Isaac and Gillian explore a new town during a summer day trip. Photo: Jennifer Pinarski “Who can we play with today? Where are we going? What are we doing?” These questions are asked by my five-year-old daughter Gillian and eight-year-old son Isaac as soon as they wake up in the morning. My strict early bedtimes
Nurture
Photo: iStockphoto My daughters are three years apart and they look identical. In photos, I sometimes can’t tell them apart—especially because they are never in a picture together, and their height is their only differential. They used to take pictures together. They used to do everything together, fulfilling my dream of the perfect sibling duo.
Christophe Ledent/iStock 10. Ottawa, Ont. Average monthly toddler daycare costs: $1,009Percentage of families with children: 45%Percentage of population under age 15: 18%See more stats about Ottawa, Ont. here City of Aurora 9. Aurora, Ont. Average monthly toddler daycare costs: $1,130Percentage of families with children: 57%Percentage of population under age 15: 18%See more stats about Aurora,
Last year, Holly Kondreska moved into a 160-square-foot-house with her son, Emmett. Could you live in a 160-square-foot “tiny house” with your five-year-old? (Could you for real? Watching Tiny House Nation is one thing, but living in a space the size of some suburban bathrooms is quite another.) Holly Kondreska took the plunge last year when
Photo: Stocksy When Candice Falby and her six-year-old daughter were walking home from school together one day, her daughter asked why there was always a man sitting on the street. Taking the opportunity to explain what it means to be homeless, Falby was amazed at what came next. When they stopped at a bakery, her
Photo: iStockphoto Two days after I found out my husband had an affair, I dropped my favourite mug. It felt like yet another kick when I was already down; things around me were now literally falling apart. When I rushed to clean up the mess, I accidentally cut my hand on one of the sharper
Photo: iStockphoto With summer (finally) in full swing, it likely means you recently found yourself at a crossroads sunscreen aisle: Do you buy mineral or organic? Spray, lotion or stick? SPF 30, 50 or 60? Do kids really need kid-specific sunscreen? To break down the complexities of SPF, we asked Aleyna Zarras, regional trainer and
Photo: iStockphoto I’m lucky: My parents are still here to answer the phone when I call. But there are days when the distance between us (4,193 kilometres and five provinces, to be exact) feels infinite. And I want nothing more than to teleport them into the school gym so they can see how sweet my
Photo: Courtesy of Hilary Faktor Robert Frost said, “Good fences make good neighbours,” but I’m forever grateful for the low chain-link fence that allowed me to befriend you, Andrea and Graeme. When we first moved into the neighbourhood, I’d hoped for a large wood fence for privacy’s sake. I like visiting as much as the
Photo: iStockphoto Plastic pollution is a serious problem. With ocean gyres of plastic, growing concerns about microplastics and a single-use plastic ban theoretically on its way, it’s a great time to be more mindful of how much plastic you use (and throw away) every day. And, while many people are investing in reusable products with
Photo: iStockphoto When it comes to managing your kids’ screen time, the best approach is always setting fair rules, enforcing them consistently, and communicating regularly. But hey—if technology can help an exhausted parent with this tricky-to-manage problem, why not use it too? Here are four tech tools parents can use to monitor and control their
1. Improper car seat installation Did you know that up to 80 percent aren’t installed or used correctly? Before installation, sit down with both your car seat and vehicle manuals. Still unsure? Ask your local fire or police department for information about car seat clinics near you. 2. Using a car seat that has expired