Archive for the ‘parent’ Category
Mamapedia is an innovative website that lets moms tap into advice and answers from millions of other moms on an array of parenting topics - from potty training to party planning!
A brand new survey from Mamapedia (www.mamapedia.com) gives us insight into what’s on the minds of moms right now. The poll revealed mom thoughts on celebrity issues, politics, and their own household struggles.
Here are some of the highlights of the survey:
*42% of moms say cleaning up after everyone is the worst part about being a mom
*79% of moms said having a cleaning lady would be their biggest mom support
*Moms were split over the Jon & Kate decision to divorce (49% say they should have stayed together for the kids, 51% felt divorce was the right call.)
Our family was fortunate enough to have had a wonderful experience with a great Nursery School in Newmarket. For the past 2 years our son attended The Magic Kingdom Learning Centre located at 179 Church Street, Newmarket. Many parents have asked us to post a listed of nursery and preschools in York Region and you can now find them in our Parent Directory.
I have testimonials from different nursery schools in the area, including friends who are very happy with the Newmarket Co-Op Nusery, as well as the Aurora Co-Op Nusery School. Without hesitiation I would recommend the Magic Kingdom Learning Centre, who just celebrated the schools 24th graduating class. The staff there are warm, kind and the children at the centre love going there. It is a positive first experience with school!
We are a Canadian based online designer fabric retailer specializing in modern, funky, cute, kawaii fabrics, sewing patterns and notions. We carry fabrics by well known designers including Michael Miller, Alexander Henry, Amy Butler, Heather Ross, and Etsuko Furuya. This is not your typical run of the mill fabric store! We are here to support you - the modern designer.
You must check out Pink Panda Fabrics for all your fabric needs - a great place for nursery and kids decor ideas.
Written By: Aurora Mom, Lorilee Jarosinski
Like many others, my family has become more conscious of eating locally-grown food and we are so lucky here in York Region to have access to local farms and farmers’ markets.
York Region Tourism has a great Farm Fresh map in PDF format , listing 21 farms and 3 farmers’ markets. It includes lots of great information about each farm, including what products the farm produces and operating hours.
I’ve had first-hand experience with three of the listings:
- The Aurora Farmers Market Every Saturday morning from May until October, my daughter and I make the short trip to the Aurora town park. We pick up whatever produce looks good that day, and sometimes some delicious unpasturized buckwheat honey . I like to grab a cinnamon bun and l some locally roasted fair-trade organic coffee to snack on while my daughter plays in the playground, after she’s eaten her back bacon sandwich. Sometimes there’s live music, artists, and hand-made wares of every sort. I love this market and I think it’s one of the reasons why I love living in Aurora.
- Forsythe Family Farms We visited this farm last Thanksgiving. The first thing we noticed was the incredible smell of pies baking in the store. We visited with the farm animals and the corn maze, picked up some apples, gourds, pumpkins and obviously, a couple of those pies.
- Cooper’s goat and veggie farm This year my family joined the Coopers in Community Supported Agriculture. In short, we paid for a share early in the season and in return we receive a basket of the farm’s produce each week for 20 weeks. I’m so excited to receive my baskets of fresh locally grown produce. Each basket’s contents will be a surprise, so this is going to be an adventure!
( Editor’s Note - Our family to have signed up for a CSA share with Coopers farm and last week we got out first box of fresh local vegetables, best idea ever! I love it! )
So York Region Parents, head out to your local farms and markets, and enjoy!
Finest Expressions - Designer Gifts & Gift baskets specializes in unique and beautiful handcrafted baby gifts. Gifts to suit every budget and theme include:
- Finest Blossoms: Beautiful arrangement of baby clothing presented in a bouquet style. Contents include baby layette sets, blankets and towels.
- Baby Blooms: These are incredibly delightful baby sock bouquets presented in long stem roses’ style, complete with baby’s breath and flower box.
- Diaper Cakes: Baby cakes are non-edible delights made out of premium brand name diapers. Special baby treats include baby clothing, toys, blankets and baby toiletries.
- Candy Bouquets: Give these delicious treats as a new baby or birthday gift. Better yet, have them as centrepieces at your next baby shower or special event!
Finest Expressions also custom designs gifts using your theme and budget! Special Offer: For limited time only; 10% off all custom designed diaper cakes. Just mention York Region Parent when you order.
Also available are DIY Baby Shower Favour Kits.
I find writing reviews on clothes hard to do, because isn’t a shirt just a shirt? That is what I thought until my package from barley and birch arrived. I have bought lots of organic clothes for my kids,but these are my favourite. As a mom, the “cool” factor is important to me, but so is the fact that a shirt will last a long time and look good! And can say many, many washes our barley and birch gear is a favourite of both me and the kids.
Our 4 year old loves the cactus tshirt we got him, and I love no matter what the stain is (strawberries, grass or something that we have no idea what it is!) it comes out with no effort what-so-ever.
Other than looking super cool in our gear, we know that buying from barley and birch is a good idea for the planet.
Environmentally, we decided to make every single facet of the line carbon neutral. Not only do we offset any emissions created by production and shipping, but we work with manufacturers and suppliers that are largely powered by solar energy. We chose only certified organic cotton and water-based inks, so we do not pollute the air and water with chemicals. We are made in the United States, so we do not emit the massive amount of carbon associated with trans-ocean shipping. We are largely paper-free and any paper involved with the line is 100% post-consumer recycled. Essentially, we chose to go beyond the level of convenience to be fair to our planet and to our customers.
Check out the stores below to purchase your barley & birch:
eConscious Market
www.econsciousmarket.com/site/Vendors/barley_and_birch/
fawn&forest
http://www.fawnandforest.com/designers/239/products
Gretchen & Grace
www.gretchenandgrace.com
Our favourite hair accessory company is so on a roll! We are so happy at how well Ladybugs & Lullabies are doing, from 4 celebrity sightings last week on kids like Marcia Cross’s twins to Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck’s new baby, there is no one better that Ladybugs & Lullabies. They have introduced a new product which we had a York Region Parent reader test. The Ladybugs and Lullabies Binky Links™ are the ultimate no slip pacifier clips. Functionality, ease of use and safety make life easier for mom, while still keeping up with today’s fashion trends with hot patterns and colours for both boys and girls.
Our reviewer says….
We love the soother clip… it’s way better than the one we bought (which has sharp edges on it) and the one from Ladybugs & Lullabies doesn’t . And it is also longer than the other one… not to mention much prettier! I would buy another one if we ever needed it and I’d recommend it to friends.
Special Deal for York Region Parent readers: YRP25 for 25% off you order!!
By Nicole Meltzer, RMT, CHt
No matter what culture we come from, we all grew up with metaphoric stories which taught us lessons for life. Since the beginning of humanity, we have passed on life lessons from generation to generation via storytelling and this is still relevant today.
Here is why it works so well. Children spend most of their time in a trance state - a state of mind where they are susceptible to suggestions. Think advertising… Secondly, children love repetition. This is how concepts and skills are absorbed. Thirdly, children are egocentric. If they identify with the main character of the story their sub-conscious will process the lessons of the story to apply it to similar situations the child is experiencing.
When I work with children as a hypnotherapist, I use the power of storytelling to help them work through whatever life issue they are facing. This is something you can also do as a parent. It is effective in helping children with bullying, bedwetting, habits, anxiety, nightmares, self esteem, etc. The key is in writing an effective metaphoric story.
Here are a few pointers to keep in mind when developing a metaphor to help your child:
- Always indirectly address the issue. Do not make the storyline exactly like the situation the child is experiencing. For example, if the child is afraid of the dark, don’t make the main character afraid of the dark; have them afraid of something else.
- Establish what you want to instill in the child & have the main character exhibit these characteristics, i.e. confidence, courage, etc.
- Personify unconscious strengths of the child in form of heroes. This helps them identify with the main character and sends the message to their sub-conscious that they are their own heroes.
- Present a situation where the main character overcomes an issue and is successful.
- End with a celebration of success.
Resist the urge to explain the story & how it relates to your child’s life. Let the child process it (usually during sleep). Analyzing it together will ruin the effect of using a metaphor.
Here is an example. Your 7 year old daughter is afraid of the dark. She loves anything to do with princesses and is very good at play-acting. The story line you may want to develop would involve a princess who is putting on a play for the palace. In the play she must ride a horse. However, she is afraid of horses. The princess overcomes her fear, rides the horse and realizes there was nothing for her to fear. At the end of the story everyone cheers for the princess.
You may need to tell the story many times to your child before you start to see results. Just know that, on some level they are processing the lessons. And most importantly, have fun with it!
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Nicole Meltzer, RMT, CHt is co-founder of Balanced Body Mind Spirit. Through her specialization in fertility issues & prenatal care she helps parents conceive and achieve balance while on their journey into parenthood. Nicole offers pre/postnatal & pediatric Massage Therapy; Hypnotherapy for children, fertility and childbirth; Reflexology; & Reiki. She teaches a variety of classes including, Hypnosis for Childbirth, Tools for the Birthing Partner, Focused on Fertility, and Infant Massage. To learn more, visit www.balancedbodymindspirit.com
Saturday May 2, 2009 @ 10:30 a.m.
Wild Child Baby Boutique - 262-Main Street South, Newmarket www.mywildchild.ca
There’s nothing in the world that compares to having your baby in your arms - the feeling of a sleeping child against your chest, the sweet-smelling, down-covered head under your nose. In the early days with a newborn, mothers have time to enjoy these moments. Then reality sets in.
Baby is still dependent on you for nourishment, care, and comfort but everyday tasks and errands demand your attention. And you may have other children who need you. Life goes on, and there is always too much to do. But busy mothers do not have to give up the bliss of keeping baby close. They can accomplish those tasks that need to be done and still enjoy their baby’s companionship by “wearing” the baby in a carrier. According to Dr. William and Martha Sears, “Baby wearing does good things for babies, and it makes life easier for mothers.”
Join Denise Martin, CD(DONA), Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Certified Breastfeeding Councillor and La Leche League Leader as we discuss and evaluate the benefits of baby wearing. You will have the additional opportunity at Wild Child to practice using a sling and evaluate which style of infant carrier meets your fashion sense, and lifestyle. If you purchase a sling on that day, you will receive a 15% discount on your purchase.
Though this is a free event, space is limited so please contact Wild Child to confirm your spot
@ 905-853-0500 or tazra@rogers.com
In a June 2008 article, financial columnist Gordon Powers wrote, “Too many people don’t really understand how to manage money, which may be why they have so little of it to work with”. In his article, he quotes Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty who said “many Canadians struggle with unmanageable debt, fail to save adequately for emergencies, college or retirement, and generally make countless other poor financial choices that eventually leave them worse off. The root cause? Financial illiteracy”.
On January 27, 2009 Minister Flaherty tabled “Budget 2009: Canada’s Economic Action Plan”. In his speech he announced new measures “to raise the level of financial literacy” of Canadians by “establishing an independent task force… on a cohesive national strategy on financial literacy”.
At Moonjar, we believe that teaching financial literacy needs to begin at a young age. Since 2001, Eulalie Scandiuzzi, the creator of Moonjar, has been providing fun products that focus on financial life skills and the art of communication for independent young minds.
The Moonjar Moneybox, a teaching bank divided into three individual compartments for Saving, Spending and Sharing. It is a tool parents can use to teach positive money habits to their children and that helps create opportunities for conversations about money.
Brent Dobson from Moonjar Canada says “teaching children about money can be challenging for parents. The Moonjar Moneybox is a tool that helps open the money conversation and provides valuable financial skills. Children will visualize what their money can be used for. Moonjars offer an opportunity for kids to manage their money by teaching them how to
use it – through the concepts of Save, Spend and Share. They provide parents with a fun, financial literacy tool for their family.”
Moonjar offers these tips to parents for starting the conversation about money:
• Talk with your young children about money concepts. Most children, beginning at age 4 or 5, are visual learners, so using hands-on tools like cheque registers and moneyboxes can better help them learn concepts such as allocating funds and what interest means.
• Set goals and prioritize. Use pictures to help them visualize their goals and then prioritize what they are saving for, what the want to spend their money on, and with whom or with what they want to share their money. Set short and long term goals then discuss where the balance should be spent and shared on an ongoing basis.
• Discuss the difference between wants and needs. Working with them to set goals will help in overcoming the desire for “instant gratification”.
• But… let them make a few mistakes. Children, like adults, learn from their mistakes. From time to time, allow your child to buy a toy you believe will not be enjoyed very long, for example. Sure, they may be disappointed in a few weeks, but many lessons can be learned from this experience. Encourage them, without guilt, to plan their future purchases, weigh the cost and the benefit of their choices and to think twice next time, even sleep on it.
• Encourage young giving and youth philanthropy. Help your children understand that they are part of a larger world community through discussions about sharing their money and/or donating time to causes of their choosing.
• Be a good role model. Make sure your children see you doing the things that you are teaching them. Let them in on your bill paying, savings and investment plans and charitable giving. Discuss your attitudes and philosophies about money and tell them your dreams for how your money can fuel your passions.
Above all, keep the conversation about money open and honest and help teach your kids valuable money lessons.
Aritlcle by Bent Dobson of Moonjar Canada.
