Parenting

Four Top Math Board Games for Kids

August 4, 2020 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

In an age when kids spend so much time in front of screens, board games are an often overlooked opportunity for learning. From basic life skills like fair play and taking turns to more complex learning concepts specific to certain games, board games are something that can benefit both parents and kids in so many ways!

And if you have a child that’s struggling with math concepts, math board games can be the perfect way to master new skills while also having fun as a family! Wondering which game might be a good choice for your children? Boardgameswizard.com recommends these top four games for helping to develop math skills: [Read more…]

Internet Safety: Six Top Tips for Parents

July 7, 2020 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

It’s 2020 and in this modern age, almost all devices are connected to the internet…that’s just the way it is. It’s inevitable that our children are going to be using the internet on their laptops, tablets, or mobile phones for something or the other. Not only are kids using the internet for their studies and for research purposes, they’re also online watching live streams from their favorite YouTuber or playing multiplayer games with their friends.

With the novel Coronavirus pandemic, connecting to the internet became more important than ever – it was how most of my boys’ schooling was done for the last three months of the year. The Internet was a new concept when I was a child; now, it’s a necessity.

But, as with everything, it’s our responsibility to keep our kids safe from all kinds of harm and the internet can be a dangerous space. It all depends on how we use it and how we communicate about it. Keep these six safety tips in mind when deciding when and how your child uses the internet.

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Six Fun and Useful Gift Ideas for a One-Year-Old Child

May 12, 2020 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

The first year after having a baby is a whirlwind of new experiences and growth, so it’s only natural most parents want to make a big deal out of their baby’s milestone first birthday.

But what do you get for your precious little bundle of joy? With so many choices for little ones today, it can be overwhelming trying to find a perfect gift! If you’re struggling on deciding on a present your baby will love, use these six top choices as inspiration to help you decide!

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Tips For Supporting Your Children Preparing for University

January 23, 2020 by Kathryn 3 Comments

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 4 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…]