Potty training is the third biggest commitment in my life (my education and marriage are 1 & 2 – but not in that order). It takes true dedication to get a toddler on a toilet seat. If you have started potty training anyone you will know what I mean. This part of parenthood is when…
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Three Cheers for Dirty Little Secrets
Hip Hip Hooray! I am a secretkeeper. I have hoodwinked, mislead and – yes – fibbed to my children (for their benefit mind you). Three cheers for guilt-free, hurt-free, dirty little secrets! Yesterday I grated zucchini and worked them into beef and spices for homemade hamburgers. When it came time to eat…the littliest LOVED the…
Where to Donate?….
Make a list of some super quality used kid items you have and e-mail it to your circle of friends. Someone might have a use for the stroller or the snowsuit that’s in your basement. Take your stuff to Once Upon A Child or your neighbourhood consignment shop to earn some cash. I took a…
Recycle Your Stuff
My house is brimming with stuff. Everywhere I look, in every nook and cranny there is stuff. We just don’t need this much stuff. So at the end of the winter school break, I took the children into the toy room and asked them to sort out what things they think they should give to…
The Waiting Game
Parent Club tip: To make shopping a bit nicer – I plan the children’s snack time to coincide with shopping. Of course, they are a bit grumpy getting into the cart as they are hungry. But once the cheerios, fruit slices or homemade muffin is in their hand they are content to munch while I…
Quiet Time
Parent Club tip; re-introduce quiet time into the schedule – even for school aged kids. The cold weather, the hectic holidays, the change in routine — tires everyone out. Choose your arsenic hour (4pm here) and turn on a movie to entertain and relax the children. Take this time to step away from the kids…
Stuff to do during Winter Vacation
For a few hours you could; – go skating, sledding, walking in the snow– visit your local library– join a friend at an indoor playplace/playground – visit an early years centre– take the kids for a haircut– bake breakfast muffins– visit a grandparent– go to the dollar store to buy anything the kids want– make…
Party kids
With many festive meals approaching…here’s a kid-food-hint; relax. To start, why not have them help prepare the meals rather than rush them out of the kitchen. OK – infants and toddlers are excused from servitude this year. However, preschoolers and school aged kids can certainly lend a hand – and really, don’t they love having…
Kids Craft – Orange Clove Pomander
Going on a field trip to Black Creek Pioneer Village inspired me to find a kid craft for orange clove pomanders. They smell great and scream ‘Victorian Christmas’. This is a appropriate craft for a school aged child – with parental help. Here’s what you need; a washed orange or lemonmany many whole clovescinnamonnutmegorris root…
Are your kids tired?
Does anyone else find that their children are completely wiped out at the end of the day? Perhaps, it’s the extra energy spent in chilly recess hours. Perhaps, it’s the nervous tension of school ending next week and the surprises of the season which follow. Whatever the reason…my kids are tired. The emotion, over-tired anger…