Homework Help

January 8, 2012 Leave a Comment

Homework can be tough – on kids and parents.  When dd1 was in Gr. 2 I remember spending 2 hours a night supervising homework.  2 hours!  Finally, at parent/teacher interviews I casually, but purposely, mentioned how long it was taking to finish homework and the teacher was shocked.  It shouldn’t take that long – maybe I’m giving too much.  Ya think?!

A few homework tips to pass along

  •  Schedule homework time into a daily activity – same bat time…same bat channel
  • Find the right homework time for your family (for us…it’s after snack but before TV)
  • To each their own homework – even your pre-school kids (psst…print out colouring pages for their “homework”)
  • Use brain power and no e-aids – no phones, no laptops, no tablets or calculators (unless required)

And when you hit the homework wall (for me that is Gr. 6 math – yikes!) know to call on your resources.

http://www.sosdevoirs.org/ - FREE Canadian and available to kids in French public schools SOS DEVOIRS connects real teachers with your real kid to help with homework questions via telephone, email or chat.

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/elearning/homework.html FREE, Canadian and available to English speaking math students (grs. 7-10) who can log in from Sunday to Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EST for 20 hours a week of individualized confidential math tutoring.

As said above, don’t be afraid to talk to the teacher about homework struggles (hey, you don’t know the answer to a question if you don’t ask).

And above all, try, try, try to keep homework positive.  Yes, it can be exhausting but you can add “COACH” to your résumé.  Because, in the end, homework builds the foundation of learning, life skills, focus, confidence and self-starting.  Skills that, we – the parents – use everyday when we supervise homework ;-)

Filed Under: Feature, Organization, parenting Leave a Comment

Parent Club Mom-Made Gift Guide

November 1, 2011 2 Comments

THE WHAT: Parent Club Mom-Made Gift Guide

THE WHY:  Supporting parents who are making it work by working at home.  Supporting local economy.  Not trekking to a store to do your gift shopping with a baby (ok – that’s me).

THE HOW:  Leave a comment and link up your mom-made biz below!

THE PARENT CLUB LUV: Share the Parent Club Gift Guide with friends (Tweet, Facebook, email, whisper during PTA meetings).  Grab the Parent Club button (code is at the bottom of the page).  Leave a comment.  None obligatory but all appreciated.

Have you seen my Parent Club biz cards? – they were made by a mompreneur! What have you bought from a mom biz recently?


Filed Under: Canadian, Feature, motherhood, Organization, parenting 2 Comments

5 things to take to a blogging conference

October 1, 2011 5 Comments

Just back from the She’s Connected Conference and shortly off to Blissdom Canada I have a few suggestions of what to take to a blogging conference.  5 to be exact.

  1. Your device.  Whether it be a phone, tablet, notepad (the electronic kind) or tablet - you’re device is your connection to the conference…and the conference peeps…and the greater world who want to know what your doing at the conference.  (aside: save your data plan – most blogging conferences have free wifi) You’ll want an integrated camera, notepad application and social media apps like twitter, facebook and google +.  You might event want to blog.
  2. Your business cards to give out to brands, bloggers and friends.  Make sure your biz card includes your name, your niche, your web addy and your @ name (home address not needed).  You can get family friendly priced cards at Vista Print, Moo and my personal fav. Grace Announcements (the latter did mine – read the Parent Club profile of this Canadian mompreneur!)
  3. Your charger.  That low battery warning is an “oh no!” moment at a blogging conference.  Chargers take up little space but can save your sanity big time.
  4. Snacks.  Yes, there may be snacks and meals…and blogging conferences try really hard to accommodate various dietary issues…but snacks are a good thing.  (and if you take chocolate you will be everyone’s BFF at the sugar craving hour).
  5. Your “team”.  One would think a room full of people doing all the same thing would make for competitors but really bloggers create a community of colleagues.  Whether you are a newbie or a veteran to blogging remember that everyone in that room is a part of your team – and as such bring to the field respect, engagement and support.

Blogging and social media conferences are great events to network, learn, question and get inspired.  These 5 things are my go-to tool box.  And every girl deserves some good tools in her life ;-)

Filed Under: Feature, Organization, Parent Club, Technology 5 Comments

Tip for those bottles

September 26, 2011 Leave a Comment

image

Re-purpose strawberry baskets to hold baby bottle parts in your dishwasher.

Environmentally friendly and making life easier!

Filed Under: Feature, Organization, Parent Club Tagged With: , , Leave a Comment

The Great Games Trade-In Event | Hasbro & Toys R Us

September 11, 2011 Leave a Comment

Mark your calendar to trade in your old board games for a good cause!

THE WHAT: Toys“R”Us hosts The Great Games Trade-In Event where families will save $5.00 off any Hasbro game over $9.67 when they trade in any old board game.

THE WHEN: September 9th through September 29th

THE WHERE: all Toys”R”Us locations across Canada.

THE WHY: Well…because board games get old…and this is a great incentive to replace them.  Plus, (feel good component here) Hasbro Canada Corporation will donate one (1) Board Game per game exchanged at Toys“R”Us locations nationwide between September 9th and September 29th , to the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Through a broad array of in-patient, out-patient and online resources, Starlight works hard to support seriously ill children and their families from diagnosis through the entire course of medical treatment and beyond. Whether it’s a trip to the zoo, a toy-filled playroom or an exciting sporting event, Starlight’s mission is to bring fun, joy and giggles right where they are needed the most!

 

Filed Under: activities, Organization, Parent Club, parenting Leave a Comment

Computers and Kids | Back to School

September 7, 2011 Leave a Comment

How old is old enough for a kid to have a computer as a homework tool?  Tough question when you think that modern days kids are growing up with computers, smart boards and tablets in an everyday use environment.

In my personal experience, gr. 5 computer assignments started rolling in (in addition – students were required to check class blog for homework and download google docs for assignements – I suppose this gave them computer experience, make homework a bit more fun being on-line as well has environmentally friendly as less paper was being used).

Now, I’m not saying every 10 year old NEEDS a computer.

However, should you be searching for a student tool or a family computer upgrade…here are a few shameless recommendations.

#1 Keep your kids on-line safe.  On-line security is the Parent Club #1 tip for computers and kids.  The internet has some shady corners!  Parental controls, anti-virus software and making computer use manditory in a general area (like the kitchen where Mom can keep an eye on the computer surfing) are important.

#2  Best Buy is a great destination for research as well as purchasing.  Why?  Because the sales representatives are not paid on commission so they’re advice is not driven by extra $ or sales quotas. In my experience, the reps there can you give solid advice based on your present and future needs (see shameless recommendation).

#3 What kind of computers do your kids need?  Check out the Parent Club investigation of Tablets for Tots and Tablets for Tots – Part Deux where we did a side-by-side hands-on comparison of the BlackBerry Playbook, Apple Ipad, Samsung Galaxy and Mortola Xoom in terms of family use.  Maybe a portable device works best for your family?  Maybe a laptop?  Only research will tell.

And finally, keep to the 20-20-20 rule for to ease eye strain during computer use.  For every 20 minutes of sitting in front of a computer - take a 20 second break - looking at an object that is 20 feet away.

 

Filed Under: activities, Back to School, Feature, Organization, Parent Club, Technology Leave a Comment

Parent Club’s New Look

August 31, 2011 2 Comments

Whoa?! you say?  Am I in the right place? you ask?

Parent Club is all different yet so the same.   The Trouble With Change is that is changes everything.

Parent Club needed a change…and so with the help of Nap Warden (great designer!)…we’re changing and growing and making Parent Club all different yet so the same.

What’s different:  new platform, new features and new pops of colour (’cause the world is a colourful place)!

What’s same:  same great content.

Do you like?  Add a comment down below – if nothing else just to let me know the comments section works ;-)

Filed Under: Organization, Parent Club 2 Comments

Stuck On You Review & Giveaway

August 25, 2010 5 Comments


THE WHAT: In time for Back to School 2010 Stuck on You has just launched a new “Designer Collection”. Organize school supplies, belongings and everyday-life stuff with personalized labels. On-line ordering makes life easier and delivery to your door means you aren’t in a line up with tired children at the mall.

THE HOW: Personalized backpacks, lunch bags, book labels and more.

THE REVIEW: Parent Club had the opportunity to review some personalized library bags (which are available in 13 different themes and 5 different colour combinations). Kids LOVED seeing their names on their own bags! Just the right size and practical – I can see these bags being used for swim lessons, overnights with grandparents as well book carry-alls.

We also received Clothing Dots (which are iron-on permanent clothing labels that adhere to fabric). Vinyl labels (goes on everything non-fabric – from water bottles to sports equipment. Microwave and dishwasher safe too!). Plus some groovy Vinyl Book labels.

All of the Stuck on You products are easy-to-use, friendly and kid-loved. Pre-readers can use the fun colours & images to recognize their belongings while readers can easily spot their names.

THE GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate the Designer Collection launch Stuck On You is offering a lucky Parent Club reader: a personalized lunch and label pack – value is $57.00.

TO ENTER:
Surf over to Stuck On You and have a look around – then come back to Parent Club and comment to this post – which Stuck On You product attracts you the most and why.

THE RULES (because life has rules)

  • One entry per day
  • Tweet the giveaway and mention @StuckOnYouCA (and comment here that you did so) = an extra entry
  • Giveaway closes Sept. 3rd (just in time for school!)

*winner will be randomly chosen

www.parentclub.ca
Filed Under: Back to School, Giveaway, Organization, Parent Club, Product Reviews 5 Comments

Back to School Tips

August 20, 2010 1 Comment


I, for one, am fairly excited it’s back to school season. It’s been a great summer. It’s been fun. But it’s time to move on (seriously…let’s move on).

And I have been busy writing back to school themed articles…

These were for the good folks at everythingmom.com

Building Homework Habits

Tips on How to Organize the Night Before

Fit to be Tied: Tips On Tying Shoes

If you care to share back to school tips for fellow Parent Club peeps – send me an e-mail or put it in a comment here…Next week I’ll be running a series of back to school posts – which include lunch box tips, getting school ready and why does your school bag smell?…

www.parentclub.ca
Filed Under: activities, Back to School, food, kids, Organization, Parent Club, school 1 Comment

Over at Today’s Parent

June 17, 2010 Leave a Comment

Swing over to Today’s Parent to read my lastest Home Base column…

Organizing Intervention

The irony was not lost on me…I was reviewing Hellen Buttigieg’s latest book “Organizing Outside the Box” and um…I couldn’t find it in my home office. Whoopsie! Though I try to keep the office a “toy-free-zone” I had been working on an article and the kids slipped in under my radar. Hellen’s book …

Read the rest of this entry »

www.parentclub.ca
Filed Under: Organization, publishing credit/portfolio, Today's Parent Leave a Comment

Are parents busier now?…

June 15, 2010 1 Comment

I don’t’ remember seeing June Cleaver rushing to make a quick, nutritious dinner and then driving Beaver over to the soccer field. June made pot roast (every night of the week I think)…and we all know how much of a pain it is to clean the pot roast pan…from which I surmise…June never took Beaver to soccer.

Fast forward to my life -> Monday soccer game & soccer practice (both kids, same time, two different fields), Tuesday soccer practice, Wednesday free, Thursday soccer game, Friday Karate, Saturday Karate & dance, Sunday Karate. (now that all the cyber stalkers know my schedule…). It is quite obvious I’m not making pot roast people!

Are we over-scheduling our kids? Mine have 2 sports each. Only 2 sports. I always said I wanted the kids in only 2 sports because I preferred they did 2 things well then 12 things unwell. And I thought the 2 sport cap was within good limitations.

A winter sport and a summer sport. However, (and I didn’t know this) sports overlap this time of year – creating a bubble of “hurry-up-and-eat-you’ve-got-”insertsporthere”-and-we-need-to-go”).

I’m thinking next year – each person in the house will chose 1 activity – and only 1 activity. And then maybe I’ll be able to make pot roast.

www.parentclub.ca
Filed Under: activities, Organization, Parent Club, parenting 1 Comment
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