During family activities while embracing the sunny outdoors, ensuring everyone is protected from harmful UV rays becomes essential. Dr. Julia Carroll, a board-certified dermatologist, shares practical tips on making sun safety a fun and integral part of your family's routine. Here are 6 questions about sun safety to consider while enjoying family activities! Q1: Why…
Injuries are a leading cause of death and disability across the world, and Canada is no exception. National Injury Prevention Day, observed annually on July 5th, is a crucial reminder of the importance of injury prevention in ensuring Canadians can live long, healthy lives. Through education, advocacy, and community involvement, we can significantly reduce the…
June is Men's Mental Health Month, a crucial time to acknowledge the unique challenges men face when it comes to mental well-being. While conversations about mental health have become more commonplace in recent years, a persistent stigma still surrounds men seeking help. This silence can have serious consequences, as men are far less likely than…
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. All the more reason to…
Financial stress is the main source of conflict among couples. Arguments over who makes more and who spends more gets even more complicated when you add in the challenges of raising children. Effective financial planning is a vital tool for fostering higher relationship satisfaction and avoiding the inevitable stresses. Read here about was financial planning…
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,…
Swimming isn’t just about fun splashes and summer days; it’s a vital life skill every child should learn. Beyond the joy of splashing around on a hot day, swimming offers numerous benefits that extend far beyond the pool. The Benefits of Learning to Swim Learning to swim, especially through a well-established curriculum, provides crucial water…
How To Fit A Child’s Helmet For Safe Riding I was a cautious child growing up. Like many of our campers, I was hesitant to try new things at first. I went on to become a Pedalheads bike instructor and it was there that I learned two big lessons when I taught children how to ride on their own…
Reaching the two-year mark in motherhood is a milestone filled with a spectrum of emotions, experiences, and invaluable lessons. As I reflect on these past two years, I am struck by the profound transformation that motherhood brings. It's a journey that defies simple categorization, blending moments of unparalleled joy with times of significant challenge. Here,…
Menstrual Hygiene Day was marked on the 28th of May, to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management. Experiencing a first period is a significant milestone in a child's life, often accompanied by a mix of excitement, anxiety, and curiosity. As a parent, your guidance and support during this time can make a profound…
The Internet is a double-edged sword—offering boundless knowledge and connectivity on one hand while leaving young users vulnerable to online threats on the other. Parents, in particular, find themselves in a continuous battle to safeguard their children’s online experience. Here's you'll learn about the best solutions to challenges faced by many parents in the digital…
Safer cycling for Elementary school students throughout British Columbia after taking part in the fifth year of the Everyone Rides Grade 4-5 program. This program encourages kids throughout the province to try active transportation options in safe and organized environments. Move. Commute. Connect. is B.C.’s strategy for cleaner, more active transportation, part of the Province’s…
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…
Prosperous Family Celebrations: Lunar New Year at Metropolis at Metrotown The Year of the Dragon is upon us and to celebrate, Metropolis at Metrotown is transforming into a cultural hub for Lunar New Year festivities from February 9th till February 24th. The Lunar New Year varies each year based on, you guessed it, the Lunar…
According to Canada’s 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth, pre-teens up to age 13 require nine to eleven hours of sleep per night, while teens between 14 and 17 need eight to ten hours every night. Good quality sleep is essential to healthy growth and development, a fact that won’t surprise any parent.
Taking steps to protect your family’s health at home is a natural instinct. If there’s mold, you clean it. If you have a pest infestation, you remove them. But, there's a major pollutant commonly used in homes across Canada that increases risks to health that not enough people are aware of: gas. Across North America,…
Parents want the best for their children, and one of the things you can do to secure a bright future for your kids is to make critical thinkers out of them. A critical thinker is open-minded, curious, and can respect diverse perspectives.However, raising critical thinkers does not happen naturally, it will require some effort. You’ll…
Earlier on in my professional life, and during my on-screen career, I've had the pleasure of working with some pretty awesome kids. What many Mr. D fans may not know is that before entering the entertainment industry, I spent over nine years as a phys-ed teacher. During that time, I saw the students run through…
As parents, it is our innate nature to do all we can to support and nurture our children’s development. There are so many stresses, hurdles, and concerns. Parents with children with disabilities or medical conditions have overwhelming pressure both emotionally and financially as they struggle to find support and put in place early interventions. Getting access to testing,…
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…
Out of nowhere, a great bogeyman has pounced on our students, schools, teachers, and parents simultaneously creating chaos, confusion, and wonder. What is this strange beast that has created such a conundrum of fear, curiosity, and euphoria? Artificial Intelligence or AI, as we all know it. Why out of nowhere? Because on November 30,…
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…
