Does your child love to sing? Love plunking on the piano or pounding on the drum? Do you think you might have a future musician in your home? Let’s look at some short and long term benefits of music lessons.
Humans are born curious. Our curiosity helps us make sense of the world and encourages us to learn through observation, play, and exploration AKA STEM activities. As we continue to grow, our curiosity and thirst for knowledge contribute to our ability to learn, build foundational skills and cultivate a love of learning that translates into…
100% volunteer-run charity, Ripple Foundation, announced Cora Arvidson, a seventh-grade student from Vancouver’s Sir William Osler Elementary School, as one of two winners of its 10th annual Kids Write 4 Kids creative challenge, a one-of-a-kind nationwide competition for students in grades four to eight. Cora’s winning poetry collection, Threads, is available in paperback and ebook…
Three-time award-winning author Shantelle Bisson was born and raised in Toronto and splits her time between Toronto and her marina that she purchased in 2018, Shantilly's Place, in the Kawartha region of Ontario. Having just launched her third book 'Loving Yourself Without Losing Your Cool' which is structured by Shantelle's own personal omissions -- she…
Summer Day Camps and extracurricular activities are great opportunities for your children to take part in something outside of their usual routine. Summer Camps help children to foster an open mind, build new relationships, strengthen interpersonal and work skills outside of their familiar zones, and learn or refine a skill. Whether your child is interested in sports,…
It’s hard to know how to talk to kids about climate change. Children can’t help but be aware of bad climate news, but parents must also provide comfort and hope for their future. There is reason to be hopeful, and reason to be fearful. Most importantly for kids, the loss of plant and animal life…
etting a great mark, and forgetting everything you learned after a few days. The status quo is only focusing on getting great marks, but not looking ahead at how to prepare for a changing world. Here are 8 common successful life mistakes.
Kids and the young at heart will enjoy films from BC, Canada, and around the world at this year's Reel to Real festival. In-person screenings at the Roundhouse Community Centre and Vancity Theatre. The films can also be streamed online from anywhere in BC.
When my wife and I first met a family who spoke more than one language to their toddler, we were intrigued. Was that possible? Would it be healthy for our children?
We've been asked to start homeschooling again. It is short-term and hopefully only until January 10th. Here are 5 ways to help get through this chaos.
An article from Priya Tronsgard, a proud parent of 2 neurodivergent children, and an author of an upcoming audiobook called Reframe: A Guide for Caregivers and Parents for Neurodivergent Children. From all my experience, I can tell you that parenting children who are autistic is unique, rewarding, and insightful.
We were running errands when one of my teenagers shouted and pointed, “Look! It’s our old preschool!” Soon my other two teens were chiming in, “I loved it there!” and “That was my favorite school. Do you remember when…” And just like that, we were walking down a memory lane of craft projects, field trips,…
It’s Fall and the rain is falling…hard. Have you hunkered down and got cozy on your couch yet? It’s that time of year, but luckily we will be entering the holiday season soon and that always brings cheer!In this issue, we’ve got some tips on how to get your child excited to read and “Hook…
We just learned about an incredible extracurricular program for high school students and wanted to share it with parents in Vancouver. The Knowledge Society (TKS) is a 10-month innovation program for students ages 13-17 who want to solve the world’s biggest problems. The program is modeled after curriculums from Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, and designed…
Technology is here to stay and will prove to be one of the most important tools in your child’s life. Parents must be careful not to villainize technology. By painting excessive screen time in a negative light or punishing your child for spending too much time on their device, this does not deter them away…
Music education has numerous benefits for students, including establishing stronger social skills, increased confidence, and improved academics due to involved brain function. With all of these benefits and more stemming from music, there is no doubt that you should include music education within your child’s online studies. Here are some easy ways to be sure…
Come September, families are expected to send their kids for in-person learning at school. It is an important and welcome step for all. My granddaughter moving to grade two cannot wait to get back to school, especially to play with her classmates! This article provides some tips on preparing your kids for back to school…
After months of uncertainty, it’s now official: most B.C. students will be going back to the classroom in September. Parents are divided about this announcement, with half of them undecided about whether they’ll send their kids back to class. Regardless of which format parents choose, it’s time to help prepare kids for the transition back…
Parents across the country have been faced with the reality of school closures interrupting their children’s learning. As a parent reading this, you’re probably thinking you’ve gained a new title of full-time teacher! However, as we head into the summer months, parents aren’t just worried about the “summer slide” this year, but a major “COVID…
With schools closing to help stop the spread of coronavirus, millions of kids will be at home and you may even be their new substitute teacher. If you’re new to homeschooling, you’re probably wondering how you can help your children learn and keep them occupied while you work from home too. It’s especially important to…
The thought of post-secondary education can be terrifying for parents. The idea of their children leaving the nest and becoming adults, coupled with the fear of the, potentially, enormous education bill makes any parent concerned. As we all know, the cost of post-secondary education increases annually. If your child is currently five, the cost of…
It’s crazy to think that school has been back for 2 months already and now the Holidays are fast approaching. We know there is so much to do and think about, as always. In this issue, we’ve put together a few resources to try and make things a little easier. Check out the Independent School…
It’s hard to believe Summer is almost over. The time flies by so fast with summer camps, summer activities, camping trips and much more to fill the day. It’s now time to start thinking about school again. It’s time to go through the wardrobe and see what kids haven’t outgrown, go through the school supplies…
Parents Don’t Know the Full Costs of Post-Secondary and Don’t Have a Written Plan - Says Ipsos and Knowledge First Financial Recent findings from an Education Savings Week Ipsos1 Survey commissioned by Knowledge First Financial found that Canadian parents do not know the full cost of a post-secondary education. Two-thirds of parents of children aged 12 and…
