Parenting

Fun and Effective Ways to Prepare Your Older Child for a New Sibling

Parenting

How to Keep Your Family’s Electronic Devices Organized

Parenting

Mess-Free Elf on the Shelf Ideas That Will Make Your Christmas Extra Merry

Daycare

Disposable Diapers vs Reusable Diapers, What Should You Pack for Daycare?

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Immigrant Families: Balancing Old Traditions with New Beginnings

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To leave your home country and move to another one for the betterment of yourself and your family is one of the hardest things to do. My family and I decided to move to Canada two years ago in search of better opportunities for our daughters, especially our youngest, who has Down Syndrome. While the idea of moving seemed exciting sometimes, most of the time, leaving your parents, your home, your friends, and the life we had built together seemed daunting. After all, we do need our village to survive. Would we be able to create a new village in the new country? Would our children get to know about our traditions and roots? All these questions never left our minds when we came to Canada. Two years down, I think we have been on the right path in building our new home, making our own family traditions, and adapting…

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Hockey Tournament Survival Guide: How to Keep Organized on Tournament Weekends

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It’s been on the calendar for weeks: the big hockey tournament weekend. Whether local or out of town, organizing everything can feel like a Zamboni-sized task. Don’t worry, though — we’ve got team-tested tips to help you with the hockey tournament weekend: organization & survival. The tournament experience can be as smooth as freshly flooded ice with a little planning. Hockey tournament weekend survival: gear organization First and foremost, you need the team uniform. Your safest bet is to bring anything and everything that has the team logo on it: the ‘home’ jersey, ‘away’ jersey, ‘alternate’ jersey, and so on. Pack plenty of extra clothes, especially undershirts and socks. And, if your young all-star’s equipment is getting a little smelly, check out our tips on washing and disinfecting it before they hit the ice. You don’t want to arrive at an out-of-town tournament with only one elbow pad. Take a…

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co-parenting
In Parenting

How to Co-Parent Through the Back-to-School Transition

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Co-parenting can be tricky; there are lots of emotions, many people to consider, and a wide array of schedules to coordinate. But with effective cooperation and communication, it is possible to make it smoother. Here are some tips to co-parent successfully through the school year. How to organize the schedule between both parents: Start discussing the school schedule well in advance to avoid any last-minute conflicts.  Consider the following: -PA Days -Doctor and dentist appointments (especially any that may impact your ex’s days  or pick-up times) -Parent-teacher interviews -pick up and drop off’s -extracurricular schedules -Special days (pink shirt days, pizza days etc.) Make sure it’s on everyone’s calendar and that any adjustments to the calendar or schedule have been discussed in advance. Make sure everyone is aware of what each day entails and has the items needed. Coordinate supplies and schedule:   Coordinate your shopping trips to avoid duplicating…

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In Parenting

Tips to Prevent and Treat Lice

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Lice, just the word alone, can give parents the ick. The beginning of the school year is often a big time for lice; there are so many new heads to infest! With classrooms getting more and more kids each year, it’s unsurprising that it’s so easily spread. When your child comes home with lice or even the dreaded note indicating there are lice in the classroom, immediately our heads get itchy, and we feel squeamish. Here are some tips to prevent and treat lice. We know action needs to be taken immediately, whether you need to treat lice, or are aware it’s spreading throughout the class and you need to prevent it – the time for action is immediate. The good news about lice: While the thought of lice is unsettling, it’s good to remember that lice aren’t a major health risk, nor do they carry any disease like other…

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How to Talk to Kids about Natural Disasters

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We live in an area with relatively few extreme weather episodes. Sure, it gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter – but rarely do extreme hurricanes, tornados, or earthquakes hit our area. However, this year forest fires have been a bigger concern than usual. It seems that every time we turn on the TV there is a natural disaster somewhere. Combine that with the smoke we’ve experienced this year, and my 6 yr old is now very concerned, even scared of natural disasters. She’s learned that weather isn’t just something we dress for; it’s something that can hurt us. So, to ease her anxiety, I set out to learn how to talk to kids about natural disasters. How to talk to kids about wildfires: We can’t always control what our kids see and hear or what potential disasters we may one day face. What we do have…

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In School

Homework Tips for a Smooth School Year

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Back-to-school means the return of the dreaded “h-word”: homework. Don’t worry, though — we’ve got three “s words” to help you through it (and no, it doesn’t include the one that immediately comes to mind). For Homework tips to make the process more efficient and less painful, try using the three S’s: schedule, space, and support. Schedule – How to create a homework schedule  It’s helpful to establish good habits and a regular homework routine right from the start. You know your child best, so customize the timing by asking the following questions: Are they best suited to tackle their work right after school, before they get caught up in their free time activities? For example, once they get rolling on something fun, will it be a huge battle to transition them back into a school mindset? Would they benefit from a bit of time to decompress and regroup first?…

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Best Pacifiers & Soothers for Babies Who Spit Them Out

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It’s no secret that new parents need a break from time to time. Whether it be some quiet travel time or just a short break from some of the fussing, pacifiers can come in handy when you need them most. It’s important to know that ALL babies are different, and unfortunately, pacifiers are not a one-size-fits-all all type of product. Have no fear. We’re here to help when it comes to deciding which ones you might want to spend your money on! Don’t forget to pick up your Pacifier Labels especially important when heading to daycare! If your baby spits it out often, you don’t want a germy mix-up when they’re popping it back in your baby’s mouth! Here’s our Top 10 List for best pacifiers & soothers for babies who spit them out: Phillips Avent Soothie Pacifier Why do we love it? – the Avent Soothie Pacifier is…

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In School

Lunch Box Notes for Kids

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When sending our kids to school on the first day, there is often a wide array of emotions. One of the best ways to touch base with your kids is to include a note in their lunch box to let them know we’re thinking of them. Lunch box notes for kids with words of encouragement during their first days or any important day can be the encouragement they need to try something new, make a new friend, or ace a test they’ve been worried about. Mabel’s Labels washaway lunch box notes are the perfect way to include something special in their lunch bag. These lunch box labels will completely disappear each night; just wash them either in the dishwasher or by hand, and they’ll quickly and easily disintegrate. Each pack comes with 24 labels, so there is enough to cover the first week, plus any special days or a note…

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In School

Starting School Checklist for Little Kids

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With the start of the school year right around the corner, there will be lots of little ones starting their first year of school in Senior or Junior Kindergarten. While it can be stressful for your kids, this is also a really hard time for you! All summer long you spend your days wondering if you’ve prepared them enough to finally head out on their own in the big wide world of elementary school and the truth of the matter is: no child can ever be completely prepared for this big step, but there are definitely some things we can make sure we’re seeing in our children before September rolls around. We’ve made it easier for you both by creating a fun checklist for you and your kiddo to work on this summer. The list is below, and here is a FREE Kindergarten Readiness Checklist for your little one to…

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Gentle and Permissive Parenting; The Thin Line Between Parenting Styles

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The term “gentle parenting” is doing the rounds in the news and social media, and many people have conflicting opinions about it. Many people, however, are still confusing gentle parenting with permissive parenting. Both these parenting styles have a thin line between them, which may be easy to cross. What is gentle parenting? It is backed by research, leaning towards authoritative parenting. It draws a clear boundary with your children that is helpful for their safety and well-being. It involves resolving conflicts together by discussing the reason behind the set rules and boundaries. It looks beyond punishments and consequences of bad behaviour and focuses more on the reason why the child is behaving a particular way. What is permissive parenting? Permissive parents have extremely low expectations from their children. They believe that their child is incapable of making better choices. Permissive parenting gives all the control to the child and…

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