Ages & Stages - Baby

What is PURPLE crying?

Also called colic, understanding the PURPLE period of crying will set parents’ minds at ease Babies often cry. Indeed, some babies seem to cry a lot and nothing helps. During this phase of a baby’s life, they can cry for […]

Moi Moi: Look at me!

Stuck in traffic—or waiting at the doctor’s office—with a wailing baby? The drawings from the new book MoiMoi: Look at me! will entertain your baby and maybe, just maybe, stop tears     They’re more than just aesthetically pleasing shapes—these […]

Snow day is no day to be bored

As a new parent, you probably rely on getting out with your baby to keep your sanity. This winter has been a double-whammy – both the pandemic and the snow have been keeping us indoors more than we’d like.\With a […]

Is baby ready for solids?

Here are the top tips for transitioning your baby from formula to solids For new parents, it may seem overwhelming to begin transitioning your baby to solid foods. When making the leap from formula to solids, there are many questions […]

Protect yourself from parental burnout

Have a newborn? Establish those good habits now, Laurie Warren writes                                                       Parenting can be amazing and a gift and most parents wouldn’t trade it for the world. Yet the truth is, parenting can also be difficult, exhausting, and fraught […]

Ages & Stages - Kids

Learning begins at home

Spending more time around the house during the pandemic? It’s an opportunity for parents and guardians to teach their children, writes Dr. Michael Ungar                                 […]

Step outside

Spending time in a backyard green space is good for kids of all ages, and can relieve stress and anxiety due to COVID-19, writes Kris Kiser You don’t have to go far to experience nature. It actually starts right outside […]

Scratch that

A common problem that affects children in daycare and school, lice can quickly be spread to whole families, Carolina Surma writes                                        […]

Beyond please and thanks

Author of Manners and Me: An EasyPeasy Guide for Kids and the Grown-Ups Who Love Them, Nancy Dorrier gives the lowdown on minding your Ps and Qs Learning good manners is important because it helps us in our relationships and […]

‘My child is always sick’

The average child attending daycare will be sick a dozen times in the first year   Typically, as kids begin school or daycare, parents notice that their child is seemingly always sick. This is a very common complaint, and in […]

Ages & Stages - Prenatal

Know what’s in your water

If you’re expecting or have young children in the home, it’s especially important to ensure your drinking water is safe   Even if your drinking water looks clear, it’s never completely pure. Clean water can pick up substances as it travels through […]

Baby on board? Keep your food safe

When you’re pregnant, food safety is more important than ever because you and your unborn baby are at an increased risk of foodborne illness or food poisoning. Your immune system is weakened, making it harder to fight off infections and […]

What will you feed your baby?

What do all those names really mean? Now – before baby arrives – is the time to do your research   It may seem like a far-off event, but before you know it, your new baby will be exploring the […]

No time like the present

Here are four reasons why COVID-19 shouldn’t stop you from opening an RESP   When it comes to opening an RESP for your child, earlier is better – with some savvy parents starting to save even before their child is […]

Getting fit after baby

Fitness guru – and mother of four – Nikki Clarke helps get you in shape postpartum Daily movement is one of the most important things humans can do to keep themselves both physically and mentally strong, and this especially rings […]

Ages & Stages - Toddler

Summer project: start a garden with your littles

The experts teach our readers how to grow vegetables at home It’s arguably the most popular hobby to come out of the pandemic, and it’s perfect for you and your kids to take on together. Even very little ones will […]

Get out there

Here are five ways outdoor play supports healthy child development It’s no surprise that time outdoors is important for a healthy lifestyle for children, but did you know that it also contributes to their development? While it’s important to follow public […]

Superkids

Imaginative play helps kids to grow. Here’s how   It’s important for kids to have imaginative playtime everyday, according to The Genius of Play, a non-profit initiative whose mission is to educate parents and caregivers about the benefits of play and to inspire families […]

A shocking statistic

Here’s how to keep your kids safe from electrical harm at home   From gates on stairs to locks on cabinet doors, parents do their best to keep their children safe from in-home dangers, but one that is often overlooked […]

Bottoms up

It’s a scorcher out there. Is your toddler drinking enough water? Bryan Sarlitt asks the big question   If you feel like your family doesn’t drink enough water throughout the day, you’re not alone. In fact, a recent survey found […]

Ages & Stages - Tweens & Teens

Dreams into reality

Parents, help your preteens discover their talents, Dan Scott writes In her book, Teach Your Children Well, child psychologist and Madeline Levine says that discovering one’s sense of self is the primary task of elementary children. By the time a […]

Looking ahead

Being prepared is the key to helping your daughter handle her first period Your daughter’s first period can be an exciting time for her, but it can also be a little scary. Everyone’s period is different, so being properly equipped […]

Dad's Corner

Adventures of yesteryear

Columnist Chris Hunt recalls a favourite pre-COVID destination   I had a brief conversation with my son Riley recently that quietly broke my heart. I’d been both working from home and homeschooling Riley for a few weeks, and I was […]

Unsung heroes

Some of the city’s most valuable resources during the pandemic? The trusted professionals who care for our children, Jon Willing writes It was an easy decision for my wife and I when child-care providers were allowed to reopen after the […]

A woman of influence

The lessons Jon Willing’s mother taught him as a child carry on decades later in his young son, Miles Sometimes the most subtle, practical lessons from your childhood best inform your success in parenthood. I’m talking about the kind of […]

Thanks, Mom

On a cold, dark night a few years back, columnist Chris Hunt comes face to face with special lessons learned from his mother     Oct 17, 2016 I’m laying on my son’s bedroom floor, holding his hand as he […]

Parenting outside the box

When I was young, I came into possession of a worn copy of the Faber Book of Reportage.  Nestled within its brittle pages, I found a most intriguing instance of creative parenting, dating back some 500 years. It was a […]