As someone who has been working with families for more than 20 years in a professional capacity, I am often approached by different companies and other specialists and professionals about products I recommend, or even simply to review child and/or sleep related products.   This morning I got an email from Kayla at reviews.com who […]

Once children are off to preschool, or school, many parents tend to leave it to the teacher to work on pre-reading skills, and trust that their young child is learning what they need to in school.   The truth is, that learning is a triad of student, family, and school. All three must be invested […]

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Time ‘springs forward’ by one hour Sunday, March 13th. Like a good number of parents of young children (especially those with wee ones we’ve worked so hard to get into a routine and schedule), I would prefer to see annual time changes abolished, but since I can think […]

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Time ‘springs forward’ by one hour on Sunday, March 8th. Like a good number of parents of young children (especially those with wee ones we’ve worked so hard to get into a routine and schedule), I would prefer to see annual time changes abolished, but since I can […]

The Picky Eater. It happens to the best of us. The biggest mealtime power struggle, is often about what our children will or will not eat. This can be the toughest area to make changes to, because it can require a completely new mindset for some parents. A new perspective for everyone, in fact. There […]

It can be difficult to consistently have your entire family sit down together to eat, but for some families, it’s even tougher to get the children to actually eat. If that’s your family, help is here!   I recently wrote about a few simple ways avoid warfare and food battles with your children, at the […]

It’s supper time, and it’s a drag. This is a reality that almost all families deal with at some point. Even the most varied and daring of eaters, can suddenly refuse everything. The opposite can happen too though, so here are some great tips with regard to getting everyone back on track, and enjoying meals […]

Every year, in January and February there seems to be an influx of parents trying not to pull their hair out because sleep routines and habits in their homes went out the window over the holidays. Here are a few ways to prevent yours from being one of those families! Make sure going into the […]

Yes, it’s THAT time of year again. Oh joy! For children who are quite structured with going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning, the time change can cause a ‘sleep debt’ for a little while which is why it is most noticeable in babies […]

If you have kids, chances are good that you’ll need a fail-proof sugar cookie recipe for the gazillions of times you’ll be destroying your kitchen, letting little hands decorate them. These are the easiest and tastiest ever! 3/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking powder 3 C AP flour (more for rolling) 1 & 1/4 C […]

“How Much Sleep is Optimal?” For new (and repeat!) parents or clients, this is a very common question! There is no firm answer; the younger the child, the more likely the amount will vary a little. However, there are general guidelines that you can use to see if your little one falls near the mark […]

My blogs, columns, and discussions with parents almost always revolve around children and family, but sometimes it’s necessary to be selfish and put YOUR needs first. After all, what good are you to your family if you are constantly putting everyone else and their needs first, and end up feeling miserable (often, before you even […]

When to keep your sick baby/child at home I read an article recently which stated that “The common cold is not enough reason to keep a child at home.”. In which universe? I agree that the occasional runny nose or very mild cough is not enough reason to have to take a few days off […]

While the rest of the country heads into Spring, us Albertans are familiar with that last big bunch of snow that hits in mid to late March, every year. And, today is the day apparently. Thank goodness it’s not accompanied by horribly cold temperatures, so it’s actually the perfect weather to enjoy some outdoor snowy […]

Could it be so? Is it time? Sometime between 14 and 18 months, your toddler will start to only nap once a day. (Some, like mine, sooner even!) At around 3 years old your child will likely stop napping completely. This can vary greatly though, from child to child. Some are ready to stop napping […]

Personally, I would prefer to see it abolished, but since I can think of better things to spend my time advocating for, I guess we will have to live with it…for now. Yes, it’s that time of year again. The clock ‘springs forward’ by one hour on Sunday, March 9th. Here are a couple different […]

I read this the other day: “Welcome to Parenthood, where everyone is always right. Except you.” I get a kick out of that statement, because it can often ring true! There is SO much information (and misinformation) floating around these days, that it can be hard to read between the lines, and weed through the […]