Three Ways Team Sports Like the Danone Nations Cup Build Life Skills for Children

June 21, 2017 by Kathryn 9 Comments

Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and Danone and have received compensation for this post. All opinions in the post are my own.

In our house, spring is sports season. And it’s a time we take pretty seriously! In fact, three out of every five weekdays are spent either on the soccer field or the baseball diamond, with practices and tournaments in between as well! While it can sometimes be hard to get kids interested in a team sport, finding one that suits them really is worth the effort. Not only is it a great way to ensure kids stay active, it provides so many other benefits beyond physical activity. These are just a few of the life skills I’ve seen my boys develop since they started playing team sports:

Cooperation

One of the best things about team sports is that no matter which one a child chooses, the sport will have different positions that play different essential roles in the game. My baseball-playing oldest is usually on second base, a position that suits him well since he has a strong arm and good base skills. But that same strong arm means he’s often also put in the outfield, a position any baseball fan knows isn’t always the most exciting. That’s the thing about a team sport, though. The player in right field is just as essential to the game as the pitcher, and just as likely to win a game with a great catch. [Read more…]

Having a Baby? Always Say Yes to These Offers of Help!

May 18, 2017 by Kathryn 5 Comments

This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and NUK Canada Simply Natural #SimplyNatural sponsored program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors.

As the oldest of five children, I had plenty of exposure to babies…and the work that they can create! I still remember helping my mom with things like changing diapers, walking my siblings in a stroller and even babysitting in the later years. So, when my oldest son was born, I felt pretty confident in my ability to take care of him. Then I realized just how exhausting motherhood really is!

I still remember my earliest inexperienced moments of feeling like I needed to do everything, especially right after my baby was born. My mom came to visit and help for about a week after I’d given birth, and rather than accepting the help that was offered, I spent most of my time foolishly tiring myself out making sure the house was clean and meals were cooked so her visit would be pleasant! Luckily, I learned quickly that motherhood is much easier with a little help from family and friends. And now that I’m just two months away from the birth of my third son, I’m ready and willing to accept all the help that’s offered. Getting ready to become a mother for the first time? Make sure you always say, “Yes!” if people offer to help with any of these things!

Feeding the Baby

There’s no decision more personal than that of figuring out how to feed your newborn, but no matter what option is best for you and your little one, there are ways that your family and friends can help and support you! I was determined to breastfeed my babies, but I hadn’t expected it to be so challenging to figure out initially. My nipples cracked and bled, and I spent the first few days wiping away tears as I nursed. Of course, I wasn’t sure if I was doing something wrong, or if breastfeeding would get easier. A good latch? Milk coming in? What did that mean? Asking my mom and other adult friends for advice was invaluable and helped me persevere until I’d become a breastfeeding pro. [Read more…]

How to Teach Kids the Importance of Giving Back to the Community

April 26, 2017 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

As adults we tend to understand what it means to give back to our community and the different ways we can go about it. For kids, however, it can be a hard concept to grasp. If you’re looking to teach your children about the importance of giving back, but you’re not sure how to broach the subject in a way that makes it clear for them, then you’ll appreciate these tips.

Create a Family Donation Jar

You can get the ball rolling by involving the whole family in giving back, not just the kids. This shows that contributing to the community is something that every member of the family should take part in, because it’s that important. If you want to be able to give a charitable donation, why not start a family donation jar? [Read more…]

Easy Ways to Make Your Home More Kid-Friendly

April 20, 2017 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Combining décor and functionality is hard enough, but adding kids into the mix makes home design feel almost impossible. Maintaining a clean space, providing comfort and adding safety features are just a few of the ways you can make your home more kid-friendly. Keep these facets in mind and transform your home into a safe, happy shelter for your entire family.

Furniture That Provides Storage Space

As any parent with young children can attest, it’s easy for the living room to turn from elegant sitting room to toy box overflow. It’s important to look for furniture that does double duty when it comes to style and storage. From ottomans that open up to provide the perfect book storing nook, to side tables that feature drawers where you can toss pencils and crayons that aren’t getting used, looking for furniture that provides storage solutions is essential. Shop for storage furniture on CrateandBarrel.com. [Read more…]

Find the Best Gear for Your Baby at the Best Buy Baby Sale-Giveaway

February 21, 2017 by Kathryn 156 Comments

One of the things that always amazes me about baby products is how many innovations are still being made when it comes to baby care. In just the few years since my boys were babies, products are now safer, more comfortable, more versatile and more effective when it comes to raising a happy baby. And Best Buy Canada has done an amazing job of finding those top products and offering them to parents at a great price!

Even better, from right now until March 9, Best Buy Canada is making its great selection of baby products even more appealing during the Best Buy Baby Sale! If you’ve been longing to stock up on baby gear for a new little one, this is the time to do it! As I glanced through the sale items, I couldn’t help but think about what I might have bought if these products had been available when my boys were babies. These are my top pics for must-haves for any new moms!

Graco Maddox 3-in-1 Crib

If there’s one thing that instantly makes a piece of baby gear more appealing to me, it’s versatility. And this crib boasts plenty! Its convertible design ensures that when baby outgrows the crib in its initial configuration, it can be converted into a toddler bed or a daybed so that one purchase will provide years of use for your little one! [Read more…]

How to Help Your Kids Express Themselves

September 29, 2016 by Kathryn 1 Comment

As adults, we often joke about wanting to be a kid again, but the truth is it can be hard to navigate childhood. They desperately want to be older and do things that are out of their reach, and processing their feelings when we turn them down can be difficult. They have so many emotions but don’t always have the maturity to know what to do with them. You don’t have to be a therapist to help. As parents, we have can learn many ways to help kids express themselves in a positive way. Read on for more!

Take Them on a Trip

This might sound weird, but road trips can work magic for getting your child to really open up and talk. Consider taking them to see something fairly educational, like these three monuments, the Grand Canyon, or the White House. Family trips are something they will value for years to come, and the stories they create about them are even better. They’ll also be able to write about them in school and, of course, writing is another form of self-expression. If you can’t get a road trip on the calendar any time soon, simply ask them questions while you’re driving them in the car. There’s something about the lack of eye contact that allows them to feel free to say what they mean. Turn down the music! [Read more…]

4 Tips to Help You Motivate Your Child in Sports

September 22, 2016 by Kathryn 1 Comment

Understanding what motivates your child in the first place to head out onto the pitch, field, or ice rink can help you better determine how to improve the experience for them. Keeping your little one motivated as time drags on, practices get harder, and competition gets tougher can be a difficult task, but with a little forethought, a lot of love and plenty of patience, you can help encourage your child to continue on in their youth sports career. Here are four tips to help you inspire your child to excel in whatever sport they choose!

Keep a Calm Head

If you haven’t been the hothead parent at the game, you’ve definitely seen one. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment during a tense inning or stressful quarter, but your child needs you calm and pulled together when the proverbial “stuff” is hitting the fan. Don’t be that nightmare sports parent that takes things way too seriously. Serve as a spectator when your child is on the field and his biggest supporter the moment he steps off. The right positive encouragement during a game is always welcome, but keep it to a minimum. Let your presence do the talking, cheer when appropriate, and avoid heckling and negative outbursts. We all know how easy it is to embarrass our kids (it’s a rite of passage for every parent), but this type of embarrassment could cause them to lose interest in the game and all that it entails. [Read more…]

As Canada Takes on the World at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, P&G Reminds Us To Say Thank You, Mom

August 8, 2016 by Kathryn 33 Comments

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games have kicked off with a bang and I have to admit that watching Penny Oleksiak win Canada’s first medals of the games (and its first medals in women’s swimming in the last twenty years!) has resulted in my being glued to the television as I go through my day. Whether I’m watching the highly acclaimed Canadian women’s gymnastics team to the men’s volleyball team winning a hard-fought victory over the United States, I can’t help but feel my heart swell up with pride for Canada as our athletes get a chance to show others what they can do.

Throughout those performances, P&G is there supporting our athletes and their families. An official sponsor of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the company has always been passionate about supporting athletes and also providing recognition for the sacrifices that parents make to help their children excel. And as in past years, the P&G video for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games exemplifies that. The video celebrates the idea that behind every amazing athlete is an amazing mom and I’ll admit that I can’t watch it without getting tears in my eyes!

My personal favourite competitors this year, the beautiful and talented FAB IV divers, are a great example of how a mother’s support is essential to success. Roseline Filion (27), Meaghan Benfeito (25), Jennifer Abel (23) and Pamela Ware (21) have won 86 medals between the four of them in a variety of international events and aren’t planning on slowing down any time soon. Ware has said that seeing her own mother get through tough times in younger years inspired her to be a stronger person. Now her mother is the first person she calls after competing, no matter what the results were. And Filion knows her mother’s sacrifices were essential to her success. She admits that without her mother’s support, she would have quit long ago.

While Abel and Ware narrowly missed the podium in the women’s 3-metre synchronized event (coming in fourth and less than one point away from a bronze medal), both women will also be competing in the individual 3-meter springboard event later in the week as well. And tomorrow Filion and Benfeito will have the chance to earn a medal in the women’s 10-metre synchronized diving event. I can’t wait to cheer them on and I have no doubt that their performance will be thrilling.

FAB IV Canadian Olympic Divers — Photo Credit: Vincent Graton

And throughout the games, the divers’ mothers will be cheering them on too, thanks in part to the sponsorship from P&G! Whether you’re a passionate Olympic fan or just a casual viewer of a few favourite events, make sure to watch this year’s P&G Rio 2016 Olympic video to help you get inspired for the coming days. Then tune in and check out Canada’s best athletes as they take on the world and go for gold this year in Rio!