By: Carlene Forde, Manager, Care and Non-profit Sector, Markel Canada Planning to start or grow your family is a decision that comes with a number of considerations. As the cost of living continues to rise, return to office policies surge, and major cities across Canada become more densely populated, many families have had to adapt…
Babies donโt know how good they have it. Especially when their parents inviteย guests over for dinner. Babies get to suck their toes at the dinner table. No oneย else gets to suck their toes at the dinner table. Babies get to stare at people.
Friendship is one of the most vital aspects of childhood, influencing how children connect, communicate, and navigate social situations. However, building and maintaining friendships can be challengingโmany children experience loneliness, exclusion, or conflict with their peers. This struggle lies at the heart of Pink Shirt Day. Each year, on the last Wednesday of February, children…
Itโs that day again. Every year, on the last Wednesday of February we wear our Pink Shirts for Pink Shirt Day! Who would have thought that two teenage boys from Nova Scotia could start such a profound movement?! How did Pink Shirt Day begin? In 2007, David Shepherd and Travis Price witnessed a bullying incident…
Inspired by momโs hug, Huggies Sound of a Hug is a new, FREE online tool where moms can input their heart rate to create a custom sleep track for baby โ and there are over 50,000 outputs available! The maternal sounds aim to calm baby and aid in development.
Preschool and kindergarten years are when children begin to make connections outside of their immediate family, taking small steps towards independence. It is also when they learn to make and keep friends.
(And What to Do About It) Today's parents are far more committed to developing strong, loving connections with their kids than previous generations. But one of the things I encounter in my practice as a child and family psychologist is how difficult that is for most parents in the 21st Century. The chief culprit? Iโll…
Relationships are at the core of our human experience. We connect, make friends, and often make life-changing decisions based on our bonds with others. But as parents, have we ever stopped to evaluate our relationship with our own children? Children donโt come with a parenting manual; they arrive in our lives, and we do our…
The holiday season is like a glittery tornado of concerts, family get-togethers, parties, delicious treats, and a whirlwind of gift-giving. Itโs a time for families to jump into the festive spirit! But while everyoneโs jingle-jangling, for families with neurodiverse children, it can feel like navigating a snow globe thatโs been shaken up. The sensory overload,…
The holiday season often brings excitement over the latest gadgets and trendy toys. While these gifts can be thrilling in the moment, they may miss the opportunity to offer something truly meaningful: the gift of connection and wellness. This year, why not choose presents that inspire kids to recharge, connect, and grow? Thoughtful gifts like…
The thought of skin cancer for our children may seem remote and not a priority at first thought. However, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. And the rates are rising. In fact, one in every five individuals in British Columbia will acquire skin cancer during their lifetime.
Welcome to modern parenting, where being a dad is a tiring, wonderful, endless ride. Gone are the days when fatherhood meant just bringing home the bacon and occasionally doling out sage advice. Today, the role of a father is a full-time gig, complete with the joys of bedtime stories, the challenges of deciphering teenage slang,…
We are learning from the fields of neuroscience and child-development that children need many positive, face-to-face interactions with attentive, sensitive, and responsive parents or caregivers for healthy brain and nervous system development. Play activities between parent and child are excellent ways to provide these necessary interactions to children. Parent-child play offers unique benefits to children…
Parents need to take an active role when it comes to helping their child manage his/her online life. Here are 7 practical tips to help your child on their screen journey:
Embracing togetherness with family at dinnertime is a worldwide tradition spanning generations and a multitude of cultures. Sharing a meal with good conversation is a valued part of our social wellbeing, yet a recent survey1 by Maple Leaf Foods shows that this coveted time of togetherness is another aspect of our lives negatively impacted by…
As a BC nonprofit organization working closely with children with special needs (support needs), and their families, leaders from our family programs at Options Community Services are observing how important inclusion, and adequate resources, are for both the increase in children with support needs, and their families. A 2022 Inclusion BC study examined how families…
Are you going to be parents? Most likely, you are feeling nervous and happy at the same time. It won't be wrong to say that this is quite obvious. Parenting can be considered one of the most difficult jobs in the world. It's kind of a race that starts after a certain period, but there…
Renovating a family home can be challenging enough without children present - let alone when doing it on your own! Renovation projects can be noisy, chaotic and disruptive - not to mention dangerous! When combined with power tools and workstations that look like play areas for small children, a disaster could easily ensue. 1. Establish…
Even though mommy-and-me matching outfit fashion dates back to the 1900s, itโs a trend that has yet to go out of style.ย Itโs always a delight to see mothers and their kids wearing matching clothes, and itโs a fun and creative way for moms to dress up their mini-mes.
In 2021, Transport Canada reported 57 fatalities and 5,303 injuries for children 0-14 years of age. Here are 5 car seat safety tips.
Adolescence is a time when youth typically want to fit in with their peers and be seen as similar to their peers. Yet, when adolescents donโt understand the changes their bodies are going through during puberty, many are left feeling different from their peers, and worry that they are not โnormal.โ The truth is that…
Are you going to be parents? Most likely, you are feeling nervous and happy at thesame time. It won't be wrong to say that this is quite obvious. Parenting can beconsidered one of the most difficult jobs in the world. It's kind of a race that startsafter a certain period, but there is no end.…
It was reported in 2019, that one in four youth (25%) aged 12 to 17 years experienced cyberbullying in the previous year (Statistics Canada).
Co-parenting entails both parents actively participating in the upbringing of their children, despite no longer being in a romantic relationship. It prioritizes the well-being and development of the child, fostering stability, consistency, and healthy communication.
