Parenting

Tips For Supporting Your Children Preparing for University

January 23, 2020 by Kathryn 1 Comment

With a son that’s entering high school next year, I’m already looking ahead to preparing him for university. So many of the people I graduated with were ill-prepared for university life, and I don’t want my son to be in the same situation!

That’s why I’m trying to ensure that he has the skills he’ll need to be successful as an independent student by teaching him how to cook basic, nutritious food, how to wash his own clothes, how to write a proper essay, how to check it with a free APA citation tool, and how to make sure his work is neat and easy to read.

Some of those basic tasks are all it takes to give a child an extra advantage over children that had never had to learn skills needed for independence. Kids that have been more sheltered often flounder when left on their own, so I’m trying my best to ensure my son has the proper responsibility for university life.

It goes without saying that the road to (and then through) university is a long one. And the earlier you start planning for it, the better! [Read more…]

The Importance of Reading to Baby

January 22, 2020 by Kathryn 2 Comments

I’m a passionate reader and because of that, I’ve always been equally passionate about reading to my boys. Since the day they were born and even before that, I would read my favourite books from my own childhood out loud to them.

And while I mostly started reading to them because I enjoyed it, I saw for myself the other benefits that it had for my children. Encouraging their love of reading helped improve their language development and other early learning skills…which then increased their success when the time came to go to school!

While there are many wonderful benefits of reading to your baby, here are four of the key ones to keep in mind: [Read more…]

Over 75 Baby Boy and Girl Names from A-Z

December 16, 2019 by Kathryn 1 Comment

One of the highlights of a new baby is choosing the perfect name, and it’s something that takes a lot of careful consideration! Whether you prefer a unique, new name or a classic, historical name, deciding on just the right name among the many baby boy and girl names is no easy task!

If you’re beginning the process of brainstorming names for your new baby boy or girl, here are a few things you might want to consider!

Try out some names that rhyme with your or your partner’s name.
You may want to avoid names that are extremely outdated, as those names are sometimes mocked by others when children get older.
Consider the meaning of the name and choose one that speaks to you.
Ask your partner about their own favourite names, and find one that both of you love.

Bible names have been popular for years and range from well-known classic names to lesser-known unique ones. To help you make your decision, take a look at these boy and girl names from A-Z! [Read more…]

4 Important Lessons We Can Teach Our Kids About Self Care Skills

October 31, 2019 by Kathryn 5 Comments

As parents, one of the greatest truths about raising kids is that they learn from what they see us do. Raising healthy, happy and well-adjusted children isn’t about what we tell them, it’s about how we model our behavior to set an example for them.

Our kids learn a lot from us; they learn how to treat others, how to carry themselves out in the world, and how to set standards for themselves. But one of the most important things our kids will learn from us is how to treat and value themselves. If we take care of our well-being, both physically and mentally, that will become something our kids will also value.

Learning self care skills is incredibly beneficial for children, but we need to teach them the right way. Self care is not about vanity or being selfish. It’s about ensuring that our minds and bodies are nourished so that we can better provide for others. Pouring from an empty cup doesn’t benefit anyone!

If you’re wondering how to start teaching your kids about the benefits of self care, use these four key points to help them learn some of the basics: [Read more…]

Getting Your Teen a Smartphone? Five New Ways TELUS Helps Keep Families Connected

August 14, 2019 by Kathryn 4 Comments

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

In June, our family celebrated a milestone that I’ve been anticipating all year…we officially have a teenager in the house!

I’ll be honest; I’ve been nervous about my oldest son Zack’s teen years for a while now. From worrying about peer pressure to dealing with mood swings to paying for the sudden increase in our grocery bill, teenagers bring their own unique challenges to a household.

But managing my son’s cell phone use is one aspect of teen life that won’t bring me any extra stress at all, thanks to TELUS! The company knows that life with teenagers has enough challenges, so they’ve put together several new programs designed to make managing a family’s wireless use easier than ever before.

Looking for the perfect phone solutions for your teenagers? Check out these five great options TELUS has for families! [Read more…]