So you are new to the babysitter game and you have no idea what to expect. How much do you pay? Can you trust them with your baby or babies? What will they do when the kids are asleep and what other information do you need to leave with your babysitter? How Much Information Does Your Babysitter Need? Leaving your child with a babysitter, whether they’re a family member, close friend or someone you found through networking, can be nerve-wracking. Nevertheless, this is something most parents are faced with at one time or another. Many parents know to leave the…
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ARGH Matey, Pirates are the best. Pirate Valentines are the perfect simple cards for your child to give this year. What child hasn’t been captivated at least once in their childhood by pirates and treasure, adventure and gold? When I was a child I loved Valentine’s Day. There was something so sweet about making special cards for all of your friends and schoolmates and hand delivering them. Then there were always the school crafts. I loved making the cute little Valentine’s mailboxes or envelopes that we hung off of our desks. Something so incredibly simple but I still recall doing…
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Kids love Christmas, but they too feel stress and holiday anxiety at this time of year, especially if parents are stressed. If parents are stressed at Christmas, their children will most certainly pick up those feelings of holiday anxiety. So how do you make sure they are not overwhelmed by the season? These holiday stress management tips will help both parents and children recognize holiday anxiety and feel less stress, because helping kids cope is the best way to enjoy Christmas! How Do You Recognize Holiday Anxiety? Holiday Stress Management Tips for Kids and Parents Kid’s behaviours sometimes seem to…
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Ah Tweens. That comical challenging stage between childhood and the teen years. When you can almost see what’s about to come, but still there are many days when they happily slip back into their childish pursuits. One moment moody teenager wannabe and the next minute playing with Barbies again. Kids are comical. But they are often easy to please when it comes to Christmas presents. So, this year as part of my Christmas holidays content I wanted to share all sorts of gift ideas. 30 + Christmas Gifts for Tweens Under $5 Gifts for Tweens Uno Eos Lip…
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STEM toys are some of my favorite gifts to give children. If you’ve read my blog, you know I love giving STEM gifts as a way to make learning fun. I’ve found great Stem books in the past that got my kids excited about learning and over the years I’ve found all sorts of toys to keep their minds sharp. Right now it’s prime time to get shopping for STEM gifts for the holiday season. Around here it’s never too early. I plan my shopping out all year round actually so that I get the best deals, and on line…
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Melatonin is one of the most common sleep aids to be found. It is readily available as an over-the-counter supplement in almost every pharmacy and big box store that has a pharmacy section. It’s generally considered to be a safe drug since it is actually a pill-form of a naturally occurring hormone produced by the brain. These melatonin facts will help you to understand a bit more about this common sleep aid. Is melatonin safe for children, for you? Is it even necessary? If it’s not necessary don’t use it and always consult a doctor if you have questions. But,…
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Imagine a camp where you build your own space suit, or monitor weather in space. A camp where your children explore the world around them, ask questions and create experiments. Building curiosity and engaging young people all summer long is the name of the game at STEM Camp. I couldn’t be happier to share Stem Camp with you. STEM Camp is one of my favourite children’s STEM summer day camps. You already know STEM is the future and maybe you wonder how to nurture that interest. Maybe you worry your kids don’t get enough STEM in school. Well, STEM Camp is…
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Every January my youngest daughter begins the camp countdown to Pioneer Camp Ontario. That’s six or seven months of anticipation before the eventual August drop-off every summer. In many ways this camp is the gift that keeps giving all year long. Of course there’s the week at camp, or lately the two weeks there and the enjoyment, independence and creativity she gets every single year attending Pioneer Camp Ontario. But long after camp itself, every single year Ainsley comes home inspired, engaged, confident, calm and grounded. How Did We Discover Pioneer Camp Ontario? Just two summers ago my family was…
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STEM education has become a huge part of public, private, and homeschool curriculum. It is the focus of many toys and games. The world is changing. With more and more career opportunities surrounding STEM and the advancement of technology in general, it’s important for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) to play a larger role in children’s education. In a recent post, I talked about how STEM Camp makes STEM fun for children. A friendly atmosphere combines with experiments that promote critical thinking and hands-on learning making STEM Camp a joy. I couldn’t be happier to share two big ways that…
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Every year, people around the globe celebrate Earth Day. On this day, people often reflect on the environment, what’s happening to it, and how they can make a difference. It’s also a day all about loving the planet and remembering that it’s home to some of the most amazing creatures and places. All that is wonderful, but I think it would be so much better if we had the planet on our mind all the time. I’d love it if every day were Earth Day. That’s why I’m excited about these two Earth Day books I got for the kids…