Today’s kids are growing up with a vast array of technologies at their fingertips – particularly those at schools with forward-thinking, tech-savvy philosophies. Parenting Times made a recent visit to St. Andrew Catholic School in Ottawa to chat with educators […]
Focus on Education
Mining mad coding skills from Minecraft
Leslie Foster explains how the wildly popular video game can teach your kids all about computer science and programming. If you have a tween or teen in your house, you more than likely hear a lot about Minecraft — possibly […]
‘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 […]
‘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 […]
Read, learn, sing & play
By Lynne Lemieux-Collard, Early Literacy Specialist Discover, through a child’s perspective, how to support early learning with these four simple, engaging strategies. Practise these routinely, and watch your child blossom. Read with Me! The public library welcomes children of all […]
Stages of early literacy development
Early or “emergent” literacy refers to the set of skills children will use to learn to read, write and communicate. Your child is growing and developing in many ways: physically, mentally and socially. Even from birth, your child is developing […]
‘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 […]
Horses enriching children
Unique horse-focused preschool and kindergarten program thrills Ottawa children and parents alike, writes Samantha Ball. It’s an adorable combination sure to melt anyone’s heart: young children interacting with ponies. Is it any wonder Beatrice de Vries, the founder of Horses […]
A second chance to succeed
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s Secondary Alternate Program helps high school students take control of their learning and earn their diploma at their own pace, writes Samantha Ball. Kaitlyn McLaren was in Grade 8, on the verge of entering high […]
StoryWalks bring reading to life
By Jennifer Fontaine New parent education initiative encourages parents to talk, sing, read, write and play with their children to promote early literacy When my children were younger, I would often take the bus with them. It was a nice […]