During the holiday season, parents and caregivers — and anyone with children in their lives — will be looking for gift-giving ideas. Although gifting has long been trending towards the experience-based, many kids and traditionalists (hello, Grandpa and Grandma) alike […]
Tracey Tong
From the editor
One of my favourite things about winter in National Capital Region is the abundance of things to do. Ottawans are a weather-hardy bunch, and a bit of snow doesn’t bother us. It’s rare that events are cancelled due to […]
Digging deep for the planet
Vermicomposting is good for your garden, the environment and fascinating for kids In 2017, Akil Mesiwala was looking for a way to make his life more sustainable. After researching indoor composting and vermicomposting, he bought some red wiggler […]
From the Editor
What will back to school look like for your family this September? For most children, school will be in a traditional classroom. The majority of those who were enrolled in virtual school up until last June will trade computer […]
A reason to write
Her son Nolan’s life-threatening allergies inspired Michelle Nel to pen a series of books for families. Tracey Tong talks to the Ottawa author A personal support worker, Michelle Nel had yearned to be an author since childhood. For years, it […]
Off on the right foot
As the school year kicks off, Footwear4kids returns as a part of Caldwell Family Centre’s backpack initiative This is the story of how a routine declutter ended up helping thousands of families across Ottawa. In August 2020, 20-year-old William […]
On the wings of love
My children’s butterfly-raising project gave us gifts we didn’t anticipate It’s a long-held belief of educators that learning doesn’t only take place in the classroom. I agree: teaching important life lessons — respect for the planet and its creatures — […]
From the editor
That well-known expression, “charity begins at home” means that a person should care for the needs of their own family and friends before helping others. But while I was growing up, I thought it meant the lessons around being […]
From the editor
When I was very young, eco-consciousness wasn’t yet a thing. There was no household recycling pickup, and certainly no green bins. Still, our parents made us kids use both sides of the paper — and the reverse side of cardboard […]
Bringing down the house
With 20 years at the Ottawa School of Theatre under her belt, outgoing artistic director Kathi Langston touts the benefits of a theatre education Between masks, physical distancing and virtual school, the past two years have been difficult for […]