Preschool language skills can determine how a student will fare later on What was your child’s vocabulary like at age three? How well a child speaks at that age is a good predictor on how they will succeed with reading […]
Sheryl Bennett-Wilson
When words get in the way
Struggles with reading often lead to problems in other academic areas It’s not a rule, but a possible indicator: if a child is struggling with reading, they may have difficulty with other school subjects as well. That’s what Sally Kader, […]
Reading for wellness
Books provide benefits regardless of the reader’s age — and some may not be what you’d expect Joanna Pozzulo wants people to think of reading as exercise for the brain. “Just like physical exercise, there are huge health and well-being […]
Getting older, staying home
NORCs — naturally occurring retirement communities — allow older adults an alternative to seniors’ housing You may not realize it, but you probably have a NORC in your neighbourhood. That’s what Mary Lou Kelley says. Even after spending years as […]
Not just child’s play
Junior and senior kindergarten programs have social, emotional and academic benefits One or two years of kindergarten is helpful heading into Grade 1, says the director of Turnbull School. Kindergarten, says Gareth Reid, “provides children with social confidence and nourishes […]
Building a village
With limited options, innovative parents go the extra mile to help their kids — and others — with autism Sage was diagnosed with autism at age two and a half in 2018 and her parents, Ottawa residents Kim Vincent and […]
Finding lost Ottawa
A hyperlocal website has sparked the interests of history buffs everywhere. Sheryl Bennett-Wilson looks back The internet was just getting started when Canadian David McGee was working at MIT in Boston in 1997. Even then, says McGee, “I wondered how […]
Beyond Sharon, Lois and Bram
Looking for classic kids’ entertainment? Parenting Times Magazine rounds up 10 artists you should check out “For kids and parents, singable songs offer fun and learning,” Raffi tells Parenting Times Magazine. “A daily source of joy, music can enhance kids’ […]
A quiet discrimination
One in five Canadians will be over the age of 65 by 2030, yet the World Health Organization states that ageism is a global health epidemic “Ageism—the bias or prejudice based on age—continues to be socially acceptable, going largely unnoticed,” […]
Making the most of summer break
What should children do with two months off? Sheryl Bennett-Wilson asks the experts The summer break is the reward for studying hard during the school year, says the director at Turnbull School. “They do need a break,” says Gareth Reid. […]