

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Back-to-school season is a great time to start new routines or tweak existing ones. Maybe you’ve always liked the idea of your kids walking to school, but haven’t been able to do it consistently. To help you hit your stride, here are some common issues and tips to overcome them. “There isn’t enough time in the morning.” In households across the land, the morning rush is a daily struggle. As the new school year begins, some honest reflection might reveal areas for improvement. Could you be more organized? Could you wake up earlier, or pack lunches the night before? Can you minimize or eliminate distractions? You’re likely to have better results (and lower blood pressure at breakfast) if you adopt a structured plan. If your kids are old enough, make it into a mini science experiment. Use technology to record the actual time and distance, then calculate the necessary departure…

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tips to get kids to open up about their day
In Parenting

Tips to Help Your Kids Open Up about Their School Day

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One of the most exciting things about our kids starting a new school year is hearing all about it. But, in fact, that rarely happens. Kids are notorious for giving one-word answers or clamming up when we ask about their days. It can be heartbreaking to parents who want open lines of communication and are eager to hear the details of their kids’ day. Kids’ minds work differently than adults; developmentally, they’re just not ready to recall all the details of their day after school. Unfortunately, this is often the time that we see meltdowns happening or our chatty kiddos shutting down. But don’t worry, this is normal. While we may think we need to embrace what happens at school, stays at school but not all hope is lost. Here are a few tips to help your kids open up about their school day. 1) Don’t bombard them with questions.  …

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In Daycare

Tips for a Smooth Daycare Drop-Off: Short & Sweet

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Daycare drop-off can be a teary-eyed ordeal for parents and kids. The tears, tantrums, clinginess to mom or dad, and screaming can be painful to witness. The guilt is heart-wrenching, but there are ways to ease the transition for everyone. We asked several daycare providers for their top tips to make the experience smoother. The consensus: keep it short and sweet. Here are five key tips for a less stressful daycare drop-off. Effective Daycare Drop-Off Strategies to Reduce Tears and Guilt: 1. Prepare the Night Before for a Stress-Free Morning Don’t rush! Preparing the night before is essential. Rushing your kids in the morning overstimulates them and increases their stress hormones, which can lead to tantrums. By getting ready the night before, you avoid the stress and chaos that can make the morning more difficult for everyone. 2. Stick to a Consistent Routine Babies and toddlers thrive when they know…

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In School

Bento Lunch Box Review

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With so many different brands and styles of lunchboxes available, selecting the right one for your child can be easily overwhelming. Will it break? Can my child open it? Are the more expensive brands worth it? Here is a review of six of the most popular bento style lunchbox brands on the market to help with your decision making process. Bentgo Cost: approx. $30 How is it to open: The two clasp style can take a little practise, but overall this is one of the easier lunchboxes for younger children to open. The lid is tough to lift up with the first use, but overtime it loosens up, making it easier for little grasps.  Benefits: Fits standard lunch bag. Removable, dishwasher safe tray. Easy to clean. Microwave and freezer safe. Leak proof seal around each compartment. Very durable.  Dislikes: A bit on the heavier side Smaller compartments, not ideal…

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In Seasonal

How to Raise a Virgo

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As someone who has been raising a Virgo for almost 14 years, you might think I have all the answers. Spoiler alert: I don’t. I have some insight and some experience for sure, but I wouldn’t say I have all the answers. In my experience, raising a Virgo has been quite pleasant overall. As a baby, he was always very happy and relaxed. As a toddler, he was super helpful with his younger brother. In school, he’s always done very well and not just because it comes easy to him, but because he WANTS to do well in school. He’s always had a very calm and patient personality too. Now, that’s not to say he doesn’t lose his temper and get angry. He does. But that might be more of a redhead thing than a Virgo thing… While diving deeper into all the typical Virgo traits, I nodded along with…

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In Parenting

Overscheduled Kids- 7 Tips to Prevent Burnout

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It’s that time of year again: activity registration. We all want our kids to be well-rounded individuals, and there is a long list of worthwhile programs available in art, science, sports, technology, music, leadership, aquatics, theatre, fitness and more. While we can agree that’s important to expose our kids to a variety of experiences, we certainly don’t want to overload them to the point where they’re tired, grumpy, unmotivated, or burnt out. It’s a fine line that can be tricky to navigate, but you’re more than qualified to steer this ship. Here are 7 tips to prevent burnout and keep a firm grip on your family’s schedule and prevent things from getting out of hand. Choose carefully. There’s no question that your child will benefit from participating in organized activities, sports teams or community groups. Even so, it’s important to remember that you don’t have unlimited resources when it comes…

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In Parenting

How to Raise a Leo

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The centre of attention. Ridiculously creative. Fearless. A born leader. Sound familiar? If so, you likely have a little Leo in your life. While I don’t have any first-hand experience raising a Leo, I do know quite a few. Three nephews, a niece, and my mother-in-law were all born under the Leo sign. So, it’s safe to say I have spent quite a bit of time around Leos. After doing some research about the stereotypical characteristics of Leos, I think it’s pretty accurate to say that Leos know what they want. They appear to have strong personalities and high expectations. They’re are Lions though, so they’re also warmhearted and super loyal. There’s a lot to cover when it comes to Leos, so let’s dive in and see what the experts say! First, we’ll start with the basics of the Leo sign. Birthdate – July 23 – August 22 Element –…

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Mothers with ADHD
In Mom Moments

Mothers with ADHD; Strategies, Struggles and Support

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For a long time, we’ve been talking about the “hot mess mom” we’ve created memes about her disorganization and laughed collectively about the struggles. Unfortunately, for many Mothers, the hot mess mom is far more than a joke; the prevalence of women being diagnosed with ADHD is growing, and we’re learning that some of the “hot mess moms” are struggling to fit into an ablest, neurotypical parenting world. The largest group of people currently diagnosed with ADHD/Autism is women, primarily Mothers.     Parenting isn’t easy at the best of times. ADHD is added to the regular Motherhood struggles, becoming completely overwhelming. It can bring up feelings of self-doubt, anxiety, and anger. Anything from forgetfulness, difficulty planning and following through, focusing, and decision-making becomes a massive burden as you try to cope with your struggles and manage your enormous role as a parent.  Parenting with ADHD can leave you feeling like a…

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In News

I Won’t Cover for You Anymore, America

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My family’s move from Canada to the United States two and a half years ago came with much anxiety and trepidation. I thought about living in Trump’s America, and about guns, school shootings, and the cost of health care. But never in my wildest, most fevered nightmares did I ever imagine I was moving my daughters to a place where they’d grow up having fewer rights than I or their grandmother did. Usually, it’s not that hard to convince ourselves we’re safe. Bad things happen everywhere but statistically, they’re unlikely to happen to us. But all that’s changed with the Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe vs. Wade. Now, the bad thing is at our doorstep. So how do I raise my daughters in a country that doesn’t respect them; a country that punishes them for having a uterus? How do we stomach living in a place that allows for the…

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In Parenting

How to Raise a Cancer

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If you were to ask my boys, they would tell you that kids born in the summer months are the luckiest because they NEVER have to go to school on their birthday. My oldest kind of got the short end of the stick when it comes to birthdays though. He was born in early September, and his birthday has been the first day of school on more than one occasion throughout the years. In fact, he started JK on his 4th birthday. In my defense though, he was 10 days late! He was supposed to be an August baby. I blame him. Now while I don’t have any summer babies of my own, I do have three nephews and one niece who were born during the summer months. Two of them were born under the sign, Cancer. While exploring the stereotypical characteristics of Cancers, I would have to say they…

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