A dog can be a child’s best friend, but it’s crucial to educate children on how to behave properly around dogs in order to stay safe. Ottawa certified behaviour therapist and master trainer Dianne Sarasin explains how to talk about […]
Feature Articles
10 steps to building a gemstone ice castle
When cabin fever hits, bundle up and head outdoors to create a dazzling ice castle your kids will tell their kids about. Story and photos by Leslie Foster Transport your bricks to your building pad. We used sleds to make […]
‘We have to change the way we’re looking at these beautiful, autistic children’
Mother and author Kristine Barnett, whose teenaged son Jacob was diagnosed with severe autism and now considered one of the world’s most promising physicists, is fighting to change perceptions and misconceptions about children on the autism spectrum. She spoke with Sonia […]
The telltale signs of burnout
Feeling sick, exhausted and overwhelmed between work, parenting and all the daily demands? Ottawa life coach and mom of three Judy Mouland describes her recovery from severe burnout and offers advice on what to do when you feel like you’re […]
‘Theatre breeds kindness and empathy’
Ten-year-old Lauren Jane Hudson reflected on her tentative entry into classes at OYP Theatre School five years ago. “On the first day when I walked in, I was very shy and I didn’t really interact with anybody,” said Hudson. “Then […]
The magic of CHEO
In 2014, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario celebrated 40 years as a pediatric health and research centre. Widely known for providing outstanding, family-centred care, it has become the third-largest pediatric research hospital in Canada. Sonia Mendes explores CHEO’s history […]
The secret, sexual lives of mothers
Sex. Motherhood. These things certainly aren’t mutually exclusive; one quite obviously leads to the other. That’s how we got here in the first place, right? But why, then, does parenthood so often, whether it flames out or fades out, drain […]
The lifelong scars of bullying
Chris Hunt recalls the severe bullying he endured silently as a child, and ponders how he can protect his own son. Don’t let them see you cry. I’ve been wondering lately who it was who first said that to me. […]
‘It was pretty freakin’ awesome’
The newly opened Bluesfest School of Music and Art is bringing the arts to the community — and to budding artists — in a whole new way, writes Sonia Mendes. Eleven-year-old Darwin Mason will be heading back to school this […]
Pick the perfect extracurricular activities
Leslie Foster lists the most important factors to consider when it comes to finding the right programs for your child this fall. If you have children, the end of summer signals the start of school and the race to register […]