Kids

Photo: iStockphoto If you have a brand-new kindergartener, you may be wondering—or worrying about—school readiness. Many parents of this age spend the weeks leading up to the first day of school practicing academic basics like counting and prereading. And while those are certainly important, most kindergarten teachers will tell you that soft skills like cooperation,

Health Canada, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (US CPSC), PROFECO and Contigo have recalled nearly 6 million water bottles after identifying that the water bottle’s clear silicone spout can detach, posing a choking hazard to children. Only water bottles with a black colour spout base and black colour spout cover are included in this recall.

You don’t need an excuse to jump into the pool or try some adventure sports at the beach. Do you? But you sure need an amazing pair of shorts or trunks that you can flaunt when you go swimming. Boys’ swimsuits can be monochrome, playful, sleek, or even multicolored. Your search for the best and

Teens feel grown up and want to behave like one but are not technically adults. Nevertheless, most teens want to explore the world independently. This independence partly comes from financial freedom or the little purchases which they start making. Thus, wallets for teens slowly become an integral part of their accessories. In this post, MomJunction

Illustration by Wenting Li Antoinette Ellis’s five-year-old daughter, Zariah, already knows what she wants to be when she grows up. Her main gig will be scientist, but she plans on earning extra income as an opera singer and a part-time DJ. This future may not sound particularly realistic, but Ellis is nonetheless doing all she

Kids develop a keen interest in music at an early age, and some even learn to play an instrument. Music is often a source of inspiration and also relaxing for kids. With a portable music player, a child can enjoy their favorite music anywhere. However, you need to make sure that the child is not

Photo: iStockphoto Teaching “connected-style handwriting”—otherwise known as cursive handwriting—has fallen out of fashion on many school curricula. Older generations have sometimes been shocked that some younger people today can’t sign their names on official documents or even read a handwritten note. Canadian provinces have seen a decline in teaching and learning cursive. In Ontario schools,

Photo: iStockphoto When my son was no more than three, he toddled up to a salesperson in the toy aisle of a department store and asked for a Polly Pocket. “Oh, but that’s a girl’s toy,” she replied. My partner intervened promptly, assuring our son there was no such thing as a girl’s or boy’s

Photo: iStockphoto Two years ago, I was at my weekly Weight Watchers (WW) meeting when something happened that disturbed me so much that I left and never came back. One of the participants—chatty, enthusiastic and full of weight-loss ideas—was a child. What was so deeply upsetting about seeing a kid offering suggestions about cravings is

Photo by Carmen Cheung From backpacks to lunch boxes, there’s plenty to prepare for your kid’s return to the classroom. One school staple that every child needs is a sturdy water bottle, so they can stay hydrated while they learn and play. Whether your focus is on design, keeping leaks at bay or sustainability, we’ve got several

Photo: iStockphoto Milk is a mainstay in many children’s diets, found in everything from infant formulas to birthday cakes. But if your child is allergic, it can be tough to avoid. If milk is off the menu, it’s important to replace it with alternative sources of calcium and vitamin D. Here’s what you need to

Photo: iStockphoto Dipping a plain cracker or carrot in hummus is a great way to boost its nutritional content and flavour, but if your child has a sesame allergy, even a tiny taste of the spread can cause a serious reaction. Sesame is a major cause of life-threatening allergic reactions in the Middle East, where

Photo: iStockphoto Eggs make an easy breakfast—and lunch and dinner. They’re perfect for those days when you don’t have a ton of time to cook but want to make sure that your kid still eats a healthy meal packed with protein and vitamins. But if your child has an egg allergy, not only is this

Photo: iStockphoto Savouring a sticky ice cream cone on a sunny summer afternoon is one of the greatest joys of childhood. But for some kids, indulging in the sweet treat is soon followed by a tummy ache, which might mean that they’re lactose intolerant. The condition typically develops after age three but doesn’t necessarily mean

With the school year kicking into high gear once again, you’re going to be pretty busy rushing to pick-up and chauffeuring your kid to all their extracurricular activities. If you don’t have time to prepare all the cute Pinterest-worthy snacks you envisioned for your little ones, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with these delicious packaged

Photo: iStockphoto Five days a week, I’m tasked with waking my 17-year-old daughter for school. “It’s 7 a.m. sweetie,” I say as gently as possible. As usual, there’s no sign of life. I say it a few more times. Crickets. At this point, I start to worry that she has stopped breathing, which unfortunately means

IN THIS ARTICLE Kids love playing in the water. You know it already if your little one refuses to get out of the bathtub even after they’re done bathing. But letting the child soak in the bathtub for too long is not a good idea. So how do you let them play in the water

Photo: iStockphoto Letting her five-year-old son Lucas use the iPad in the morning seemed like a great idea at first, says Medicine Hat, Alta., mom Ashley Heinl. To reward him for getting ready quickly—and to encourage more of that type of behaviour—she’d let him play a game or watch a show for a few minutes

Photo: iStockphoto When he didn’t get enough sleep, five-year-old Jack* wasn’t himself in the morning. He was a cat. He would crawl around on the floor and answer his parents with meows. “That’s how we knew he was really tired,” says his mom, Rachel Torres.* Bedtime was supposed to be 8 p.m. in their house,

PHOTO: CARMEN CHEUNG With the new school year just around the corner, shopping for supplies can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best reusable and eco-friendly lunch containers and gear your little (and big!) kids will love. From bento lunch boxes to a bamboo cutlery set, you’ll be able to check lunch gear