From the editor. Photo Credit Tracey Tong
We refresh our wardrobes and office supplies (who else gets excited over a blank agenda and a new pack of markers?). We make resolutions to help us succeed in new goals. It’s only been a couple of months since the children were last in the classroom, but it feels like a clean slate. Somehow, that back-to-school mindset gives us superpowers and the feeling that we can accomplish anything we put our minds to.
I’m hopeful those superpowers apply to adults too! This fall, in addition to sending our girls to Grades 7 and 3 (time, where did you go?), editing Parenting Times and teaching at Algonquin College, I’m headed back to school myself – to begin a Master of Education at Lakehead University.
I feel like it’s going to take a lot of organization and discipline to keep life on track, and I know many of you juggle even more, which is why our Back-to-School 2026 issue is themed “Your parenting toolkit.”
Anxiety disorders are becoming more commonly diagnosed, with experts estimating that up to one in five children and teenagers have an anxiety disorder. Psychiatrist Dr. Suneeta Monga explains the difference between anxiety and anxiety disorders, what it can look like in toddlers, school-aged children and teens, and what parents can do.
Which one of us hasn’t heard (or used) the word “burnout” in the past year? The return of school means parents are now juggling their kids’ jam-packed schedules in addition to their own. Coach Calissa Ngozi explains to our readers how and why parents should recharge (hint: it’s so we can better support our families). School also means kids are encountering new experiences – some of which, unfortunately, are undesirable. Check out our story on the realities of vape use among teens in Ottawa.
It’s the perfect time to put good habits in place. For our Focus on Education section, writer Sheryl Bennett-Wilson asks educators, tutors and a post-secondary student success specialist to spill the best tips that your child can put into action to increase their chances of academic success. It’s also not too early for your secondary student to get started with their volunteer hours. Need some motivation? Bennett-Wilson has got you – for this issue, she’s rounded up some of the biggest reasons why those hours will benefit your big kid (and they might not be what you think).
Whether you’re dropping off a preschooler for the first time, or a post-doctoral student for the 5,000th time, or even heading back to get a little training yourself (learning should never end!), we at Parenting Times hope you have a productive new (school) year.
Best wishes,
Tracey